Magic: The Great Soul

I saw it float there, over her cold body in bed, beating softly. The sight filled me with ... something? Some kind of ennui, or nostalgia, or other vague, ephemeral nicety. There have always been theories, ranging from the spiritual to the materialist, but they all rung hollow in that moment. All I know is that I saw my mother's soul leave her body and slowly beat away into the Ether. Several of my associates are starting to think that we've got a handle on them now that we can measure them as Soular, but all that gives is a unit of energy. We aren't closer to understanding why they're there or even WHAT they are, but by god are we going to abuse it anyways.
It was nice though. And its nice to know that I've got one too, rattling around somewhere in there, somehow.

- Professor Gera Exotl

Magic goes by many names throughout the world, varying from people to people and culture to culture, but the most common is as The Great Soul, or some variation thereof. This is likely because although raw magic exists as a fundamental force throughout the world - flowing in lifelines, pooling in almanali reservoirs - it is always experienced as something - not alive- but living.

Soul Mechanics

Every living creature has a soul in some form, although specifics vary depending on what type of creature they are. Souls are an inherent metaphysical aspect of all living things - although some believe even inanimate things have souls in some form- that taps into the raw magic around them filtering it into a usable forms. Through various methods, a creature can learn to filter magic through their soul and form its power into their desired effects. This can be done purposefully or subconsciously, and to very different ends. The most visible forms of magic are those that involve spellcasting- with mages of all stripes channeling magic through their soul from various sources and using it to create the archetypal magical spells we know. However, just as every soul has the potential to use magic, every soul can express it in different ways. Besides the different forms of spellcasting, a soul can use magic to enhance the physical capabilities of itself. This is what allows creatures such as most monstrosities, giants, and dragons to exist as they are and perform feats that their biology would not be able to explain otherwise. The same goes for skilled and powerful humanoids, that gain supernatural strength, agility, and resilience to both physical and magical effects. Be it through casting a fireball or avoiding that fireball entirely while being in its direct path, magic is an innate part of life. Souls are not generally visible to ordinary creatures, existing in an ephemeral state within them, usually around where there heart would be. As the soul is considered the enigmatic spiritual aspect- after the conscious, 'mental' aspect generally thought to be located in the mind, and the unconscious 'physical' aspect associated with the body as a whole- this is not surprising. A soul removed from a living creature takes the form of an ethereal beating heart, although this has been known to change, with certain individuals having their souls appear as things like ethereal animals, plants, or elements. Every creature's soul is a different color, and when magic is used or a soul is loose they tend to shed soft light of that color. They float freely in the air, and tend to pulse or 'thrum'. Souls can not be physically interacted with, but it is possible for those in the Ethereal plane to do so. Undisturbed, a soul is only visible and separate from the body for a few moments after death. However, creatures with more 'powerful' souls, as in souls that create more magical energy and are capable of utilizing more magical energy, have been known to have their souls persist for longer, anywhere from a few seconds, to a few minutes, to an hour or more. Their are magical effects than can prematurely remove a soul from its body, but these are powerful and rare magics that are not commonly known. A creature can not, under regular circumstances absorb the soul of another-although there are a few exceptions- but there are means of trapping them, and using the power of a soul in a number of ways. Once a soul can no longer persist after death, if left alone, it will shatter with a notable soft chime and begins to fade deeper into the Ethereal Plane, meeting its ultimate fate there.

