Source of Magic - Revision history

Admiralbenbo: /* Styles of Power */

2026-01-19T02:27:46Z

Styles of Power

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:27, 19 January 2026
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	=== Primal Magic ===		=== Primal Magic ===
	Primal magic arose after the Second Wish, and is similar to divine magic in that it is channeled. The primary difference is in ''where'' the patterns come from. The archetypal primal magic (that of druids) comes from bargains with countless small kami--proto-fey spirits of nature. In exchange for a bit of the caster's own aether, the kami performs a trick (creates a spell effect). It's the connection between the caster and the kami that provides the strength. It requires more understanding than the purely-channeled divine power, but not nearly as much as that of the arcanist. Its power tends to involve manipulating nature and living things--not warping them and violating their nature like that of the ancient aelvar but working within the existing structure to produce effects.		Primal magic arose after the Second Wish, and is similar to divine magic in that it is channeled. The primary difference is in ''where'' the patterns come from. The archetypal primal magic (that of druids) comes from bargains with countless small kami--proto-fey spirits of nature. In exchange for a bit of the caster's own aether, the kami performs a trick (creates a spell effect). It's the connection between the caster and the kami that provides the strength. It requires more understanding than the purely-channeled divine power, but not nearly as much as that of the arcanist. Its power tends to involve manipulating nature and living things--not warping them and violating their nature like that of the ancient aelvar but working within the existing structure to produce effects.

			=== Other forms ===
			There is substantial debate among scholars whether things like a barbarian's abilities, a monk's "ki", the psychic power of a [[mkhulu]], or the other abilities found throughout the world count as "magic" or not. In any case, they rely on manipulating aether (because everything is aether), but not in a way recognizable as a "spell". As a result, they are immune to the various counter-magic abilities and spells, which rely on disrupting the resonance formed between the spell-pattern and the ambient aether field.
	[[Category:Magic]]		[[Category:Magic]]

Admiralbenbo at 21:18, 17 January 2026

2026-01-17T21:18:14Z

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	* Somatic components align the caster to the flow of the world, both helping them remember the necessary patterns of the soul and enter the correct state of being. Of all the components, these are the most varied because they're the most personal. But for most practitioners, they involve large, unsubtle motions of at least one hand--circular passes, contortions of the wrist and fingers, etc.		* Somatic components align the caster to the flow of the world, both helping them remember the necessary patterns of the soul and enter the correct state of being. Of all the components, these are the most varied because they're the most personal. But for most practitioners, they involve large, unsubtle motions of at least one hand--circular passes, contortions of the wrist and fingers, etc.

			== Styles of Power ==
			All modern magic is bound up in aether, it is true. Everything is. But there are different styles, forms that the ability to manipulate aether takes.

			=== Arcane Magic ===
			Most associated with the wizard and sorcerer (generically "arcanists"), this was the style pioneered by the [[aelvar]] after the First Wish. It relies on on directly inducing harmonic resonances with the ambient aether, using patterns learned by study and and rote (wizards and warlocks) or born into the caster (sorcerers). While the aelvar mages were known for their biomancy, modern arcane magic prefers to manipulate the unliving more than anything. It tends to struggle at the more subtle mental and soul-related effects, but excels at manipulating raw elemental forces. Unlike divine or primal magic, it doesn't require a mediator, which means that the caster doesn't need to maintain any kind of relationship. Their power comes from within.

			=== Divine Magic ===
			First granted by the Third Wish, divine power is, in its normal form, channeled rather than taught. Clerics, priests, and paladins don't study their spells; their faith (or devotion to their oath) serves as a bridge to the powers beyond, whether a specific patron deity (for clerics) or the universe itself (for paladins). Priests differ from clerics in that the latter channel power directly on behalf of their deity, while priests' power is mediated by their religion. Many priests actually wield something closer to the power of a warlock, having been taught rites and spells by their church or faith, but fueling their power with their faith itself. Generally, divine power flows from ''other planes''.

