Magic

**Magic** is the manifest form of the subtle control an individual exerts over the worldsong. An individual who uses magic is sometimes called a mage.

## Types of magic

Perhaps the most common form of magic of called fey magic. Fey magic is characteristically tied to the individual's personality and charisma. A person has typically an attunement towards a particular element of reality, such as fire, light, or blood, over which they can exert a degree of control. A fey mage that works this way is called a bard. On the other hand, some mages draw their power from communing with local spirits (or local fey nobility). These are called druids.

Another kind of magic is arcane magic, which attempts to unravel the worldsong through rigorous scientific study. This is a disciplined, intelligence-based branch of magic. To make an analogy, fey magic focuses on the sound of the worldsong and the emotions it evokes, while arcane magic picks apart the intervals and notations and small technical details. An arcane mage is called a wizard. Arcane magic is divided into several schools.

* Alchemy, the study of matter, based on the five basic elements (fire, water, earth, wood, metal). Related to chemistry.
* Psychomancy, the study of mind-related magic such as illusions and telekinesis. Related to psychology.
* Astromancy, the study of planetary effects on magic; astromancy spells are often related to time and space. Related to physics.
* Necromancy, the study of biological death and how to delay or partially reverse it. Related to biology.
* Xenology, the art of summoning and binding alien creatures such as daemons, aeons, and even dragons. Related to linguistic theory.
* A special kind of arcane magic is metaphysical engineering, which works with the very laws of reality and is the most difficult branch of magic imaginable.

The third type of magic is divine magic or thaumaturgy. A divine mage accepts magical powers from a deity and deciphers the divine logic that allows them to use it. There are two basic approaches to this (parallelling the aforementioned fey-arcane divide): either through disciplined contemplation and theological study (as a monk would), or through sheer sensitivity to religious experience and personal charisma (as a cleric would). In both cases, a certain level of theological understanding and dedication is required.

A fourth tradition exists, called the Entwined Ways, used by witches since the dawn of time. It combines personal attunement, spiritual communion, perusal of eldritch lore, and veneration of a figure called either the Eternal Mother or the Changing Woman. The tradition is divided into the Way of Preservation and the Way of Change, with most witches choosing one over the other.

## Restrictions

Teiliwaani Empire has banned all fey magic and witchcraft in its area of reign. Arcane magic has been restricted to official institutions monitored by the Cult of Tauqan. These regulations continue to be ignored in the more provincial regions of the Empire, as well as among elves (who do not recognize the Empire at all in any area).

Infamously, divine magic ceases to work in Tirnanoch. Clerics and monks venturing beyond the Twilight must thus consult the fey nobles for temporary compensatory spells.