Empathy
Spells cast only with empathy are energetic but unpredictable.
Background
Empathy is one of the three elements which can be used to access Ardency (a person's innate pool of magical energy), the others being Intellect and Spirit. A spellcaster is able to access their Ardency using only Empathy, but there are limits as to what these spells can do, particularly in terms of the amount of power they are able to exert.Empathy
Empathy is intrinsically linked to the chest and emotional connections to others. This does not mean that someone needs to be connected to other people or in a good mood, but is more related to someone's openness and willingness to connect to others.Accessing Empathy
In order to access Empathy, a spellcaster needs to connect to others and to themselves. It is said that the better someone knows themselves, the easier it is for them to connect with others, and the easier it is for them to access their Empathy. This might include them thinking about others and how they would feel as they cast the spell or it may be taking on others' emotions. For example, a spellcaster is trying to use Empathy to cast a Force (Kinetic) spell to move a large box. They may focus on the box and where they want to move it to and think:About a forceful person they know,
About a time someone they knew felt strongly.
About a time when someone else has made them feel a happy warmth.
Improving Empathy
There are a few different ways for a spellcaster to improve their skills in Empathy. These include:- Spending time with others
- Volunteering
- Doing a shared activity
- Cooking for others
- Get feedback
- Ask questions
- Journalling
- Introspection
Strengths & Weaknesses
Like each of the three elements, Empathy has pros and cons when using it. An Adept is able to use all three elements to balance out each other, but even then understanding this balance and which way to tip the scales, so to speak, is crucial for getting the right effect.Strengths
Empathy can be extremely powerful and as such is capable of creating very powerful spells. It can be forceful, long-ranging and long-lasting.Weaknesses
Due to the power behind Empathy, it can often be uncontrollable. It can quickly get out of hand and do more than was intended or something else entirely.Related Energies
Only Empathy
| Energy | Impact | Example | Elements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Force (Kinetic) | Move inanimate objects | Lift a box, pull a cart, wave a paint brush | Any one |
| Heat | Manipulate heat waves | Set a fire, cool something down | Empathy |
Combined with others
| Energy | Impact | Example | Elements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Force (Potential) | Create or destroy inanimate objects | Construct a door, demolish a boulder | Any two |
| Magnetic | Using and creating magnetised charges | Magnetise metal, pull objects together, force objects apart | Empathy & Intellect |
| Electrical | Manipulate electrical charges | Power a lightbulb, create lightning, charge a battery | Empathy & Spirit |
| Time | Changes to the momentum of time | Slow things down, speed things up | All |
Related Articles
Rules of Ardency
- Ardency draws on elements of a person's energy to affect the energy around them
- Ardency is limited by the energy of the spellcaster
- Ardency cannot create or destroy life
- Ardency cannot change another's Ardency
- Ardency cannot affect the spellcaster's energy
- Ardency cannot affect the mind or life of another
It's interesting to see what which energies are associated with which elements. Is there a larger table or article describing the various energies?
Yes! There's a section of the Magic article which goes in to more detail:
Magic
Thanks! <3