Origins of the Soul and Magic

It is unknown whether magic or souls existed first. Theories for both are plausible, did the first soul create the magic that now suffuses the world, or did magic exist in the world first pooling into the first soul, and possibly being the origin of life itself? There are no satisfying answers, although many have tried to give one. The biggest clue that can be worked upon is in one of the most powerful and fundamental forces of magic: emotion. Following the Law of Three Aspects, magic is split into a physical, mental, and spiritual triad, with physical magic being unconscious and only displaying itself by supplementing the body, mental magic being associated with traditional spellcasting, and spiritual magic being a less common form of magic that is generated and expressed directly through powerful emotions. Sometimes called psionics, and its practitioners psions, this aspect of magic is much less understood, but is fundamentally part of magic in general, as both physical and mental magics involve states of mind and emotion that undoubtedly originate from them. Intense emotions have been known to both generate intense magical phenomena, even changing the courses of lifelines and substantially draining almanali reservoirs, and as such, it at the very least known that magic interacts with emotions to a great degree. This question is compounded by the existence of Divine spellcasting. It is not an uncommon occurrence for creatures to gain their powers solely through other metaphysical means, such as through belief and identity. It is unknown where exactly this magic comes from, as not all of it can be attributed to deities or other such sources.

Magic in the World: The Flow

Magic exists in the world as an almost omnipresent force, taking the form of a metaphysical state of matter, as it tends to loosely follow similar rules. It moves throughout the world like water, pulsing in lifelines of raw magic that cover the planet's surface in patterns that are not entirely understood. Their magic washes over and fills everything in its path, ready to be taken and given from by those with the ability to do so. Lifelines vary in size, intensity, and length but are very fluid in nature, and are known to move around in a way, much like regular rivers of water. Lifelines, sometimes even follow geographic phenomenon much like a river would as well. Their general 'shores' are often times dotted by populations of creatures both intelligent and unintelligent, as they provide a constantly refreshing source of magical energy, that can be drawn upon for a variety of uses. Lifelines flow into, pool up in what scholars have dubbed Almanali Reservoirs, areas that for various reasons combine the flows of several lifelines and heavily suffuse the surrounding area in magic, and flow out. Almanali Reservoirs in turn come to a point in a Terminal Well, which are focal points that serve as concentrated taps into the reservoirs around them. This is referred to as the Flow of Magic or the Magical Cycle. Almanali Reservoirs are by nature localized in certain areas, as they are fed by the lifelines around them. Their area can range from only a few meters, to several miles if fed enough magic. Before the creation of Soular Counters, their volume was impossible to measure, and because of their almost inexhaustible nature, some even thought they may have infinite amounts of magic in them. The areas that reservoirs are located in can be either a blessing or a curse for those living there. Mystical woods, floating motes of Earth, impossible flows of water are only some of the ways, large reservoirs effect the physical environment around them, and they can have comparable effects on souls themselves. With effects ranging from creating a general area of a certain emotions, to creatures in the area no longer needing to eat, to allowing all creatures in the area an innate or increased access to magic, to areas that naturally create undead, Alamanali Reservoirs are important pieces of land all manner of creature would wish to control or avoid. Terminal Wells come in many physical forms, but are usually relatively small monuments, areas, or sometimes even items. Most terminals are infused into natural phenomenon , such as the peaks of certain mountains or a particularly wizened tree in a forest that contains a reservoir. Others can be created by intelligent beings, with certain monuments serving that purpose- druids especially tend to create Terminals of their own in stone monuments- or sometimes the release of a large amount of emotion causing an existing structure or item to become a new Terminal. This is of course no easy feat, and attempting to create one can cause all manner of disaster. However, Terminals exhibit powerful magical effects, and are often contested as sources of power by those living in the Almanali reservoirs around them. It is known that the more Wells exist on a reservoir, the less concentrated the magic each brings. When seeking such effects as creating Gates to other planes, incredible power by those who closely interact with them regularly, or according to some rumors, the possibility of making a wish, the more concentrated the better. Most magic exists in this form and cycles through the world, allowing magic to reach all corners of the world. It is invisible in this form, but especially large flows can be sensed by one's soul, as they too are magical and are attuned to its presence around them.However, this is not the only way magic can manifest itself. Although much rarer, under certain conditions, which are not entirely known, magic can become visible by taking on a gaseous form. This is rare and known to be incredibly dangerous, but offers access to intensely concentrated raw magic relatively easily. Even rarer, magic can take on a solid form. Pure Soular is exceedingly rare, and takes on many different forms, from a blinding white metal, to a pearlescent purple wood, to a jet black opal containing the colors of the rainbow. It is from this material that the first devices used to measure, detect, and truly extract magic were created, and the use of Soular as the unites of magic originate.

