TABLE OF CONTENTS
Magic is something we take for granted. How many mornings do you wake up and not expect to see a magical creature or someone who channels the forces of magic around in Karchan? Not one occasion do we $BAB(Jssume$BC(Jthat there will be no magic, only to be surprised when there is some. Too often we see it the other way around.
This essay is the culmination of study and meditation. While it initially was meant only to delve into the mysteries of the elements, it expanded to a much larger scope very quickly. It is far from a finished work. The beginning section discusses magic, its breakdowns and organizations, and gives some examples of how things fit. The second section deals with explanations of specific specialties. I shall only write those on the elements and the $BA4(Jpheres$BC(Jof influence for now. Hopefully other scholars will follow with information on their own areas of study.
Magic draws its fundamental force from three divisions called Dweomers. These are the broadest possible categories for any and all spells, yet they are complete in their number. Try as one might, no mortal mind can conceive of a Dweomer that is not included in the three. Dweomers can best be understood as the three magical energy forces that all Magic-Users tap into and manifest in their spells. I say $BA.(Jagic-User$BC(Jbecause the nature of priestly magic is fundamentally different from that of Magic-Users. The three Dweomers are Philosophy, Effect, and Thaumaturgy.
Philosophy is the Dweomer that involves the implementing of a common practice through all of the corresponding schools. For example, a Conjurer always seeks to bring matter from somewhere else to him, even though each spell differs in method.
Effect is the Dweomer that focuses on the result of the magic. For example, a Pyromancer$BCT(J spells always produce or manipulate fire regardless of what spell it is.
Thaumaturgy is the Dweomer that involves how spells are cast. Wild Mages always cast their spells with an unpredictable method, just as Artificers always use relics of the past to focus their magic.
From the Dweomer level, we can further break magic into generic $BAT(Jchools.$BC(J These are less broad groupings that tend to place all the spells that have one specific facet of the Dweomer together. Most schools are self explanatory, but for argument$BCT(J sake I shall list and explain them here briefly.
Specialties are the final division of magic. They take one area of a school and focus it into a group of spells. $BE4(Jpecialists$BG(Jcan be Magic-Users who study one specialty of a school, or they can be someone who studies the school itself (these, for the sake of difference, shall be called $BAH(Jeneralists$BC
(J. Some examples of specialties and how they fit into the scheme are as follows:
(NOTE: This is a vast simplification of the topic. Some specialties fit into multiple schools, but are placed in one single school with which they share the most in common).
In order to place a specialty into its school, find the school that seems to have the most in common with the specialty. Typically this shall be the correct school.
On some rare occasions, some specialties do not seem to fit the qualifications of any school. This does not mean they are not magic, for if they were not, how could a Magic-User study them? These are typically placed in an outside, catch-all school called $BA6(Jniversal Magic.$BC(J Examples of Universal Magic would be Entropy, Energy, Matter, Time, and Thought. Sometimes it may seem that one of the other specialties could fall into a Universal Magic specialty, which is not rare. Lightning could easily fall into Energy. This is because most Universal Magic specialties are too broad for any other school, and the narrower specialties that fall into the other schools are narrow enough to also fall into a Universal Magic specialty.
It has come to the attention of many people that there are some similar specialties to study. Weather seems to fall along the same lines at Atmosphere. The answer to this is simple. Many cultures study the same things, but do so in a slightly different manner. Take religions for example. All religions have a god or gods, and they all worship them. But the differences are sometimes great (example: a primitive culture throws a virgin into the volcano to appease the god in it. Compare that to a weekly mass in which bread and wine are sacrificed as a symbol of the community). Different cultures sometimes teach the same spells, but focus on slightly different matters. Someone who studies Weather has come from a culture in which this specialty focuses on weather patterns and controlling them. Someone who studies Atmosphere comes from a culture where the same study focuses more on the entire mass of air that surrounds the planet, not just the weather systems that travel in that mass of air.
As you can see, this complicates the matter very much. Should Weather and Atmosphere be called the same specialty because they cover very similar areas? The best answer is to say no, since the specialties are different in nature and technique, and are therefore different enough to be considered separate.
