Arcane Magic in The World of Tertara
Origins of the Arcane
Magic is a fickle and wildly dangerous power. However it can also be a source of wonder and understanding, should someone know how to channel it. What scholars and the learned know of magic is closely tied to the celestial bodies and space itself. Stars and comets are seen as arcane conduits, and this is in large part thanks to the World Spear. Oh so long ago, the great megastructure known as the World Spear, hurled from the vast abyss of space into the world of Tertara. It pierced the world from pole to pole, and while this would spell doom for any planet, it would explode in arcane energies, fusing the world together and becoming the core itself. The rings across the world would glow with arcane might, and so it was that magic first came into being on Tertara. Magic infused itself into the very rock and dirt, and every lifeform was filled with arcane energies, though they lay dormant. It should also be noted a material later called Akinstone fell from the worldspear as it came to the planet, and after it burst with magic. This stone is typically blue, and can be found in some areas these fragments crashed into the world. This would influence the local land and birth the many fantastical creatures we know today. What's more, mortal races began to learn how to tap into magic. However, magic is an uncontrollable, and strange force, and it is chaos in its purest form. This has largely been described by the faithful as demons corrupting the magical energies of the world, but some of the less zealous scholars debate this. Regardless, the first spellcasters were mad, either mutated into horrifying monsters, shamans and witch doctors driven mad by a trillion voices screaming in their minds, and spells running out of control. Entire tribes and what could be called cities were wiped off the map. While Iadith had magic understood since their arrival into the world, the rest of mortal kind wasn't so lucky. Many early arcane spellcasters were persecuted or hunted down. However, this would change with the landmark signing of the Articles of Astran, fuly sanctioning and legitamzing the first magical academy of Lunerra. Many other nations followed suite, either signing into the articles themselves and sending their magical young to the academy, or building their own academies. While persecution remains for many arcane spellcasters, the path of the mage is still a rewarding and at times beautiful journey to take.Those who use Magic
Magic by its nature is pure chaos. It cannot be fully controlled, only tapped into and bent to the whims of those who have the ability to cast said magics. There are two types of spellcasters in terms of arcane origin: The Mageborn (or Witch Born as they are soemtimes reffered to by the ignorant) and the Learned. Some are born with some type of affinity, or special talent to tap into the arcane energies of the heavens. This trait is completly random, and any attempts to document what exactly causes this is entirely lost upon research circles. Regardless, this is the most common type of magical caster, and the one that the teachers at Lunerra Academy are always on the look out for. Than there is the learned. While magic is typically only able to be used by those who are Mageborn, it is possible for it to be taught. This process is incredibly difficult, and more likely prone to having spells go awry and out of control. However through proper training and discipline, it is entirely possible to be done. Some nobles are taught to be spellcasters, but these are almost entirely nothing more powerful than a cantrip, or a simple trick. The teaching of magic is heavily regulated under the Articles of Astran, and so most magic users are not The Learned. However, those that are either hedge mages and druids, or rogue spellcasters who flaunt the articles and the academies in favor of personal freedom. The Learned also, just like the Mageborn, must make use of Akinstone in the process of casting magic, it being a potent catalyst to channel arcane energy. While casting spells without Akinstone is possible, it is immensly taxxing, dangerous, and difficult.The Ebb and Flow of the Arcane
Magic is not a stagnant force. It is a natural force like air and water is, but it is by no means a stagnant thing. It is ever changing and flowing, commonly reffered to in terms refrencing a "sea of stars". The movement of celestial bodies is closely tied with the stars and the sky, for the World Spear came from the stars, and so it only makes sense that the stars be linked to magic. Its believed the World Spear gifted the ability to tap into this well of magic, and the heavens are from where the power comes from. Some even believe the stars and space beyond what we cna see to be this mirror realm of pure energy, from where one may attempt to tap into this energy to influence the mortal realm. Regardless, the movement of stars, weather, and other cosmological happenings have an affect on the ability to cast magic. Some lands are noted as being more difficult to cast magic in, being described as waves running weaker in these areas. This is also related to the amount of Akinstone that landed in said lands, with lands with heigher amounts of Akinstone being noted as more powerful in arcane energies. This ebb and flow can make it more risky to cast spells, as even properly trained mages can only do so much before bad luck and fate simply cause spells to go out of control. For this reason, astrology is also seen as "the mages past time" and many mages are trained astrologists, for understanding the heavens can bring about the birth of new spells and a deeper understanding of the arcane.The Types of Arcane Casters
There are several types of arcane casters, notablly diffrent from wielders of holy magic and the like. Some types are as follows:- Artificers: Some engineers and inventors display a level of arcane apptitude, and so apply this to their craft. These are perhaps the rarest type of Arcane caster in the world, for typically springs and sprockets arent the intrest of the standard wizard. This type of caster does however require significant training and discipline to both be fully liscened and legitamate spellcaster.