Aspects,Sources, and Classifications of Magic

Following the Law of Three Aspects, Magic can be split up into three forms: Physical Magic, Conceptual Magic, and Emotional Magic. These three aspects are fundamental in the understanding of magic, as they are the manner in which magic is used by the soul.

• Physical Magic can also be referred to as unconscious or 'body' magic. Magic used in this way is not actively shaped by a creature, and instead refers to the way a soul can passively utilize magic to enhance a creature's strength, reflexes, or agility. This is the magic of most Martial Classes.
• Conceptual Magic can also be referred to as conscious or 'mental' magic. Magic used in this way is actively shaped by a creature, and relies on a creature filtering Soular through themselves and consciously deciding how they express it. Their souls take in magic and can release or shape it as they choose. This is the magic of most Spellcasting Classes.
• Emotional Magic can also be referred to as spiritual or 'soul' magic. Magic used in this way is much rarer than the other aspects, and is directly controlled by a creature's soul. The other aspects rely on the intake and release of magic in different ways, while emotional magic is the soul directly affecting the world without the need for the processing of magical energy. This magic is much rarer, and can theoretically be used by any creature. There are only a few classes, like the Psion, that fuse this magic primarily.

Sources

Magic is generally gathered from the flow, and the ambient magic that spreads from its features over the rest of the world, but this is not the only way that can magic can be harnessed.

• Martial Classes tend to rely on either passively absorbing and using the ambient magic around them for their own purposes, and sometimes relying on the magic of their own souls. They too, follow the Law of Three Aspects. Fighters and Rogues use physical magic in its most fundamental form, by using it, natural talent, and extensive practice to vastly enhance their, reflexes, speed, and strength. Monks and Blood Hunters use physical magic by being aware of the way their bodies interact with magic within them, be it through intense meditation or the mysterious workings of the Hunter’s Bane. The magic of their bodies is passive, yet structured, and their deep understanding of it allows them to more deeply effect themselves and even other creatures. Barbarians and Evolutionists are the most primal users of physical magic, relying heavily on the magic produced by their own soul to fuel themselves. Be it through entering a state of intense emotion, or through the - albeit much rarer- whims of a soul that pushes against and empowers the body it inhabits.

• Arcane spellcasting classes draw their power from various sources, but share the method of mastering their own souls to manipulate and express magic in ways that they decide alone. Wizard and Artificers are the archetypal arcane caster, in that through intense study and experimentation, they learn to open their soul to ambient magic around them and how to manipulate it to produce their desired effects. Sorcerers and Warlocks are arcane casters that draw their power from their own powerful souls, and learn to master the power of their own physical bodies to force their will on the world. The source of their soul’s power varies, with sorcerer’s having naturally supercharged souls and Warlock’s being given direct magical power by powerful entities. Bards and Psions are arcane casters that gain their power through the expression of their soul, be it directly from their will, as the Psion, or more indirectly through art, as the Bard. Their souls directly reach out through these means and express themselves in ways that they are conscious of, but not necessarily always in control of.
• Divine Spellcasting classes draw their power from various sources, but are alike in that they come about through the connection of one’s soul to a conceptual force. Their souls are conduits for the manipulation and expression of greater ideals. Clerics and Paladins have connected their souls directly to a greater concept, either through an intense conviction to that concept, as the cleric, or through the solemn ritual of swearing an oath to their ideals, as the Paladin. Druids and Rangers have tied their souls to the immense power of the world itself, primarily through their environment and the laws of nature. This subset of magic is known as Primal Magic, and there is debate as to whether it can be considered its own form of Conceptual spellcasting, possibly filling a triad with arcane and divine spellcasting. It is through this identification with their environment, as the Druid, or through the responsibility for it, as the Ranger.
Occultists and Keepers have instead opened themselves to the emotional/spiritual world around them, gaining their power from the landscape of emotion that exists next to the world. Occultists attune themselves to the flow of magic and emotion around them, drawing their power through their connection to its ebb and flow, while Keepers establish themselves as a landmark within it, trapping it within themselves, allowing their souls to embed themselves into it.

