Magic

With the exception of the Poi’Mareath all people must use a godstone to channel magic. With training and focus anyone can learn to perform this art. Each stone is used to create magic related to the god it came from. For example Li-Shara’s godstone creates water magic and a godstone of Ghuramor would be able to manipulate stone. There are two schools of practice. First is Unamancy, which is usually practiced by wizards. As such this magic is also called wizardry. This form of magic consumes the stone instantly. It is used to create one singular powerful spell that can be made easier through concentration. This form is the most common. It is taught to soldiers in armies and the members of all the gods orders. Example of spells created through unamancy are a large blast of lightning that could level a house, making a whole field fertile, pacifying a whole crowd, or parting a river. Unamancy can also be used to create small spells. But no matter what the godstone is consumed.

Morgar's incantry tattoos. Art by Steven Shan https://www.artstation.com/cha4os

The second type of magic is Incantry which is much more rare. It is taught in old monasteries by wise monks and in remote outposts by ancient clans. Incantry is the art of trapping magic and releasing it slowly. This is done in one of two ways. The first is to draw a pattern on a surface or object to hold the magic. A proper vessel must be used to hold the magic.

For a more controlled but dangerous version, sorcerers draw tattoos on their body. Then they put the magic in the ink and release it on command. Instead of pacifying a whole crowd they can sway the thoughts of one person many times. Both Unamancy and Incantry can be made easier by chanelling magic through specific materials.

## Godstones

Godstones are the medium by which most magic is created. They are imparted on the world by the gods to be found by mortals. Gods have some control over where the stones appear. For example, few stones of Nezeril have been found since the end of the War of Ascendance, and Legionnaires often find sky stones when they have none. It is assumed that each stone is an investment of the gods power which is then returned to them when the spell is cast. Scholars of magic estimate that each god is a source of magic equal to somewhere from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of godstones. Some religious philosophers state that what makes a god is their ability to impart magic to the world. Each stone is found in the domain of the respective god and one inch in diameter. Godstones are smooth with dulled edges and flat. They usually disintegrate after use, though on some occasions have been known to remain dulled in color and lacking magic.

### Domain of the Stones

Day: The sun and what it’s illumination is the domain of Yaerrin. He is the patron of scholars and those who seek knowledge. Magic from day stones can be used for spells of light, truth, and creation.

Earth: The domain of Ghuramor is the earth and he is the patron of artists and builders. Earth stones can be used for spells relating to plants, animals, stones, and beauty.

Mind: Emotions and the mind are the domain of Cainar and he is the patron of actors and merchants. Mind stones can be used for spells relating to feelings of both joy and despair.

Night: Selviir is the goddess of Night and the deity of those who sneak and lie. Her night stones can be used for spells of darkness and deception.

Sea: The domain of Li-Shara is the ocean and she is the patron of explorers and frontiersmen. Because of this sea stones can be used for spells relating to both the seas and to movement and resilience.

Sky: The domain of Rallia is the sky and she is the patron of soldiers and farmers. As such sky stones can be used both for spells relating to storms and relating to strength and order.

### Special Stones

On some occasions gods were known to be able to modify their godstones to fit a specific purpose. Li-Shara gave Sylvie a powerful godstone, capable of channeling more magic than most. While using it, Sylvie was able to cast a spell well beyond her normal abilities and for a moment, understand the domain of the seas almost as Li-Shara did. The godstone itself was different. Instead of the usual blue-green, it was dark blue with white lines. Sylvie could tell by touching it that it contained vast power.
A second powerful godstone was found by Weyland, Sonwa, and Matilda. The stone was left buried under ruins from before the War of Ascendance. It was an earth stone that was imbued with the idea of Permanence, much like the everlasting strength of the tallest mountains. Visually it looked no different, but Weyland was able to identify its unique property when he touched it. He speculated it would be easier to cast spells with it in alignment with the ideal of Permanence and harder to cast spells that countered the idea. Weyland and his traveling companions were unaware of the special stone created by Li-Shara, and knew of no other record of special godstones.

## Examples of Powerful Spells

* In Aep 438 Miles used a night stone to cast shadows directly over the faces of three soldiers.
* In AeP 441 Caid used a day stone in a night ambush to light up an entire battlefield as if it were day.
* In Aep 441 Tlaloc used an earth stone to collapse the roof a Burning Palm citadel.
* In AeP 446 Sylvie used an ocean stone to create a strong outward current around her raft to protect it against a Siren.
* In Nezus of AeP 446, Veldud used a season stone to rearrange a section of tunnels below Tarabrenth.
* In AeP 446 Sylvie used an ocean stone to call forth the water from a well below the town of Miirshire, destroying the town square.
* In AeP 447, Deryl and Zonah combined power to create a blizzard. Deryl called a storm using a sky stone and channeled the spell through Zonah. Zonah had been cursed by a cultist of Nezeril and carried the magic of seasons. Using the sky stone as a source and Zonah as an implement, they were able to combine the magic of seasons and sky to create a blizzard which froze a Drel'Mareath behemoth in ice.