			As a result of relying on ascended powers, divine magic is some of the most complex power, capable of feast including raising the dead and healing the gravely wounded, without requiring the cleric to understand all of the complexity (which is what keeps arcane magic from being able to perform these feats). At the same time, it's sharply limited by the provider, and the wielder must remain faithful or suffer as their faith weakens.

			Faith isn't aether, but faith ''channels'' and ''directs'' aether. Effectively, your faith serves as a link between you and your patron--greater faith allows more power to flow to the priest. In return, more aether gets directed to the patron. For normal [[Ascendant\|Ascendants]], this grants them the power they need to survive, but in return the nature of the channel, the mental and spiritual concept of the worshiper shapes the recipient by aspecting the aether it carries. Generally, faith-channeled aether is luminous in aspect.

			=== Harmonic Magic ===
			The third of the ancient magics (along with runic magic and true sorcery), the power of harmony--that is literal music--belonged to [[Leviathan]]. It was taught and imbued in the mortals of the 1st age, making it the oldest power accessible to normal two-legged mortals. Long considered the weakest of the great powers in most direct applications, it excels at manipulating minds and perceptions. It can heal (unlike arcane magic), mainly by helping the injured person heal themselves rather than the external changes made by divine magic. It is weakest at manipulating raw, mindless forces, especially those of other planes.

			=== Primal Magic ===
			Primal magic arose after the Second Wish, and is similar to divine magic in that it is channeled. The primary difference is in ''where'' the patterns come from. The archetypal primal magic (that of druids) comes from bargains with countless small kami--proto-fey spirits of nature. In exchange for a bit of the caster's own aether, the kami performs a trick (creates a spell effect). It's the connection between the caster and the kami that provides the strength. It requires more understanding than the purely-channeled divine power, but not nearly as much as that of the arcanist. Its power tends to involve manipulating nature and living things--not warping them and violating their nature like that of the ancient aelvar but working within the existing structure to produce effects.
	[[Category:Magic]]		[[Category:Magic]]

Admiralbenbo: /* Anima Cycles */

2025-09-08T20:27:40Z

Anima Cycles

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:27, 8 September 2025
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	Some of the anima created is lost into the [[Abyss]] or consumed by great workings (great acts of creation, usually involving artifacts). Most magic does not consume substantial quantities of anima, but creating matter from "nothing" does, as that is the source of the matter. In extreme cases (such as the cleansing of [[Ithemba\|North Ithemba]] in 211 AC, the local ambient anima density is severely depleted by such great acts, diminishing the power of magic temporarily.		Some of the anima created is lost into the [[Abyss]] or consumed by great workings (great acts of creation, usually involving artifacts). Most magic does not consume substantial quantities of anima, but creating matter from "nothing" does, as that is the source of the matter. In extreme cases (such as the cleansing of [[Ithemba\|North Ithemba]] in 211 AC, the local ambient anima density is severely depleted by such great acts, diminishing the power of magic temporarily.

	Instead, most "magic" (fantastic abilities) works by altering the ''aspects'' of the anima. Since all matter and energy is comprised, at its core, of anima, ''aspects'' are the part that distinguishes fire from water, the flesh of a bird from a stone, etc. Aspects can be altered and shifted by magic either temporarily or permanently. But in general, externally-imposed resonant transformations of aspects ~~fades~~ when the resonance does. But the effects caused by that transformation do not--fires lit by magical fire do not go out, cuts from blades of slashing wind that came from ~~no-where~~ do not automatically heal, etc.		Instead, most "magic" (fantastic abilities) works by altering the ''aspects'' of the anima. Since all matter and energy is comprised, at its core, of anima, ''aspects'' are the part that distinguishes fire from water, the flesh of a bird from a stone, etc. Aspects can be altered and shifted by magic either temporarily or permanently. But in general, externally-imposed resonant transformations of aspects fade when the resonance does. But the effects caused by that transformation do not--fires lit by magical fire do not go out, cuts from blades of slashing wind that came from nowhere do not automatically heal, etc.

