Abstinence Manuscript, The

The Abstinence Manuscript, a short hand written document criticizing the Alchemists, was believed to have been written by the first Priest of Abstinence, Casek el-Zia only hours after the alchemists revealed their greatest triumph, Magic. The Manuscript lays out the foundations of the abstinence argument, stating:

1. The Creators did not give men Magic, thus it is not for men to use
2. Men weaken their backs and lessen their knowledge through the use of Magic as a shortcut
3. Magic is too powerful for individuals to wield and corrupts everyone who uses it
4. Use of Magic shuts you off from the Creators and exposes you to the Great Corrupters

Casek el-Zia wrote that the only way to avoid eternal corruption both individually and as a civilization was to abstain wholly as any use of Magic would lead to ultimate destruction and comdenation. Further, despite no evidence of an eventual shortage at the time, el-Zia believed that the knowledge to make Magic would be lost over time and men, and the children of men, that had used Magic to further themselves or their trades would fall and become a societal burden should Magic ever run out.
Currently, although the majority of Abstainers do not use Magic in any instance there is a small and growing sect of Semi-Abstainers (or Semi's) that believe that Magic, as long as it is used sparringly and as a last resort is acceptable.
The Abstainers have long called for the criminalization of Magic and have long envisioned a world where Magic did not exist - whether by law, by overuse or by the loss of Magic abilities entirely.

Purpose

The purpose of Casek el-Zia's Abstinence Manuscript is to deter followers from using their innate magical abilities.

Type

Text, Religious

Medium

Paper

Authors

• Casek el-Zia