General Arcane Theory

The Studies of the Theoretical Models of Magic

"The principles of General Arcane Theory stand as our intellectual scaffolding—fragile yet necessary constructions that allow us to scale the insurmountable. We arrange our observations into tenets and models, into essences and traditions, desperately seeking patterns amid cosmic chaos. How peculiar that we endeavor to impose order upon forces that existed before order itself was conceived! And yet, what choice have we but to continue?"

— From: "The Compendium of Netherdyn: Volume IV - The Governing Forces of Magic and Matter" by Arvandus Quillborne

General Arcane Theory, commonly abbreviated as G.A.T., is the foundational academic discipline concerned with the underlying principles, metaphysical laws, and theoretical models that govern magic itself. Where Applied Spell Theory (A.S.T.) focuses on the mechanics of spellcasting—precision, technique, and safety—G.A.T. asks broader, more abstract questions: What is magic? How does it behave? Why does it respond the way it does?
This field forms the intellectual backbone of magical education across much of Netherdyn, particularly within prestigious institutions such as the Arcanum Dona Viperia in Morvathia, the Royal Academy of St. Arcturius in Demenore, or the White Raven Academy in Valleterna. Though General Arcane Theory encompasses a wide range of interpretations and intersecting schools of thought, three major frameworks dominate contemporary arcane scholarship:

Essence Study explores the classification and behavior of sentient sources of magic—such as the Arcane Plexus, the Tether, or the New Gods—and how these distinct entities shape spellcasting traditions, magical behavior, and the mental or physical toll on the caster.

The Tenets of Magic represent a codified list of metaphysical laws derived from the ancient treatise known as the Principia Arcanum. These tenets define core truths believed to govern all forms of magic, regardless of origin or discipline.

The Twelve Elements Model offers a material framework to explain magical resonance between reagents, rituals, and effects. This model is especially important for alchemists, ritualists, and transmutation specialists, but also is the basis of Sympathetic Magic.

Together, these three frameworks shape the curricula of most magical academies across Netherdyn and remain the unifying language through which magic is examined, questioned, and understood.

Essence Study and the Traditions of Magic

In the academic understanding of arcane theory, all magic is defined as “the willful imposition of thought upon a sentient energy, shaping it through ritual, emotion, or command into something tangible and real.” This sentient energy, referred to broadly across magical disciplines as an Essence, is not simply a raw force, but a living consciousnesses, alien to mortal understanding, yet capable of recognizing—or at the very least, reacting to—intent. The process of spellcasting, then, is less about manipulating energy and more about persuading or directing it. Through this lens, magic in Netherdyn is not bound to a singular source, law, or methodology. Instead, the art of magic becomes the art of being understood—and, through understanding, the art of command.
All spellcasters, regardless of training or tradition, follow the same fundamental principle: they impose their will upon an Essence to manifest spellwork. However, the nature of the Essence with which the caster forms a bond determines the character of the magic produced. This relationship between caster and Essence is what defines a Tradition of Magic.
Each Essence responds differently depending on its temperament and affinity. An Essence might yield easily to spells of creation or enchantment, yet resist acts of destruction or divination. This is one of the first truths taught to apprentices, summed up in the common phrase: “Essence shapes expression.”

Wizardry

Essence: The Arcane Plexus
Favored Expressions: Creation, Enchantment, Sustained Magic
Resisted Expressions: Dispel, Disjunction, Destruction

The oldest and most widespread magical tradition, wizardry draws its power from the Arcane Plexus—a vast, dreaming intelligence nestled deep within Netherdyn’s core. Said to have been placed there by the Divine Parents during the First Shaping, the Plexus is the primordial wellspring of formal spellcasting: a font from which incantations, sigils, and the geometries of will first emerged.
The Plexus is unusually cooperative. Its power flows freely to those with the knowledge and training to draw it forth, making wizardry accessible to disciplined minds. Its Essence leans naturally toward magic of shaping and sustaining: creation, enchantment, and warding. It excels at forming constructs, binding spells into space, and maintaining arcane effects over time. However, it resists spells of unraveling. Dispels, counterspells, and acts of magical negation often falter or behave erratically. Even experienced wizards may find their own conjurations stubbornly persistent.
Yet the Arcane Plexus’s generosity comes with a hidden cost. Each casting draws the mind closer to its alien consciousness, flooding the spellcaster with euphoric clarity that can become addictive. In its absence, casters may suffer withdrawal—mental collapse, paranoia, or hallucinations. This deteriorative state is known as spellshatter syndrome, and stands as wizardry’s great and silent price.

