Celestial Bodies

Spellcasters have long since looked to the heavens as inspiration for their magical works. Indeed, celestial phenomena can alter, amplify, or distort this magic in ways that skilled practitioners can make ample use of. It is widely agreed that the Sun is the source of all magic within the world, but the host of other bodies that grace the heavens can add, take away, or otherwise make alterations of the available pool of magic in the world. For the vast majority of these instances, these alterations are too fleeting or too diminished to be felt or acted upon by an individual spellcaster, but rites and rituals performed by groups of dedicated mages can work these opportunities into unique magics that are otherwise impossible with traditional spellcraft.

The Moon.

The most commonly utilized celestial body outside the sun, the Moon's magic is unique in that it is a reflection (and thereby a distortion) of the sun's magic. What's more, it is constantly in flux. Because of all this, the magic of the Moon is harnessed by a number of different practitioners to a number of different results.

A Light in the Dark.

Evil things love the dark for it lets them conceal themselves within it, but the light of the moon reveals them. It is this aspect of the moon that is revered by monster hunters and spirits of sanctuary. It is also why curses like lycanthropy are at their strongest under the light of the full moon: the beast within becomes the "true" self of the victim, and the revealing light of the moon compels that true self to make itself known. This is also why spells like moonbeam, a focused beam of moonlight, force a shapeshifted creature to revert to their true form.

A Cycle of Change.

The phases of the moon constantly shift and the moon itself commands the tides of the seas to ebb and flow. To some spellcasters like druids, they can draw on this fluctuating force to empower themselves. Hags and witches also utilize these phases in their rituals to create potent curses and malignant creatures.

Blood Moons/Lunar Eclipses.

A rather rare celestial event, blood moons are prized by evil creatures as they represent the greatest distortion (or corruption) of the Sun's light. Malevolent beings draw upon the unique power of a blood moon to corrupt otherwise holy creatures, infuse profane life into dead matter, and inflict terrible curses upon the land and people.

Solar Eclipses.

The most rare of Lunar events, a Solar Eclipse is a unique opportunity for creatures of the night to wreak havoc upon the day, as both their strength is as full as it is in the depths of night, and those who would oppose them find their strength diminished. The exceeding rarity of a solar eclipse also means that complex spells or curses wrought under the darkened sun are exceedingly difficult to unravel.

The Stars.

This world's sun is not unique: Each star in the universe is an engine of raw magic. However, the vast distance of space means their influence is all but imperceptible for the denizens of this planet. But that is not to say secrets cannot be divined from them. Indeed, the stars are often looked upon for divination rituals, for if one listens close enough, they can hear the faintest whispers of the secrets of creation carried on the solar winds.

Pins of Light.

While constellations and individual stars serve mundane purposes like navigation and wayfinding, secrets of the arcane can be gleamed by those who know what to look for. Fundamental truths of the universe are sequestered in the arrangement of stars and how the planet is oriented among them. Diviners and Augers can use this to portend fated events or even foresee the outcome of certain decisions. What's more, from this vast distance, the arrangement of astrological constellations and their location in the sky exerts subtle effects throughout the world as the magic of their stars mix over lightyears before reaching the earth. Those attuned to such things can map out their influence on certain events and predict how they may affect the future.

Things in Between.

While every star produces magic, each is utterly unique, and thus what is commonplace on this planet may be entirely alien and impossible on another. And while space is vast, the distance between two heavenly bodies is not infinite, nor is this the first planet to foster life and magic. Many worlds have come and gone already, and their remnants can still be felt if one searches the depths of the void. They offer powers both eldritch and bizarre, with potent enough spellcasters channeling what little is just barely compatible with this world's magic to great effect.

Comets.

The rarest of celestial events a mage can take advantage of, but offering some of the most potent amplification in the heavens, comets absorb and focus solar energy like a magnifying glass focuses light. When a comet of sufficient size graces the sky, its amplifying properties can be felt and utilized by any spellcaster in the area.

Minor Comets.

Smaller comets offer minor boosts to spellcraft. Spells' effective levels are all increased by one when cast, and mages find their reserves of mana run deeper than usual.

Major Comets.

The most sought after heavenly events, major comets can see spells boosted upwards of four times their usual strength and are even more difficult to resist for those who find themselves targets of a mage's ire. It is only during these events as well that so-called "10th level" spells can be cast. The handful of times such comets have come in written history, the material of the world was intrinsically changed.

Auroras.

The phenomenon of an aurora is not inherently a magic one, however, the mechanism that causes them can also be harnessed by sufficiently talented mages. At the poles, where auroras are most common, the power of the Sun is stronger, but also more wild and uncontrollable. An unprepared wizard can just as easily turn themselves into a potted plant trying to tap into a solar storm as enhance their spellcraft.

Wild Magic.

Spellcasting in the presence of a solar storm can cause wild magic surges.

Spell Amplification.

A mage that successfully taps into a solar storm can see the strength of their spells increased, making fireballs explode with greater heat or making beguiling spells all the harder to resist.