Sources of Magic

Since the Dark Veil was raised by the former gods, five essential sources of magic have been discovered. Each of these sources has been proven to be aligned with certain types of invocations. While it is possible to use all sources of magic for all kinds of spells and rituals, each source makes specific invocations easier and more powerful to cast. Apart from providing power, each of the sources takes its own price from those who wield it.

Attuning to a Source

Whenever a wizard intends to draw forth the magical energies from one of the five sources, he or she needs to attune their own mind and soul to that well of magic. This connection can be formed either ad hoc as required or be of a more permanent kind. While the first option provides a higher versatility for the mage, it takes quite a long time attune oneself to the source and is very dangerous. Connecting temporarily to a source is also a matter of will: The stronger the mental power of a sorcerer, the longer he or she can maintain the connection before it violently crushes down. While it is in theory possible to stay attuned to multiple sources of magic at once, it strains the willpower of the wizard more and more with each additional, concurrent attunement. In order to reduce the enormous strain on willpower, most traditions are built upon forging a permanent link between the mind of the magus and the various sources of magic.
In either way the occultist is required to know of the specific rituals, expensive materials and invocations required to get in touch with the primal energy. This knowledge is handed down from master to student during apprenticeship. Forging a bond with the first source is a common rite of passage in many traditions. For example, novice students of the Black Citadel undergo their first binding as a test for entering the rank of an apprentice, before they are admitted to specialise in a field of the art.
Performing the sacred rites of binding usually takes about 1 hour for those who are apt, until about 12 hours for incompetent dabblers. In a typical ritual of attunement the wizard is required to draw complex diagrams made from various ingredients onto a prepared surface and his or her own skin. Depending on the source additional requirements need to be met, like lying on a ground of bare earth for the chthonic source or being exposed to the light of stars for celestial magic. The ritual commences while the applicant places him- or herself in the center of the ritual space chanting the correct mantras. Strength and dedication is required to connect to the source, overcoming ones natural instinct to flinch from the sheer power of energies. Once the connection is complete, the wizard may tap into the magical energies provided.
Apart from the knowledge required, the invoked ritual is quite complex and many aspirants suffer considerate physical and mental peril when they fail. Even when their performance is flawless, each source requires a price to tap into. These side effects last as long as the connection to the source is maintained.

The Spirits

Spirits, daemons, former gods and other divine entities, who remained behind are the earliest source for magic. These beings offer a simple bargain: They provide a portion of their power, in order for the warlock offering them nurishment and service via sacrifices of varying nature. As a consequence, the mortal, who enters such a bargain, only retains his magic at the will of his patreon. Should he or she lose the good will of this entity or be the entitiy destroyed, they also lose their access to these powers. Most times, the patreon spirit and the mortal being enter a symbiosis though, when their souls connect.

Attunement to the Spirits

The rites of attunement to a spirit as source of magic requires not only the correct sigils and chants, but also an according spirit to connect to. The sorcerer needs to inscribe the true name of the entity within the mystical circle that contains himself and the spirit at the same time. If the spirit is willing to enter the soulbond with the caster usually no difficulties await the mage. If it is unwilling though, the sorcerer is has to defeat it in a battle of will. This is a very dangerous feat. In case the ritualist loses the battle, the spirit will drain the fool's soul to reinforce its very own essence.
Tapping into a spirit as source of magic takes a toll on the mental stability and cognitive abilities of the caster. The seal of the bargain with the spirit in question burns itself into the soul and mind of the wizard. Apart from any constraints that the spirit may set as part of their pact, a part of the wizard's mind, as well as the spirit's, will be consumed by this process, forging the link.

The Price of Spiritual Magic

In addition to the service that the sorcerer has to fulfil to keep the spirit healthy, the intimate connection also strains the sanity of the warlock. Each spell cast and each ritual invoked connects the melds the minds and souls of the daemonic spirit and his host closer together. The mortal intellect is not made to endure the thoughts of eternal beings very well. Many long-term particitioners slip into insanity, dargging even the most benevolent spirit with them, as both their minds are connected.

Powers of the Spirit Source

Daemonic spirits that fuel this kind of magic are usually especially apt at influencing the mind and soul of others. Some also call this soulcrafting. As a result, spells that draw energy from the source of a spirit are especially powerful at influencing the mind and soul of others. Clouding thoughts, bolstering morale, striking fear or deceiving the mind to see what is not there. Any kind of influence over the mind, emotions and thoughts is the preferred power of this source.