Too often you will walk up to people and, if you happen to be discussing magic, hear something incorrectly spoken about the elements. Whether it is the false assumption that Time is an element, or the misunderstanding that there are $BAQ(Jositive$BC(Jand $BAO(Jegative$BC(Jelements, these falsehoods still exist out there. The purpose of the following essay is to set all the misunderstandings straight.
The safest way to cover the elements is to begin by looking at each one separately. But before we can do that, there are a few general points to mention.
What we know as an element is not the true form of it. No mortal being, whether human, elf, dwarf, hobbit, or goblin, can observe the true form of an element with the standard five senses. However, what we see and call elements are the manifestations of them in the Prime Plane. What we call water is the most basic form of Water here. As is same with the substance called fire, earth, or air. But each element manifests itself in many different forms, some of which we would typically overlook.
Each object in the Prime, even a living being, is the exact combination of some or all of the elements needed to appear as it does. A tree looks like it does because Earth manifests itself in one way for the tree. The exact combination and proportion of the elemental manifestations are beyond comprehension, so I shall cease on this subject before I become even more confusing.
Air is an element who is typically considered $BAX(Jeaker$BC(Jwhen compared to the force of the other elements. Its typical place is a supportive role, lending its nature to the other elements so as to give them life. The only force we ever associate to Air is gale storm winds that accompany tornadoes, hurricanes, and monsoons.
But the element Air has another interesting force to it: breath. Air is the force that grants us the ability to breath, and someone who controls Air can take that breath away, or make individual breaths last longer, or even change the nature of the breath (turning the required substance from air to water for example).
One who studies and casts Air spells as their specialty can be called an Air Elementalist or an Aeromancer. With their control of Air, they have power over the winds, breath, and all types of clouds. Their natural elemental bias is against Earth, and they work well with Fire. Air can work with Water, however it is not the best pairing possible. (Elemental bias will be explained later)
Earth is the most present of the elements. Practically everything we see is fully or partially related to Earth. However, too many people overlook the full nature of the element Earth.
The most powerful facet of this element is its ability to touch everything. Only the Aeromancer who can float safely above the land is partially safe from the power of Earth, but there are ways to get around this. All other people are within the total sphere of Earth$BCT(J powers, and are typically at its mercy.
One who specializes in Earth can either be called an Earth Elementalist of a Geomancer. They control all facets of Earth, which includes minerals (stone and metals), plant life, and lightning. Their natural elemental bias is against Air, and they work well with Water. They can function as a team with Fire, but it is not the best of pairs.
When asked what is the most destructive of the elements, the obvious answer is Fire. This is true. The nature of Fire is unpredictability and destruction, but not by any means evil. Fire is the factor of change. It destroys without utter destruction. Whatever it acts upon is transformed into another form.
People who study fire typically do so only to gain the quick power it grants. The focus all their energy into learning and creating massive bursts of flame and firestorms. People who do this are neglecting the full nature of Fire. While it is primarily an offensive force, it does posses many facets, including those of a tool, and a support. Fire has almost as much diversity as Earth, but it is almost totally ignored.
One who studies Fire as their specialty can be called a Fire Elementalist or a Pyromancer. With Fire, they gain control of all forms of Fire, Light, and Heat (this typically includes standard fire, microwaves, lava, and plasma). They have a natural bias against Water and they work well with Air. They can be teamed with Earth, but it is typically a weaker pairing.
The element Water is the second most present element (actually, in truth, the first most present is Air, but its invisible nature keeps it out of consideration). Further, Water is the element in which the least facets of its nature are ignored. People see the ability to manipulate water, plus they also see the ability to create and use ice.
Water does have more to it, and it is something typically overlooked. Since Water is the antithesis of Fire, it is only natural that it would posses abilities that are similar yet conflicting. A full master of Water is a force to reckon with, yet when said master faces someone of a similar level in Fire, they cannot do anything to each other.
Someone who specializes in Water can be called a Water Elementalist or an Aquamancer. They control the three aspects of Water: Water, Ice, and Cold. They have a natural bias against Fire, and they work well with Earth. Water can team with Air, but it is not the strongest of combinations.
The first four elements are so closely tied together that the bias among them it entirely self contained. Each element has another one that naturally negates the manifestations of the other element with its own. The classic example of this is Water and Fire. If ice is used, Fire can melt it. If doused in water, Fire evaporated it. If the temperature is turned down with cold, heat negates that. The same works in reverse (ice and water put out fire and cold negates heat).
