A Guide to Elderone's Magic (Part 1)

DISCLAIMER: This guide will be tackling the basics of performing magic in Elderone. Specific types of magic (teleportation, healing, attack-type spells, etc.) will be discussed in Part 2

Magic

-Magic is the manipulation of both elements and mana

Elements

-Pertains to the four key aspects of nature that binds and circulates within a world (i.e. Earth, Wind, Fire, Water)

Mana

-The incorporeal energy found in all things (living and non-living) and the same one that flows around, within, between, and connecting the realms. The amount of mana in a particular thing (or being) or in a particular place varies greatly and affects the performance of magic. As such, those with little mana inside themselves usually have difficulty in using magic (or cannot even use magic at all).

Language

-The method used to channel one's intention in order to perform magic. Known as the Gift from the Gods. Language allows one to precisely manipulate both elements and mana to achieve a more 'specific' result. It is classified into both the written and spoken form. However, most mages agree that the use of both ensures greater effectivity of a spell. Each race has its own Language unique to them, but it is not common for other races to use Language from others. Runic Language, the Language of humans, is one of the more commonly used ones, followed by Elven and Dwarven Language. Runic is divided into both the Old Runic and New Runic.

Spells

-The end result of magic, pertains to the various feats achieved through the use of magic

How to Perform (or use) Magic

-To perform magic, one must have a sufficient supply of mana within oneself to be able to manipulate the elements and the mana surrounding himself. The next step would be to choose the medium of Language to use (whether written, spoken, or both). After choosing the Language, and keeping in mind the limitations of the spell to be used, one needs to have the right condition of mind. As one starts chanting or reading (aloud or silently) the incantation, the spellcaster's intention together with his mana and strength is then projected outward, producing the spell.

What is the Right Condition of Mind in Performing Magic

-Most mages agree that a focused mind is the right condition of mind needed to use magic. A focused mind is different from a calm mind since the former allows the flow of emotions instead of inhibiting them. It recognizes the current state of emotion that the spellcaster has while keeping concentrated at performing magic. While this could alter significantly the results of the spell (e.x. an ice-based spell produces snow instead of hail), a focused mind is still preferred to a calm mind since mages believes that the results produced by the former are the ones that truly reflect the intention of its caster.

The Use of Language

-There are differing opinions among practitioners of magic as to which between the written or spoken form of language is more effective. Some argue that the spoken form is better since lesser concentration is needed in using spoken spells, due to the fact that the user himself speaks out what he intends the spell to do unlike in the written form where the caster must concentrate harder as he projects his intention and mana on the written incantation of the spell. However, casting out loud a spell can take from seconds to hours even and speaking hastily or a mispronunciation can alter significantly a spell's result.

-On the other hand, some prefer the written form because writing requires a greater time of preparation, allowing the use of more complex spells without exhausting one's voice in speaking them out loud. Written spells are also easily casted by simply directing mana on the writings symbolizing the incantation. However, spells written in an unknown language can prove to be a challenge since its caster has no way to gauge how much mana one should use and what intention to project. In such cases, most mages would simply use a simple command as their intention such as "activate" or "use" while pouring as much mana as they can. This can be dangerous in certain cases as the large amounts of mana may 'break' the spell or alter its effects.

-As the debate on what form of Language is better suited for spellcasting continued throughout the decades, a third school of thought emerged; the use of both written and spoken form. As of the present, most highly skilled practitioners of magic advocate the use of both forms in order to bring out the full potential of the spell. This school has produced what's referred to as 'hybrid spellcasting' methods such as 'Silent Reading', 'Materialization', and 'Transcription or Engravement'.

Silent Reading

-One of the earliest forms of hybrid spellcasting that was developed. Just like its name it merely involves reading a written incantation silently while projecting both mana and intention towards the writing. This assures a faster casting time while providing more precise results. The method also is used as a "shortcut" by some mages, reciting the first few words or lines of an incantation in their heads then simply using a command such as "activate" for the rest when pressed for time. This type of spellcasting is one of the most convenient and has the lowest risk of backfiring compared to the other two hybrid methods.

Materialization (or Rune Materialization)

-A method used by highly skilled and proficient practitioners of magic. By manipulating the mana around them as they speak an incantation, powerful mages are able to "materialize" the very runes forming a spell. These materialized runes serve as the written form of the spell resulting to the use of both forms of Language without resorting to any physical written form. Such method also allows the almost instantaneous casting of a complex spell since the runes appear as the caster speaks.

-It takes years of training and a great aptitude for sensing and manipulating mana for someone to be use materialization. Most mages in Adrana are well-versed in this method, with the very best being taken in as apprentices by the royal family. This form of spellcasting requires significant concentration. There are accounts of sorcerers materializing a different rune from the one they're chanting, resulting to "breakage" of the spell and its effects rebounding on them.

Transcription (or Engravement)

-One of the lesser-known methods of spellcasting and involves "transcribing" or "engraving" the spells to be used on oneself. Engraved spells can be activated anytime and may even be left on a continuous state of "activation" without the need for regularly chanting it. The procedure usually starts with the "transcriber" or "engraver" casting the spell on the person subject of engravement while engraving the runes on the person himself. The intention used as the spell is cast must be similar to "engrave", "etch", or "transcribe" in order to avoid producing the spell completely. Transcription can only be done to living things and is also the riskiest of all methods. There always exists a high chance of spell breakage when transcribing, with the person or being subjected to it dying or warped by the effects.

-Transcribed or engraved spells can be casted anytime without the need of even chanting them but by the user merely "remembering" the incantation and speaking it inside his mind. Spells of such nature are also more effective and precise. However, transcribed spells that are in a constant state of activation drain greatly the caster's mana compared to non-transcribed ones.

-The Exiled are the only known practitioners of transcription while some tribes from the continent of Mauza are said to engage in a similar practice. No one knows how the group discovered the method though. All of the members' body contain a variety of curses and spells, including the runes needed to counter the killing enchantment Heronicus put on Threanas.

The Difference Between Manipulation of Elements and the Use of Magic

-Manipulation of elements unlike the use of magic produces inaccurate and highly unpredictable results. A spell might be able to produce a ball of fire with a specific size and even shape, while manipulation of the elements to produce fire may result to a small flicker of flame or in worst cases, a sudden explosion. Some races, just like the Dragons, can manipulate the elements easily but most cannot. The ability to manipulate elements to some degree usually is an indication of an affinity to magic.

Spell Breakage

-Spell breakage involves using significant amount of mana to weaken the integrity of the written form of a spell to the point that it's rendered useless. Breaking a spell is a difficult feat since the more complex one is, the greater is the mana needed to break it and the number of runes forming a spell does not necessarily equate to its complexity. Further, there is also the risk of dying due to complete mana loss. There have been numerous accounts of mages simply dropping dead after attempting to break a spell. Lastly, when done incorrectly, spell breakage sometimes result to the spell's effects backfiring on the person projecting the mana.