Wandering magic
Wandering magic is the astral aspect to magic. It is not compatible with most types of magic and is used by a diverse group of individuals known as wanderers. They can be immortals or not, don't necessarily know each other and are seen as ferrymen between planes of existence. Wandering magic is both ritualistic and instinctive.
Origine
This natural aspect of magic came from the links and borders between planes of existence and the fabric of reality itself which make it a passive force. It can be considered as an inexhaustible torrent whose current cannot be controlled but from which channels can be dug to draw on this magic. The width of the canals would symbolize the power necessary to accomplish the goal for which the canals were dug. It was researched, used and shared by Ferd, God of Travels.
Source
Wanderers use astral, magic energy which is naturally produced from the cosmos to travel between planes of existence. They can sometimes perform their ritual on ley lines to create a stronger connection to their source but the main settings used are stellar configurations, constellations and other planetary objects. It means they use a dynamic, natural and external source.
The magic drawn from it is thus very unpredictable but very powerful, so much that the consequences for missusing or overusing it are severe. The source is also infinite but it can't be used too much because of the after-effects. Thus, each wanderer only has a limited amount of travels available to them, which is a number they don't know.
Connections
Wandering magic mainly uses complementary connections. They connect beings, objects and/or places which complement each other. They can be seen as the beam that connects the two sides of a scale. Break it and the plateaus collapse, unbalance it and the harmony is broken. These connections can link opposites, such as shadow and light, Good and Evil, etc..., but also more abstract concepts belonging to a whole such as the elements, the planets, etc... Usually, these links are left alone since they create balance between the parties and they are quite fragile and delicate. Breaking these connections or changing them can have dramatic consequences. Here, wandering magic uses the complementarity between planetary objects and the rest of the cosmos to open "doors" they can go through. Doing this, they create temporary links between planes of existence.
Planes of existence
Wanderers can travel to all planes of existence and all pocket dimensions. However, they have to adapt to the sky seen from the plane they are on.
Talent
The talent to use wandering magic is both innate and acquired. Someone who weren't born able to use it will never be able to. However, someone who has the natural talent to connect with the stars won't be able to become a wanderer if they never learn how to. Indeed, they should have great, precise knowledge of astral bodies and general knowedge of the places they want to go in. They have to study and practice for a long time before being able to make their first travel.
This talent can be partially lost if the knowledge acquired is forgotten or not used, the same way someone forgets a language after not practicing for a while. In this case, it is often progressive and it won't have too much impact on the user. They will be able to regain it by learning and practicing again and it might even be quicker the second time. However, if the talent is lost suddenly and/or entirely, the user and the one (or the thing) who broke the complementary link between user and magic will receive a severe backlash. They will get scattered between different planes of existence while still being whole, which will put a lot of pressure on their soul, mind and body, until they become mad with pain and die.
User types
Wanderers are considered intermediary users because they have the innate talent of using an external source. They do not possess an internal power and cannot practice magic without their external one. Moreover, their source only serves one purpose and its power and the strength of the bond between source and user defines the wanderer's power. Most of them are secluded and would rather cherish the connection between them and their magic than nurture social bonds.
Awakening
Wanderers have a progessive awakening. During the pre-awakening phase, the user studies and practices without being able to cast a spell, or not without help, until they can travel alone. It's a conscious, painful process: apart from the hard work provided to get results, they also get bouts of pain in the pre-awakening phase and when travelling the first few times. Their bodies, mind and souls have to bear the pressure from navigating between planes of existence. They will then feel the changes taking place in them through physical perceptions (tingling body parts, current-like feelings, impression something awakens within them, pain, etc...), mental perceptions (strange sensations when in contact with another user, perception of magic flow, impression something awakens within them, etc...) and emotional ones (joy, fear, drunk on the new power, etc...).
Apprenticeship
Most wanderers are either self-taught or they sometimes belong to a teacher-student pair. Their learning is then done through practice and personal experimentation while being very attentive to their feelings and the perceptions of their sensations and their environment. Although a mentor is quite rare, it is not impossible. A master would allow the apprentice to learn faster and perhaps more.
Families and disciplines
Wandering spells belong to the invocation family and the utility discipline. Wanderers are also known to be able to perform divinations thanks to the stars and planets.
Components
Components are the elements that magic users need to practice it. Wanderers mainly need the mental component, which is all the psychological, cognitive and emotional skills necessary to successfully use magic. They can sometimes also use the linguistic and material components and, rarely, the vocal and gestural ones.
Products
This kind of magic can only produce divination or travelling spells. Magic circles and sigils can also be created but they are only used to help with the previously mentioned spells.
Limits
Wandering magic is very rare as very few people have the talent to use it. The chance to get a teacher is also very thin and it is difficult to use because it needs precise control and knowledge. The price to pay for it is even greater because of the after-effects of moving from plane to plane: apart from the pain of the awakening phase, the wanderer will also have serious traumas from the things happening in other messier planes of existence and he will slowly forget where he came from, his family, his friends, until he becomes a simple vessel connected to the stars mechanically travelling from place to place. However, immortals have an easier time dealing with the after-effects as their mind, soul and body are more powerful.
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