Fig. 1: Elements connected by a straight line are complementary, while elements directly opposite one another are mutually exclusive.
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Magic is the collective term for the act of exciting and utilizing mana in various ways. It is the official stance of the Arcanum that all magic is elemental.
Elements? What are those?
The elements represent the basic building blocks of the universe. There are six confirmed elements: earth, air, fire, water, light, and dark. Each has different aspects and capabilities unique to its nature. Two others, Space and Spirit show evidence of existing in the form of spells that are achieved without using the six confirmed elements, but concrete proof has yet to be discovered of their existence and if there are elemental beings associated with them, evidence of such beings has not been found; the Arcanum, however, accepts their possible existence as truth.
So, what is mana?
Mana is a naturally occurring form of radiation generated by life itself that presents itself in the form of high energy particles. These particles can be either active or inert. Active mana has been excited by the will of the user (the will of the user being the process by which a being manipulates their own inner mana to affect the ambient mana of the world around them) to be put toward a purpose, such as a glamour or a portal. Inert mana, as the name suggests, is mana that is in a state of rest, ready to be activated.
They use their own mana to do magic, then?
In a sense, yes. An individual’s ability to sustain a spell or cast many spells without resting is proportional to the amount of mana they naturally accumulates in their body, as they expend small amounts of it to excite the mana in the environment.
What happens when they run out of mana?
Running out of mana can have severe consequences if a mage pushes himself past his limit. Magic becomes much more difficult to use and control as a mage approaches his personal limit. At that limit, the mage becomes unable to control their spells for a time, depending on the physical health of the user; this effectively prevents the user from using magic, as wild spells are too dangerous to use unless absolutely necessary. Exceeding one’s personal limit results, more often than not, in death; rarely a mage will simply be knocked unconscious and wake up unable to do any magic for the remainder of their life, which will be considerably shorter than most individuals of their race.
Wild Spells?
Mages who lack the discipline necessary to properly control active mana may accidentally turn the most harmless of spells into deadly curses. These curses are referred to as ‘Wild Spells,’ because of their wild nature.
So, how do they keep control of the mana, then?
Most individuals are incapable of working with mana safely without utilizing any of a number of methods to keep their mind clear. First among these methods is the spoken word; a mage may use any words, so long as they do not get distracted by them while working. Most choose to chant a well-loved verse from a folk song or the holy scripture of their choice. The second method is through written words; It was discovered long ago that the written word has the power to organize the flow of mana in ways the spoken word cannot. The written word is used exclusively for a number of spells that have been discovered over the years which can only be cast (by the average mage) by writing them down (e.g. portals, spells of farseeing, and wards of protection). Meditation, and other forms of relaxation, may also be used, or combined with either of the previous two.
Is it easy for most mages to learn to clear their mind?
For safety reasons, any mage undergoing formal schooling will be forced to undergo several years of discipline studies (often augmented by a general education that covers the core subjects of human education – Maths, history, language, art, and science – as well as magic theory). Without this, most mages find it very difficult to keep their mind clear.
Formal schooling?
Because of the magical nature of nearly all of Valeris’s peoples, schooling is required for almost all youths (except those incapable of using magic, though it is recommended that such individuals also be schooled to prevent late bloomers with no clue of how to use their power safely), beginning early in life and ending as soon as it can be certain that a youth will not accidently kill everyone while trying to boil water. Those who choose to continue their studies may apply for any of Valeris’s universities; they are often referred to as arcanums, though the term actually refers to the individual schools of study within each university, rather than the university itself. Individuals do, however, slip through the cracks often enough, especially among lower-class citizens. Occasionally, a noble might choose to hire a tutor and have their child(ren) homeschooled.
Arcanums?
Universities are divided into four schools of study corresponding to the four physical elements (Earth, air, fire water). Students are sorted into these schools depending on their elemental aptitude. Which Arcanum a student ends up in determines what their classes will focus on; students with a high aptitude in multiple elements may choose which Arcanum to enter, with the option of enrolling in the Arcanum(s) of their other element(s) following mastery in their chosen Arcanum.
Maybe you should explain the elements for me. What about Light and Dark? Space and Spirit?
As we’ve already discussed, all magic is elemental in nature, and there are six confirmed elements: Earth, air, water, fire, light, and dark, as well as two hypothetical elements: space and spirit. The first four are the physical elements, so called because they can touched with the bare hand (though, touching fire is not advised). The vast majority of mages are capable of using these four elements to some degree, usually displaying a high aptitude for a single element, rarely two, hence the reason why universities have four schools corresponding to them. Light and Dark, on the other hand, are metaphysical, as they lack substance or material form. It’s estimated that less than two percent of mages are capable of using light or dark magic at all, but a large percentage of them are exceedingly talented at using one or the other and may also display an aptitude for the two elements linked to whichever of the two they favor. Space and spirit are also metaphysical, at best, and seem to be unable to exist independent of the other elements (races capable of using space/spirit magic are also able to use at least one other element).