Witchcraft

Essence: The Tether
Favored Expressions: Curses, Transformation, Hexes
Resisted Expressions: Healing, Restoration, Warding

Forged in the aftermath of the Orvantian Experiments, witchcraft is a volatile tradition born from communion with the Tether—a metaphysical chain that binds the thirteen Netherhells. The Tether is not a god, nor a spirit, but a staggering, unfeeling mechanism. It hears no mortal plea. It answers only to demonkind—and to those whose blood carries a fragment of that infernal lineage.
For generations, witchcraft relied on rare vials of demon blood, used to channel the Tether in fleeting, costly moments. But that changed when Orvantus Aeridora succeeded in binding infernal essence into the body of a mortal. The witches of Morvathia, descendants of this fusion, carry demonblood within and can wield the Tether’s power without external focus.
The Tether’s nature is one of binding, malformation, and corruption. It empowers curses, mutations, and magical transformations, bending the world into uncanny shapes. But it recoils at spells of healing or preservation. Its Essence cannot mend easily—it can only remake. Efforts to heal using witchcraft often backfire, warping flesh or unbalancing humors.
Witchcraft is potent but costly. The slow poison of the Tether manifests in bloodrot, a degenerative condition that frays the nerves and scars the veins. While some delay its onset through occult treatments, no true cure exists. All witches know: the power in their veins is a toxin, and its price is high, if and when it should befall them.

Theurgy

Essence: The New Gods
Favored Expressions: Divination, Healing, Necromancy, Blessings
Resisted Expressions: Illusion, Trickery, Glamour

Theurgy is the tradition of divine invocation—the practice of drawing magic not from within, but from above. Its source lies in the New Gods, distant and formless entities who shape reality not through words or action, but through presence. Their names vary, their faces are unknown, and yet they listen.
To practice theurgy is to invite a god’s gaze. Through ritual, sacrifice, prayer, and purity, a soul may resonate with a divine Essence and become its conduit. Each god grants unique gifts, but broadly, theurgy empowers magic that heals, reveals, and guides—blessings, visions, communions with the dead. These powers flow with clarity and purpose. Yet most gods recoil from deceit and falsehood. Illusions, trickery, and glamour are usually resisted—unless one serves the Wile, the trickster divine, whose paradoxical blessings subvert the norm.
While divine magic is among the most stable known to scholars, its danger lies in its intimacy. Gods are not distant forever. The longer one channels their power, the more they begin to notice. To be noticed is to be changed. These transformations, called Affections, begin subtly—whispers that echo when no words are spoken, a glow behind the eyes, a scent of unknown flowers clinging to the skin. Over time, these shifts become more profound. Limbs may elongate or fold at unnatural angles. Eyes may multiply, or vanish entirely. Skin may turn translucent, wither or discolour.
To the faithful, these are sacred signs, proof of acceptance, of ascension. To others, they are evidence of an incomprehensible force rewriting its chosen. In the end, what remains may be a vessel of glory—or an empty husk, animated by something not quite mortal.

Druidry

Essence: The Choir
Favored Expressions: Reclamation, Healing, Transformation, Nature Control
Resisted Expressions: Curses, Enchantments, Sustained Magic

Druidry is the tradition of magic rooted in communion with the Choir—a living, sentient network of instinct and memory that pulses through the wild places of Netherdyn. The Choir is not a singular will, but a collective presence: the voice of beasts, roots, storms, and stone, all remembering what was lost. It is said to have emerged through the will of the Evergrowing, one of the New Gods, who gave nature its voice and vengeance in the dying years of the Age of Silence.
Unlike the divine, the Choir does not demand worship. It demands alignment. To wield its magic is to be accepted by it—welcomed into its unseen harmony of blood and bark, breath and soil. Those who are embraced find the Choir willing to be shaped, but only so long as their spells serve the natural order. The Choir favors magic that heals, reclaims, and transforms: regrowth over destruction, balance over domination. It empowers the mending of flesh and land, the guidance of storms, the return of twisted things to their true form. But it resists permanence—curses falter, enchantments unravel, and attempts to impose arcane structure often come undone.
The Choir does not forget. It lashes out against firebearers, builders, metalworkers—those who trespass too far or too carelessly. Its will is not cruel, but instinctual, reactive, often driven by ancient grief. Many druids speak of moments when the Choir overtook them—when, mid-spell, they awoke to blood on their hands and memories not their own.
To walk the path of druidry is to live on the edge of selfhood. One must constantly listen, constantly adapt. For the Choir is vast, and though it may welcome you into its song, it will not sing your name unless you earn it—again and again.

