Post by JACKDAW on Jul 23, 2015 11:27:46 GMT -5
MAGIC, MADNESS, HEAVEN, SIN
“I address you all tonight for who you truly are: wizards, mermaids, travelers, adventurers, and magicians. You are the true dreamers.”
― Brian Selznick
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I CAN SHOW YOU INCREDIBLE THINGS
OR: THE LOGISTICS OF MAGIC
On Parcae Nervi, our world is the world in which the veil to the Other is thin. Long ago, perhaps, this world and the Other lived apart, circling but never touching. To be honest, these days that shit's gone right out the window.
Werewolves, vampires, magicians and sorceresses--all the tresses of a true magical society living right at our fingertips. The supernatural is no longer relegated to live on the fringes of society but walks among the mundane, and if you listen to those whispering mothers over there, with a little too much pride.
But it's hard not to feel hubris when you have magic at your beck and call. When you can change the world with a thought, a glance, a motion.
Before, it was done with an air of complete mystery.
And now in our modern times the curtain that hid magic and its intricacies from daily view has been cast aside in favour of empiric study and the scientific method. So for you, and just you, I'm going to crack open my Encyclopædia Magicae and give you the basic details of just who inhabits our world.
So, just a little disclaimer and honesty here. I'm lazy, there's a lot of us, there's a lot of variety with us, and there's no time to be going over everything. So if you have questions you hit up the Questions Box or the admins Arrow or Jackdaw. Don't worry, they don't bite!
Magic can be classed in two different ways: Human and Downworlder. Human magic is generally taught, not instinctive and requires many years of study. All humans have minimal connection to magic but few are naturally skilled. Downworlder magic usually does not require spells or book-learning, but is intrinsic to each species. The abilities vary between species.
HUMAN MAGIC
Alchemy: This is parent of modern chemistry, and since the earliest times it has centered on the art of transmutation, or changing base metals into gold. These days transmuted gold is illegal to sell, and so alchemists instead focus on creating elixirs that can extend life, empower magic, and even act as powerful solvents and catalysts. Some are also skilled in building bombs of the magical sort.
Conjuration: A subset of magic that focuses specifically on creating illusions. While methodology varies from person to person, a conjurer of decent strength can summon illusions that are real to at least two of the six senses. Also refers to the act of conjuration, related to other forms of magic.
Elementalism: Elementalists are typically magicians or sorcerers that have focused their abilities on conjuring one or more of this universe's cardinal elements. The most common are fire, water, earth, and air (in this order), followed by wind, electricity, ice, weather, light, dark, energy and spirit. Energy and spirit are sometimes considered to be the same. Do not confuse with Elemental creatures.
Healing: Healing is one of the hardest forms of magic to master as it requires deep knowledge of both anatomy and magic in order to be used safely. The majority of healers focus on a single species. Healing involves the exchange of life force (energy, chi), promoting healthy growth at the site of injury. Some illnesses, such as genetic or degenerative ones, can typically only be soothed but not healed by this form of magic.
Shapeshifting: Shapeshifting is typically divided into two different schools--one associated with magic and the other associated with folklore, myth, and tradition. The former is a learned art and often requires years of study to master. The latter refers to Wendigos, Therianthropes, and Skinwalkers, who are born with the ability to shapeshift or otherwise gain it through non-magical means.
Summoning: Traditionally thought to be a black art, summoning has gained traction in upperclass magic circles in recent years. Although the process remains the same, summoning houses have opened up around earth to provide safe spaces to summon spirits. Summoning requires a summoning circle of chalk, the name of who you are summoning, incense (the components depend on the situation), and salt. Summoning demons is still forbidden. Do not confuse with Necromancy.
Necromancy: The art of raising the dead is an age-old and much feared practice. Currently, reanimating sapient beings is strictly forbidden but raising smaller, non-sentient animals is legal.
Scrying: Using a pool of water, fresh milk or a mirror, a practitioner can see great distances using only the focus of their will and simple spell. It is similar to Clairvoyancy but it is not possible to see into the future or past with scrying.