	=== Aspects ===		=== Aspects ===

Admiralbenbo: /* Anima Cycles */

2025-09-08T20:27:05Z

Anima Cycles

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:27, 8 September 2025
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	Anima is formed within a soul when the soul creates new memories, grows, absorbs information--in general, through the process of creation. When a living thing dies, its spark (the portion that creates anima) passes into the [[Shadows]] (for intelligent beings) or back into the Mortal plane (for plants and lower animals). That energy is pumped up into the [[Astral]] by the [[Great Mechanism]] and passed among the gods and used to maintain the universe itself, with a large portion passing into the elemental planes to be aspected and used to continue the natural cycles of the Dream (such as replenishing the air and water, rebuilding the minerals and rocks, and keeping the earth-fire and Eua burning).		Anima is formed within a soul when the soul creates new memories, grows, absorbs information--in general, through the process of creation. When a living thing dies, its spark (the portion that creates anima) passes into the [[Shadows]] (for intelligent beings) or back into the Mortal plane (for plants and lower animals). That energy is pumped up into the [[Astral]] by the [[Great Mechanism]] and passed among the gods and used to maintain the universe itself, with a large portion passing into the elemental planes to be aspected and used to continue the natural cycles of the Dream (such as replenishing the air and water, rebuilding the minerals and rocks, and keeping the earth-fire and Eua burning).

	Some of the anima created is lost into the [[Abyss]] or consumed by great workings (great acts of creation, usually involving artifacts). Most magic does not consume anima, but creating matter from "nothing" does, as that is the source of the matter. In extreme cases (such as the cleansing of [[Ithemba\|North Ithemba]] in 211 AC, the local ambient anima density is severely depleted by such great acts, diminishing the power of magic temporarily.		Some of the anima created is lost into the [[Abyss]] or consumed by great workings (great acts of creation, usually involving artifacts). Most magic does not consume substantial quantities of anima, but creating matter from "nothing" does, as that is the source of the matter. In extreme cases (such as the cleansing of [[Ithemba\|North Ithemba]] in 211 AC, the local ambient anima density is severely depleted by such great acts, diminishing the power of magic temporarily.

	Instead, most "magic" (fantastic abilities) works by altering the ''aspects'' of the anima. Since all matter and energy is comprised, at its core, of anima, ''aspects'' are the part that distinguishes fire from water, the flesh of a bird from a stone, etc. Aspects can be altered and shifted by magic either temporarily or permanently. But in general, externally-imposed resonant transformations of aspects fades when the resonance does. But the effects caused by that transformation do not--fires lit by magical fire do not go out, cuts from blades of slashing wind that came from no-where do not automatically heal, etc.		Instead, most "magic" (fantastic abilities) works by altering the ''aspects'' of the anima. Since all matter and energy is comprised, at its core, of anima, ''aspects'' are the part that distinguishes fire from water, the flesh of a bird from a stone, etc. Aspects can be altered and shifted by magic either temporarily or permanently. But in general, externally-imposed resonant transformations of aspects fades when the resonance does. But the effects caused by that transformation do not--fires lit by magical fire do not go out, cuts from blades of slashing wind that came from no-where do not automatically heal, etc.

Admiralbenbo at 04:43, 27 October 2022

2022-10-27T04:43:54Z

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	Other abilities can be learned by someone of sufficient mastery. A fighter blurs into motion, striking like a whirlwind for a brief moment. Another fighter calls out a command and his allies find an opportunity to strike yet again. A rogue wraps himself in shadow for a brief instant, shunting the force of a fireball into liminal space and coming out unharmed. Another rogue climbs as if his fingers were claws. One common characteristic is that these abilities can't be used continuously--they deplete the user's internal reserves. They're not ''magic'', and they can't be countered by dispelling magics; they're merely effects that stretch the boundaries of the possible.		Other abilities can be learned by someone of sufficient mastery. A fighter blurs into motion, striking like a whirlwind for a brief moment. Another fighter calls out a command and his allies find an opportunity to strike yet again. A rogue wraps himself in shadow for a brief instant, shunting the force of a fireball into liminal space and coming out unharmed. Another rogue climbs as if his fingers were claws. One common characteristic is that these abilities can't be used continuously--they deplete the user's internal reserves. They're not ''magic'', and they can't be countered by dispelling magics; they're merely effects that stretch the boundaries of the possible.