Shamanism

Essence: Spirits
Favored Expressions: Communion, Summoning, Illusion, Trickery
Resisted Expressions: Transformation, Enchantment, Bodily Alteration

Shamanism is the tradition of magic that draws its power from individual spirits—metaphysical entities that exist without form, yet carry memory, purpose, and agency. These spirits may emerge from the wilds, the Otherworlds, or the borderlands of death. What defines them in magical theory is not their origin, but their willingness to form a bond with a mortal.
Where other traditions commune with vast, impersonal Essences, shamanism is built on personal relationship. A shaman must first find a spirit—then prove themselves worthy. This may involve long pilgrimages, sacred trials, blood-pacts, or dream-journeys. Only when trust is earned can the spirit act as a conduit of power, lending its voice, insight, and strength to the magic that follows.
Because each spirit is unique, no two shamanic casters are alike. The expression of their magic depends on the nature of the bound spirit. Generally, shamanic magic favors communion, summoning, illusion, and trickery—forms that reflect the spirit’s liminal, incorporeal nature. It resists magic of the flesh: transformation, enchantment, and bodily alteration are often repelled or rendered unstable.
Though many spirits act as allies, guides, or guardians, the path is not without danger. Spirits are not always what they claim to be. Some withhold their intent, waiting years to perform a Spiritual Replacement: the slow and calculated overtaking of a caster’s body and mind, allowing the spirit to incarnate through deceit. Others may mimic trusted familiars, imitating their voice, presence, and memory, weaving false visions until the shaman cannot tell the real from the impostor.
To walk the shaman’s path is to dwell between worlds, to place faith in the unseen, and to trust that the whisper in the mist is a friend, not a shadow waiting to wear your skin.

The Tenets of Magic

The Traditions of Magic differ by source, temperament, and method of communion, yet all acts of spellcasting also adheres to a few common laws.
The clearest articulation of these laws is found in the Principia Arcanum, a tome so old that even the oldest surviving versions are copies of translations. No original manuscript has ever been recovered. The work is attributed to a figure named Ael-Thun, a person of no known origin—no portrait, no homeland, no history. Yet, despite this mystery, the Principia is held as foundational scripture across all arcane scholarship, studied from Galdorsmynd to Anatara.
The text describes the exact metaphysical processes by which mortals impose will upon an Essence and shape magic.

"Magick is power drawn from a sentient Essence, a willful force neither of flesh nor of mortal mind. He who worketh spells must make his will known, be it by word, by sign, or by sacrifice, that the Essence may hearken and shape the world as he desireth."

— The First Tenet – The Principle of Invocation

"No power is given freely, nor doth any gift come without its due. The Essence that heedeth the call shall claim its price—if not in the hour it is summoned, then in the hour it chooseth."

— The Second Tenet – The Principle of Exchange

"Magick remembereth, and no hand that wieldeth it remaineth unmarked. As the worker of spells doth shape the world, so is he shaped in turn—be it in flesh, in mind, or in soul. Yet even memory doth fade, and what was once strong shall wane in time."

— The Third Tenet – The Principle of Memory

➤ Magic is not merely energy—it is communication with willful power. Spellcasting is not the exertion of force, but the art of being understood by an Essence. Whether through word, gesture, symbol, or offering, the caster must declare their intent, and the Essence must respond, before magic may take shape.

➤ All magic is transactional. Every spell has a cost—be it in effort, offering, vitality, or some more arcane toll. The Essence will collect what it is owed, though not always when or how the caster expects.