The Earth

Those, who do not dare to weld their soul with a potentially dangerous daemon often turn to the energies within the world itself for fueling their power. A wizard utilising the chthonic engergies of the earth reaches deep down below, into the elements of the world around to extract raw power. They either tap into an existing vein where elemental energy flows or forcefully rip it from the nurishment that the earth provides. Although most often associated directly with the earth, the true power of this source is made up from raw elemental energy. Experienced wizards may draw their power from all elements surrounding them.

Attuning to the Elements

The ritual of attunement with the elemental energies of the world has to be conducted in an environment where elemental energies are prevailing. This can be in field of crops growing, at the shore of a lake or within a hot volcano. Even a simple bonfire might suffice though. The stronger the elemental energies at ritual place are, the easier one can attune their soul to this force of nature. Failing the ritual usually causes a backlash of raw power, that will scar the elementalists body and soul.
The attunement to the veins of chthonic energy is based on the expense of a sorcerers bodily strength and stamina. Channeling these raw energies burns away muscles and causes exhaustion as it the raw force of the elements can only be contained by equal force of the body. The constant struggle is visible within the body of each elementalist, being the reason for many of them keeping their body as healthy as possible.

The Price of Chthonic Magic

Areas where this kind of magic is heavily practiced without remorse, or where the most powerful rituals have been cast, can run dry and become unable to sustain life, leaving only barren land or dry out rivers. Less powerful magic pulls life from plants, earth and water leaving behind only dust. When no source of chthonic power is around, the sorcerer cannot tap into its magic, thus being unable to cast spells. Their power waxes and wanes with the elemental forces they are surrounded with.

The Powers of Earth

As this source of magic is based on fusioning elemental energy it is often used very effectively within rituals that are based on the same elemental power. Also, any kind of elemental transmutation, like the conversion of earth to water or fire, or any magic utilising the raw elements is very easily fueld by this source. Be it igniting enemies, building walls of stone, casting lightning and crafting items out of earth and stone receive additional power from the chthonic source of magic.

The Blood

Tapping the source of blood and life often times has drastic effects. It means to channel the pure force of vitality into powerful effects. This power can be found within ones own body, or the blood of other living beings. Often times, those who use this source to cast manifest physical scarring and injuries when tapping into their own well of magic. Accessing the life force of another always requires the spilling of blood, while your own bodily energy can be accessed much more easily.

Attuning to the Blood

In order to attune to the forces of life to fuel a warlocks magic, one has to be ready violate boundaries - be it their own or those of others. There are two essential philosophies towards attuning to the visceral source. One follows the goal to harness the powers within the casters own body, while the other aims to utilise the life energy of others. To channel ones own inner life forces requires extensive of preparation by fasting, meditation and cleansing by drinking various alchemical potions. The final ritual is one of painful meditation that will bring the body to its limits while the applicant tries to recalibrate their own life energy to open up channels of the force to be accessible. The ritual of attunement to access the vitality of others is faster but much gorier. There is no need for meditation and cleansing. On the contrary, in order to enable your own spirit to channel the blood of others requires the spilling of blood of your own or another being. The blood will be used to draw the required magical circles and sigils. In the end it will work as a catalyst enabling the sorcerer to tap into the force of life itself.
Once the connection is made it will bind a part of the wizards vitality used to tunnel through the wall that usually separates various forces of vitality. In both cases the sorcerer reforms his own life energies to keep open channels of life force that he or she can attach to others or themselves.

The Price of Visceral Magic

Fueling magic from this source always drains the vital energies of some living being - be it the sorcerer or a victim. The price a warlock pays is to weaken himself or his allies in order to reap energies to utilize. The more life force drained, the more powerful the invoked magic can be. Small magical effects may only cause slight physical dismay, like nausea or fatigue, while the greatest deeds of magic cost the life of dozens or even hundreds of sentient beings. Serving as a source of this magic on the long run causes disfiguration in the form of scars, permanent wounds or chronic illness as the metaphysical walls, that guard your inner life force become too weak to contain it.

Powers of the Blood

The studies of the Black Citadel have confirmed what is known for centuries: The source of blood and life is very closely aligned to all spells that modify the body. Be it healing of wounds, transfiguration or causing the guts of your enemy to spill. Whenever the body of a living creature is affected this source is especially powerful.

