Esoteric Magic

Esoteric magic is the art of altering one’s own internal perception to change their personal reality in some way. This manifests as the ability to defy the laws of physics or to change their own form or physiology. Practitioners of this discipline tend to have stronger than usual force of will and personality.

Developing useful skill in esoteric magic requires rare inborn talent as well as experience and strength of will. It is the more flexible, but less precise and accessible art. Esoterics are often viewed with suspicion, resentment and fear. Many Asharans believe the power to be unnatural and unmerited as well as dangerous. Members of some societies accuse them of being possessed by evil spirits and force them to undergo exorcism ceremonies. In other societies, the power is viewed as a gift and they are well treated as long as they use their powers in a manner beneficial to society or to those in power.

Most people born with a real gift for esoteric magic never receive the opportunity or training to develop it or even understand it. They only know that when they become very angry or determined, strange things can happen. Most learn to suppress their emotions and lead normal lives. Others, unwilling or unable to do this, are shunned by society, and become loners or join societies that welcome those with their talents.

Esoteric practitioners tend to avoid organized society. The pressure of wills from individuals and the local perceptual consensus interferes with their powers and their powers, in turn, disrupt the surrounding reality. They will often gather together into informal communities of their own, and within these communities, adepts are trained not to interfere with each other’s will and perceptions.

The personal reality of a being that esoteric magic can control is their own mind and body. All trained esoteric practioners are able to control both to some extent, but most then focus on gaining true mastery over one or the other. The discipline of the mind is skeptic magic and the discipline of the body is somatic magic.