Magic & The Weave

Magic is a type of energy that is produced by the Weave. It interacts strangely with the world, weaving its way through creation to produce supernatural results, beyond what would be considered natural.
People and creatures can channel magic to produce these magical effects through the art of spellcasting. In addition to this, some people and creatures are innately magical or have innate magical abilities, allowing them to produce magical effects naturally, as part of their biology, like how a Fire Dragon can breathe fire.

The Weave:

The Weave is one of the primal cosmic forces of the universe, similar to the flow of Time. It is a constant river of magic that flows through almost every aspect of the universe.
Some people and creatures can draw on the Weave, channelling it through them to produce magical effects.
The Weave is intimately tied to the Primordial Goddess Hecate, she is the embodiment and personification of the Weave.

Spellcasting:

Spellcasting is the art of channelling the magic produced by the Weave. Spellcasting is used by creatures to produce a vast range of supernatural effects that would be beyond what they would naturally be able to do.
Unlike creatures with innate magic, spellcasting requires the use of spells to produce their desired result. Spells are incantations or runic formulas that when used in combination with magic, channelled by the user, are capable of producing a specific magical effect. To produce a different effect requires the use of a different spell. Each spell requires a different incantation, which is a combination of words, gestures and materials, known as components. The incantation dictates the effect, area of effect, distance and even target of the spell, with an incantation having to be changed in accordance with a different desired result.
Spellcasting also requires the user to channel magic, allowing it to flow through them to fuel their spells. The more magic you channel through you. the more powerful of a spell you can cast. But this comes at a cost, spellcasting is exhausting, the more magic you draw upon the more energy your body expends. Pushing these limits too far has a chance to kill you. Like a muscle, the more magic you cast, the greater endurance you develop, thus allowing you to channel more magic through you, which then allows you to cast more spells, and more powerful spells.
Spells are often categorised with levels to help spellcasters gauge what type of spells they are capable of. The higher the level the spell is categorised as, the more magic is required in order to cast it.
Many spellcasters use a focus to help channel magic, such as a wand or staff. This usually replaces the need for material components required for incantations.

Spellcasting Practices:

The art of spellcasting is split into three distinct practices, each categorised by different techniques and ways of channelling magic. These practices are categorised as Arcane, Divine and Primal Magic. Arcane magic is the most common spellcasting practice.

Arcane:

Arcane magic is used by spellcasters that draw their power from the Weave, usually directly.

Divine:

Divine magic is used by spellcasters who draw their power through a divine source, usually a divine entity, like a God. They funnel magic through this divine source, instead of directly from the Weave. This usually causes their magic to take on aspects of the divine source they funnelled the magic through.

Primal:

Primal magic is used by spellcasters who draw their power from the four elements or the natural world around them. Instead of directly drawing from the Weave, Primal spellcasters funnel their magic through either an elemental entity, the elemental plains or through the natural magic that permeates all living things. This usually causes their magic to take on aspects of the elements or aspects of the natural world. Primal Magic is sometimes called Druidic Magic.

Spellcasting Origin:

Spellcasting is further categorised by how spellcasters acquired their magic. The most common way you can acquire magic is through years of study, but some spellcasters are able to cast magic innately, and some have been gifted magic by an external source.

Study:

Study is the most common way people learn how to cast spells. This process involves years of training and practice to channel magic, either directly from the Weave or from another source.
This process also involves memorising incantations for spells. Anyone, no matter their background, with enough time and training can learn to cast spells through study.

Innate:

Some creatures are able to innately cast spells, they do not require years of training and are instead infused with magic.
Innate spellcasters are biologically capable of channelling magic, with incantations coming to them naturally instead of having to be memorised.