Classification

Having been an integral part of almost every culture and society on the planet, it is a given that different philosophies and schools of thought would be established.
Among those that formally study magic, it can be handily broken down into 8 schools of magic. These are not concrete separations, as many spells incorporate aspects of the other schools, but they tend to be driven by one particular school. Additionally, each school is considered either complementary, adjacent, or opposed to the other schools. While a general wizard is still able to pull from every school, many choose to specialize in one, at the cost of losing touch with its opposed schools.

• The School of Abjuration- The Magic of Magic and Potential
• The School of Conjuration- The Magic of Space and Movement
• The School of Divination- The Magic of Information and Unity
• The School of Enchantment- The Magic of the Mind and Control
• The School of Evocation- The Magic of Energy and Force
• The School of Illusion- The Magic of the Senses and Understanding
• The School of Necromancy- The Magic of Life and the Body
• The School of Transmutation- The Magic of Change and Time

Older and less loosely defined classifications of magic, but their practitioners tend to keep to themselves and it is unclear how many there still are.These tend to be those that

• Are related to the elements or elemental planes
• Are related to the divine sources like through conviction or a solemn oath

Soular

The exact structure and function of a soul is not fully understood. It is exceedingly difficult to study a soul due to their metaphysical nature, the short time frame they are able to be interacted with at all, and the difficult and incredibly rare means that can isolate them from a body. This is of course, ignoring the ethical ramifications of keeping a creature's soul for study. What can be gathered is that a soul is an intensely magical, metaphysical structure that is possessed by any living creature. Its purpose is not definitively known, how it produces its own power is unknown, and the extent of a soul's ability is not known.
It is known that some creatures possess souls that are naturally more powerful than others, culminating in beings such as the Amarinthians. This is followed up with the fact that Paragons of a certain type of creature's ideals and best traits, resulting in the Paragon Gods, from Lolth of the drow to Okku the God of bears. However, there are several famous examples of mortal creatures that have ascended to a form of deity, with most demigods fitting into this category. For much of history, the strength of powerful creatures, gods, and magical sources could not be known, and thus little could challenge them. This changed in the year 1518 PA when an unknown source discovered the properties of Pure Soular, and fashioned devices that could not only measure the amount of magic in something and thus the relative strength of a creatures soul, but also a device that could take a source of magic and turn the metaphysical substance into a physical one. This was a well kept secret for many years, but as it began to be known, it had massive effects on the understanding and relationship of society and magic, with Soulars becoming the standard unit of magic. Although most regular folk are not aware of this new avenue of magical study, perhaps hearing it from the occasional passerby, engineers, scholars, and merchants alike are only just beginning to step into a new world of possibilities with magic becoming a little more knowable.

Magical vs. Physical Damage

Physical objects or physically created energy sources are considered to physical damage, and interact with a creature's body. Physical fire burns the skin, physical ice freezes things solid, and physical acid corrodes away everything in its path. Magical Damage, be it through spells or other magical phenomenon, instead focus on attacking the soul instead of the body. A Physical fire will quickly ignite a tree, but magical fire from a firebolt spell attacks a creature's soul, burning the soul instead of the skin. Of course, the more powerful the magical effect, the more it can effect its physical surroundings, with a high level firestorm burning away everything in its path, much like a regular fire would, while still directly damaging any souls in its path. This has prevented magical fire and lightning from being used as energy sources themselves, as producing enough magical flame or lightning is a difficult feat with inefficient returns. While possible, it is time-consuming, and can only used effectively through powerful magical sources, and thusly very expensive.