The Veil

As a divine intervention, and originally a protective mantle, for the world itself, the Veil is a resource for finite, though exceptional power. As a magical structure, its actual purpose is to protect Seiiki from the the darkness that lingers in the void between the stars. Although it was already damaged by the hunger for power of the inhabitants of the world, it still prevails. It has proven as a powerful source for arcane energy that is, once you are connected to it, quite easy to access.

Attuning to the Veil

Attunement to the veil is a straight forward task. Provided the wizard found the right place, where energy of the veil is already dripping down from the skies in the form of prismatic rain, or by using an according attunement rod. That is a specific magical device, in the shape of a long metal pole or obelisk, used to harvest the energies of the veil. Enough energy needs to be harvest within a magical diagram drawn in moonsilver chalk on the ground. The sorcerer enters this circle, chanting the Mantra of the Veiled Sky. The process is successful once all the energy is absorbed and a rainbow-coloured flash signals the final phase of the ritual.
The only residue from the ritual is a slight feeling of lightheadedness and silver linings that manifest on the skin of the sorcerer. The drawn magical diagram is absorbed into the skin of the spellcaster. These mystical tattoos shimmer with iridescent light whenever magic is channeled through them. In fact, the ritual of attunement to the veil is designed to transform the wizard into a human attunement rod of kinds.

The Price of Veiled Magic

In contrast to other sources, there is no obvious price for tapping into it. There is no danger of losing your mind, withering crops or endangering your body. The only inconveniences to be expected are apparitions of light and spherical sounds accompanied by a smell of ozone. It is nearly impossible to use the Veil as a source for power and hiding it. In cases of extreme energy drain the appearance of strange lights in the sky, like an aurora borealis, slight local weather phenomena or the temporary appearance of a lighter night sky can be expected.

Powers of the Veil

The Veil is one of the most wide spread sources for magic in use, due to its limited side effects. It has no particular alignment to any magical effects, but rather bolsters all of them with the essence of the gods of old.

The Void

The void is the most alien of all sources of magic. Sorcerers connected to this source reach far beyond the known world. Their minds travel through the Veil and seeks for some strange kind of energy that lingers between the stars. Some believe that what they find are the ancient gods, others believe it to be the darkness, that the gods are fighting. Whatever it is, the magic siphoned of it is quite powerful. Those who use it describe it as the power of the universe travelling through their veins, bursting from their fingertips with the light of the moon and stars, rippling through the pattern of reality and manifesting whatever its master desires.

Attunement to the Void

Building an attunement to the void is a mental feat alone. The ritual used to conduct the attunement is called the Communion with the Stars and spread across the world from within the kingdom of Pharos. Essentially it uses an inscribed obelisk, a small one is sufficient, and a mixture of hallucinatory herbs to send the mind of the occultist wandering. With enough training an individual can learn to direct their minds into the dark vastness of the void, when the ritual is conduction in a place where the veil is thin or gone. There it wanders until it finds something. A force, or being, or place no one can describe in its entirety for sure. Everyone experiences different visions of what lies out there. Once someone connects with the power that dwells in the void, the individual is attuned to the mysteries out there, between the stars, being able to call on it, while the attunement lasts.
Over the decades it has been figure out that, although anyone can connect with the void, it is very easy, almost natural, to those who have the blood of Voidfolk running through their veins. It assumed that this is the natural attunement to the cosmic energies, that radiate within members of the Voidfolk.

The Price of Celestial Magic

By all its might, the source of the void has proven dangerous. When a sorcerer calls down the celestial energies happens occasionally that one of the stranger beings, living in the darkness beyond, travel with it. So, it may happen, that, where powerful magic is cast, twisted creatures from the void are called forth. Even when not physically apparent, residue of alien energy might be able to nest inside the casters soul. It will grow stronger until, one day, its whispers become noticeable to the sorcerer, trying to convince it of aberrant ideas of greatness and cruelty. Up to this day, all masters of the source of void have slowly been corrupted in one way or the other. The most powerful, like the kings of Pharos, even turned into beings, that seem to be of the void itself. Not dead, not yet alive.

The Power of the Void

Regardless of all its dangers, the void is powerful. Its users are adapt at all kinds of magic, but the all magic that reaches beyond reality, calling forth the stranger beings from the void, either to manifest directly or posses bodies of the dead and living alike. Also they are powerful at warping the fabric of reality, travelling distance in the blink of an eye or manipulating time. These are the powers of the void, that other sources cannot access.

Type

Metaphysical, Arcane