➤ When magic is cast, a part of that Essence lingers within the caster, leaving behind a traceable imprint—a mark upon the body or the mind. Likewise, magic leaves its memory upon all it touches; places, objects or beings that have been shaped by magic retain a connection to the spell that changed them. But over time, they fade, and magic left untended will unravel.

"No bound is known to that which Magick may work, nor to the price that must be paid. He who calleth upon the Essence without heed or order shall find his work unmade, his will misgiven, and his fate unwoven."

— The Fourth Tenet – The Principle of Unpredictability

"That which is alike is ever bound, and that which once hath touched, yet toucheth still. Magick heedeth the bonds betwixt all things, and through such bonds is power made manifest."

— The Fifth Tenet – The Principle of Connection

"That which is wrought by Magick may be unmade by Magick, yet the Essence ever favoreth the making over the unmaking. To undo that which is done is to wrest against its will, and so the price is greater, the peril graver, and the resistance sure."

— The Sixth Tenet – The Principle of Resistance

➤ Magic without structure is dangerous. While its potential is boundless, so too is its peril. Formulae, rituals, and tested incantations exist to safeguard the caster. To work freeform magic is to gamble with one's own fate.

➤ This is the basis of Sympathetic Magic. Magic flows most easily where a connection already exists—between like things, or between things that have interacted. A lock of hair, a name, a shared wound—all become bridges for spellwork.

➤ Magic is a force that favors creation, shaping, and transformation over destruction and erasure. The Essence, once it hath woven a spell into the world, resists its unraveling. Thus, undoing a spell is never as simple as casting it in reverse. It requires more effort, more power, and often a price beyond what was first given.

"That which hath been shaped by Magick may be shaped again with ease, for the Essence remembereth where it hath flowed before."

— The Seventh Tenet – The Principle of Repetition

"If the worker of spells giveth no target, then shall the Essence choose—and ever doth it choose the hand that called it forth."

— The Eighth Tenet – The Principle of Direction

"To work Magick upon the willing is to tread an open path; to work it upon the unwilling is to war against the Essence itself. Should the resistance be great, the Essence may unwill the spell, for no pact was made."

— The Ninth Tenet – The Principle of Consent

➤ Magic leaves a memory upon all it touches, making it far easier to rekindle, reinforce, or restore a spell than to cast it anew. This lingering imprint allows for the swift reactivation of enchantments and makes broken spells easier to mend than to create from nothing.

➤ Magic demands clarity of intent. A spell without a defined target does not vanish into nothing—the Essence, lacking direction, shall reflect it upon the caster instead. This is why spellwork requires precise focus, for vague or careless magic often leads to self-inflicted effects.

➤ Magic flows freely where it is welcomed but resists where it is forced. A willing target offers no struggle, making spells upon them easier, stronger, and more lasting. An unwilling target, however, presents a barrier, forcing the Essence to contend with the will of another—if the resistance is great enough, the spell may fail, weaken, or unravel entirely.

"Magick waneth in flesh and blood, for life resisteth its grasp. Yet that which is wrought of stone, steel, or bone shall hold its power longer, and be shaped to endure."

— The Tenth Tenet – The Principle of Vessels

"The mortal form is no vessel without end. He who taketh more than his flesh may bear shall find himself undone, his mind shattered, his soul spilt into the void."

— The Eleventh Tenet – The Principle of Limitation

"Where many voices call, the Essence hearkeneth with greater force. That which is wrought by many is made the stronger, yet so too is the price divided amongst them, each bearing his share in equal measure."

— The Twelfth Tenet – The Principle of Accord

➤ Living beings reject permanence. Magic fades quickly in flesh, which is mutable, willful, and self-healing. In contrast, stone, bone, and metal make excellent vessels—unchanging, unresisting, and long-lasting. Thus, while spells upon the living must be renewed or strengthened, magic cast upon the inanimate may endure beyond its maker’s lifetime.

➤ A mortal body can endure only so much magic before it begins to break. The strain of channeling magic may lead to exhaustion, madness, or death, and those who seek too much power too quickly may find themselves unmade. Because magic unravels faster in the living, a caster must allow time for their essence to recover.

