Magick

**Magick**, in a general sense, is the application of one or several Primal energies to manipulate reality. In other cultures it is known as other things - Anima (Nirv.), Xhi (Xhar.), Gol-dara (Org.), but is widely accepted as a mystical and mysterious phenomenon. While the fuels and applications may vary, Magick is a widespread phenomenon with varying cultures treating it differently - some with praise, others with distrust.

## Magi

Mana count in a being can range from very high to very low. Beings with a higher Mana count are able to cast Magick through their bodies by studying various ways to manipulate the flow of their Mana.

Others, however, have low Mana counts or are otherwise stunted in applying Magick naturally and must rely on alchemical preparation to create desired spells. This would require specific materials and the necessary formulae to create the desired effects.

There are many Colleges and Orders in the galaxy of Aeos that cater to both groups.

## Schools

### College of Cirina

The College of Mystic Arts on Cirina III is widely considered the greatest access to Magickal knowledge in the Core. Entry is permitted to all though the entry fee is considered rather steep. The first floor library is accessible to anyone, containing general information on Magickal studies, history, and lore with low level spell details.

#### **Abjuration**

Sometimes called "White Magick", Abjuration arts generally deal in the healing and protective spells known among Core practitioners. Erecting energy barriers, mending wounds, and purging illness are all examples of what one could expect when studying Abjuration. Practitioners are often called "Abjurists" and "Proctors".

#### **Biomation**

Also called "Ecomancy" and "Green Magick", Biomation is a general term for any of the "forgotten arts" of the planets. Mostly centered around the manipulation of nature, elements, and life, Biomation has many different sub-categories, applications, orders, and practices. Examples include Druism, which is the art of taking the form and aspects of animals, Shamanism, which involves communication between the practitioner and the planet's own will, and so on. Because of its' obscurity and lack of wide understanding, Green Magick is generally distrusted and mocked by the Core Magickal community, with some even doubting its' existence at all.

#### **Conjuration**

Conjuration involves the instantaneous summoning of objects, creatures, and even people. It often entails placing a Conjuring Seal on the target and a Receiver Seal on the location where the target shall be conjured.

The College on Cirina III uses permanently-placed Conjuration Seals to transport items and personnel from one location to the next, using Conjuring tickets and footpads to effectively teleport across the campus. Practitioners of this art are called "Conjurers" and are stereotyped as lazy by fellow College students due to their use of Conjuration in making simple tasks easier.

#### **Divination**

Also known as "Augury" and derogatorily called "Soothsaying", Divination is the art of foresight and precognition. Used to look into the past, present, and future, Divination is not well understood nor heavily practiced. Those that have mastered it, such as the Keeper, are so in tune with it they can predict a person's actions mere moments before they do it, allowing them to respond accordingly.

#### **Devastation**

Also called "Red Magick", Devastation involves releasing destructive, primal Magick-based energy through a conduit for devastating effect. The conduit in question can be anything from artifacts to Magi's bodies themselves. It can be amplified through strong emotional states of unrest and passion. Anger, desperation, and fear feed into this school of Magick, making the effects more potent but difficult to control. Typically Devastation Magick is unlawful in the Core and many other regions of space and must be controlled. The Chrisla Corp. is one example of lawful practitioners of Devastation Magick, being employed by the Core government to aid in defending galactic security. Generally, Devastation Magick involves releasing pure Mana or Aether in the forms of super-heated plasma charges, such as vibrant flames or electrical surges. Masters of Devastation Magick are sometimes called "Reavers" and "Pyromancers".

#### **Enchantment**

Enchanting, simply put, means imbuing inanimate objects with Magick to achieve a variety of effects. Examples include enchanting rods of Cyprocite with Everfire to be able to produce continuous light sources at controlled points, or enchanting a sword with Resilica to prevent it from shattering when coming into contact with Spells meant to destroy metal. Unlike Scribecraft where Magick is imprinted in the form of Glyphs through Goka ink, Enchantments are meant to store Magick into items the same way one would store something in a container. And unlike Glyphs, Enchantments do not require as much, if any, maintenance over time, not suffering from Parathalysis, or "Mana Rot".

#### **Illusion**

The art of manipulating and altering one's perception of reality, Illusory Magick is very advanced and difficult to practice due to the difficulty in breaching mental faculties of targets. The more perceptive and willful the victim, the more difficult they are to manipulate. Only the most well-studied and skilled Magi can attempt it. Illusory Magick is not limited to lifeforms as targets. Some spells involve concealing the caster or objects or even whole areas. While it is powerful, there are certain deterrents and ways to break Illusory spells. Because of its' inherent goal to deceive and manipulate, it is viewed as immoral and outlawed in the Core. Despite this, many Illusory artists have made a living using their deceptive practices in the Reach. The Siren's Pleasure Palace have workers who practice Illusion Magick as a means to entertain their patrons.

#### **Illumination**

Manipulating light and shadows to both reveal and conceal is the core use of this generally basic school of Magick. It is taught to first-year Cirina College students with the exam involving an ever-changing maze that manipulates shadows and lights to keep the students from reaching the exit. They are timed on their ability to solve the maze using Illumination Magick to find their way.

