Arcane Magic

Arcane magic is very strange. It is the single most powerful force in Eternity. Even after centuries of study, and use, we have achieved only an inkling of an understanding regarding how it works. One thing that is agreed upon by scholars, and casters alike is that arcane magic is best divided into three categories: Natural, Ethereal, and Living.
The most common form of arcane magic is Natural magic. One such example of Natural magic is the arcane strands that fill the sky, and allow Telimagic to work. Magical plants, and minerals fall under the natural magic category because it is magic that has taken form in the natural realm. Another example is Theosite, a metallic substance composed entirely of pure natural magic. Hellroot is a form of natural magic as it is a form of subterranean vegetation imbued with arcane fire. This magic is harnessed through a process called siphoning. The process requires two things: a theosite focusing item, (e.g. a staff, or wand made of theosite) and the form of natural magic which contains the energy relating to the spell one wishes to cast. Theosite is used as a focus because it rather than being magic that is focused into a specific type of energy, it is magic that has no specific focused energy type. It is unfocused, which allows it to focus one's spells. This ability to focus the natural magic is what squeezes the magical essence from the item which is consumed for the sake of the spell.
Ethereal magic comes not from the physical plane, but another realm entirely. This magic is pulled from a realm between the physical, and divine realms. This is called the Ethereal realm, and it is full of magic without form, making it perfect for casting. The draconin wizard, Thalron Durziros discovered this realm, and figured out how to use the magic within it. He discovered that one can pull magic from this realm through one of two methods. The first, and most commonly used method is through sound, primarily music. Music itself is a form of Natural magic, that is extremely flexible, meaning it can be used for in ways that differ wildly from other natural magics. They use the sound to open a small rift between the physical realm, and the ethereal. The caster pulls the formless magic through this rift, and focuses it into their spell. Light is another flexible form of natural magic. It has the same ability to open a small rift into the ethereal realm. The most common way to do so is to use a gem called a Sun Stone, and a lamp with mirrors lining the inside. The caster places the sun stone inside the lamp, and the light from the stone is reflected within the lamp repeatedly, to the point of creating a small rift between the natural, and ethereal realms. The caster can pull formless magic through this rift, and use it to cast their spells. Ethereal magic is strange, and is still largely a mystery. To this day, scholars spend their days studying Ethereal magic, trying to unlock its secrets.
The most powerful form of magic is called Living magic. One does not obtain this form of arcana, but is "chosen" by the arcane magic itself to wield it from birth. Arcane magic lives in all things, and gives life. Without arcane magic, there would be no life. The greatest example of Living magic is the dragons. Living magic is accessed by magical beings through an arcane reservoir withing them. The size of this reservoir is indicated by a sort of arcane runoff that surrounds the caster. The runoff can take many forms, though the most common one is blue arcane strands orbiting the caster while they cast. As the reservoir is depleted, the runoff will fade. If someone, or something with access to living magic continues to cast after their reservoir is empty, the magic feeds off of their own life. This can prove fatal if done recklessly. There is one event that removes this issue. It effects only sorcerers, and is called Arcane Fury. No one knows how it happens, but it makes the caster's arcane reservoir infinite. Very few instances of such event are recorded, but each one must have been quite a sight to behold. Study of living magic is difficult, as the study must be done on living things. They cannot study the corpses of magical beings either as after something dies, all magic quickly leaves it. For this reason, even less is known about Living magic than Ethereal.
Arcane magic can be used to aid, or to harm, to create life, and to take it. It picks and chooses who uses it, and sometimes how it is used. This leads many to believe that arcane magic itself is living, and has sentience. If arcane magic has sentience, that means there is so much more to learn about it than ever thought possible. Regardless of if this is true or not, it must be treated with respect above all else.

Type

Metaphysical, Arcane