➤ The Essence responds more readily to many wills acting as one, making collaborative spellcasting more potent than the efforts of a lone caster. Rituals performed by covens, circles, or trained magi can weave spells of immense power, far beyond what any single caster could achieve. The cost of a spell is divided among those who cast it, allowing grander workings to be performed without breaking a single vessel.

The Twelve Elements Model

In the field of alchemy and applied spellwork, one of the most enduring and influential frameworks is known as the Twelve Elements Model, first formalized within the Collegium of Material Correspondence. This theory, refined through centuries of observation and experimentation, proposes that all magical reagents—herbs, stones, bones, metals, waters, and more—possess resonant qualities that determine how they interact with Essence and influence spellcasting outcomes.
Rather than focusing on the physical makeup of a component, the Twelve Elements Model examines the invisible harmonic signatures that dwell within materials. These Elements are not substances, but qualities—subtle metaphysical frequencies that attune to different aspects of magic. Most objects contain a blend of these resonances, but identifying the dominant Element within a reagent allows for more predictable and repeatable results.
This theory aligns closely with the Fifth Tenet of the Principia Arcanum, which asserts that magical power flows most effectively along paths of natural correspondence. The Twelve Elements explain why certain herbs calm the mind, why certain stones sharpen focus or amplify energy, and why some rituals require highly specific ingredients to succeed.
The Elements themselves are foundational in the creation of potions, rituals, spell focuses, and enchanted objects, serving as the arcane "grammar" that shapes how mortal will interacts with Essence. Below is a summary of the twelve recognized Elements and their associations:

Prima Essentia - The First Substance

The raw foundation of magic itself—the “etheric base” from which all other elements arise. Found in universal catalysts, clear crystals, or rare primal waters. Enhances overall spell cohesion and is used to stabilize volatile effects.

Aurum Magis - The Golden Gift

Symbol of arcane power, ambition, and mystical authority. Found in gold, dragonbone, and rare gemstones. Essential in spells of empowerment, control, or domination.

Sylphic Aegis - The Shield of Air and Motion

A marker of movement, freedom, defense, and breath. Found in feathers, air-infused herbs, and materials harvested in high altitudes. Supports spells of protection, wind, and barrier magic.

Ignis Arcanum - The Heat Within

The spark of change and destruction. Present in spicy food and herbs, volcanic stones, and cinders from sacred flames. Fuels spells of fire, anger, purging, and battle.

Transmutatio Vitae - The Change of Life

Associated with transformation, healing, growth, and decay. Found in blood, spores, mosses, and anything that bridges life and death. Core to shapeshifting and regeneration magic.

Luna Lucidum - Residual Moonlight

Element of mystery, intuition, secrets, and the veil between worlds. Found in night-blooming flowers, reflective minerals, and materials harvested under moonlight. Used in dreamwork, necromancy, and illusion.

Speculum Illusionis - The Mirror of Illusion

The essence of deception, glamour, and false light. Detected in mirrored surfaces, opals, and certain hallucinogenic reagents. Enhances spells of illusion, masking, and appearance alteration.

Vires Energeticae - The Surge of Force

Raw kinetic and magical power. Found in energized crystals, storm-charged materials, and iron struck by lightning. Central to spells of impact, force, movement, and explosive energy.

Serenitas Animi - The Calm of the Soul

A tranquil, stabilizing element associated with clarity, peace, divination, and mental resilience. Found in lavender, spiritwater, and memory-infused artifacts. Calms volatile spellcasting and sharpens focus.

Robur Perpetuum - The Root of Endurance

Represents stability, longevity, and persistence. Present in ancient trees, fossilized remains, and dense metals. Used in wards, durable enchantments, and long-form rituals.

Harmonious Resonance - The Song Between

The thread that connects disparate elements—often called “the tuning fork of magic.” Found in harmonically attuned materials, twin-blood items, and resonance-bonded tools. Crucial for multi-Essence or collaborative spellwork.

Astralis Essentia - The Starborn Spark

Rarest of the elements, representing cosmic mystery, fate, and the unknowable. Found in meteoric iron, stardust, or Essence-bathed relics. Used in divination, portent magic, and planar communication.

In the practice of ritual design, potion brewing, and reagent refinement, understanding the Twelve Elements allows arcanists to select components that harmonize with their spell’s desired outcome, narrowing the bridge between mortal will and Essence.