Air and Earth are slightly less biased against each other, but it still remains. Lightning cannot harm those who are not grounded, hence using winds to float above the ground negates that. The force of winds can outdo plants and minerals, while plant and minerals can block winds. Lightning can also burn off clouds. As you can see, combining these two elements is not advised.
However, just as the elements have $BAF(Jnemies,$BC(Jthey also have $BAG(Jriends.$BC(J Air and Fire function well, since you can use winds to either feed large fires or transform them into raging firestorms. Earth works well with Water because water can feed plants, or ice and mineral encasement can make it harder to get away from the elementalists. Those elements that are neither $BAG(Jriends$BC(Jnor $BAF(Jnemies$BC(Jare considered neutral. Typically they have one good pairing, but another will negate each other (Fire has the nasty tendency to melt minerals and burn up plants, but a combined fire/lightning attack is devastating and hard to counter). Fire can work with Earth and Air can work with Water.
The fifth element is the opposite of the first four. Shadow is the absence of light, substance, and mass. In short, it is the inclusion of everything while still excluding everything. Shadow works with the first four elements in an interesting symbiotic relationship.
One who controls Shadow can be called a Shadow Elementalist, Shadow Mage, or Gloommancer. They have control over Shadows, Darkness, and Undeath. For this reason, most people consider masters of Shadow as evil, but this is not necessarily the case. While the capacity to twist to evil exists, Shadow can be used for good.
The subject of bias is very tricky here. Shadow individually has no $BAG(Jriend$BC(Jelements. It is the opponent of all of them, since the $BAM(Jiving$BC(Jnature of the elements counter-acts the $BAE(Jead$BC(Jnature of Shadow. However, Shadow is dependant on the existence of the other elements. Without light to illuminate a region, Shadow cannot darken it. Without daylight, there is no way to distinguish darkness. Without life, there is no undeath. Without material form to block light, there are no shadows. For this reason, Shadow can totally destroy the other elements, but not remove the existence of any element totally. This concept is hard to understand, but consider the analogy. Your arm is the first four elements. Raise it in front of a nearby light. Observe the shadow cast by it. You have brought the fifth element into being there. No consider that the shadow can be controlled to consume your arm totally. Remove the arm from the light. See how the shadow vanishes? In this nature, whenever Shadow destroys some of another element, it weakens itself. For this reason, Gloommancers tend to switch alliances quickly, helping the other elementalists sometimes, but harming them the other times.
You may have noticed some similarities between Shadow and Entropy. This is true. The reason is because as there are elements to deal with the material world, there are $BA4(Jpheres of Influence$BC(Jto deal with the immaterial world. The Spheres are Thought, Matter, Energy, Time, Entropy, and Axiom. These will not be explained in this section of the document.
The sixth and final element is the hardest to comprehend. If you do not fully understand this section, do not feel bad and do not worry about it. If you do, congratulations.
The sixth element is called Force. What it essentially is would best be called internal energy. It is like Chi, or the Hawaiian belief of $BAN(Jana,$BC(Jyet those terms are simplified. We all carry a certain amount of Force within us. This energy is manifested in kinetic energy, extra-sensory perception, or, for lack of a better word, force. This needs some explaining.
Kinetic energy is the most common of the three facets of Force. It is the energy of motion. It allows things to move from one place in reality to another. Masters of Force can project their internal kinetic energy (almost like telekinesis) to give it to other objects. While an exhausting process, it allows them to move things that otherwise would be immobile.
Extra-sensory Perception (ESP) is the ability to see or hear things beyond the scope of the five mortal senses. The master of Force can use his internal Force to extend his senses to those of others, granting Telepathy, Clairvoyance, Clairaudience, and minor powers of suggestion. Some people who do not know of, or have not mastered Force have limited versions of this ability, typically from an inborn anomaly or a gained skill from mental discipline. $BA1(Jsionicists,$BC(Jor those who have near-magical powers from their mind, have somehow tapped into the sixth element without knowing it.
