Magics of Aezieron

Aezieron is an old world steeped in magic and is threaded throughout the world. Close to the beginnings of the world, the primal magics were woven by Mystra into order as the fabric of magic known as the Weave. While all magic comes from the weave and is interconnected, magic practitioners over the ages have come up with both the schools of magic and "families" of magic.

Schools of Magic:

The schools of magic have long been understood on some level, though names have slightly changed over the ages and some spells have changed classification here of there. The schools break down spells, rituals, and other effects into understandable effects, roles, and purposes. In wizarding circles, study usually focuses on one particular school.
The schools are as follows:

• Abjuration: Protection, Wards, Signals, Bindings
• Conjuration: Summoning, Transportation, Teleportation
• Divination: Telepathy, Foresight, Scrying, Communication with the Divine
• Enchantment: Curses, Blessings, Manipulation of the Mind
• Evocation: Manipulating Energy
• Illusion: Glamours, Mirages, Visual/Audio tricks
• Necromancy: Manipulation of Life Energy, Undeath, Resurrection
• Transmutation: Changind something's form, enhancement, alchemy

Families of Magic

Families of Magic in some ways can be similar to schools in purpose in keeping a theme of spells together. However, this theming is not limited to schools of spells but more so relates to a magical concept or means of manipulating the weave to achieve a result. Some schools do focus on combining some schools together while others are more aligned with how the magic is learned.
The schools usually require distinct ways to learn or begin engaging with them. The many early races of Aezieron formed different families of magic, however only a few have lasted to present day and some have much more negative conotations in magical communities.

by Austin Graham

The Family of Arcane Magic

is the most commonly used and practiced family. In fact, most people don't even refer to it as a family as it is widely regarded as the only means of using magic outside of divine magics.
The family of Arcane Magic traces its origin back to the Dragons. Though magical by nature, the eldest of the dragons sought more refined and controlled manipulation of the weave that they could use by their superior intellect of which they could boast. They used their knowledge to test their servants and rewarded acolytes richly. This form of utilizing magic is utilized almost exclusively by all spellcasters that are not Divine casters. It deals with very rigid rules and understanding of precise manipulation of the weave to achieve the desired effect. Even Druids, Sorcerers, Warlocks, Bards, those who do not necessarily learn magic by intense study still draw power by knowing the precise means of manipulating the weave.
By the Rebirth Era, the Arcane Domain is the dominant and to some, only existing means of using magic without making bargains or worshipping a divine entity. It is the most diverse family of magic and attempts to recreate many elements from the other families. Though most spells can be found in many families of magic, this is more related to having the near exact same effect, but not the same means of achieving said effect. Thus fireball can technically be a valid spell in the Divine, Arcane, Elemental, and Astral famillies. The effect is the same, though the means of manipulating the weave or gaining the knowledge is different.

by Austin Graham

The Family of Astral Magic

is an obscure and ancient form of magic. It draws power from the celestial bodies of the Sun, the Moon, and Stars. Though long forgotten, this family has been re-discovered and its secrets have been kept by entities who call themselves the Astral Guardians.
The family of Astral Magic is actually split into 3 distinct sources: one for each celestial body. When practicing celestial magic, study is not the only element required. In fact, to practice this magic, one must make a connection of understanding with the source of magic and gains a sliver of magical essence from said source in order to fuel and practice its magic. It is close in practice to the ways Druids connect to nature.
The Solar, Stellar, and Lunar magics focus on the philosophical and thematic attributes associated with these sources. By knowing the source and unlocking its secrets, casters draw upon its power to achieve effects unknown and unattainable to other casters.

