====== Magic ======

//Note: This article discusses magic independent of game terms.  Nothing here should
be taken to contradict or override the game rules!//

//Common Knowledge//:

Some believe that magic is a natural force that has existed since the creation of the universe.
Others believe it was a gift bestowed by the gods when the mortal species were created.

Regardless, it is a force that allows people to perform amazing acts -- both for the betterment
and detriment of those around them.

There are two distinct groups of magic: Divine and Arcane.  The former involves the spellcaster
"asking" some divine entity to bless them with a magical effect, while the latter has the
caster invoking the magical effect themselves.

//Expert Knowledge//:

The difference between arcane and divine spells is probably cosmetic.  Some scholars believe
that while divine spells include a plea to some divine creature, that plea is for show and
the actual magical effect is brought forth in the same manner as an arcane spell.

The counter-argument is that divine spellcasters often do not study arcane principles
before mastering their spellcasting abilities.

While Spell magic is the most common form, there are three other less common ways to
invoke magic -- known as Rune, Voice, and Psionic magic.  Each of the four is different,
yet all use the same enigmatic matter/energy form known as [[mana]].  Mana is created
and required by all forms of life and is in constant motion with the surrounding world.

Since mana is very difficult to manipulate directly, wizards over the millennia have
developed "shorthand" methods that use as little of this potent energy as possible.
The most common mechanism is to use a "pinch" of mana to open a portal to the
elemental world and then siphon in elemental energy to produce the desired effect.

//Hidden Knowledge//:

Due to the relatively low levels of mana on the [[prime world]], a
[[wall|"wall around the world"]] exists to concentrate the mana in a relatively
small region.  Whether the gods built this wall or it predates them is a matter
of considerable theological debate.

The prevailing theory about the wall's function is that it brings mana from the
outside world into the "central" disk.  The effect is to decrease the overall mana
level outside the wall, yet make the inner world very rich in magic of all types.
(See [[Cosmos]]).

----

A brief overview of the types of magic follows:

==== Spell Magic ====

By a simple mind exercise (reminiscent of psionic magic), a weakening between
the plane the user is on and the energy planes is accomplished.  This is called
the "trigger spell" and is the first skill taught to apprentice magicians.  It
is perhaps the most difficult skill to grasp and is quite possibly the cause of
most spell failures.  Compared to mana, using elemental energy is trivial.

Once triggered, the siphoned energy is then channeled through the caster's body,
and via gestures, incantations, and materials, into the desired effect.

The limitations are obvious:  First of all, since the invocation involves
extra-planar activity, there exists the possibility of attracting attention from
not only otherworldly beings, but also of spell-users on the plane of origin.
Secondly, since the user's body is the focus for the energy, damage could result
from overuse.  However, since the energy is only siphoned via the mental
triggering effect, it is quite easy for an out-of-control user to abort the
invocation at any time.

The main advantage of spell magic is simplicity.  Since only a small amount of
[[mana]] is needed to invoke the cross-planar siphoning, it is a significantly
easier skill to learn than Rune, Voice, and Psionic magic.  While an intelligent
person can learn basic spell magic over the course of a few years, most cannot
fathom Rune, Voice, or Psionic magic -- ever!

==== Rune Magic ====

By aligning material in a certain way (depending on the material and the desired
effect), the mana flow is channeled through the material to invoke said effect.
The requirements on the materials and structure create a certain frailty to this
type of magic.  However, the separation from the human conductor allows for much
more powerful invocations to be accomplished.

All magic items are based (to at least a minor degree) on Rune magic in that
their materials must be aligned in such a way as to naturally invoke an enchantment.
Thus, a spell-magic sword has a rune-magic invocation that allows the spell to
remain in effect indefinitely.  Also, alchemical enchantments such as potions
are a limited form of rune magic.

==== Voice Magic ====

Voice magic (in its simplest terms) is a variant of Rune magic.  By
vibrating (aligning) the air in a specific manner, magical effects are invoked.
The most common invocations are offensive in nature and generally
involve hitting a target with a concentrated blast of energy.
Voice magic is slightly easier than Rune magic, but is limited to
quick, non-complex invocations.  Voice magic is also the only known magic to
occasionally be invoked by nature.  At certain times, for example, the wind will
howl through mountains, making such a sound as to invoke a magical effect.
Usually, these natural magics take the form of enormous visual displays similar
to the Aurora Borealis on Earth.