			== Arcane Glyphs, Arcane Phrases, and Language ==
			When a spell-caster chants magic words or a scroll covered in arcane writing is found, a common question is "what language is it in?" And the short answer is "it's not really a language, at least as we know it. But it's distinctively magic." The long answer is...well...longer.

			In the beginning of the Mortal plane there were four main types of "spells" (although that terminology came much later). '''Runic Inscriptions''' (also called Rune Magic), '''True Words''' (or True Sorcery), '''Essential Harmony''' (or the All-song), and [[Blood magic]] (the power of sacrifice). This discussion will only cover the first three, as blood magic is, to this day, different.

			=== Runic Inscriptions ===
			Wielded by the [[titans]], this type of magic involved empowering (or scribing magically) written "words" or "runes". Much more complex than the current runic scripts, these runes were usually written across the wielder's body, forming part of them and responding to their will. The nature of these runes was most attuned to description--creating and reshaping things by describing its behavior. In 21st Century Earth terms, it was a programming language for the universe. Some of the basic symbols were reused in [[Runic script\|High and Low Runic]], the language used for communication, but carefully bereft of the magical properties. To a practitioner of rune magic, magic happened in total silence as well as without unnecessary motion, but did require the material on which to write. Hence the use of the caster's own flesh as the parchment. If you could read the inscriptions, they looked more like mathematical equations, written in 2 and 3 dimensions out of interlocking pieces with every path through the extended glyph adding nuance to the whole. It was best at modifying existing matter, reshaping it according to the will, knowledge, and endurance of the wielder. The titans believed that the Dreamer ''wrote'' the world into existence.

			=== True Words ===
			The spoken form of the runic inscriptions (or were the runes the written form of the true words?), this was wielded by [[wyrm]]. In essence, they spoke the names of the elements and of matter, commanding them. These "words" were in the language used at the beginning to dream the world into existence--the wyrm believed that the Dreamer ''spoke'' and the world was. Use of True Words wasn't as simple as knowing the right sounds--you had to understand the nature of the things described and have the strength of will to bend them to your purpose. As well as some innate authority over those elements. The inverse of the titan's runes, use of True Words mostly revolved around ''breaking down'' existing matter, commanding it to return to its elemental state, pure and available for reuse. Before the Dawn War, titan shaped and wyrm broke down the excess, cleaned up the mistakes. After the War, wyrm used it to shape by subtraction. True words needed no canvas to write on, only that the voice could be heard.

			=== Essential Harmony ===
			Song and motion, dance and drum, wordless and free. The specialty of [[Leviathan]] to this day, it neither shaped brute matter nor did it break it down. It ''aligned'' matter, especially living matter. Shaping the will and hearts of others as they resonated to the melodies and formed living counterpoints. More than anything, the song remembers. Leviathan's role was to preserve continuity, to carry the plan between the other workers; after the War, it chose to become a living repository of all the world's knowledge. And that song still echoes through the deep.

			=== Wizardry ===
			Two of the three primal forms came to an end with the unleashing of the [[Orb of All Might]]. Some say it was the [[Great Mechanism]], acting to preserve the balance and viability of the Mortal plane. Others say it was backlash. Yet others claim merely that the change wasn't to the magic but to the casters; that the reduced forms could no longer wield the true language. But regardless, the names that bound reality became inaccessible to both [[Titans\|titan]] and [[wyrm]] in their degenerate state. The [[Ages of the World\|Second Wish]] changed that, reassembling the broken pieces of written and spoken words, combined with fragments of harmonies into a new route of access to the power of magic. This was the birth of "wizardry". That's not really properly called, as the scientific field of wizardry known today is but one fragment of this essential form. In fact, ''all'' mortal spell-casting is a variety of this ur-wizardry.

