Profile
Notes from the research of Prof. Edmund Anatolius, Grand Master Auralist.
To explain magic is to explain the universe. We all understand it on some primordial level; it is part of our biology and our very essence. We are tied to it, as is everything in our world. But to dig deeper requires a curious mind, and a lifetime of work. I have devoted mine to such a task, and I share with you my findings here.
The first concept we must understand if we are to understand magic as it operates in our work is auras. An aura is defined in the most simple terms as a cache of magical energy within something. It can also be described as a magical signature, or a magical battery. All things contain an aura--from the smallest rock to the largest mountain, from humans to elves to dragons to the very core of the planet. While auras are in part flexible, they cannot--in whole form--be permanently removed from their host. For example: if one were to take a cup of seawater from the ocean, they would temporarily hold a small portion of the ocean's aura, which would eventually evaporate and return to its source. This is why things like seawater and fresh water cannot mix. This is the simplest of explanations and does not follow for every example, such as the aforementioned rocks and mountains--but suffice it to say that this, in general, is the order of things at their most basic level.
For mechanical intents and purposes, the smallest measurable amount of magic is called a "mote" which will roughly translate 1:1 to points in a tabletop setting.
We have known for generations that sentient life has especially strong auras, which I believe to be an an evolutionary trait that has carried us into our currently complex and robust states. While as of yet inconclusive, I believe there to be a deeper link between auras and the concept of consciousness: the religious among us may not be entirely wrong when they describe our bodies as having "souls"... However my research has not yet found any grounding fact in this regard.
Basics of Magic UseNow that we understand the very basic level of a magical aura, we can discuss true magic: aural manipulation. What makes man and beastkind different from the rest of life on Althea is that we as a collective have learned to manipulate our auras. It is a curious skill which allows some among us to project their auras in ways which affect the world around them, a skill we refer to as magic. There are many forms of aural manipulation, but the most common of which is removing a part of one's internal aural energy and focusing it in a place near to, but outside the body. If a Fire Elf were to focus, say, 10% of their aural energy in a small sphere floating just above their palm, they might conjure a fireball. A Naiad could condense a sphere of water from the air, and a Woad Elf could use this small sphere of condensed aura to seal wound or grow a plant from thin air.
How Auras manifest themselves in the world around us seem to be heavily dependent on genetics, most specifically heritage. I have seen very few humans with a robust grasp of aural manipulation, but yet it comes so naturally to elvenkind they make it seem like breathing. Even further still there are creatures such as Dawn Elves and Dragons, who are rumored to have auras so strong they physically manifest themselves in brilliant visual displays like halos or a slight anti-gravity field (affecting clothing, hair, and anything not tied down to the person). I hope to be so lucky as to see one of these creatures in person before my passing.
Laws of Magic
Regardless of an individual's aural manifestation or elemental sway, there are a few constants I have observed in aural-positive individuals:
- Auras must be confined within the body of the individual it is attached to.
- Smaller individuals with robust or powerful auras are more likely to have aural "bleed", the phenomenon referred to above as a physical manifestation of their aural energy. Smaller bodied aural hosts are more prone to aural flares (uncontrollable releases of aural energy, sometimes very dangerous or destructive) whereas powerful magicians with large bodies are more stable (dragons make an especially good example).
- An aura will always try to return to it's natural state, where it is at equilibrium. The general concept and skill behind spell casting is learning how to disrupt its equilibrium, and then exercising ones skill to extend the duration and create spells of larger sizes, etc.
- This means magical effects are always temporary, and will last as long as the caster can focus on the piece of their aura being used for a specific spell.
- If a spellcaster loses focus, the aural energy devoted to casting will naturally snap back into their body and return to its resting state.
- Unless the host of an aura expressly wills it, an aura attached to something with a consciousness cannot be directly affected by another aura. There are legends that speak of powerful magicians combining their powers to do things far beyond any of their skills alone, but aural vampirism, theft, and destruction are not possible.
- The only near exception to this rule is void magic, which at higher levels is based on the skill of blocking or disrupting another's aura.
As mentioned prior, some creatures are predisposed to powerful auras, but some are not. Humankind is notorious for our lack of magical prowess, but not to fear! Magic is available for the industrious and venturesome, as well.
In my research I have found that there exist ways which one may use as a power unit in place of their own lacking energy--an artificial aura, if you will--as well as ways once can pull from the aura of the many primal sources themselves. They are not easy vocations, but for those born less magically inclined who are dead set on using spells, there are still options available.
Focuses
The first option is to find an object with an extremely strong aural signature, called a focus. Things like pure iron, Skystones (meteorites), diamond, coral, pearls, petrified wood, and other precious minerals and gemstones often have extremely compressed auras packed within a small vessel and can be perfect sources of energy for magic. Often, a vessel will cast only one spell at a time however, where a creature using their own true aura may be able to fraction their focus and energy into two or three. I do not recommend using multiple focuses at once, my trials have ended with brain aneurysms and even death among participants. Regardless, a focus can be a solid and reliable option for an auraless spellcaster.
Tomes and Runes
Possibly the most terrifying of all forms of magic in terms of possibility is that which is procured by way of language. It would take years to truly master even the simplest of incantations, but the short explanation for the every day man is simply this: words have power. Humans, as curious and dogged as we are in our scientific and religious pursuits, have found certain strings of words (not unlike the concept of prayer) which ask the gods for consent to borrow a small sliver of their power. My nearest understanding of the phenomena is that like us, the gods have aura as well, while theirs is vast an unimaginable and not held within a mortal capsule. A spellcaster who has devoted his life to studying incantations can create runes or list his prayers in a book, and when given clearance from his deity, can cast magic with the use of their aura in place of his own.
Be exceptionally weary, however: the other races are coming to know of runic magic, and how dangerous it would be in the hands of a creature with an already powerful aura... I cannot predict. Best to keep this knowledge within the hands of humanity, for now.
Typically, a human mage carries some combination of focuses and incantations to cast his spells, but any such magician worth his salt keeps his skills under wraps, lest he be found out by the human authorities or captured and questioned by nefarious forces looking to use his skill for their own advances. There is a reason mages are looked upon as madmen and largely discredited in our society--it is for the safety of all.
I will continue to update my notes as I learn more, but these are the essential basics required for understanding how magic interacts with not only the world around us, but also ourselves.
- E. Anatolius
Recent Images
No images.