Foeofthelance
2009-07-18, 08:19 PM
I'm working out a world for a new story, and part of that involves developing the system of magic that the world operates under. Trying to make it coherent (especially when there are three different sources and five different schools) is a bit of a challenge, and would rather have people scratch their heads now then when I get it typed up and printed out. So here goes!
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Schools of Magic in the Arcane University story-lines
Wizardry- Wizardry is the result of Eastern and Western attempts to manifest control over the Well, the primal source of all magic. It is very similar in nature to science, in that following scripted procedures will produce a scripted result, with the only variation being the amount of power being drawn from the Well according to the individual wizard's ability.
Shamanism- Shamans draw the energy to fuel their magic from the living things around them, whether willingly or unwillingly. (Power freely given is much more valuable than power stolen, as stealing power also requires breaking the bonds that held it to the source.) As such, the average shaman keeps some sort of familiar or pet as an extra "battery", as drawing power from plants always requires stealing it. (Plants aren't sentient, and thus don't recognize what they are being asked. There are a few exceptions to this rule, based on size and age, but few plants reach that point.) Two shamans may conduct a ritual in the exact same manner, and still produce radically different results, based on what the Shaman's intents were at the time of the ritual.
Technomancy- Technomancy is similar to wizardry in that it relies on power being drawn out of the Well in order to function, but is really much closer to normal technology. Potion making falls under this category, as do most artifacts. Technomancers require some medium in order to channel their powers. They can't throw a fireball, but they make swell grenades...
Vodun- Vodun falls somewhere between wizardry and shamanism. Its practitioners rely a series of highly stylized rituals to communicate with the various "other" spirits that inhabit this reality. They do not actively draw power from any one source of power, as most of their effects are generated as a result of the spirits (which do draw from a power source, but on their own levels.) Often a spirit will require some payment or equal service, but some build actual relationships with their summoners.
Necromancy- Little enough is known about the rules governing necromancy, other than that it draws on the powers trapped behind the shroud of death when a living being passes. Necromancy had its highest points back during the rise of ancient Egypt and her cohorts, but fell heavily during the last few centuries of the Roman Empire, and what little remained was almost entirely obliterated by the Crusades and Spanish Inquisition, at least as far as Western magic users are concerned. There are a few areas in Asia where it is still somewhat acknowledged, but many magic users find necromancy to be a distasteful practice, and frown on anyone who uses it. Several organizations have been established with the sole intent of wiping it out entirely, and the rise of modern technology has made their task even easier...
The Sources of Power-
The Well is the original source point of all things, and its opening was in fact what caused the Big Bang. The primary source of most magic users, it also has the easiest to access once one knows how. Most magic users to believe the Well is infinite in depth, though there are a few who are coming to doubt this belief as magic seemingly grows weaker with the passing centuries. All energy returns here once used to fuel a spell.
Nature is, well, nature. All life requires energy of some sort, and this energy can be tapped into by all living things. (Life itself is a grand ritual that draws energy out of the Well. This is why all things need to eat, breathe, etc. It also produces just enough energy to support life.) Natural energy was in fact the first form of magic to be tapped into, as they were already using it to live. Magic users did not begin to be able to access the Well until they started gathering together and sharing the information on their particular rituals and experiments.
Necromantic energy is the result of life not quite being as eternal as the Well. All living things continue to harness energy from the Well until their moment of death, and not all of that energy is necessarily used. But once a creature dies that energy remains trapped, as living things do not interact well with the dead. Only once the energy is freed (generally by using it in some manner) can it then be returned to the Well to start the entire cycle once more. Unfortunately, the dearth of necromancers in recent years has meant more and more energy has remained trapped behind the Death barrier as living things are born, age, and die.
Flow of Energy
Well---> Life---> Death---> Well
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Schools of Magic in the Arcane University story-lines
Wizardry- Wizardry is the result of Eastern and Western attempts to manifest control over the Well, the primal source of all magic. It is very similar in nature to science, in that following scripted procedures will produce a scripted result, with the only variation being the amount of power being drawn from the Well according to the individual wizard's ability.
Shamanism- Shamans draw the energy to fuel their magic from the living things around them, whether willingly or unwillingly. (Power freely given is much more valuable than power stolen, as stealing power also requires breaking the bonds that held it to the source.) As such, the average shaman keeps some sort of familiar or pet as an extra "battery", as drawing power from plants always requires stealing it. (Plants aren't sentient, and thus don't recognize what they are being asked. There are a few exceptions to this rule, based on size and age, but few plants reach that point.) Two shamans may conduct a ritual in the exact same manner, and still produce radically different results, based on what the Shaman's intents were at the time of the ritual.
Technomancy- Technomancy is similar to wizardry in that it relies on power being drawn out of the Well in order to function, but is really much closer to normal technology. Potion making falls under this category, as do most artifacts. Technomancers require some medium in order to channel their powers. They can't throw a fireball, but they make swell grenades...
Vodun- Vodun falls somewhere between wizardry and shamanism. Its practitioners rely a series of highly stylized rituals to communicate with the various "other" spirits that inhabit this reality. They do not actively draw power from any one source of power, as most of their effects are generated as a result of the spirits (which do draw from a power source, but on their own levels.) Often a spirit will require some payment or equal service, but some build actual relationships with their summoners.
Necromancy- Little enough is known about the rules governing necromancy, other than that it draws on the powers trapped behind the shroud of death when a living being passes. Necromancy had its highest points back during the rise of ancient Egypt and her cohorts, but fell heavily during the last few centuries of the Roman Empire, and what little remained was almost entirely obliterated by the Crusades and Spanish Inquisition, at least as far as Western magic users are concerned. There are a few areas in Asia where it is still somewhat acknowledged, but many magic users find necromancy to be a distasteful practice, and frown on anyone who uses it. Several organizations have been established with the sole intent of wiping it out entirely, and the rise of modern technology has made their task even easier...
The Sources of Power-
The Well is the original source point of all things, and its opening was in fact what caused the Big Bang. The primary source of most magic users, it also has the easiest to access once one knows how. Most magic users to believe the Well is infinite in depth, though there are a few who are coming to doubt this belief as magic seemingly grows weaker with the passing centuries. All energy returns here once used to fuel a spell.
Nature is, well, nature. All life requires energy of some sort, and this energy can be tapped into by all living things. (Life itself is a grand ritual that draws energy out of the Well. This is why all things need to eat, breathe, etc. It also produces just enough energy to support life.) Natural energy was in fact the first form of magic to be tapped into, as they were already using it to live. Magic users did not begin to be able to access the Well until they started gathering together and sharing the information on their particular rituals and experiments.
Necromantic energy is the result of life not quite being as eternal as the Well. All living things continue to harness energy from the Well until their moment of death, and not all of that energy is necessarily used. But once a creature dies that energy remains trapped, as living things do not interact well with the dead. Only once the energy is freed (generally by using it in some manner) can it then be returned to the Well to start the entire cycle once more. Unfortunately, the dearth of necromancers in recent years has meant more and more energy has remained trapped behind the Death barrier as living things are born, age, and die.
Flow of Energy
Well---> Life---> Death---> Well