Psionics: This school of magic refers to psychic abilities. The most common are telekinesis, telepathy, clairvoyancy, divination, astral projection, and empathy. The strength of this magic relies heavily on a practitioner's will.
Enchantment: A practitioner invokes an object with magical properties. These properties are limited to the type of object being enchanted and the strength of the practitioner. Most enchantments fade after use or after a length of time, but older artifacts tend to hold their enchantments far longer.
Spell-casting: This is the simplest and broadest category of magic. There are thousands of spells that fall under this umbrella term. Spell-casting typically involves invocations (spells) and occasionally gestures to activate the magic. Examples of spell-casting are fireballs, trap spells, invisibility, shields, flight, etc. The more complex the spell, the more energy and skill it takes to cast it.
Magician: Magicians are general practitioners of magic that tend to follow two paths with their magic. The vast majority become Jacks of All Trade who have knowledge on many subjects, but mastery over few or none. If they have the talent for it, some channel their abilities into a single specialty. The most powerful (often cited as wizards of old) were and are known to be masters of vast subject areas. Also refers to Mage, Sorcerer, Sorceress, Wizard, and Hedgewitch.
DOWNWORLDER MAGIC
Shapeshifting: One of the most common Downworlder abilities, referring to therianthropes, wendigos and skinwalkers. The most common of these are Werewolves, who occupy vast territories of open, unsettled land. Shapeshifting is often reliant on certain events, such as a full moon, or the requirement of an animal's skin.
Shapeshifting is typically not thought of as magic, per se, but as a supernatural ability.
Glamour: This is the gift of the Fair Folk, whose skills at creating illusions are unparalleled. Traditionally called glamours, these illusions focus on turning the ugly beautiful. A skilled fairy can conjure combinations of scent, texture, and noise in order to confuse the senses.
Transmutation: Many fair folk are capable of transmuting small objects into completely different ones. They typically call this Replacing and it is often used for mischief-making.
Fair Folk Magic: In general, the fair folk are far more powerful practitioners of magic. They come to it more easily than humans and rarely focus on specifics, preferring broader learning. Although most fair folk can conjure glamours and transmutate objects, there is no restriction on what other kinds of magic they can learn.
Werewolves, vampires, magicians and sorceresses--all the tresses of a true magical society living right at our fingertips. The supernatural is no longer relegated to live on the fringes of society but walks among the mundane, and if you listen to those whispering mothers over there, with a little too much pride.
But it's hard not to feel hubris when you have magic at your beck and call. When you can change the world with a thought, a glance, a motion.
Before, it was done with an air of complete mystery.
And now in our modern times the curtain that hid magic and its intricacies from daily view has been cast aside in favour of empiric study and the scientific method. So for you, and just you, I'm going to crack open my Encyclopædia Magicae and give you the basic details of just who inhabits our world.
general magic skillsets
So, just a little disclaimer and honesty here. I'm lazy, there's a lot of us, there's a lot of variety with us, and there's no time to be going over everything. So if you have questions you hit up the Questions Box or the admins Arrow or Jackdaw. Don't worry, they don't bite!
Magic can be classed in two different ways: Human and Downworlder. Human magic is generally taught, not instinctive and requires many years of study. All humans have minimal connection to magic but few are naturally skilled. Downworlder magic usually does not require spells or book-learning, but is intrinsic to each species. The abilities vary between species.
HUMAN MAGIC
The art itself is the ability to channel magical energy from the earth and use it to perform some action in the corporeal plane. A strong magic user is simply said to have a wide or receptive connection to the earth's ley lines.
Alchemy: This is parent of modern chemistry, and since the earliest times it has centered on the art of transmutation, or changing base metals into gold. These days transmuted gold is illegal to sell, and so alchemists instead focus on creating elixirs that can extend life, empower magic, and even act as powerful solvents and catalysts. Some are also skilled in building bombs of the magical sort.
Conjuration: A subset of magic that focuses specifically on creating illusions. While methodology varies from person to person, a conjurer of decent strength can summon illusions that are real to at least two of the six senses. Also refers to the act of conjuration, related to other forms of magic.
