Post by Pyrixs on May 8, 2016 3:19:04 GMT -5
Magic has many explanations but one that everyone can agree on is that it is a gift from the gods be they holy or selfish, but one thing that still troubles most is how it is used and channeled. We shall start with the basics of magic.
All forms of Magic spells draw its strength from the mana of the caster. Mana is a form of energy that a caster has access to either naturally or artificially. Natural access to mana would be classified as converting physical energy to mana, tapping into mana produced by the environment, or tapping into ley-lines.
Ley-lines are streams or rivers of mana running through the land, though great in power they are extremely dangerous.
Artificial access to mana is embedding your own natural mana into crystals and then using the stored mana for spells later. Storing mana in crystals is a common act used by most mages-in-training or mages preparing for battle. But what is mana?
Mana is the lifeblood of the world, all of life pulls from the ley-lines whether intentional or unintentional all in order to live, but it is not essential to the survival of aware life like you or me. Local fauna grows with ease in areas of close proximity to ley-lines and the ecosystem flourishes but the races of man are drawn to these areas and build their towns. The farther away from the lines the more scarce life becomes but our lands have an abundance of these streams of mana coursing through it and one day I fear something will turn its gaze towards us and the gods won't be able to help us.
Mana is magic in its purest form, the caster and the environment is what gives it form and turn it into a spell. Spells can be broken into different types ranging from a simple healing spell to a destructive fireball and everything in between given the abilities of the caster. The environmental influence on mana is subtle but something to take note of, mana pulled from a watery environment will power up a spell with water bases but weaken a spell of fire, with the only exception being lightning based spells. The same can be said of mana pulled from a fiery area and a windy area, fire spells are increased and wind attributed spells are increased. But the environment isn't the only way to call on this essence, we can use mana that flows freely through our body but at a risk. Like a soldier running out of stamina using our bodies own mana can tires us out and leave us vulnerable to physical and mental attacks but like stamina, we can build our bodies natural stamina through constant training and exercise. If only it was as simple as that though, it is not just our bodies that need rigorous training but our minds and most importantly the ley-lines that lay within us all.
These internal ley-lines, which I will refer to as magical channels, course through all mortal beings like the veins that carry our blood but instead they allow us to channel mana, hence magical channel. The number of magical channels differs from species to species with fairy's having almost eighty percent of their body made up of it, this is due in part to their wings. A fairy's wings are not a weak point for nothing, its structure is almost completely made of magical channels which accounts for the reason they excel in magic over other species. Next in line are half-angels and demons for the same reason, their wings, but since their wings are more muscular they don't have as much magical channel contained in them. After the semi-divine are those of the elven races, with a history with magic that goes back as long as it has been recorded, their bodies have adapted to the use of magic with half or up to sixty percent of their body mass containing magical circuits. Here is where things become tricky, the race of man with the exception of the fae, only have two with an above average body mass index, the Vedial, and the Olisthir. These two races have dabbled in magic than the other two leading to an increased magical channel amount, ranging from thirty-five to fifty percent. The Polnoc, Soturi, and other races have average levels due to most living in rugged environments that favored brawn and might over knowledge and intellect.
While one's race determines their magical channels in their body it doesn't mean they can't become great mages, all it determines is how well they can use magic with ease. With vigorous training one can expand the magical channels in their body and strengthen them, for example, a fae can use basic spells with ease without training but a Polnoc will need to train both physically and mentally to match their skill. In rare cases, some can be born with more than the average amount of channels than their race normally have, and these individuals grow to become some of the best mages know to all of the lands. Even though magic channels are like blood vessels for carrying mana they also share some muscle qualities, the sudden use of a once dormant magical channel can cause severe muscle pain and if left untreated can permanently damage that channel.
If one was to use a spell requiring more mana than their channels can withstand they will experience a backlash of mana known as mana burn. It normally feels like fire flooding through their body causing physical harm and injury, in dire cases permanently damaging the magical channels and leaving them useless. Some extreme cases of mana burn can even put such a strain on the body that it deals irreparable damage and even death. Recovery from mana burn is a long and arduous process that can take weeks if healed by a specialist or even longer if self-care is used, every mage will experience mana burn in their lifetime and it will leave a lasting impression on them and will help them grow as they travel down the path they have chosen. By constantly training and studying, a mage can learn their limits without burning out so to say.
