Dominion Sorcery

Dominions refer to the power sources for our sorcery. They’re other planes of existence that we can reach into to gather material and accomplish sorcerous effects.

## Intermediate Dominion Sorcery

> An excerpt from Intermediate Dominion Sorcery by Erik Tarren, one of the most commonly referenced tomes for sorcery research in major cities.
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It is a most unfortunate truth that the average sorcerer never sees the necessary training to begin to comprehend his or her own potential. With the slightest
talent, a sorcerer can be turned from a farmer into a devastating weapon or a bastion of hope – with the proper tools and motivation. Among the Rethri, sorcery remains relatively common, but still poorly instructed. Among humanity, it is viewed with hostility and superstition among the residents of small towns
and used for parlor tricks in the few vast cities that remain.

This book is intended to teach certain fundamental points of knowledge that every sorcerer should be aware of, but few today are. That being said, the concepts
presented here are intended for those that have already unlocked their sorcerous talents. My previous work in this series, Introductory Dominion Sorcery, is dedicated to
teaching how to establish an initial connection with a dominion and learn to use it. This book will make little sense without that context, or similar knowledge from having learned how to use sorcery from another source.

### The Costs of Sorcery

As a sorcerer gains experience, he or she surely will begin to notice the exhaustion that comes with casting too many spells in a short period of time. It is only upon medical examination, however, that we can uncover more specific details of what is occurring – dominion sorcery, in spite of the name and the concept, is powered by the body.

This, of course, may sound contradictory and on the surface appears to defy the very term “dominion sorcery” – but before you discard this tome as the ramblings of an old man, read on.

As the Rethri have known for centuries, sorcery takes a toll on the body – a measurable toll. Unbeknownst to many, however, this “Sorcery Exhaustion” differs considerably based on the specific Dominion that is being utilized. Most people are still trained that “Sorcery makes you tired,” or “Channeling the energies of the planes takes a toll on your body.” These statements are both true but greatly oversimplify the situation. It has been my conclusion, after many years of research, that the body is not simply channeling the energy of the Planes when you cast a spell – it is serving as a catalyst.

Ask a Dominion of Flame sorcerer – if you are lucky enough to know one – how they feel when they have exhausted themselves from using too many fire spells. In every case I have encountered such a sorcerer – and see the collected data section at the end of this tome for examples of some of those brave enough to volunteer their names and proficiency levels – they have explained it as thus, “At first, I begin to feel chills as I cast. As I continue, I grow colder, and my movements grow more sluggish. It requires more and more effort to continue casting spells.”

Exhaustion is present, yes, but we see another important element here – a cold splashing across the body. After hearing this description several times, I thought to investigate it with the aid of a medical doctor, and remarkably, the symptoms were not just in the perception of the sorcerer – the body’s temperature is physically lowered when a Dominion of Flame sorcerer casts their spells.

This revelation lead to intensive study on the subject matter, and upon further examination, I realized that each Dominion takes a slightly different toll on the body. Water sorcery causes dehydration, whereas life sorcery appears to more generally impact the body, preventing blood from clotting at its normal rate and impeding other necessary bodily functions.

This suggests that each of the prime dominions, at the very least, have a presence within the body – and that their presence is necessary for basic bodily functions. Conversely, some may suggest that it is a backlash – that is, the influence of the opposing dominion on the body – that causes these side
effects. In either case, the side effects of most prime dominions can be
measurably observed.

Below, I have cataloged a list of the Prime Dominions, their uses, and their primary side effects.

### Redundancies and Connected Functions

The functions of Dominions in the body are not isolated. Instead, they function as a system, and many of them are interconnected. The Dominion of Death, for instance, works with regulatory Dominions as the function used to stop processes. Similarly, the Dominions of Flame and Water work together to regulate body temperature, while also having other separate functions.

As a result, there is also overlap in the side effects of weaknesses in specific Dominions.

I theorize that the usage of Deep Dominions impacts the body in much the same way, but my research on the subject is still in progress.

## Deep Dominions

> An excerpt from Deep Dominions by Edrick Theas
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While my good friend Erik has made an admirable effort to classify the Deep Dominions, I fear that research into their interactions within the body has been largely overlooked by my scholarly brethren. The functions and costs of the Prime Dominions are well-classified – indeed, Master Tarren has done much of this work himself, and I credit him for his efforts. Nevertheless, I found the subject intriguing enough to warrant additional research, and here I will present some of my initial findings.

Erik tends to classify dominions based on their manifestations – physical, mental, or energy. I prefer to classify each dominion based on its relevance to the body, which I tend to find more practical. Of the deep dominions, some have clear effects on the body that relate to everyday functions. The most obvious is likely the Dominion of Sight – its utility is obvious from the name alone. I refer to these as “Requisite Dominions”, in that the quality of our daily lives would be drastically reduced without them.

Others serve important functions but are less obvious. The Dominion of Protection, for example, helps bone and skin growth, which serves to both improve the physical capabilities of the body and provide protection against sorcery. It’s important to note that not all creatures appear to have this dominion in measurable quantities – indeed, humans and our cousins like the Rethri appear to be the only species in which this dominion is present.

This helps to explain why some forms of sorcery are vastly more effective against other creatures than they are against humans – the Dominion of Protection enables our skin to act as a natural filter, preventing external sorcery effects from entering our bodies. This does not grant any sort of immunity, of course; it is merely a layer of inherent defense that other creatures do not appear to have.

Similarly, the Dominion of Spirit – which I have long studied along with my colleague Ulan’dir Ta’thyriel – appears to have an important function in assisting the body in recovering from trauma. I admit that in spite of the egregious number of apostrophes in his name Ulan’dir is presently better versed in this particular subject, and thus I will leave it to him to explain in one of his own future essays.

Dominions such as protection and spirit are thus quite important, but less obvious in their functions. I refer to these as “Beneficial Dominions”.

There are other Deep Dominions that have no obvious role in the body at all – these I call “Esoteric Dominions”. The effects of these dominions on the body are much more difficult to quantify, but I will continue in my efforts to catalog their functions and side effects in the future.

There are many other Deep Dominions in existence, most of which are poorly understood. I hope to gather more information on these to write about them more in future essays.

## Requisite Deep Dominions

 Sound
 Blood
 Heat
 Ice

## Beneficial Deep Dominions

 Metal
 Travel

## Esoteric Deep Dominions

 Destiny
 Void