- Apothecarian: Apothecarian represent a minor but valued member of the arcane community. These are specalized magic users who can be more understood as scientists than full wizards. They use magic as a means to enhance their field of study, some common fields being mediecne, the study of disease, exorcism, and even psychology. These are rare, as most specailized field workers hardly have the time to devotee years of their life to study, but some do crop up from time to time.
- Bards: While not every bard is a mage, a fair few of them either learn or are born with the ability to cast some types of magic. However this magic is typically low in level, and as such requires less training to simply get under control. This is also coupled with the fact that Lunerra perfres its students take their studies seriously, not use their magic to get them better chances of seeking pleasures of flesh
- Sorrceror: These spellcasters harnass latent magical influence inside their very blood, and from the soul itself. The soul itself is a magical thing, and they tap into this power to wield it like flowing rivers, albeit at the cost of their own safety. Many sorrcerors opt to instead of using wands with Akinstone, infuse Akinstone into themselves. While some wizards also conduct this practice, it is always a very risky procedure and should not be undertaken by anyone.
- Warlocks: Largely a looked down upon and often banned form of spellcaster, these warlocks get their magic not from their origins or through years of study, but instead make deals with unfathomably powerful beings for their powers. This magic is largely one of the more stable forms of magic, but it comes at the cost of making a deal with devils and all sorts of bizzare and terrifying monsters. Due to the reputation of warlock patrons, most warlocks are forced to hide their allegiance from the massess, and are perhaps the most popular target of Witch Hunters ever since the Articles of Astran were signed.
- Wizards: Easily the most numerous type of spellcaster, and possibly the most powerful, the wizard goes by many names. Mage, Arcanist, Freak, Scholar, Wyrd, Witch, all these names are thrown upon the wizard, but the wizard knows to ignore such cries. The wizard is the one who has learned to harness arcane might through years of intense study and dedication, and as such are all taught to be wise and learned men and women. A wizard knows to not covet power over mortals, to not seek magic out for the purpose of dominating the weak, but to seek magic because that is where joy lies, in learning.
The Mages Beyond the Academies
While those of Lunerra and beyond would much prefer it otherwise, several groups of mages exist outside of the laws and strictures of the Academies.Hedge Mages
This term is a catch all term for magic learned outside the academies teachings, and typically involving the very primal forces of the land and forests. While warlocks and sorrcerors make up their ranks, many also include the Druids, Rangers, and Occultists. Druids are barely, begrundingly tolerated as they can be important to crop growth, and largely stick to their closed off circles deep in the woods. Rangers by their own will swear neutrality, and their magic dabbling is so insugnificcantly low that even most Witch Hunters consider it a waste of time to persecut them. If the extent of a rangers power begins and ends at: making berries to consume, than there are far more important things to worry about. The final type of hedge mage is the Occultist, being what people may think of when telling of a witch. They are ancient, and many of their teachings (self taught as they are) come from the very first shamans and spellcasters of the world. It should be noted while it is possible for a Hedge Mage to become legitamized later in life, the process is incredibly difficult. it is also difficult for one to get a permit to practice magic without the training of the academies. Even if they get this permit, they have no real protection from persecution or the Witch Hunters.Malefic Mages
These mages are those who openly spit in the face of the sacred Articles of Astran, and use their magic for crime and other vile acts. All the red mages of Zakkar have this label placed upon them, and those that primarily make up their ranks are necromacners, sangromancers, diabolists, most warlocks, hemomancers, and many more. Typically one is branded a Malefic when one practicies magics banned in the Articles of Astran, or have violated or betrayed the Academy and its secrets in some way. These mages are all outcasts, and live with a death sentance hanging over them at all times. There is absolutely zero legal protection for such mages, and are openly hunted and burned by the Witch Hunters. The academy also at times sends its own agents to deal with these rogue spellcasters, and these journeys are perhaps the only time the Witch Hunters and Sanctioned Magisters actually work closely together, with varrying degrees of success.
Type
Metaphysical, Arcane