Now imagine feeling the mana flow through your body like a current of lightning but it isn't hot, it's cool, it's refreshing, it's invigorating. This is how it feels to have mana flow freely through you, now fixate your concentration on your hands, direct the flow there but don't let it go further, let it pool there and build. You have your focus, now to give it the form you desire, concentrate on the mana you have gathered and mold it into what you desire, feel it heat up in your hands and ignite, or let it freeze and solidify. Feel each individual bit of mana split, tear, and arc within your hands or imagine them pulling flesh and muscle together binding it into one, magic is what you make and will it to do.
All forms of Magic spells draw its strength from the mana of the caster. Mana is a form of energy that a caster has access to either naturally or artificially. Natural access to mana would be classified as converting physical energy to mana, tapping into mana produced by the environment, or tapping into ley-lines.
Ley-lines are streams or rivers of mana running through the land, though great in power they are extremely dangerous.
Artificial access to mana is embedding your own natural mana into crystals and then using the stored mana for spells later. Storing mana in crystals is a common act used by most mages-in-training or mages preparing for battle. But what is mana?
Mana is the lifeblood of the world, all of life pulls from the ley-lines whether intentional or unintentional all in order to live, but it is not essential to the survival of aware life like you or me. Local fauna grows with ease in areas of close proximity to ley-lines and the ecosystem flourishes but the races of man are drawn to these areas and build their towns. The farther away from the lines the more scarce life becomes but our lands have an abundance of these streams of mana coursing through it and one day I fear something will turn its gaze towards us and the gods won't be able to help us.
Mana is magic in its purest form, the caster and the environment is what gives it form and turn it into a spell. Spells can be broken into different types ranging from a simple healing spell to a destructive fireball and everything in between given the abilities of the caster. The environmental influence on mana is subtle but something to take note of, mana pulled from a watery environment will power up a spell with water bases but weaken a spell of fire, with the only exception being lightning based spells. The same can be said of mana pulled from a fiery area and a windy area, fire spells are increased and wind attributed spells are increased. But the environment isn't the only way to call on this essence, we can use mana that flows freely through our body but at a risk. Like a soldier running out of stamina using our bodies own mana can tires us out and leave us vulnerable to physical and mental attacks but like stamina, we can build our bodies natural stamina through constant training and exercise. If only it was as simple as that though, it is not just our bodies that need rigorous training but our minds and most importantly the ley-lines that lay within us all.
These internal ley-lines, which I will refer to as magical channels, course through all mortal beings like the veins that carry our blood but instead they allow us to channel mana, hence magical channel. The number of magical channels differs from species to species with fairy's having almost eighty percent of their body made up of it, this is due in part to their wings. A fairy's wings are not a weak point for nothing, its structure is almost completely made of magical channels which accounts for the reason they excel in magic over other species. Next in line are half-angels and demons for the same reason, their wings, but since their wings are more muscular they don't have as much magical channel contained in them. After the semi-divine are those of the elven races, with a history with magic that goes back as long as it has been recorded, their bodies have adapted to the use of magic with half or up to sixty percent of their body mass containing magical circuits. Here is where things become tricky, the race of man with the exception of the fae, only have two with an above average body mass index, the Vedial, and the Olisthir. These two races have dabbled in magic than the other two leading to an increased magical channel amount, ranging from thirty-five to fifty percent. The Polnoc, Soturi, and other races have average levels due to most living in rugged environments that favored brawn and might over knowledge and intellect.
While one's race determines their magical channels in their body it doesn't mean they can't become great mages, all it determines is how well they can use magic with ease. With vigorous training one can expand the magical channels in their body and strengthen them, for example, a fae can use basic spells with ease without training but a Polnoc will need to train both physically and mentally to match their skill. In rare cases, some can be born with more than the average amount of channels than their race normally have, and these individuals grow to become some of the best mages know to all of the lands. Even though magic channels are like blood vessels for carrying mana they also share some muscle qualities, the sudden use of a once dormant magical channel can cause severe muscle pain and if left untreated can permanently damage that channel.
If one was to use a spell requiring more mana than their channels can withstand they will experience a backlash of mana known as mana burn. It normally feels like fire flooding through their body causing physical harm and injury, in dire cases permanently damaging the magical channels and leaving them useless. Some extreme cases of mana burn can even put such a strain on the body that it deals irreparable damage and even death. Recovery from mana burn is a long and arduous process that can take weeks if healed by a specialist or even longer if self-care is used, every mage will experience mana burn in their lifetime and it will leave a lasting impression on them and will help them grow as they travel down the path they have chosen. By constantly training and studying, a mage can learn their limits without burning out so to say.