			In essence, the wizardry combined writing (mostly in the form of the material components who carry fragments of the names), spoken words (verbal components) and harmony (motion, also known as somatic components) into a way for mortals to access power. In the [[Ages of the World\|Third Age]], even divine magic followed this paradigm. True wizards learn to write down and (more saliently) ''learn'' from writing. What are they writing and saying?

			=== Material and somatic components and glyphs ===

			* Glyphs (found on scrolls, spellbooks, and as containment and definition for spells) are fragments of ancient runes. Not that an ancient titan would recognize them as such--they're the equivalent of taking the curved part at the top of the lowercase "f" and calling that a letter. But some fragment of their power still remains and they can be used as a crude syllabary, a circuit to channel power. Each tradition uses their own subsets of the shattered ur-runes, but the patterns formed are usually fairly distinctive and identifiable across traditions and across centuries, making written spellbooks and scrolls a fairly safe (hah!) method of conveying magical information across generations. However, the patterns are also almost trivially identifiable as magical writing.
			* Verbal components are nonsense words...but contain within them phonemic fragments of True Words, spoken at rhythmic intervals (the echo of Essential Harmony). Most casting traditions intermix these necessary fragments into mystic-sounding words; many practitioners don't even realize that most of the phrase is just meaningless filler, there to pad it so the rhythms and emphasis work properly. Different traditions use different fillers, leading to a diversity of verbal components. Due to the inhuman rhythms and phonemes involved, it is nearly impossible to mistake the fragments of True Words for anything but mystic words of power. They sound, by necessity, like no other language.
			* Material components contain aligned aether, serving mostly as a catalyst for the spell. Some powerful spells use things like gems as actual fuel, since the caster's power alone is insufficient (and inappropriately aligned). Foci can be used, containing glyphs and important symbols carved into aligned matter. Unlike the other components, very little variation is possible here (although foci confuse the issue)--without the correct catalyst, no resonance can be formed.
			* Somatic components align the caster to the flow of the world, both helping them remember the necessary patterns of the soul and enter the correct state of being. Of all the components, these are the most varied because they're the most personal. But for most practitioners, they involve large, unsubtle motions of at least one hand--circular passes, contortions of the wrist and fingers, etc.

	[[Category:Magic]]		[[Category:Magic]]

Admiralbenbo: /* Anima Cycles */

2022-07-29T22:52:41Z

Anima Cycles

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 == Anima Cycles ==
-Anima is formed within a soul when the soul creates new memories, grows, absorbs information--in general, through the process of creation. When a living thing dies, its spark (the portion that creates anima) passes into the [[Shadows]] (for intelligent beings) or back into the Mortal plane (for plants and lower animals). That energy is pumped up into the [[Astral]] by the [[Great Mechanism]] and passed among the gods and used to maintain the universe itself, with a large portion passing into the elemental planes and being used to continue the natural cycles of the Dream (such as replenishing the air and water, rebuilding the minerals and rocks, and keeping the earth-fire and Eua burning).
+Anima is formed within a soul when the soul creates new memories, grows, absorbs information--in general, through the process of creation. When a living thing dies, its spark (the portion that creates anima) passes into the [[Shadows]] (for intelligent beings) or back into the Mortal plane (for plants and lower animals). That energy is pumped up into the [[Astral]] by the [[Great Mechanism]] and passed among the gods and used to maintain the universe itself, with a large portion passing into the elemental planes to be aspected and used to continue the natural cycles of the Dream (such as replenishing the air and water, rebuilding the minerals and rocks, and keeping the earth-fire and Eua burning).
 Some of the anima created is lost into the [[Abyss]] or consumed by great workings (great acts of creation, usually involving artifacts). Most magic does not consume anima, but creating matter from "nothing" does, as that is the source of the matter. In extreme cases (such as the cleansing of [[Ithemba|North Ithemba]] in 211 AC, the local ambient anima density is severely depleted by such great acts, diminishing the power of magic temporarily.
@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 ''Note: this discussion follows the categorization scheme developed in Western [[Noefra]] during the 3rd age. Other places and cultures have their own categorization schemes. None of them are fundamental; all of them describe the same underlying properties in different ways.''
-Aspects can be divided into four Elements, each of which has one of two Characters and one of two Solidities. There is anima that is so strongly Characterized that the Elemental nature is irrelevant. Thus, there are 16 aspects, but at the ends they all merge into two possibilities. All matter can be categorized as having different admixtures of each of these aspects, although scholars generally divide things into a few groups depending on whether they contain only one Character of a given Element (regular matter) or contain parts of both Characters of a given element (Paradoxical). [[File:Anima economy.png|thumb|401x401px|Anima Cycles]]
+Aspects can be divided into 4 Elements, each of which has one of three Characters (Umbral, Neutral, or Luminous) and one of two three (Diffuse, Condensed, Balanced). There is anima that is so strongly Characterized that the Elemental nature is irrelevant--these are called Lumina and Umbra; there is also anima that is so neutral that it is called Unaspected (and is almost always diffuse). Thus, there are 36 aspects, but at the ends they all merge into two possibilities. All matter can be categorized as having different admixtures of each of these aspects, although scholars generally divide things into a few groups depending on whether they contain only one Character of a given Element (regular matter) or contain parts of both Characters of a given element (Paradoxical). Most "normal" matter is Regular; many things that have "magical" nature include some element of Paradox.
 ==Magic vs Fantastic Abilities==