Linked elements?
Magic is generally illustrated using a six-pointed star (see fig. 1), consisting of two triangles. The first triangle consists of light, fire, and air, with Spirit represented along its base; it is referred to as the Spirit trigram for that reason. The second triangle consists of dark, earth, and water, with space on its base; it’s called the Space Trigram.
You said earlier that the elements have unique attributes. What are they?
Yes, yes I did. You just had to pick the question with the lengthiest answer, didn’t you? Well, no matter, I’ll just power through this. Each element has times in which it is most powerful or least powerful, elementals related to it, a specific color, etc. So, let’s go through all that all organized like:
Earth
Earth magic can be used in a number of ways, from shaking the very earth itself to breaking a boulder cleanly in two to accelerating the growth of plants. It is associated with the color green; thus students in the Earth Arcanum are given green cloaks upon attaining mastery. Earth magic is at its strong during the spring months and in the middle of the night. West is its cardinal direction and it’s presiding deity is Gnome, who is worshipped almost exclusively by the Dryads, or the three elemental beings of Earth. Earth adepts are often characterized as being on or more of the following: grounded, calm, stoic, friendly, or pensive. Earth complements and is complemented by water and dark.
Air
Air magic is used to manipulate airflow, allowing the user to control the wind or fly, among other things. Because it is associated with the color yellow, students who master it in the Arcanum are given a yellow cloak. Its cardinal direction is east, and its presiding deity is Sylph, worshipped by the three Zephyrs. It’s strongest during the autumn and at dawn. Air adepts are often one or more of the following: uninhibited, whimsical, transparent (heart-on-their-sleeve-ishness), adventurous, or fickle. It is complemented by and complements fire and light.
Water
Water magic manipulates water, including water vapor In the air; it can be used to heal, scry, or walk on water (if one was so inclined), among other things. It is, of course, associated with blue, thus Water adepts are given blue cloaks on mastery at the Arcanum. It’s cardinal direction is North and it’s presiding deity is Undine; it’s elemental beings are the Nereids. Water adepts are often enigmatic, cool, collected, flexible of mind, patient, and/or easy-going. Water complements and is complemented by earth and dark.
Fire
Fire magic can be used to in several practical ways, from heating up the air in a room or the water in a cup (actually, this one doesn’t go over so well, most of the time), to demolishing an entire city. It is associated with the color red; obviously Fire adepts get red robes. It’s cardinal direction is – shock and awe – south, and it’s presiding deity is Salamander, who is worshipped by the Ifreets. Fire adepts are often subject to passion, anger, greed, or Don Juan Syndrome. Complements/mented by: air and light.
Light
Light magic manipulates, uh, light; it can be used to light a dark room or blind and enemy or see in the dark… or, other light-related things, like being invisible. It’s associated with the color white. Because light adepts are rare, so there is no school for them in the Arcanum, however most light adepts are talented in at least one other element and so join that Arcanum, taking lessons in light elemental magic on the side; upon attaining mastery, light adepts are given a white cloak trimmed in the color of the Arcanum they entered. Light’s direction is up (skyward), and it’s presiding deity is Hemera, who is worshipped by the Hyperions. Complemented/complements: fire and air
Dark
Dark magic deals with shadows and the absence of light; dark magic might be found most useful by assassins, as it can be used to sneak about at night, blind an enemy (a different way than light), dim or put out lights, and control shadows (yes, there are ways for dark adepts to kill someone using their shadow). Dark magic is, of course, associated with black. It’s direction is down (to the depths of the earth), and it’s presiding deity, Nyx, is worshipped by the Morae. Like light adepts, dark adepts are usually talented in at least on other element and receive a black cloak trimmed in a bright shade of that element’s color upon attaining mastery in it.
Spirit and Space
From what we’ve observed, Spirit and Space are both colorless. Space deals with matter and its location in the universe; it is used for Alchemy, portals, and sealing/summoning spells. Spirit deals with a power we’ve only just begun to explore; some scholars are calling it the soul. With Spirit magic, you can plant thoughts in others minds, compel them to do things they might otherwise not do, and, if you’re a cubi, use the seduction arts.
So, what about non-light/-dark adepts with talents in multiple elements? What is someone was adept at spirit or space magic?
