Abjuration
Abjuration is one of the twelve schools of magic that are practiced on Phaldorya. According to the guidelines of the Mages' conclave, all wizards and magicians accept to learn and focus on one specialty only. A wizard that explores all the paths of his school, often, will be able to achieve much more than the typical spells of that career. Abjurators are strongly focused in casting protective spells. They can deny effects of other magic spells, create barriers to protect, from magical or physical effects, or harm trespassers. They can banish external creatures to their plane of existence and prevent certain types of creatures from entering a specific area.
The seven known circles and typical spells
Cantrips
The most basic level of magic knowledge aren't even classified in a circle, controlling a small quantity of magical energy the caster will be able to achieve a simple effect. Typical abjurators' cantrips are Read Magic, Resistance, Arcane Mark and other similar applications.
First circle
With a small amount of practice and concentration a wizard will be able to control enough magical power to cast simple spells such as Alarm, Endure Elements, Hold Portal, Protection from Chaos/Evil/Good/Law, and Shield.
Second Circle
As the ability of casters to tap into the magic energy increases the effects produced by their spells become more significant. Typical spells of the second circle are Arcane Lock, Obscure Object, Protection from Arrows and Resist Energy.
Third Circle
Accessing the third circle of power abjurators become able to control sufficient magic power to completely deny the effect of a magic spell. Enchantments in this circle comprise Dispel Magic, Explosive Runes, Magic Circle against Chaos/Evil/Good/Law, Nondetection, and Protection from Energy.
Fourth Circle
Acquiring the control of the fourth circle of power allows an abjurator to reduce the freedom of extra-planar creatures. Furthermore, will allow them to create more effective protective spells such as Dimensional Anchor, Fire Trap, Lesser Globe of Invulnerability, Remove Curse and Stoneskin.
Fifth Circle
The fifth circle grants the ability to give permanent effects to spells, furthermore the caster gains skills to banish externals and stronger defensive powers. The list of spell includes Break Enchantment, Dismissal, Mage's Private Sanctum and Permanency.
Sixth Circle
The sixth circle of power consent casters to generate areas where magic cannot operate at all or in which creatures cannot enter. The list includes Antimagic Field, Greater Dispel Magic, Globe of Invulnerability, Guards and Wards, Repulsion.
Seventh Circle
The seventh circle is the most powerful re-descovered so far, the abjurators will be able to re-direct spells toward the wizard who casted them. Spells in this circle comprise Banishment, Sequester and Spell Turning.
A wannabe magician, who wants to learn the ways of Abjuration, has first to pass the test to get admitted as a student in the Ivory Tower of Virkenhall. This is the most ancient between the schools of magic in the continent and being accepted grants a uncommon respect from the population, at least in regards to magic users. There are other systems available to learn the use of protective magic but those are dark and dangerous paths, especially for a beginner, and the Inquisition punishes severely who gets discovered in the illegal, and immoral, pursuit of magic knowledge.
Abjuration is, equally to the other magic disciplines, as old as time, before the Great War of the Mages it was common for wizards to cast very complicate spells and control vast amounts of magical energy. Although, the conflagration permanently changed the aspect of Phaldorya and lot of the knowledge of magic was lost and had to be researched anew, presently seven circles of magic power can be controlled by the most powerful magicians. The legends give account of the exhistence of twelve circles of magic, even if there may be more.
Nice overview. :D I like the section on discovery. It's nice to see the history. :D
The thing I am more concerned is that these articles may sound repetitive, some part is literally the same in each of them. On the other hand I would like them to be concise and easy to search through. I assume this is the best compromise that came to my mind.