Admiralbenbo: /* Anima Cycles */

2022-07-29T20:58:20Z

Anima Cycles

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:58, 29 July 2022
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	== Anima Cycles ==		== Anima Cycles ==
	Anima is formed within a soul when the soul creates new memories, grows, absorbs information--in general, through the process of creation. When a living thing dies, its spark (the portion that creates anima) passes into the [[Shadows]] (for intelligent beings) or back into the Mortal plane (for plants and lower animals). That energy is pumped up into the [[Astral]] by the [[Great Mechanism]] and passed among the gods and used to maintain the universe itself, with a large portion passing into the elemental planes and being used to continue the natural cycles of the Dream (such as replenishing the air and water, rebuilding the minerals and rocks, and keeping the earth-fire and Eua burning.		Anima is formed within a soul when the soul creates new memories, grows, absorbs information--in general, through the process of creation. When a living thing dies, its spark (the portion that creates anima) passes into the [[Shadows]] (for intelligent beings) or back into the Mortal plane (for plants and lower animals). That energy is pumped up into the [[Astral]] by the [[Great Mechanism]] and passed among the gods and used to maintain the universe itself, with a large portion passing into the elemental planes and being used to continue the natural cycles of the Dream (such as replenishing the air and water, rebuilding the minerals and rocks, and keeping the earth-fire and Eua burning).

	Some of the anima created is lost into the [[Abyss]] or consumed by great workings (great acts of creation, usually involving artifacts). Most magic does not consume anima, but creating matter from "nothing" does, as that is the source of the matter. In extreme cases (such as the cleansing of [[Ithemba\|North Ithemba]] in 211 AC, the local ambient anima density is severely depleted by such great acts, diminishing the power of magic temporarily.		Some of the anima created is lost into the [[Abyss]] or consumed by great workings (great acts of creation, usually involving artifacts). Most magic does not consume anima, but creating matter from "nothing" does, as that is the source of the matter. In extreme cases (such as the cleansing of [[Ithemba\|North Ithemba]] in 211 AC, the local ambient anima density is severely depleted by such great acts, diminishing the power of magic temporarily.
	[[File:Anima economy.png\|thumb\|401x401px\|Anima Cycles]]
			Instead, most "magic" (fantastic abilities) works by altering the ''aspects'' of the anima. Since all matter and energy is comprised, at its core, of anima, ''aspects'' are the part that distinguishes fire from water, the flesh of a bird from a stone, etc. Aspects can be altered and shifted by magic either temporarily or permanently. But in general, externally-imposed resonant transformations of aspects fades when the resonance does. But the effects caused by that transformation do not--fires lit by magical fire do not go out, cuts from blades of slashing wind that came from no-where do not automatically heal, etc.