Elementalism: Elementalists are typically magicians or sorcerers that have focused their abilities on conjuring one or more of this universe's cardinal elements. The most common are fire, water, earth, and air (in this order), followed by wind, electricity, ice, weather, light, dark, energy and spirit. Energy and spirit are sometimes considered to be the same. Do not confuse with Elemental creatures.
Healing: Healing is one of the hardest forms of magic to master as it requires deep knowledge of both anatomy and magic in order to be used safely. The majority of healers focus on a single species. Healing involves the exchange of life force (energy, chi), promoting healthy growth at the site of injury. Some illnesses, such as genetic or degenerative ones, can typically only be soothed but not healed by this form of magic.
Shapeshifting: Shapeshifting is typically divided into two different schools--one associated with magic and the other associated with folklore, myth, and tradition. The former is a learned art and often requires years of study to master. The latter refers to Wendigos, Therianthropes, and Skinwalkers, who are born with the ability to shapeshift or otherwise gain it through non-magical means.
Summoning: Traditionally thought to be a black art, summoning has gained traction in upperclass magic circles in recent years. Although the process remains the same, summoning houses have opened up around earth to provide safe spaces to summon spirits. Summoning requires a summoning circle of chalk, the name of who you are summoning, incense (the components depend on the situation), and salt. Summoning demons is still forbidden. Do not confuse with Necromancy.
Necromancy: The art of raising the dead is an age-old and much feared practice. Currently, reanimating sapient beings is strictly forbidden but raising smaller, non-sentient animals is legal.
Scrying: Using a pool of water, fresh milk or a mirror, a practitioner can see great distances using only the focus of their will and simple spell. It is similar to Clairvoyancy but it is not possible to see into the future or past with scrying.
Psionics: This school of magic refers to psychic abilities. The most common are telekinesis, telepathy, clairvoyancy, divination, astral projection, and empathy. The strength of this magic relies heavily on a practitioner's will.
Enchantment: A practitioner invokes an object with magical properties. These properties are limited to the type of object being enchanted and the strength of the practitioner. Most enchantments fade after use or after a length of time, but older artifacts tend to hold their enchantments far longer.
Spell-casting: This is the simplest and broadest category of magic. There are thousands of spells that fall under this umbrella term. Spell-casting typically involves invocations (spells) and occasionally gestures to activate the magic. Examples of spell-casting are fireballs, trap spells, invisibility, shields, flight, etc. The more complex the spell, the more energy and skill it takes to cast it.
Magician: Magicians are general practitioners of magic that tend to follow two paths with their magic. The vast majority become Jacks of All Trade who have knowledge on many subjects, but mastery over few or none. If they have the talent for it, some channel their abilities into a single specialty. The most powerful (often cited as wizards of old) were and are known to be masters of vast subject areas. Also refers to Mage, Sorcerer, Sorceress, Wizard, and Hedgewitch.
DOWNWORLDER MAGIC
Downworlder magic is the innate, the intrinsic. They describe it as visceral and it's just that--something that needs no words, no explanation, it simply is. To Downworlders, their abilities is as simple as breathing.
Shapeshifting: One of the most common Downworlder abilities, referring to therianthropes, wendigos and skinwalkers. The most common of these are Werewolves, who occupy vast territories of open, unsettled land. Shapeshifting is often reliant on certain events, such as a full moon, or the requirement of an animal's skin.
Shapeshifting is typically not thought of as magic, per se, but as a supernatural ability.
Glamour: This is the gift of the Fair Folk, whose skills at creating illusions are unparalleled. Traditionally called glamours, these illusions focus on turning the ugly beautiful. A skilled fairy can conjure combinations of scent, texture, and noise in order to confuse the senses.
Transmutation: Many fair folk are capable of transmuting small objects into completely different ones. They typically call this Replacing and it is often used for mischief-making.
Fair Folk Magic: In general, the fair folk are far more powerful practitioners of magic. They come to it more easily than humans and rarely focus on specifics, preferring broader learning. Although most fair folk can conjure glamours and transmutate objects, there is no restriction on what other kinds of magic they can learn.
deltra of gangnam style