Now imagine feeling the mana flow through your body like a current of lightning but it isn't hot, it's cool, it's refreshing, it's invigorating. This is how it feels to have mana flow freely through you, now fixate your concentration on your hands, direct the flow there but don't let it go further, let it pool there and build. You have your focus, now to give it the form you desire, concentrate on the mana you have gathered and mold it into what you desire, feel it heat up in your hands and ignite, or let it freeze and solidify. Feel each individual bit of mana split, tear, and arc within your hands or imagine them pulling flesh and muscle together binding it into one, magic is what you make and will it to do.
Casting a spell comes in three steps; draw, form, and release. First, you must draw upon the mana to cast your spell, be it from your body, the environment, or from gems that have been charged with mana. The land is rich in mana where ever you go but always be prepared in case the land proves fickle. Second, form the mana into the spell you want, a fireball, a spear of ice, a jug of water, wings of light, the possibilities are endless. Last, release the spell, let it fly loose from your hands or compress it into physical form, you'll know what to do once you reach that point just as an archer knows when to release the string. Yes draw, form, and release is the basics of casting but there are more steps than just these three when you draw in the mana you must know where you draw from, but where do you draw when the regular sources are unavailable and you can't risk drawing from your own reserves? The answer is above you, the answer is that stars, the sun, the moon, and even the gods will lend you mana in your time of need.
Drawing mana from the gods can be broken into five tiers of power, the more mana you need for your spell, the higher your tier but be warned, you can still be afflicted by mana burn and since this mana is from the gods themselves it can do more harm to your body than normal. The tiers from highest to lowest are as follows: The Hexadus which is the drawing mana from a single deity to cast the lowest of spells, The Tetrad is drawing mana from the four deities who each represent the seasons, The Trinity requires you to draw from three of the six gods that represent the Lux and Nox of our world, calling upon Auctor and Opifex is called The Duality; finally we come to the strongest and most dangerous tier of divine powers, The Unity, the calling upon all of the deities all at one time. The Unity is the most dangerous way to cast a spell due to the large amounts of mana that will flow through your body all at once, it is highly advised to only use this as a last resort.
A mages staff is their most important tool and weapon in their arsenal. Not only does it act as an extension of their physical body it also doubles as a means for them to better control their spells. The use of a staff can vary, I have seen mages use it to augment the course of a fireball in mid-flight, use the staff to fling spears of ice, and even emit a blade of light from the end of their staff turning it into a scythe. A mages staff can be anything from a simple wooden rod to an ornate metal pole covered in runes but they all have one thing in common, a gem at the top. Gems and magic have gone hand in hand as long as anyone can remember, the most used one being quartz. Out of all the gems, quartz has the ability to be charged with magic and tapped into at a later time and possibly more. It could be possible to charge a pure quartz with more than just mana but with a spell, that way when the quartz is shattered it releases the stored spell.
Magic is a complex thing, every day new things are discovered and we may never truly understand it. I hope that what I have learned through research and experience may one day pave the path for new mages who will one day usher forth a new era of magic.
Drawing mana from the gods can be broken into five tiers of power, the more mana you need for your spell, the higher your tier but be warned, you can still be afflicted by mana burn and since this mana is from the gods themselves it can do more harm to your body than normal. The tiers from highest to lowest are as follows: The Hexadus which is the drawing mana from a single deity to cast the lowest of spells, The Tetrad is drawing mana from the four deities who each represent the seasons, The Trinity requires you to draw from three of the six gods that represent the Lux and Nox of our world, calling upon Auctor and Opifex is called The Duality; finally we come to the strongest and most dangerous tier of divine powers, The Unity, the calling upon all of the deities all at one time. The Unity is the most dangerous way to cast a spell due to the large amounts of mana that will flow through your body all at once, it is highly advised to only use this as a last resort.
A mages staff is their most important tool and weapon in their arsenal. Not only does it act as an extension of their physical body it also doubles as a means for them to better control their spells. The use of a staff can vary, I have seen mages use it to augment the course of a fireball in mid-flight, use the staff to fling spears of ice, and even emit a blade of light from the end of their staff turning it into a scythe. A mages staff can be anything from a simple wooden rod to an ornate metal pole covered in runes but they all have one thing in common, a gem at the top. Gems and magic have gone hand in hand as long as anyone can remember, the most used one being quartz. Out of all the gems, quartz has the ability to be charged with magic and tapped into at a later time and possibly more. It could be possible to charge a pure quartz with more than just mana but with a spell, that way when the quartz is shattered it releases the stored spell.
Magic is a complex thing, every day new things are discovered and we may never truly understand it. I hope that what I have learned through research and experience may one day pave the path for new mages who will one day usher forth a new era of magic.