Meta: Magic and It's Limits
Magic is not ubiquitous across Emmeron, despite the existence of wonderous and obviously magical beings and processes. Statistically, very few individuals are able to successfully access the extra-planar power necessary to wield magic to their will. Those unable to successfully tame the raw energy of the ethereal often die in the attempt. Even for those able to harness a fractional amount of magical power, the result is typically a small subset of carefully curated abilities, rather than a wide berth of magical prowess. Some individuals with profound abilities to create and sustain magical abilities may demonstrate a wider array of talents than others. This makes the wielders of this power incredibly sought after. Magic is typically more pronounced among the demonkin of Emmeron, or those who share kinship ties to demonkin, devils, or demons, as this bloodline is directly tied to and imbued with tainted power from the void. Though, ancestry along these lines does not guarantee magic prowess.
Typically, magical abilities manifest as forms of kinetic magic (i.e. force bulbs, invisible barriers, or telekinetic abilities). Rarely are individuals able to produce or control other forms non-physical forms of magic (i.e. fire, polymorphism, or blood magic). However, the power of the void has been more successfully imbued and contained within magical artifacts, and especially in those created from ghost ore. There are rarer talents such as phasing (the ability to seemingly teleport as if one had turned to clouds and reformed elsewhere), psychic powers (such as foresight, telepathy, and mental commanding). These powers typically manifest in individuals strongly connected to the celestial or the void. Examples of such wielders are clerical mages, and seers.
Blood magic is a particularly brutal form of magical casting, which requires a sacrifice of the physical to access pieces of the void. Blood magic is generally physically destructive to the user, but can be welded for more supportive or positive purposes. Blood magic users have been able to repair severed limbs, bring people back from the brink of death, and bind their essence and souls to others. Blood magic is one of the most powerful forms of magic, but is considered forbidden by nearly every kingdom, organization, and intellectual on the Continent because of its corrosive nature to the body, mind, and soul. Blood magic users often fall victim to the allure of power that the craft brings, and often transform into acolytes of the void. The Inquisition has condemned the use of blood magic and is sanctioned in each kingdom on the Maelstrom Coast to perform summary execution of blood magic users when discovered.
While blood magic can arguably be called the most powerful of the kinetic forces, the singularly strongest form of magic is that which is obtained or channeled directly through either the void or the celestial realms. This raw, untamed void or hallowed power can be wielded in nearly endless forms but is unstable and unpredictable in the hands of mortals. Only a fraction of a percentage of mortals can even dream of wielding this power (albeit very temporarily), and most have a lineage tied to the Hallowed Realm or the Nine Hells. This form of magic is typically found among denizens of these extra-planar kingdoms. Not since the Wretched Queen has there been a mortal wielder of raw void magic existed on the Continent. It is said that with it, she conquered even death, but in the process lost her soul and her connection to the ethereal and material planes of existence. Until her demise in the Hallowing War, she had become the self-crowned queen of the Maelstrom Coast and its kingdoms. It is unknown how she first came to possess this power, but many speculate that she made a pact with a powerful devil, ensouling herself to him, an drawing from his power as he ruled over legions of demonic forces somewhere in the abyss.
Typically, magical abilities manifest as forms of kinetic magic (i.e. force bulbs, invisible barriers, or telekinetic abilities). Rarely are individuals able to produce or control other forms non-physical forms of magic (i.e. fire, polymorphism, or blood magic). However, the power of the void has been more successfully imbued and contained within magical artifacts, and especially in those created from ghost ore. There are rarer talents such as phasing (the ability to seemingly teleport as if one had turned to clouds and reformed elsewhere), psychic powers (such as foresight, telepathy, and mental commanding). These powers typically manifest in individuals strongly connected to the celestial or the void. Examples of such wielders are clerical mages, and seers.
Blood magic is a particularly brutal form of magical casting, which requires a sacrifice of the physical to access pieces of the void. Blood magic is generally physically destructive to the user, but can be welded for more supportive or positive purposes. Blood magic users have been able to repair severed limbs, bring people back from the brink of death, and bind their essence and souls to others. Blood magic is one of the most powerful forms of magic, but is considered forbidden by nearly every kingdom, organization, and intellectual on the Continent because of its corrosive nature to the body, mind, and soul. Blood magic users often fall victim to the allure of power that the craft brings, and often transform into acolytes of the void. The Inquisition has condemned the use of blood magic and is sanctioned in each kingdom on the Maelstrom Coast to perform summary execution of blood magic users when discovered.
While blood magic can arguably be called the most powerful of the kinetic forces, the singularly strongest form of magic is that which is obtained or channeled directly through either the void or the celestial realms. This raw, untamed void or hallowed power can be wielded in nearly endless forms but is unstable and unpredictable in the hands of mortals. Only a fraction of a percentage of mortals can even dream of wielding this power (albeit very temporarily), and most have a lineage tied to the Hallowed Realm or the Nine Hells. This form of magic is typically found among denizens of these extra-planar kingdoms. Not since the Wretched Queen has there been a mortal wielder of raw void magic existed on the Continent. It is said that with it, she conquered even death, but in the process lost her soul and her connection to the ethereal and material planes of existence. Until her demise in the Hallowing War, she had become the self-crowned queen of the Maelstrom Coast and its kingdoms. It is unknown how she first came to possess this power, but many speculate that she made a pact with a powerful devil, ensouling herself to him, an drawing from his power as he ruled over legions of demonic forces somewhere in the abyss.
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