Gifted:

Some powerful entities are capable of giving the ability to cast spells to creatures. These spellcasters, sometimes called warlocks, can cast spells with very little practice or training, closely resembling those who are able to innately cast spells.
Warlocks funnel their magic through the entity that gave them the ability to cast spells, commonly called a patron, similar to how Divine magic works. This usually causes the spellcasters magic to take on aspects of their patron.
Gifted spellcasting also comes with its downsides, since a warlock's magic is channelled through their patron, their patron can take it away at any time. This usually puts warlocks at the mercy of their patron.

Schools of Magic:

There are ten schools of magic in which all spells are categorised depending on their function. Many spellcasters specialise in only one school of magic, choosing to master one instead of branching out to multiple. This is usually because it is easier to focus on and master one school of magic since they share similar incantations, branching out into multiple schools is exceedingly more difficult and time consuming.

• Abjuration: Abjuration spells are spells of a protective nature. Those who specialise in abjuration magic are called Abjurers.
• Chronomancy: Chronomancy spells are spells that manipulate time. Those who specialise in chronomantic magic are called Chronomancers.
• Conjuration: Conjuration spells are spells that create or summon materials or creatures. Conjuration spells also include teleportation spells. Those who specialise in conjuration magic are called Conjurers or Summoners.
• Divination: Divination spells are spells associated with sight and detection. Divination spells also include spells that influence probability, such as foresight. Those who specialise in divination magic are called Diviners.
• Enchantment: Enchantment spells are spells that affect the mind, usually through influencing or controlling a person’s behaviour. Not to be confused with the process of enchanting magical items. Those who specialise in enchantment magic are called Enchanters.
• Evocation: Evocations spells are spells that manipulate or create energy, usually with destructive effects. Those who specialise in evocation magic are called Evokers.
• Graviturgy: Graviturgy spells are spells that manipulate gravity, similar to telekinesis. Those who specialise in graviturgy magic are called Graviturgists.
• Illusion: Illusion spells are spells that deceive the mind or the senses, paticurly sight. Those who specialise in illusion magic are called Illusionists.
• Necromancy: Necromancy spells are spells that manipulate life, death and undeath, usually through raising the dead or healing injuries. Those who specialise in necromantic magic are called Necromancers. Necromancy is a wide and varied discipline, split into four different fields of study, Blood, Bone, Flesh & Spirit.
  Fleshmancy, sometimes called Flesh Magic, focuses on the manipulation and animation of flesh, from healing injuries to affecting the performance of creatures' bodies, both improving them and deteriorating them.
  Hemomancy, sometimes called Blood Magic, specialises in the manipulation of blood, usually with a focus on curses and controlling the bodies of others. Hemomancy has a lot of overlap with fleshmancy, though it is a completely different discipline.
  Osteomancy, sometimes called Bone Magic, focuses on the manipulation and animation of bone through raising skeletons and manipulating inert or living bone into patterns and shapes.
  Spirimancy, sometimes called Spirit Magic, focuses on communing and summoning spirits, as well as the manipulation of the life energy of living things.
• Transmutation: Transmutation spells are spells that alter the physical properties of objects or creatures. Those who specialise in transmutation magic are called Transmuters.

Other Types of Magic:

Healing Magic:

Healing magic is a specialised practice of magic that involves healing wounds, repairing injury and curing disease. Healing magic is used to accelerate the regeneration of cells and tissue in living creatures, leading to an accelerated recovery from injury. Specialists in this form of magic are commonly called healers.
Healing Magic is extremely effective at healing flesh wounds, but more complex recovery, such as repairing internal wounds, is extremely difficult and requires years of training and more powerful spells. Quick bursts of healing magic will usually leave a scar, while long, careful procedures will allow the body to heal without scarring.
One of the more complex procedures that can be performed with healing magic is resurrection spells. This process involves restoring the body of a recently deceased creature to a livable condition and then enticing the creature’s soul to return to its body.
Healing magic is not a common practice, especially the practice of the more powerful spells. The art requires a unique set of incantations and techniques separate from most arcane spellcasting, meaning those who practise healing magic usually have to specialise in the study of it. Healing magic is also found in the repertoire of divine and primal spellcasters who do not need to specialise in the study of healing magic, though some do.
Healing magic usually falls under the school of necromancy, which also contributes to the lack of arcane spellcasters specialising in its practice. Healing magic is sub-categorised as flesh magic, while resurrection magic is sub-categorised spirit magic. Necromancers tend to be the only arcane spellcasters capable of performing healing magic.
Because of the rarity and complex nature of healing magic physicians and doctors across Exorsia have developed many medicines and medical procedures to circumvent the need for it, though healing magic is still a well sought after commodity.