Force (not to be confused with the element Force) is the immaterial solidity. This is hard to explain and understand. The most common form of force is the wall of force. In it, we create a immaterial wall that, for all purposes, is solid to touch. It cannot be passed through, and if used to fall on someone, it will most assuredly hurt. Magical missiles, a visible manifestation of force, cannot be grabbed or thrown, but when they strike, they feel like normal missiles. In short, force is the ability to make immaterial material.
Having said this, one who specializes in Force is called a Force Elementalist, a Force Mage, a Mentalist, or a Psiomancer. The nature of Force is such that it does not relate well to the first four elements. While it can decimate any element, it also enhances the use of the others (knowing both Force and Earth makes a nearly invincible power!). Force relates as an $BAF(Jnemy$BC(Jto the fifth element. Shadow is the force of destruction of the elements, while Force is the force of repulsion of Shadow. Since every manifestation of an element contains trace amounts of Force, it allows all physical objects to resist Shadow. Return to the analogy of before. When you arm cast its shadow, why did it not destroy the objects it was cast on? Because the innate Force contained within the object repelled the shadow enough for it to only rest on the surface of the object.
Legends tell of a powerful wizard called the Elemancer. This wizard, they say, gained control over all six of the elements. This ability granted him vast magical powers. According to the legends, he could obliterate a mountain with a thought, or raise a new continent in the blink of an eye. He had mastery over all the physical world, including those things that are combinations of the elements.
What happened to the Elemancer then? The legends tell that his power was so great and absolute that he became corrupt. He made all existence work to better him. The legends state that many heroes came to defeat him, but all were killed instantly. However, the legends tell that a far more powerful wizard came to the land for their aid. He was near immortal in power (and some speculate he was immortal), and had the utmost pride for goodness. The Elemancer tried to destroy the wizard, but he could not. The legends state that this new wizard had mastered all of the $BA4(Jpheres of Influence.$BC(J The elements are the source of the power for the $BA4(Jpheres,$BC(Jwhich means that all the Elemancer did only strengthened the wizard. After destroying the Elemancer, he left before any could discover how he mastered the $BA4(Jpheres.$BC(J Speculation remains that if anyone were to master either the elements or the $BA4(Jpheres$BC(Jand abuse their power, if this wizard did not still exist, the abuser could obliterate reality completely. I dare not think of the power of one who has mastered all the $BA4(Jpheres.$BC (J/p>
Just as the elements control the physical reality, the Spheres control existence itself. It is hard to imagine what a $BA4(Jphere$BC(Jembodies, but the following essay attempts to explain some of the nature of the spheres and their interaction. This is the writing of someone who does not study the magic of the spheres, but instead has come of the understanding through his study of the elements. Those who study the spheres themselves are invited to write in depth on their own sphere (particularly Warlocke and torko, who study Entropy and Time respectively).
The purpose of this document is to lay out the spheres, their interactions, and their relations with the elements. I will not explain the powers of each sphere.
The main reason behind going into this topic is because of the general crossover between Spheres of Influence and the elements. Each Sphere draws its internal force and effect over the immaterial from its material counterpart. The elements are the makeup of the material world, and therefore, each element powers one of the Spheres of Influence. As the element grows in representation, so does the Sphere. Therefore, a region dominated by one element is dominated by its corresponding Sphere of Influence.
The main problem with this, however, is that the Spheres hold different oppositions. The representative Sphere powered by Earth is not opposed to the Sphere powered by Air. This is another example of the difference between the material and immaterial world. However, the nature of the element and Sphere are so totally bound that destroying one in an area destroys the other (if Entropy, for example, destroys the Energy in a area, fire, heat, or light will begin to vanish from the area as well).
As stated before, the Spheres of Influence are Matter, Energy, Thought, Time, Entropy, and Axiom. This section of the essay attempts to simple explain each. All minor details about the Spheres of Influence are left to other more capable hands.
MatterThe previous essay spoke of the existence of someone who had mastered each Sphere. While such a person is doubted to ever exist, if they did one could speculate on their abilities. It would seem that the Sphere Master is stronger than the Elemancer only because his powers can bring destruction of the powers of the Elemancer. One can surmise the Sphere Master has the powers of the Elemancer on the immaterial level of reality, but the overlapping of the realities grants him greater powers when focused on the material reality.