Arcana Discordia
Playing the game of life with marked decks and loaded dice.
So this Arcane Genre is pretty near and dear to me. I relate to it in so many ways and I put a lot of myself into it. I chose to write this article in the perspective of Expedition Demeter and The Web, another of my worlds that takes place in the modern day. This article appears in both The Web and in Expedition Demeter however, as it is a magic system that is used in both. Expedition Demeter is even referenced. I did this for a reason: I find it alarmingly difficult to really explain the ideas in this article without dipping into things that are not present in Expedition Demeter like chaos theory and quantum mechanics. It is much easier to write quotes in an era that has a reference for such abstract ideas. Once I find a way, I will edit the Expedition Demeter version and in the meantime I will use The Web as a placeholder.
Often called chaos magic, Arcana Discordia is one of many Arcane Genres that Arcanists employ to achieve magical effects. It is by far the most unique and least understood genres in the world. Mages who employ the genre gamble with fate. They follow every hunch and believe wholeheartedly in a simple fact: there is no such thing as coincidence.
Arcana Discordia isn't just a genre of magic. It is part philosophy, part lifestyle, and in some cases part religion. Those who practice often find themselves marveling at the simplest things. They lose themselves in the flap of a butterfly's wings. They stare, trying to follow the minute change in the air just to see where it goes and what may happen. While others would turn and run from an oncoming storm, these select few are the ones running toward it.
The desire to know is certainly present, but its more than that. Their's is an instinctive drive to action or a need to observe. It is a desperate urge to peak within Pandora's box and marvel at the hideous wonders within.
Arcana Discordia isn't just a genre of magic. It is part philosophy, part lifestyle, and in some cases part religion. Those who practice often find themselves marveling at the simplest things. They lose themselves in the flap of a butterfly's wings. They stare, trying to follow the minute change in the air just to see where it goes and what may happen. While others would turn and run from an oncoming storm, these select few are the ones running toward it.
The desire to know is certainly present, but its more than that. Their's is an instinctive drive to action or a need to observe. It is a desperate urge to peak within Pandora's box and marvel at the hideous wonders within.
Why do I believe? Come now...Life is a game of Russian Roulette and the universe doesn't play it fair. Chaos makes it possible to win.
You say it cant be done. The house always wins right? Chaos lets me play the game of life on my terms...not yours. Its a cheat...a "Lifehack" that opens so many possibilities.
Give it a shot. Let us dance with the devil's daughter...thee and me.
Let us flirt with chaos. Only then will you know what it's like to have a chance at her bed. She, the patron saint of ne'er-do-wells. To cast your lot with her is to play the game of life with marked decks and loaded dice.
Chaos magic is practiced by a select few. Most don't even consider it a genre. The abstract concepts tend to be a discouraging factor to many mages in the world and others refuse to accept that anything good can come from tempting fate and playing with dice. Many practitioners of the genre are not even mages.
Chaos is one of the only genres anyone can learn if they are receptive to it. This stems from the unique methods of meditation they employ that served as a basis for Arcana Meditari, the meditation used by mages of all genres. The Genre is divided into four distinct principals. Each puts a focus on a way one can use chaos. They are referred to as The Four Theorems of Chaos. These theorems are the basis for the genre and are used to train those who may wish to learn.
Chaos is one of the only genres anyone can learn if they are receptive to it. This stems from the unique methods of meditation they employ that served as a basis for Arcana Meditari, the meditation used by mages of all genres. The Genre is divided into four distinct principals. Each puts a focus on a way one can use chaos. They are referred to as The Four Theorems of Chaos. These theorems are the basis for the genre and are used to train those who may wish to learn.
Chaosphere
The Chaosphere is a name given to the infinite set of infinite domains that all represent chaos in its many forms. Each domain is unique and falls under the complete control of a single Divine Being. These gods and goddesses of discord are widely considered the troublemakers of The Metaphysical Reality. They often intervene and foil the plans of their kin. While one should caution approaching them, it should be said that they often have the best interests of mortals in mind compared to many other divine beings.
Paradigm Shift
Chaos is one of the few genres of magic that comes with religious connotations attached to it. The divine beings of the chaos domains are active in the lives of those who hear them. Masters of the genre love their dark deities but they hold no true religious traditions. Instead, they borrow from others. The chaos mages shift their beliefs to what serves them best in a given scenario. They shift their paradigms and test their beliefs from every angle. They gain benefits from these faiths as any one would, for their belief is genuine and every prayer given with an honest heart and a sound mind. The other domains tend to leave well enough alone but find the hands of chaos to be a mild irritant compared to their more loyal followers. Those who master the genre can "steal" benefits that cultists and clergy have access to including powers, use of relics, and prayers.
The Four Theorems
by reneaigner
The Drunkard's Waltz
Arcana Discordia comes with a form. Forms are combat styles that incorporate the arcane into their move sets. The Drunkard's Waltz is an arcane form that involves letting go entirely of your control. One gives themselves over entirely to chaos, often not being in direct control over specific movements of the body. The effect is often likened to the movements of someone who is particularly drunk. The form has its users stumbling, shifting, and twisting in awkward angles, all the while casting spells of various forms at opponents.
by Chris Rallis
Gnosis
Gnosis is the basis for all meditation. This is a pretty bold statement as all mages use some form of meditation to better enhance their spells. The Gnostic State however is particularly special. Its easily learned, and when coupled with the gifts of the genre, make the many spells one can cast that much more effective. Its ease of use comes in how it is taught. While unsavory for some, inappropriate for others, the method is effective a several ways. Instead of emphasizing the need to clear the mind, one is taught to instead focus on the sensation one has after sexual climax. The empty mind one has is often easy to grasp once it is explained and initiates tend to grasp on quickly for obvious reasons. This meditative state is more raw than that of other mages. Its undisciplined and unpredictable, which is exactly what a practitioner of the genre wants.
by ssandulak
The Value Of X And Y
At their heart, the chaos mages are explorers seeking to understand cause and effect on a scale unheard of. Some circles can alter the course of history in a nation of city states by simply throwing a piece of fruit into a crowd at a gala. The reason for this lies in the systems they create. Their time is spent gathering data, filling in every variable until the system is perfected. They want to be able to control the way things happen and determine how, when, why they happen. They set the wheels in motion and observe. If it works, they learned something. If it doesn't, they learned even more.
Type
Metaphysical, Arcane
This is definitely a concept of magic that speaks to me personally, and you do a good job of drawing the reader in with in-world quotes. I gotta say, given the length and sometimes prosaic nature of the article, I feel like the sidebar is a bit of a constricting factor. Write me up if you want me to help you with taking it out of this kind of article. I'd recommend nixing it from the layout and taking the sidebar content, spreading it out into double-columns across the article. Your ideas of syncronicity reminded me of certain issues of the classical Hellblazer; riveting stuff. Have you read it? If not, I can highly recommend it to you. How does your setting stand on the ideology of "Magic always has a price"?
Thanks so much for the like and comment. So yes I did read hellblazer years ago...though I can't remember how John used it, I just remember he did lol domino and black cat of marvel comics have some similar qualities too. I certainly would like some assistance on how to do this double column thing. Css is not my strongest. I can manage on most articles bit in this one it just doesn't work as well. So magic having a price is only relevant in the web. The major factor in both worlds is the risk. Bad stuff can happen to you if your not careful, see the tables. Chaosnis fickle. I'll need to put the rules up for that reason to better illustrate magical backfire and such.