#### **Invocation**

Invocation is a difficult art to master, with only a handful of Mages in Aeos being able to practice it. Similar to Conjuration, Invocation is the preparation of spells for later use and cast through the simple uttering of their key word or phrase. The act expends mana the same as any spell, and consumes whatever resource was used in its preparation beforehand. For example, Archon Salathàn Kolgan of the Nirvas Imperium was a master of Invocation, having slaves in the Citadel on Narvala prepare spells in advance so that the simple uttering of words in Nirvosi was able to allow him to conjure up anything from Manafire blades to storms.

These spells would need a constantly maintained link between the physical elements, if any, and the caster. This was usually done in the form of Mana links, though depending on the caster's endurance and Mana count itself, these could only extend so far, limiting the range of which the caster could be separated with the spell's ingredients.

### **Tempari Arts**

Also known as "Anti-Magick", the Tempari Order utilize a special form of tactics, training, and tech to destabilize and altogether negate Magick, rendering Magi unable to utilize their talents.

## Cultures

Different cultures and peoples treat Magick differently, and have categorized them in unique ways.

### The Core

* **Humans**:

* **Elvaan**:

### Psions

#### Tree of Qixon

The Psion's Schools of Qixon categorize Magick as a Tree, with its few branches each being different classes.

##### Nature

Nature Magick or, as Psions call it, "Qixana, is any Magick dealing in the mortal elements. Nature spells Psions tend to use relate to healing or crafting. Ventali implement Nature Magicks by forming armor or projectiles out of stone, achieving limited flight by increasing air pressure around them, and by manipulating flame or water.

##### Spirit

Psions define Spirit Magick as that which relates to the *xhua* or "soul". Spirit Magick, or "Xhuana", is one of the most illusive and misunderstood of the five branches. The Psions treat the Interrum as the manifestation of the soul. Spells such as Introspection and Mind Siege would fall within this category, despite the word "Mind" being in the latter.

#### = Mind

"Xifua", or Mind Magick, are the arts relating to mental functions. The Psions feel that the mind and soul are different entities and treat the mind as being what beings use when awake and lucid, and the soul as being what takes control when one has slipped into unconsciousness. Telepathy and influential Magicks fall within this branch.

##### Aberration

Illegal within Psion space, Aberration Magick is the sum of all "unholy" arts the Psion considered sacrilegious. This includes Blood Spinning, Necromancy, and the Fel arts. Psions call this branch of Magick "Duvaras".

##### Arcane

Called "Xethela", or "the Other", Arcane Magick is classified as Magicks falling outside the natural order though, unlike Aberration, not opposed to it.

* **Kandarrians**:

* **Tyranians**:

* **Felisians**:

* **Saleluki**:

* **Vilor**:

* **Arlians**:

* **Nurunians**:

* **Shyraxians**:

* **Qrayk**:

* **Tumori**:

### Deep Regions

* **Nirvaan**: The Nirvaan of the Nirvas Imperium categorize Magick, which they refer to as *Anima*, in two types: *Aethereus* (Divine) and *Terrosus* (Earthly). *Aethereus* *Anima* is a class of Magick that Nirvaan covet for themselves while *Terrosus* *Anima* is Magick that any "lesser" species may be able to cast.

* **Iphori**:

## Applications

### Spells

#### Evocation

* **Chromatic Orb** - With a 3x3 sized diamond that has been enchanted with an evocational arch, a mage can fire projectiles of various elements (fire, ice, lightning, acid, or stone) at a target. The diamond is kept levitated between the caster's hands with raw elemental energy and spun rapidly, with the projectiles firing not far out of it at high speeds where the mage wills.

#### Kio Vata

* **Soica var** - Allows a Mandaru to fire a bullet from their kata guns that, upon impact with a living target, travels through the body at the same speed at which it was fired until it punctures the target's heart. This does not work on beings without hearts.

* **Kalaru tan** - As the kata glows with bright orange runes, it is able to fire three bullets that spread evenly from the end of the barrel, allowing a single gun to hit three targets that are side-to-side.

### Sciences

The science of Magick, commonly known as Alchemy, is often used by stunted Magi to serve as a replacement for not having any inherent Magickal talent of their own, though the "gifted" also may dabble in it. A common stereotype of Alchemy is that it always involves potion-brewing and liquid-based mixing. Alchemy, in fact, spans many different styles and varieties, being just as diverse as Magick itself.

#### Potion Brewing

Alchemical potions vary widely in effects and ingredients. Many begin as an alcohol base with various other ingredients blended and heated with it to make the desired potion.

* **Avras' Tears** -

* **Blackstorm** -

* **Arcus Jupala** -

#### Lithani

Also called "Mana stones", Lithani resemble small gemstones of various colors - each having a signature effect. They begin as clear, crystalline Lithani crystals and are imbued with certain spells that give them their colors and effects.

* **Light Blue** -

* **Dark Blue** -

* **Green** -

* **Yellow** -

* **Orange** -

* **Red** -

* **Purple** -

* **Black** -

### Artifacts

Artifacts, or *Arcanum Regalia*, are the result of Enchanting objects with Magickal properties, giving them certain powers and effects. While not all enchanted items are considered artifacts, being enchanted is usually a requirement for an item to be listed as such.

### Runes

Runecraft is the art of folding Mana into objects, typically in Arcane symbols. Runes are usually etched into dirt, stone, metals, etc. Runes inked into flesh are known among some as "Runebrands".

### Glyphs

Glyphs are Runes etched onto paper with ink or blood. Glyphs are used to make Magick scrolls,