Arcane Speech Language in The Sagas | World Anvil

Arcane Speech

Remember to say your words wisely as you say them, for if you do not properly say the words then you will face dire consequences - Wizard teaching her student
  Magic is a powerful thing that should never be taken lightly, even by the spellcasters that use it. Casting a spell is more complicated than expected as it requires certain words to be spoken to do a spell properly and differently depending on what they want from the magic they are using. Of course, due to the different types of magic, many different types of words represent each. But a magic user born with that certain type of magic needs to know the magic word for their magic. Then all they have to do next is remember the word structure of the spell they are using. This is why they memorize them or use a spellbook to look up the words when needed.  

Chain of the Arcane

The chain allows the spell to emerge from the magic user and manifest; with each word spoken, the more powerful the spell becomes and how it will play out when casting. The most important part is the Words of Power and Arcane Source; the rest is done by saying a command to manifest the spell the way they want it.  
Word of Power: A Word of Power is the manifestation of true power itself, as to speak in a spell will cause the magic to bend to the user's will. Each word has its meaning and effect; it cannot be altered in any way, and to do so will cause damage to themselves as they are the universal manifestations of magic itself.
 
Arcane Source: The source of a certain type of magic that allows a user to summon up their magic. Each source is bound to its limitations and strengths, and the host must follow them as it is part of their very being. It is considered the easiest to learn as a magic user only has to learn their form of magic.
 
Command: The command is often a set of quick phrases that allow the spell to manifest into the shape or form that the spell requires it to come in. By doing this, the user can control it better and suit their current needs. But it is imperative that they are said with detail and spoken clearly, or it may cause the spell to be off and not meet the desired results.
Word of Power + Arcane Source + Command = Spell
   

Power in Writing

The Arcane can be written in a spellbook to allow them to be read by a magic user. But the language is written in glyphs rather than words, as they retain magical energy even in symbols. For that reason, glyphs were used to ensure a nonmagic user did not say an incantation out loud to cause a miniature spell to be cast. This is often due to it absorbing any magic whenever it makes contact with it to store for later. This often works to a spellcaster's advantage as they can use it less the Price of Magic on themselves when they are reaching their limits. This makes the spell larger as a magic user channels their power through the glyphs.  

Unkown Origins

  It is unknown how this language was created by magic users, as magic is not a part of this world. There have been theories into how this is possible, though. Some say through trial and error, those learning magic managed to figure out the glyphs and words needed to cast a spell, though this is considered unlikely as it would mean it took thousands of years to cast magic. Another is that the language was originally given to them by a god that favored them, a theory that some still believe in despite there being no records of a god of magic, and if there were would have been long since dead. But in some small circles of magic users, there is an old tale of how they learned the words of magic. It is stated that through a deep meditative state, magic users of great mental discipline went into the plain that the Ether, the source of all magic, found the words and glyphs throughout it and wrote it down to share with others. Whatever may be true, it does not matter, as it will never disappear as magic still exists.

Words of Power

  Dra’ka/War   Oberul/Protection   Veros/Enhancement   Erul’nuk/Healing   Kel/Control   Qe’leri/Alteration   Birumba/Summoning   Falru'kan/Binding  

Words of the Elements

  Ignas/Fire   Aroste/Wind   Teru/Earth   Linari/Light   Electaro/Lightning   Wulorum/Water   Famora/Ice   Speria/Nature  

Words of the Wild

  Grugaru/Shift   Wodash/Union   Jubiki/Merge  

Words of the Spirit

  Alturmas'ti/Ancestor   Rekmen/Beast   Essel/Life   Ponfre/Essence  

Words of the Foundation

  Crona/Time   Costros/Space   Wiltems/Gravity   Vubtot/Change  

Words of the Holy

  Geraci/Purify   Heloste/Destroy   Unabera/ Strengthen  

Words of the Darkness

  Veterad/Blood   Mordu/Death   Carucelik/Shadow   Domincaous/Necromancy   Helurok/Demon  

Words of Vodun

  Xeshi/Control   Ineru/Bestow  

Hazards of Mispronunciations

  The danger of saying magic words wrong can have dire consequences on the one casting it. This is due to the laws of power that come with magic, as each word has meaning to them to allow them to be cast. If a word is spoken in the wrong sequence or is misspoken, they will end up with something different, or the spell could backfire on them. Causing harm to themselves and possibly causing the Price of Magic to cause serious side effects on them. Many magic users that failed to say their words properly have either died or gone through a serious injury that sometimes became permanent.

Comments

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Jan 9, 2021 01:54 by Diane Morrison

I like this concept. Words of power, or magical languages, are an old concept that exist in real world magical systems. I also like the concept of a cost of magic. Are the glyphs you included intended to be the appropriate glyphs to use, or are they a placeholder? If they are intended to be used with your words of power, do you know which glyph corresponds with which word?

Author of the Wyrd West Chronicles and the Toy Soldier Saga. Mother of Bunnies, Eater of Pickles, Friend of Nerds, First of her Name.
Jan 9, 2021 04:16

The thing about glyphs in this world each word of power and form of magic have their own glyph to use. As for the command the glyph has to be altered to match what they what, making them ever-changing while doing so. As for the glyphs in use, they are but an example of what they look like as it is hard to actually make them digitally. I still need to design the glyphs for the main ones to make them stand out to make them truly magical in their own right.

May you forever find your way on the journey you set out on and make yourself greater.
The Sagas world cover