			=== Aspects ===
			''Note: this discussion follows the categorization scheme developed in Western [[Noefra]] during the 3rd age. Other places and cultures have their own categorization schemes. None of them are fundamental; all of them describe the same underlying properties in different ways.''

			Aspects can be divided into four Elements, each of which has one of two Characters and one of two Solidities. There is anima that is so strongly Characterized that the Elemental nature is irrelevant. Thus, there are 16 aspects, but at the ends they all merge into two possibilities. All matter can be categorized as having different admixtures of each of these aspects, although scholars generally divide things into a few groups depending on whether they contain only one Character of a given Element (regular matter) or contain parts of both Characters of a given element (Paradoxical). [[File:Anima economy.png\|thumb\|401x401px\|Anima Cycles]]

	==Magic vs Fantastic Abilities==		==Magic vs Fantastic Abilities==

Admiralbenbo at 03:46, 20 September 2021

2021-09-20T03:46:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:46, 20 September 2021
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	The energy that fuels magic and other "supernatural" events is the same energy that makes up the souls of living beings. Anima. Anima is formed within a soul when the soul creates new memories, grows, absorbs information--in general, through the process of creation. When a living thing dies, its spark (the portion that creates anima) passes into the [[Shadows]] (for intelligent beings) or back into the ~~Prime~~ plane (for plants and lower animals). That energy is pumped up into the [[Astral]] by the [[Great Mechanism]] and passed among the gods and used to maintain the universe itself.		The energy that fuels magic and other "supernatural" events is the same energy that makes up the souls of living beings. Anima.

			== Anima Cycles ==
			Anima is formed within a soul when the soul creates new memories, grows, absorbs information--in general, through the process of creation. When a living thing dies, its spark (the portion that creates anima) passes into the [[Shadows]] (for intelligent beings) or back into the Mortal plane (for plants and lower animals). That energy is pumped up into the [[Astral]] by the [[Great Mechanism]] and passed among the gods and used to maintain the universe itself, with a large portion passing into the elemental planes and being used to continue the natural cycles of the Dream (such as replenishing the air and water, rebuilding the minerals and rocks, and keeping the earth-fire and Eua burning.

			Some of the anima created is lost into the [[Abyss]] or consumed by great workings (great acts of creation, usually involving artifacts). Most magic does not consume anima, but creating matter from "nothing" does, as that is the source of the matter. In extreme cases (such as the cleansing of [[Ithemba\|North Ithemba]] in 211 AC, the local ambient anima density is severely depleted by such great acts, diminishing the power of magic temporarily.
			[[File:Anima economy.png\|thumb\|401x401px\|Anima Cycles]]

