Magic

Magic is the ability of a Mage to impose their Will upon The Energy of Mana in order to make something happen or change something established. At one point, all that could be known of Magic was known to Men, Elves, Dragons, and Dwarves. But a great deal has been lost in the crossfire of conflict, genocide, regime change, and schisms of religion. Left forgotten for the brave and the wise to rediscover. But Magic is not safe for everyone with The Mages Gift. Men and Dwarves cannot use magic without suffering The Ravage. The physical onslaught of a Mage of either of these races using High Degree Magic.
Magic Spells and Conduction of The Energy of Mana come in Seven Degrees of Severity. The Higher the Degree. The greater the risk of The Ravage.

• First Degree Spells and Conduction of Mana are the safest. No more physically exerting than snapping ones fingers.
• Second Degree Spells and Conduction of Mana cause Initial Stage Ravage symptoms. About as taxing as an hour of running. Spells and Conductions in this field of severity rarely require a Manafont.
• Third Degree Spells and Conduction of Mana are incredibly taxing on the body. They can cause Advanced Stage Ravage symptoms without a Mana Reserve.
• Fourth Degree Spells and Conduction of Mana cause immediate Advanced Stage Ravage symptoms. Even with the use of a Mana Reserve, the risk is present.
• Fifth Degree Spells and Conduction of Mana cause Advanced Stage Ravage symptoms even with the use of a Reserve. Professors at the The University of Arcaena estimate that the odds of enduring this level of spell craft are one in fifty.
• Sixth Degree Spells and Conduction of Mana can cause Fatal Stage Ravage symptoms. Regardless of using a Reserve. The risk is profoundly high.
• Seventh Degree Spells and Conduction of Mana are strictly fatal. It's why the Seventh Degree is the last level. No one has ever survived Spell craft or Conduction of this degree. The Spells of this degree on record are either forbidden, or restricted from being cast alone. Even then, the odds of survival are nigh impossible.
  

The Capabilities of Magic are manifold, and as varied as the Stars themselves. With a plethora of byproduct effects to every capability it has. But even with all its possibilities. There are things a Mage cannot do.

• Magic cannot bring the Dead back to life.
• Magic cannot change the nature of a soul.
• Magic cannot change the nature of a living thing forever.
• Magic cannot materialize something from nothing.
• Magic cannot make a mortal a God.

Magic is done in a number of ways. The degrees apply to a Mages Physical Conduction of Mana. But there are other ways to perform Magic. Mages employ the use of a Conduit Tool, or Constructed object assembled in order to Conduct Mana safely without likely risk of suffering The Ravage. Some spell craft is still too powerful. Even with a Conduit Tool or a Mana Reserve, an item infused with Mana to serve as a pool for a Mage to draw from instead of their own natural Mana. This led to the discovery and development of the use of a Magic Array

Manifestation

Magic is done by Mages through the imposition of their Will upon The Energy of Mana. Magic can occur by the influence of unwitting emotions upon the impressionable and primordial Mana that resides in Manafonts. The outcomes of this are typically Curses. And there are circles and signs that can be drawn. Using inks made from minerals, herbs, and extracts. Mages of The University of Arcaena call them Magic Arrays, drawn formulas that can draw Mana from the world itself. When activated, these Arrays can Conduct Mana into a specific spell. The only restriction, is that it can only Conduct for that Spell.
Mages performing Magic will appear to others as lifting objects by will. Or the gesturing of their hands from the positions of their fingers to the angle of their palms.

Localization

Magic can effect all physical objects and ethereal entities. Magic is the manipulation of Mana by the Will of the casting Mage. And Mana is the same energy that inhabits, comprises, and drives all things seen and unseen in the world.

Type

Metaphysical, Arcane