To the modern spellweaver of today's world, old classifications and descriptions have become less and less relevant. We must understand that most spellweavers use magic in multiple methods and we must understand the what and the why to forward our understanding.
First, what we have always known, is that for someone to channel magic (outside of simply using a charged wand or potion that was imbued with the power from someone else) they must have a magical Spark. For the standard schools of magic, the presence of a spark is the only important factor, its power being a minimal influence when considering materials, tonal skill, bestowers power, and knowledge. For Spark magic, however, it means much that we will cover later. Though it is important to note that the power of one's spark is affected heavily by the bloodline. While there does seem to be a random factor (A powerful spark mage can rear a sparkless child, and a sparkless person can produce a powerfully sparked child), one can in most cases expect spark power levels to be similar to that of their parents.
All magic comes from Aether, which is a combination of the 12 elements. While Deridah (commonly referred to as corruption) is its perfect opposite. It is nothingness incarnate. Erebus is the name of the combination of the two, the pure primordial force of the world that our sun is made of. The 12 elements, as we have discovered follow some kind of cyclical pattern of water, chaos, wood, death, earth, dark, fire, stasis, metal, life, air, and light. Each element corresponds to one leyline (not counting the deridah leylines created by the ancient elves) All magic is casted using one or a combination of the 12 elements. Light Dark and shadow for Glamour magic, Chaos Life and Death for fate magic, etc.
Each of these elements correspond to an infinite elemental plane, filled with the pure source of that element. The plane is embodied in our world as the living source of that element, the Gigas. Within the planes also exist other denizens known as elementals. These creatures as we know them are as follows:
Water: Gigas Leviathan, Greater Elemental Kraken, Lesser Elemental Undine
Chaos: Gigas Tiamat, Greater Elemental Mimic, Lesser Elemental Kodama
Wood: Gigas Grendel, Greater Elemental Ent, Lesser Elemental Fairy
Death: Gigas Ragnarok, Greater Elemental Wraith, Lesser Elemental Ahool
Earth: Gigas Titan, Greater Elemental Atronach, Lesser Elemental Gnome
Dark: Gigas Adramelech, Greater Elemental Devil, Lesser Elemental Fiend
Fire: Gigas Ifrit, Greater Elemental Djinn, Lesser Elemental Imp
Stasis: Gigas Bahamut, Greater Elemental Aurach, Lesser Elemental Dragonling
Metal: Gigas Gilgamesh, Greater Elemental Rust, Lesser Elemental Mesphit
Life: Gigas Anima, Greater Elemental Wight, Lesser Elemental Sprite
Air: Gigas Ramuh, Greater Elemental Anzu, Lesser Elemental Sylph
Light: Gigas Zelos, Greater Elemental Seraph, Lesser Elemental Cherub
Finally we will talk about the reclassification of the methods of spell creation.
First we have Arcane Casting. This method is the most studious of all spell weaving. A wizard or alchemist well versed in the effects of different materials and implements will understand how channeling energy through them can create and manipulate magic in the surrounding area. All arcane magic involves implements. Be it a ring of certain materials, channeling offensive spells through a magic sword, or crushing up specific powders to create elemental effects, all fall under the purview of arcanists.
Second we have Tonal Manipulation. This method is the most skill based of all spell weaving. The most well known Tonal Mages are Bards. They understand and are able to produce tones using their voices or instruments that affect the latent magic in the world and create desired effects. What is less known is that speaking words to create spell effects are also a form of Tonal magic. Usually those words of power are supplemented by Arcane magic as words alone are often ineffective at creating the largest effects. Though we have discovered that those words of power correspond to the Ancient Elven language as it seems that it uses the "True Names" of everything it has a word for.
Third we have Bestowed Power. This is magic that is given to the spellweaver from another source, their power channeling through the spellweaver for their use, almost always aligned with the bestower. Theoretically a Bestower can be anyone with magical power, though only the magically powerful are able to gift significant amounts of energy over any serious distance. Paladins and Clerics are bestowed power by their God, Druids are bestowed their power by the nature around them, and a Warlock is a title given to someone who makes a deal with a being in exchange for being bestowed their power.
Finally we have Spark Magic. This is magic only available to those with especially powerful magical sparks. It is something that you are either born with or not. These mages are often called Sorcerers. This magic is unique in that the source of its power comes entirely from within the user. The methods and actions taken to cast spells change based on the way the user views their own magic. It is a deeply personal form of magic and in response the methods are deeply personalized. A spark mage that feels that their power comes from their own intense focus and control may cast spells by closing their eyes and focusing on what they want while standing still. A spark mage that sees their power as a force to be expelled might thrust an open palm forward to shoot out an offensive blast of magic. A downside of spark magic is that in times of intense emotional turmoil, a mage might accidentally send a friend who sleighed them flying, or create a significantly dangerous storm of magic The Sorcerer must have strong control over themselves and their emotions to be able to use their magic effectively. Any deviation in thought, action, or intention can cause issues with the spells.
We know this because the form was previously referred to as Rage magic and thought of to almost entirely be used by the Salamander people; who in their rage could use nearly uncontrollable fire powers. It was hard to pinpoint in other races as prevailing theories of the time stated that it was most likely a combination of accidental usage of the surrounding area, nearby objects, and coincidental tonal manipulations. It was through my study of my dearly departed friend Samual Eshpard while he was first making a name for himself that we discovered how spark magic worked and its place in the less understood areas of magic.
Various applications of magic are studied at various schools, with Loredas considered the magical capitol of the world.
Arcadian School of Magical Theory (General Studies and Theory studies, focused on teaching to teach and scientific advancement)
Bhato's School for the Magically Gifted (General Studies, Graduate Level, Floating Southeastern Loredas)
The Bright One's School of Restoration (City of Glass, Caeladonia, Loredas)
Randgrizan School of Defense (Under Mt. Randgriz, Loredas)
Spike Isle Battlemage Training School (Sapphire Isles, Loredas)
Avalon School of Blood (Northern Zarane, Aldas)
The Singing Towers (Applied magic for civil advancement, Southeastern Nasir, Iocrias
What follows are my records of specific experiments and formula to provide details on my findings.
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