	==Magic vs Fantastic Abilities==		==Magic vs Fantastic Abilities==

Admiralbenbo at 03:37, 14 September 2020

2020-09-14T03:37:53Z

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 The energy that fuels magic and other "supernatural" events is the same energy that makes up the souls of living beings. Anima. Anima is formed within a soul when the soul creates new memories, grows, absorbs information--in general, through the process of creation. When a living thing dies, its spark (the portion that creates anima) passes into the [[Shadows]] (for intelligent beings) or back into the Prime plane (for plants and lower animals). That energy is pumped up into the [[Astral]] by the [[Great Mechanism]] and passed among the gods and used to maintain the universe itself.
-Living spell-casters accumulate anima in knots in their souls. These knots come in varying strengths--two lower level "slots" do not equal one higher slot. These knots are used to fuel patterned resonances with the ambient anima--these patterned resonances are spells. Some spells (cantrips) can be cast solely with the caster's mental energy and do not use up these knots. Without special training, these slots reform over time but require a night's rest to be usable again. There are rumors of some who can force energy into their knots faster, but those are not widespread.
+==Magic vs Fantastic Abilities==
 The number of spell-slots available to a caster depend on their level of soul-growth. For many (if not most) people, the ability to cast a single (or at most two) of the lowest-powered spells is the maximum they will ever attain. Some grow quickly, some more slowly. Those who focus on spell-casting tend to grow faster than those who split their efforts with martial pursuits.
-While all spell-casters gain power from the ambient anima, the source of the spells (that is, the patterns through which they manipulate reality) differs. Those differences are described in the [[Varieties of Magic]].
+While all spell-casters gain power from the ambient anima, the source of the spells (that is, the patterns through which they manipulate reality) differs. Those differences are described in the [[Varieties of Magic]]. The primary sources are
-Since all magic is mediated through souls, permanent magical items that can actively manipulate anima (cast spells or spell-like effects without needing to be recharged) are quite rare. In fact, some theories suggest that imbuing an item with enough anima to persist and gather anima by itself would by necessity involve the creation of a soul (and thus would make the item intelligent to one degree or another). Temporary magical items such as scrolls, potions, or spellstones (stones that can be charged to unleash magical energies) exist but the creation of these requires an intelligent being to contribute anima and, once used, are rendered inert or destroyed.
+Other abilities can be learned by someone of sufficient mastery. A fighter blurs into motion, striking like a whirlwind for a brief moment. Another fighter calls out a command and his allies find an opportunity to strike yet again. A rogue wraps himself in shadow for a brief instant, shunting the force of a fireball into liminal space and coming out unharmed. Another rogue climbs as if his fingers were claws. One common characteristic is that these abilities can't be used continuously--they deplete the user's internal reserves. They're not ''magic'', and they can't be countered by dispelling magics; they're merely effects that stretch the boundaries of the possible.
 [[Category:Magic]]

Admiralbenbo: Created page with "The energy that fuels magic and other "supernatural" events is the same energy that makes up the souls of living beings. Anima. Anima is formed within a soul when the soul cre..."

2020-04-27T00:59:50Z

Created page with "The energy that fuels magic and other "supernatural" events is the same energy that makes up the souls of living beings. Anima. Anima is formed within a soul when the soul cre..."

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The energy that fuels magic and other "supernatural" events is the same energy that makes up the souls of living beings. Anima. Anima is formed within a soul when the soul creates new memories, grows, absorbs information--in general, through the process of creation. When a living thing dies, its spark (the portion that creates anima) passes into the [[Shadows]] (for intelligent beings) or back into the Prime plane (for plants and lower animals). That energy is pumped up into the [[Astral]] by the [[Great Mechanism]] and passed among the gods and used to maintain the universe itself.

Living spell-casters accumulate anima in knots in their souls. These knots come in varying strengths--two lower level "slots" do not equal one higher slot. These knots are used to fuel patterned resonances with the ambient anima--these patterned resonances are spells. Some spells (cantrips) can be cast solely with the caster's mental energy and do not use up these knots. Without special training, these slots reform over time but require a night's rest to be usable again. There are rumors of some who can force energy into their knots faster, but those are not widespread.

The number of spell-slots available to a caster depend on their level of soul-growth. For many (if not most) people, the ability to cast a single (or at most two) of the lowest-powered spells is the maximum they will ever attain. Some grow quickly, some more slowly. Those who focus on spell-casting tend to grow faster than those who split their efforts with martial pursuits.

While all spell-casters gain power from the ambient anima, the source of the spells (that is, the patterns through which they manipulate reality) differs. Those differences are described in the [[Varieties of Magic]].

Since all magic is mediated through souls, permanent magical items that can actively manipulate anima (cast spells or spell-like effects without needing to be recharged) are quite rare. In fact, some theories suggest that imbuing an item with enough anima to persist and gather anima by itself would by necessity involve the creation of a soul (and thus would make the item intelligent to one degree or another). Temporary magical items such as scrolls, potions, or spellstones (stones that can be charged to unleash magical energies) exist but the creation of these requires an intelligent being to contribute anima and, once used, are rendered inert or destroyed.

[[Category:Magic]]