Use of magic

Magicians

Types of magician

Those that study the use of magic generally pursue just one of the six Talents. It is important to note that these categories are not actual subdivisions within magic itself. While magic-users may have a desire to develop their skills in a particular arena, although temperament and natural ability are typically the key determinants for each mage.
See also: Magical Forces

Weaver

Weavers create visions and illusions, lights and sounds. Their magic baffles the senses, confounding perception. While some weavers use their art for entertainment or self-preservation, others deploy tricks and deception for personal gain.

Caller

Callers can reach across the boundaries of the physical world, bringing forth creatures from the magical realm. Their skill lies is summoning, binding, and banishment.

Shaper

Shapers use magic to change the physical world. Their powers allow them to build, transform, and animate.

Channeler

Channelers wield magic as a weapon, directing scorching fires or chilling ice. They can also harness the kinetic powers of magic to move objects with force and speed.

Enchanter

Enchanters use magic as a force of mental control, persuading, steering, or reading the minds of others, and fortifying their own mental focus. While some may use their powers to encourage, bolster, or understand, others use their magic to dominate.

Guardian

Guardians use magic as force of growth and renewal. Some guardians live amongst people as healers, while others turn their attention to the natural world.

Developing magical talents

Those that show signs of magical ability will usually be sent to serve as an apprentice under a more experienced practitioner. This mentor will often use the apprentice as a servant as much as a pupil, but will generally provide tuition and guidance over a period of several years.

Using magic

Spells

Using magic is an act of pure will; the magician draws on magical energies to make their intention manifest. While some effects may be achievable in an instant, others may require sustained focus over time to create.
Spellcasting is not a precise art. There are no particular words, gestures, or ingredients that will produce a certain result. Spellcasters cannot record their spells like recipes in a book.
Novice magicians may use their talents inadvertently or unexpectedly, with potentially disastrous consequences. Dedicated study is required to master amplitude and precision. Accurate focus and delicate tuning of thought are required to produce the desired outcome. Lack of concentration can result in catastrophe for even master magicians.

Effect duration

Instant effects

Many magical effects take place instantaneously, or over a few seconds.

Maintained effects

Some magical effects can be maintained for a period of time by the caster. This is reliant on the magician continuing to apply focus and effort in sustaining the effect.

Durable effects

Some effects will last for a period of time, without the need to expend further energy and focus to sustain them. Other effects will last indefinitely, such as those where magic has simply caused or enabled a physical change (such as collapsing a wall).

Using magic on others

Individuals may resist the effects of magic used directly on their mind or body; magicians themselves will typically have much stronger defences than regular people. Magical effects that cause harm indirectly (such as damage caused by magical fire) cannot be resisted.

Sensing magic

Those with sensitivity to magic can perceive its use by others. This can even be felt as pain.

Countering magic

Magicians may use magic to counter the magic of others: repelling attacks or dispelling effects. The puissance of the original caster and ability of the countering magician are key to the success of any attempt to counter magic.

Imbuing magic into items

Magical effects can be imbued into items such as weapons, clothing, or jewellery. Doing so is an act of spellcasting in itself, and requires a mastery both of the effect itself and of the imbuing technique. Failure can endow items with unintended effects or event destroy them. Shapers are often talented at imbuing items.
See also: Magical items