Magic

Magic, or "Casting", is the term given to the mystical, supernatural energy which is can be harnessed by a number of races for a myriad of reasons. Where magic originates from is unknown, but some darker, more taboo magics seem to be ingrained in the fabric of reality. There are some seraphic beings who appear capable of "gifting" magic upon mortal races, such as the Old Gods, The Three, and the Others, but the abilities they grant are varying.

## History

Humans during the time of the Lux-Ferous Empire had access to Elemental (or "Pure") Magic. According to surviving records, anyone could access Elemental Magic- this is largely assumed to be due to humanity's direct connection to the Old Gods. When the Absolution destroyed the gods and their death wail corrupted the land, it also severed humanity's connection to the elements and twisted the magic that remained. Many of those who believe the Absolution story also claim this "corruption" of magic is responsible for creating the Gifted.

## Schools of Magic

While the Lux-Ferous could access the Elemental Schools at will, they shunned the Schools of so-called "Dark Magic". However, those who can tap into these Elemental Schools have become extraordinarily rare- even rarer than having magic at all. Most modern mortals are completely unattuned and to be born with access to magic is a rare blessing (or curse). The Gifted (and the Bloodline) are the only humans who can use magic that falls outside one of the Schools.

### Dark Magic:

While Elemental Magic hasn't been wiped out completely, the chances of being born into an Elemental School are almost infinitesimally small, and most people who have magic are born under one of the three Dark Magic Schools.

#### Sanguimancy:

Blood magic. Uses blood sacrifice (doesn't matter whose) to power spells. Some Sanguimancers can form crystalline weapons from spilt blood, control people like puppets, or even make enemies explode from the inside by boiling their blood.

#### Umbramancy:

Shadow magic. Mostly deals with controlling shadows to do one's bidding or using portals to travel long distances using passages through the Umbra. A simple school, but an effective one.

#### Necromancy:

Death magic. As one might assume, this School involves raising the dead, whether it be walking corpses or various spirits. As the infamous necromancer "Corpsetaker" has demonstrated, there is an advanced form of necromancy that allows one to transfer their own spirit between bodies.

### Elemental Schools:

#### Pyromancy

Fire magic. Also used to channel lightning.

#### Hydromancy

Water magic. Often used by the Lux-Ferous to repair wounds and cure sickness, its often associated with healing. Or drowning.

#### Cryomancy:

Ice magic. Interestingly, despite water and ice being the same substance, Cryomancers can't control liquid ice, and Hydromancers can't control solid water.

### Miscellaneous Schools:

#### Chronomancy:

Time magic. Mostly an old Lux-Ferous legend and a hypothetical for scholars to debate, there has never been an instance of a Chronomancer existing. (Spoiler alert, there is at least one).

#### Luximancy:

Light magic. Allows the user to bend light in various ways, often to create confusing illusions (they have been known to control other forms of electromagnetic waves, including deadly radiation). Luximancy is the only form of magic commonly found in modern times outside the Dark Magic Schools.

#### Poopomancers:

Poop MAGIC. LOL this one is little treat for The Boys who read all the way to this part LOLLL.

## Usage of Magic in Modern Times:

While the Lux-Ferous described someone who used magic as a "mage", this term is usually reserved for those in the Elemental Schools; something that is extraordinarily rare in modern times. Most magic users (excluding the Gifted) are referred to as "sorcerers", which is what the Lux-Ferous called those who used Dark Magic. On the other hand, magic users refer to those *without* powers as "the unattuned".

Having access to magic in today's world usually relies on the circumstances of one's birth; those who can access magic are born with the ability, and those who can't never will. The only way to circumvent this rule is to make a Pact with a demon; some of which can enhance the powers of those who are already practitioners, or even grant magical abilities to the magically unattuned (a good example of this are Witches, who are almost exclusively born unattuned and only have powers granted by demonic Pacts).

Magic is highly regulated in the Interstate. It's illegal for a sorcerer to practice magic if they don't directly work for the Bloodline, and all Gifted are forced to register with the Halcyon Group when they're born (unregistered Gifted can be legally executed on the spot by law enforcement). Even disregarding its illegality, using magic is generally taboo in Interstate society, and The Church prohibits all forms of magic (except their own, conveniently enough). Because of the popularity of The Church, magic users are often shunned. Most sorcerers can get by pretending that they're unattuned, but for the Gifted- who are often physically mutated by the Gift- a normal life is almost impossible (which is why most Gifted end up becoming enforcers for the Bloodline, as they have no other options).

Like the Gifted, members of the Old Bloodline families are born with unique magical abilities and physical mutations. However, their powers are *much* stronger than the average Gifted's, which they claim to be the last remnants of the Elemental magic given by the Old Gods.