Mage

Mages are the most common type of arcane spellcaster, and they can be found all over the world. Their magic usually focuses on creating or changing things, most often with the purpose of damaging their enemies and boosting the power of their allies. Students with a sharp intellect and unwavering discipline may pursue the mage's path.

The arcane magic available to magi is both powerful and dangerous, so it is only revealed to the most dedicated practitioners. Those who are committed to and have a natural preference for one of the schools of specialization become more entrenched. They choose either evocation or transmutation as their preferred school at this point. While not the first to discover it, the Magi of the Agrurorths have since mastered the art of casting spells with the elements of ice and fire. Magi are also known for their ability to conjure elementals, most notably water elementals, but they can also conjure air, earth, and fire elementals. Arkhan, the father of Arcane and Emperor of the Builders, was the greatest mortal mage, or for a time, immortal mage.

The first record of magi on Ituna was the builders. They used it to shape Ituna's history as we know it today and wielded arcane tremendous magic potential.

## **History**

### **Background**

The Builders were the first to discover arcane magic and harness it to their will in Ituna's ancient times. Overtime came the avians and their Anzuri sect utilizing arcane in construction. The ages of the Magi, on the other hand, only began with humanity at the height of their golden ages. Humans gained access to more knowledge and teaching from the anzuri as a result of their alliance with the Avian Empire. This marked the beginning of the rise of mages throughout Ituna. Agrurorths, the mages' kingdom, serves as a vital hub for all arcane users. It is not only a safe haven for mages to live and study, but it is also a school for arcane magic. With the fall of the Builders and the end of the Great Plague, Agrurorths has reopened, welcoming all arcane enthusiasts to come and study at the dawn of a new age.

## **Characteristics**

Students with a sharp intellect and unwavering discipline may pursue the mage's path. Because the arcane magic available to magi is both great and dangerous, it is only revealed to the most dedicated practitioners. Magi wear only cloth armor to avoid interfering with their spellcasting, but arcane shields and enchantments provide additional protection. Magi can summon bursts of fire to incinerate distant targets and cause entire areas to erupt, igniting groups of enemies.

Mages use arcane incantations to destroy their enemies. Mages, despite wielding powerful offensive spells, are frail and lightly armored, making them especially vulnerable to close-range attacks. Wise mages use their spells carefully to keep their enemies at a safe distance or to keep them in place.

Interestingly enough, mages can use the power of the Arcane to manipulate and bend the elements to their will. But further studies have shown these are not true elemental magic found in nature, they are in fact artificial, to say the least. Raw Arcane energies are unstable and volatile, but with great concentration, mages can harness its true potential and create artificial elemental magic such as fire to incinerate their foes from a long distance.

In this sense, mages can further expend mana in order to deal high amounts of damage with amazing speed, though they must be wary of exhausting themselves.

One of the most effective defensive mechanisms for mages is their ability to cast area-of-effect spells. Mages can effectively attack multiple foes at the same time by summoning sheets of ice, columns of flame, and waves of arcane power.

A Mage can control the battlefield in a variety of ways, from freezing enemies in place to transforming them into helpless critters. The latter is exceedingly difficult to conjure. According to accounts, only the most talented and gifted mages could pull it off. Attempts to do it recklessly may result in the caster becoming a critter themselves.

One of the fundamental concepts of Arcane magic is the ability to bend time and space and control the flow of Mana. Mages have the ability to transport themselves and their allies between cities as well as summon food and water, which may be considered a sub-category in and of itself.

## **Morality**

Mages are scholars and "learned" people, so in the eyes of the general public, they are one of the "good guys," the protectors of all that is good. Or so it would seem. It has previously been established that mages are rather specific. Mages walk a fine line between being adepts of the arcane and being power-crazed, with some falling somewhere in the middle.

As a result, some mages have no regard for human life and consider sacrifices to be necessary in the name of knowledge and power. Some may even consider themselves to be of a higher caliber than others due to their skill in the arcane arts. But that can't be true for all mages, can it? Some mages use their power for good, while others devote their lives to researching magic for future generations to use. In the end, mages are neither good nor bad; they are simply people, and people are unpredictable and diverse.

## **Paths**

Mages concentrate on honing and mastering individual specializations, of which there are three official brands to which mages must adhere:

Pyromancer—Quick, volatile Fire spells. Fire mages specialize in the destructive use of fire. They ignite their enemies, and are amongst the deadliest of all spellcasters.

Cryomancer—Efficient, controlling Frost spells. Frost mages who specialize in frost can manipulate ice with chilling effectiveness, freezing their enemies in their tracks.

Arcanist—Punishing Arcane spells. Arcane Mages use magic to manipulate time and space. They are a formidable force to be reckoned with, despite not being the most versatile of mages.

### **Pyromancer**

While any worthy mage is an unrivaled expert in the use of magic and devoted to their craft, those who master the forces of fire are a little more daring than their peers. When confronted with a threat, they always respond by annihilating it in a glorious blaze. A lifetime spent studying fiery forces only feeds their pyromania, and these mages take pride—even pleasure—in igniting their opponents in wild bursts of flame. At your peril, misinterpret their fondness for watching things burn as a lack of self-control. Because of their pyromaniacal nature, some scholars have compared fire mages to evil warlocks themselves.

### **Cryomancer**

Cryomancers differ from their colleagues in that their chosen school of magic focuses on maintaining complete control over their enemies' abilities. Mages who command frost put on chilling displays on the battlefield, immobilizing opponents as they bombard them with ice. Frequently, the blade does not reach the caster before the bitter cold takes hold. The frost mage exudes icy power as icicles form around them, foreshadowing the wintry demise of those who oppose them on the battlefield. Calling down a blizzard on their enemies, raining down deadly icicles, effectively killing them, is one of the cryomancers' favorite spells.

### **Arcanist**

Arcanists are secret revealers, balancing the ebb and flow of incredible mystic energies. Manipulation of the universe's volatile forces necessitates unrivaled skill. These practitioners push their magical knowledge to its logical limits, often to the point of exhaustion and danger to the world around them. Those who master this craft are capable of unleashing a torrent of unstoppable power on their foes, drawing on replenishing energies to sustain their assault for as long as the battle requires. Their power can only be described as manipulating the arcane and annihilating enemies with overwhelming force. Arcanists are also gifted inventors, having contributed to many amazing inventions in this world, such as the waystones and the iron golems!

## **Gears**

Mages can only wear cloth armor due to magical issues.

Mages can use staves, wands, daggers, and one-handed swords, as well as off-hand equipment such as books and grimoires, to increase their power.

## **Notes**

Recent research has revealed that it is possible to bind Elemental beings to one's will using Arcane, but so far there has been no success. Most Elementals will commit suicide if they are chained by mages. On a different note, mages have discovered a way to animate and fuel constructs with Arcane magic. The invention of the Iron Golem is an example of this. More research is required to fully comprehend the mechanism underlying this process.