## Shamanism

Shamanism is the study of how locations and events affect magic and the likelihood of a godstone appearing. To gain the bonuses to magic you must take a talent. However everyone can benefit from the bonus to finding godstones. Shamanism is also called the magic of place and does not always directly correlate to godstones. For example many people from Spring Dale are naturally able to charm foreigners. This is because they grew up in proximity to Cainar. An example of a place that augments magic but does not draw it’s source from a god is The Glade in Northern Carufell.

Locations

* Bog: Night magic is more powerful here.
* City: Emotion magic is more powerful here. People in Spring Dale are also more likely to have a mind stone. Earth stones were commonly found in Threnarau
* Desert: Day magic is more powerful in deserts and day stones are more likely to appear in Cherak.
* Mountain: The mountains are the domain of Rallia and Ghuramor. Both earth and sky magic are more powerful here. Four of the gods also reside in various mountain ranges over Var’Tareen. The Spiked Peaks have a higher chance to gather earth and sky stones. The Northern mountains have a higher chance to gather night stones. And the mountains of Cherak have an increased likelihood of gathered day stones.
* No Man’s Land: Land that belongs to no country is the epitome of the independence Li-Shara represents. Her magic can be made more powerful in such areas.
* Open Seas: Magic on the open seas favors sea magic. That form can be augmented here. In addition the Southern Isles have more sea stones than other oceans.
* Pine Barrens: The evergreen woods have a strong connection with earth magic.
* Plains: Ground exposed to the open sky is favorable to day magic. Spells of those nature can benefit from shamanism.
* Underground: Places underground are conduits of earth magic. Earth spells can be more powerful here.

Events

* Storm: Spells with a sky stone were naturally stronger in the midst of a storm.
* Summer: During summer day magic can be more powerful.
* War: Nations at war are places of high tension. In such an event emotion magic can be made more powerful. Emotion stones are also more common in war.
* Winter: The winter is the time of Selviir. Night magic can benefit from shamanism during this time.

## Enchantment

**For Human Enchantment and monsters see Living Creations**

Krin Vash'Neer with two enchanted items. The first is his flaming spear, the second is his Roadani Sun Amulet. Art by Ernesto Irawan https://www.artstation.com/ernestoirawan

Enchanting is the act of permanently altering an item. Knowledge of enchantments has been passed down for centuries during the War of Ascendance and much research has been done after to learn more about this art. Even so there are only a limited number of ways to enchant items. Each enchantment requires a certain number of godstones and some additional item. Merging these components and the desired enchantment item and binding them with magic is what causes the permanent change. The number of godstones required to enchant is always prime. Multiple enchantments can be placed on a single item but the total number of godstones used must still be a prime number. The difficulty, time, and strain vary by the number of godstones. Once an item is enchanted it can not be enchanted again. Enchanting is a form of Unamancy. There are 45 publically known enchantments but many scholars and magicians believe there are many more waiting to be found.

### Famous Enchanted Items

* Ghuramor’s Emerald Paintbrush

Perhaps an example of the most unique enchanted item. The paintbrush was both made and enchanted by the god himself. It has a silver handle and a solid emerald head. It is said that when the brush is used the paint will move and twirl with the will of the god as he paints. The resulting painting moves slowly for all time. The most famous mural painted by Ghuramor with this brush is the floor of the Kaiser’s throne room in Dorlon. It depicts the first Kaiser’s coronation. Beams of painted golden light slowly move from the painted crown towards the walls.

* Roadani Sun Amulets

The most common enchanted items in the continent are the Sun Amulets of the Roadani Military. These bronze amulets protect from the dangers of the sun. Though the wearer still feels the oppressive heat, their skin will not burn from the desert star. Nearly every Roadani has one given to them at the start of their military service. They are in the shape of a seven pointed star. The secret to their creation is hidden and well guarded by the military mages.

* Tempest’s Claw

This is the most famous weapon in Var’Tareen. It was the spear that Rallia used to slay Ghendar. After her ascendance she enchanted it with the guidance of Remin, to protect her and her allies. Stories claim it creates great winds that throws projectiles aside and disperses magic attacks. While the Storm Queen holds her claw no arrow or spell can harm her or those she protects.

* Kretyyl’s Breath

Curek the Iron Eye was the most infamous pirate of the Southern Isles. He was a prominent magician and ruthless captain. His ship was Kretyyl’s Breath. Its hull was enchanted with Stonestrength and unbreakable by normal means. Curek’s preferred method of sinking other ships was ramming Kretyyl’s Breath through the other boat. For this his name was feared and Kretyyl’s Breath was the weapon he wielded.

* Prismatic Aegis

The shield borne by the first sun god. Hlesmil's shield was said to drain the colors of her enemies and return them as strength to her. The shield was a sleek metal face woven with hundreds of colors, intertwined. No one knows what happened to the Aegis. Some say Rallia destroyed it, some say it was lost at sea, some say Yaerrin still possesses it.

## Known Magicians

\*Deryl Dunderheim
* The Dawn Priest
* Henrus Kline
* Krin Vash'Neer
* Miles
* Morgar
* Orna Wellis
* Oruc Chalishan
* Remin
* Sylvie
* Tal
* The Mage
* Thèandìl
* Tlaloc
* Weyland Pharus

* SylvieGo to Sylvie
* Thèandìl & MorgarGo to Nurmendemar
* Krin Vash'NeerGo to Krin
* FeerikGo to Feerik

* Alekiai
* Caid
* Curek