by Austin Graham

The Family of Divine Magic

is granted to casters by divine beings of the planes who have great power based on the worship of others. Divine Magics are found within the realms of Paladins and Clerics and even some sense of Warlocks. These magics of the divine are granted powers and and can be revoked. The caster uses their connection to the divine to cause a magical effect.
As the Weave was crafted by a divine being, Mystra, and magic itself is an innate part of the divine, the divine beings have varying levels of conection to the weave and instill a knowledge of power in their casters. In some cases, there is overlap between the effects of the magic, though divine magics do tend to deal heavily in manipulating life energy and dealing with the divine beings of the planes.
This family of magics is unique in that being predominantly granted or tethered to the divine being who is granting the power, it is also the most... unpredictable for the caster. Meaning, a caster may wake up to find their magic taken away if they anger their deity, or if their deity is unable to have influence in an area, or catastrophically: the deity is slain. Only the warlocks of the arcane family face a similar stumbling block. Another interesting note: though there may be many clerics and priests granted power: very few are granted great power. Thus the number of the great arcane and divine casters is roughly the same.

by Austin Graham

The Family of Elemental Magic

was some of the first magic ever used by the fey druids and the Titans. These early beings, the early dragons, leviathans, giants, and more, were innately charged to their core by magic. Elemental Magic draws its power from the raw uncontrolled power of the elemental planes. Most practitioners are beings like genasi, aarakocra, dragonborn, and others that have a blood connection to the planes or planar beings.
Though it seems like the school of evocation would seem to cover the scope of this brand of magic. But Elementalists, those who delve these depths of power, achieve strength unlike any a mere evocation mage can dream to achieve. Casters look to the Titans and planar beings to learn the elements' secrets. Druids of its craft learn to meld themselves with the elements in ways unknown to others and achieve feats of natural power that could strike fear into the hearts of all who witness it.
While its power is great, the elements are demanding and demand a caster's full attention to avoid being consumed. While an evocation wizard may channel many elemtents in a versatile manner, an elementalist focuses on one particular element and its variations to unlock the full potential of its strengths and adapt to its weaknesses.

by Austin Graham

The Family of Shadow Magic

is both ancient and the most misunderstood of all magics. The nature of Shadow Magic draws in all sorts of unsavory figures, and as a result has been labeled as Dark Magic and forbidden by many magical circles. Many come seeking a quick way to gain great power or manipulate their enemies, but few know how quickly you can lose yourself to the draining power of the Shadowfell that this family of magic draws its power from.
Practitioners, known as Shadowmancers or more archaically: Shadow Weavers, learn to draw the energy of the Shadowfell to augment their spells to great heights and even manipluate the fabric of reality. At the same time, they must be mentally strong or they will be consumed by Shadow, corrupted, and destroyed. The Shadowfell is an unforgiving place and drains the life and vitality of others, thus many Shadow spells deal with darkness, draining, mis-direction and illusions, or negatively affecting others, which contributes to its negative view to outsiders.
The ways of the deep Shadow magic are known only to a few of the beings who were present at its discovery. The few mages who have used it for good have learned that the true underlying power is seeing Shadow as the space between Light and Darkness. Shadow is the border that connects them together. For each strand of magic in the Weave is a dark echo in the Shadow Weave. By studying this relationship, one can more deeply undertsand the building blocks of reality.

by Austin Graham

The Family of Temporal Magic

is the least known and least practiced of magics. Temporal Magic, also known as Chronomancy, as the name implies deals with the manipulation of time. Many arcane casters know of minor manipulations of time. Chronomancy draws its power from a being who vanished long ago. Some even claim their spark was shattered and scattered. Some mages have been able to stumble upon Chronomancy when learning spells such as Haste or Time Stop, though it is a rough and narrow understanding of the nature of Time.
The few who are gifted knowledge of Time, know how fragile its flow can be and the importance of preserving what remains of the source that governed its flow. Should Time be fractured or corrupted without its guardian to restore it, Time would stop flowing and darkness would fall on Aezieron and the planes. Knowledge of Time does not simply mean stopping top for a short while or manipulating time around and object or person. Time is a flowing fabric and energy. It can be used to varying effect and even touch other realities.
One unusual aspect of Chronomancy is how unique its appearance is. All chronomancy has a very identifiable bright silvery blue glow to it. It is believed that this is a remnant of the divine power of the Guardian of Time long forgotten. Many depths of Chronomancy have not been discovered, though there are tales and ominous warnings of mages who strayed too far in their desire to manipulate time and were punished by Mystra herself.