Magic

Magic is one of the three Supernatural Powers encountered in the Virasana Empire novels. It is defined by the creation of supernatural effecty by quasi-mundane manipulations of ambient Mana. While much slower than psionics or theurgy, it can lead to spectacular effects with unmatched efficiency and longevity.

## Basics

Only recently having been identified as a supernatural path of its own, there is understandably little scientific research on the subject yet. Unifying characteristic of magical expressions so far seems to be a general emphasis on subtlety and quasi-mundane tools, making magic hard to distinguish from high technology at times. Also, magic effects only manifest in deliberate, conscious actions of the caster, and never appear spontaneously or instinctively. Magic is also the only supernatural path reliably reproducing its effects under scientific observation.

Compared to the at times flamboyant effects of psionics or theurgy, magic on first glance appears to be the weakest path of the three. But the slow and almost mundane way magic effects are woven (rather than cast) allows for an intricacy and longevity hardly matched by other techniques.

## Components of magic rituals

Basically, every item and every action influences the flow of ambient energy. Those influences are minuscule, but measurable. Mages, for whatever reason, seem to understand which actions will produce which changes, and how to combine actions that in themselves are totally mundane to create ‘disturbances’ in the ambient energy that become proper, functional effects.
So depending on the paradigm and expression of the mage, he might set gemstones in a certain pattern onto a pentacle, or dance naked in a glade under the light of the first moon of spring, or spray a gibberish graffiti poem onto a concrete wall. Often, many different kinds of ‘quasi-mundane’ actions are combined to reap greater effects, and rituals can extend over long periods of time and large distances, even encompassing different planets.
But whatever the details, it will always be a combination of knowledge, planning, concentration and precision.

## Energy Use

As magic uses the ambient natural energy of a place to create an effect, those effects can run on their own without further attention of the caster, indefinitely so if the effect has been woven carefully enough, making a well-prepared practitioner of magic a formidable foe indeed.

## Training

So far, there is no data on the way magic abilities are acquired, but what little there is seems to suggest that it is a learned skill that seems to come to those with superior knowledge in the given field. Magic also seems to be independent from genetics and some rare forms appear to be reproducible by anyone following the proper instructions, initiating the widely disputed theory that magic is in fact a hard-to-learn but basically mundane skill inherent to anyone.

## Expressions

Some of the best known expressions of magic are: Geomancy (including Feng-Shui), Golemancy, Necromancy, Choromancy (including dance and other musical expressions), etc.

Despite the name, Blood Magic is not considered to be an expression of magic, but a supernatural practice completely independent of it.

## Snippets

* Master Tresilian - renowned choromancer and professor at the paramag faculty of the University of Isfahan
* Lotus Knight Takumi Sikhulu - a necromancer in service of the Emperor, working through elaborate, mandala-like sigils
* Celadon - a FPR ceramic golem living on Malicorn, creating animated origami sculptures

## Notable Magic Expressions

 Choromancers Choromancy Golemancy Necromancy