Psionics:

Psionics are a type of supernatural mental power exhibited by certain creatures, particularly aberrations. Psionics are often confused for magic, and while both allow the user to supernaturally influence the world around them, psionics does not draw on the Weave, instead it draws directly on the energy of the user, particularly their mental energy.
Those who possess psionic powers tend to have them innately as it is not something someone can learn how to do.
Psionics usually include telekinesis and telepathy, though magic can also replicate these effects. Practitioners of Psionics are sometimes called Psions.

Wild Magic:

Wild Magic is the pure undiluted form of magic present in the Weave, sometimes called Universal Magic. It is raw, chaotic and untamed, operating outside of the schools of magic.
The standard process of spellcasting includes syphoning Wild Magic from the Weave and diluting it, turning it into a usable fuel for spells. But undiluted, Wild Magic is extremely dangerous and unpredictable, all those who have attempted to draw on it or control it have ended in disaster.
Wild Magic is commonly found in its untamed form within the Feywild. It is believed that this connection to Wild Magic is one of the reasons why magic is so potent in the Feywild and why so much of the Feywild is innately magical.
On extremely rare occasions certain creatures can become infused with Wild Magic, causing them to randomly and uncontrollably suge with magic, producing random magic effects around them. This is usually a death sentence for the affected creature.

Termanology:

Arcanist: An arcanist is someone who practises Arcane magic. Synonymous with Mage.
Artificer: An artificer is a profession. Artificers create and enchant magical items, usually through the use of Arcane magic.
Bard: A bard is an oral poet who recounts epic tales. Bard is also a term for spellcasters that specialise in channelling magic through use of the spoken word, commonly through song.
Cleric: A cleric is someone who practises Divine magic through worship of a divinity. Partially synonymous with Priest.
Druid: A druid is someone who practises Primal magic, usually drawing their magic from the natural world.
Elementalist: An elementalist is someone who specialises in the use of elemental spells, those that conjure or manipulate Air, Earth, Fire or Water.
Healer: A healer is someone who specialises in restorative magic. Partially synonymous with Physician, Medic or Doctor.
Mage: A mage is someone who practises Arcane magic. Synonymous with Arcanist.
Paladin: A paladin is usually a knight who has sworn a divine oath. Paladins are similar to Clerics in that they practise Divine magic, but paladins funnel their magic through their oath instead of through a divinity.
Priest: A priest is someone who is devoted to a religious organisation, usually worshipping a divinity, but does not necessarily practise Divine magic.
Sorcerer: A sorcerer is sometimes used to describe someone who is innately capable of spellcasting, but it is more commonly used as a synonym for Mage.
Spellcaster: Spellcaster is a blanket term to describe anyone who can cast spells.
Summoner: A summoner is someone who specialises in summoning creatures to serve them. Synonymous with Conjurer.
Warlock: A warlock is the term used for someone who was gifted their ability to cast spells. This is commonly used as an insult in academic circles.
Witch: A witch is the term for someone who practises a specific subtype of spellcasting, a combination of Arcane and Primal magic, sometimes called Hag Magic or Fey Magic. Witches are usually associated with Alchemy and Hags.
Wizard: A wizard is the term for someone who studies magic and practices Arcane magic. It is not a commonly used word, with most people preferring to use the word Mage.