I assume you’re asking about what color cloak the receive from the Arcanum. Generally they will be better at one element than the other(s), so they would receive a cloak the color of their favored element with trim matching the color(s) of the other(s). And individual talent in space or spirit magic would make history, first. If they chose to study at the university, they would surely be given a cloak unlike any other ever created, and pressured relentlessly to remain as a teacher once their studies were completed.
Are certain races typically better with certain elements than others?
Most definitely. The Drow, for example, seem to have a higher likelihood of producing dark adepts. Other races are capable of using only one element (e.g. the valkyries can only use air), or are horrible with certain elements (merfolk are universally incapable of using fire magic). Many races lack the capacity for powerful magicks at all (such as the Aellae, who can only use the weakest of air magicks).
Could you give us some example of common spells and which elements they relate to?
Uh, sure. I assume you’re not referring to elemental combat spells, since they’re kind of obviously related to the elements they come from. “Fire ball” isn’t the most subtle of names after all. Glamours are space magic, as they change your appearance by sealing certain traits (wings, horns, etc.) or physically changing your appearance (making your hair short and dark as opposed to long and silver; changing your body’s build to make you closer to the average height/build of a human; etc). Portals are also space spells, as the bend space and connect two points, allowing you to travel thousands of miles in a single step. Compulsions are spirit magic. The cubi and the zyrens obtain sustenance through spirit magic, making them the most compelling argument for the existence of the spirit element, as they cannot survive without feeding on the life-forces of other beings. Weather magic is related to both air and water. There are plenty of examples, you just need to look.
I’ve heard stories about mages that are actually made of their element…
Yes, Melvin you have. That would be because every couple of generations a power-hungry mage somehow figures out how to do exactly that. Theoretically, it would seem like a good idea, as long as you avoided the element opposite your own. In practice, however, it has shown to be awful; the mage soons loses himself to the nature of his element and become uncontrollable. We’ve had to execute most of them; those that still live do so only because they managed to escape our custody. Don’t give me that look; have you ever tried to capture a man made of air? We call them Shades, because they are mere shadows of the humans they once were.
Are there any mages capable of mastering all of the elements?
It has happened in the past. The last recorded instance of an omnimage was Caelen of Dracomor over a hundred years ago, and he perished when the massive dragon he summoned promptly ate him. We don’t know what causes omnimagi to exist, but they are exceedingly rare. Frankly, this is probably a good thing; omnimagi tend to have a higher tolerance for magic use as well as more refined control of mana.
Omnimagi? Are there terms like that for other types of mages?
Of course there are. Mages talented in only one element are ‘monomagi,’ though we generally refer to them simply as mages. If someone is talented in two or more elements, they are ‘polymagi,’ unless they’re adept at all of them, at which time they become ‘omnimagi.’ Within the Arcanum, mages also have ranks within their orders, universal throughout all universities, denoting their mastery.
All the schools of magic denote their first three tiers of mastery as Initiate, Apprentis, and Novitiate, because it’s not completely obvious that they intentionally misspelled apprentice. Following that, a mages’ title will differ between the elemental school and their intent to pursue further study. Those choosing to complete their studies and get on with life will then become Journeymen with their fourth tier, while a student choosing to pursue their studies for much long will retain their novitiate title, simple adding to it to denote their element: Novitiate Spirae, Novitiate Pyrae, Novitiate Undae, or Novitiate Demetae. Fifth tier journeymen become Master Journeymen; fifth tier students become Magicate, retaining their elemental tag (I.e. Magicate Spirae, Magicate Pyrae, Magicate Undae, or Magicate Demetae). After mastering the fifth tier, Magicate is replaced with Master (e.g. Master Spirae) and are awarded their cloaks. Seventh and Eighth tier mages are given the official titles of Magus and Archmagus respectively, losing their elemental tag and simply going by their name (most choose to go by their last name, while some simply make up something that sounds impressive; for example, Magus Smith doesn’t sound too impressive, while Magus Carrick might sound more appealing). Polymagi who choose to pursue study in another Arcanum would technically have two titles. For example someone who has achieved mastery in air (Master Spirae) and chooses to pursue study in fire would be known as Initiate Master Spirae. By the time they hit forth tier in their second element, they’ll have been elevated to Magus in their first element, eliminating clumsy titles like Novitiate Pyrae Master Spirae in favor of Magus-Novitiate Pyrae.
Adept, of course, simply refers to someone talented in an element and almost always follows an element, water adept, fire adept, etc. It is generally used to refer to those mages that chose not to attend a university.
