Devs can incorporate light and manipulate it in a number of ways, though there is a clear division in how solar and lunar light can be used. The spectrum of light magic possibility is so great that devs need to specialize to become apt. Some devs choose to learn a set of solar or lunar abilities. Others choose by discipline, such as by choosing a set of warrior spells or by becoming light casters. Devs who go this route and learn both solar and lunar spells can also merge their skill sets during twilight for more profound results.
Light Casting
Light casting is an ability unique to devs and dev culture. It is especially practiced within the Ismat Empire. Devs can focus to project a dimensional image before them that they can animate. How large, small, or translucent the image is depends on whether it is
image,
illusion, or
twilighlt casting. Aside from the limitations of the time of day, the possibilities of light casting is only limited by the skill, imagination, and tools of the caster. From the untrained with no tools to the masters with resources, this can range from pillars of a single color, to fully realized palaces. Every image projected needs a degree of study preceding it. Nations within the Ismat Empire have rubrics, schools, and institutions, dedicated to the practice. Light casting is a complete body spell. Casters connect their whole body to their projected image. If they choose to animate the image they do so through moving their body. So if they are casting an image of a lion for example, a swing of the finger can swish the lion's tail.
Solar Abilities
Solar Abilities can be performed by devs during the day. They have better results the more prominent the sun is. There is a quality to solar abilities that dev cultures find direct. Some devs who are adept at solar abilities find solar abilities to be more righteous for being purely about strength and ability and not involving guile or subterfuge.
Lunar Abilities
Lunar Abilities can be performed by devs during the night. They are more effective the higher the moon is. Lunar abilities lend themselves well to subtleties. Devs with a quieter state of mind are generally more adept at lunar abilities.
Image Casting
Solar Ability
Image casting is the solar form of light casting. The images projected are translucent and shimmer with a visible aura. This skill is is used within many professions. Teachers use them to display concepts and story tellers use them to accompany their tales. A strength of image casting in comparison to its lunar counterpart is that it is much easier to image cast larger more complex images. Image casters who do well are those who are also effective communicators who are able to translate what others are saying into images to make a point clear.
Illusion Casting
Lunar Ability
Illusion casting is the lunar form of light casting. The images projected are opaque and do not have any shimmer to them. Thus skilled illusion casters can project images that appear real and extremely skilled casters can also animate their images. It is overall a much harder skill to illusion cast than to image cast, and those who can project an illusion larger than a midsized child without the use of crystals or
Ismat Oil is very rare. There are many applications for Illusion casting. Deception has become a natural part of the illusion casting culture leading to a stigma in its use.
Solar Enhancement
Solar Ability
Considered by many to be the most basic gift of being a dev, devs can meditate on opening up their chakras. This allows them to absorb the solar energy hitting them which they can direct towards enhancing a chosen aspect of their physiology. This effect is temporary but frequent practice of this ability strengthens the retention ability of the enhancements.
Many dev militaries consider it a core skill that all members must have an at least basic mastery of. The most common practice of this skill is to enhance muscles to become physically stronger, but it can also be used to enhance mental sharpness or even a particular sense.
Shadow Blurring
Lunar Ability
A favorite nighttime skill, devs cam manipulate the light in their aura to smear over them and appear blurry. The ultimate practice of this is to become invisible, but even without reaching this extreme it is a useful skill. It is particularly useful in battle and hand to hand combat, where losing track of your opponents hands for even a split second can result in a fatality. It is another skill that some dev militaries demand of their soldiers.
Twilight Magic
When both the Sun and Moon are out, devs can combine the solar and lunar energy available to them. They can Solar Enhance and Shadow Blur. Though each spell is not at their peak during twilight, performing them together is extremely effective.
Twilight Casting
Twilight ability
By combining their image and illusion casting skills, devs during twilight can cast large opaque images. Twilight casting has also has morphed into a sport where competitors battle through projected images. It is even a school game, where children project and dance their image against another.
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