==== Psionic Magic ====

This is another specific version of Rune magic in that the magical effects are
invoked when the brain is structured in a certain way, and a triggering thought
process is done.  However, this magic is also unique in that the body and mind
are used as a gateway for the energies.  Unlike spell magic, though, this energy
is not siphoned off of another plane, but instead comes from [[mana]].  Thus,
psionic magic is a combination of Rune and Spell magic, where pure mana is
funneled through the user instead of siphoned energy.

The limitations are clear.  [[Mana]] is very powerful, and control can easily be
lost.  Unlike spell magic, though, there is no trigger effect to control the
energy.  If an invocation goes astray, the user could be severely damaged.
Combat using psionic magic is also very specific.  Offensive maneuvers using
this style are almost exclusively based on overloading the sensitive patterns
within another psionicist's mind.  Thus, a non-psionic faces less of a threat from a
psionic attack.  [A terrestrial analogy would be electricity: A small electric
current can do tremendous damage to electronic devices such as computers, while
that same amount can do no damage at all to a non-electronic device, such as a
person.]

==== Common invocations ====

**Detect Magic** -- This invocation simply detects weak spots between the user's
plane and the energy planes.  It registers the intensity of the energy being
siphoned, as well as showing the form of that energy in this plane.  This latter
feature is how experienced wizards can determine the nature of a magic item or
spell.  Note that since this invocation detects weaknesses between the energy
planes and the user's plane, its use (like that of all spell magic) on other
planes is dependent on their proximity to the energy planes.

**Dispel Magic** -- This invocation patches over weak spots between the energy
planes and the local area.  Since it stops the flow of energy, it disrupts
spells likewise.  Note that this invocation has no effect whatsoever on the mana
level and so does not affect any of the other types of magics.  Some types of
spell-invocations have built-in safeguards where another trigger effect is
automatically started when the siphoned energy stops.  Thus, the spell is only
inactive for a short time.

**Identify** -- This invocation is essentially a fine-tuned detect magic.  It allows
experienced wizards to examine in detail the exact specifications of siphoned
energies.  It does not affect mana-based magic.

**Detect Mana** -- This invocation registers the level of mana in an area.  Note
that when used on a spell-magic invocation, it may register an identical level
for widely different power levels since mana is used only as a trigger.

**Dispel Mana** -- This complex (and extremely difficult) invocation removes all
mana from an area.  The most common method is to use up the mana very quickly
(such as with an infinite progression power siphon).  This will cause the entire
area to be devoid of mana for a few moments (until replenished by the flow).
During the mana crisis on Earth after the gods fled, this drain was permanent
and so was not used unless absolutely necessary.  Note also
that spell-magic uses only a minor trigger effect, and once it is in effect the
siphoned energy keeps the spell active.  Thus, if the mana is removed, spell
magics already active will be unaffected, though new spells cannot be cast until
the mana is replenished.

**Magic Suppression** -- This invocation constricts the flow of siphoned energy to
an area.  Thus, most spell-based magic will fail to work in that area.  Even the
"protected" types of magic with re-triggering will fail to work because the area
will not let any extra-planar energy through.  This is a very dangerous effect
for spell-users, but presents no threat to mana-users (such as psionics).

**[[Underdark]] Magic Items** -- The dark elves are quite fluent with rune magic and
use it frequently to construct their "magical" daggers, swords, and cloaks.
These items, being based on Rune magic, do not register on a detect magic and
cannot be dispelled.  It is rumored that some Drow know Voice magic as well.
Since sunlight has a decaying effect on the materials used, these items cannot
be exposed to sunlight, or else the delicate alignment is ruined and the magic
will not be invoked.

==== The Mana Flow ====

By using too much [[mana]] too quickly, the mana in an area can be depleted.  Most
of the time, the mana is restored to an area from the [[mana flow]] while the
invocation is active.  However, occasionally, very powerful mana-wizards have
generated enormous invocations that have depleted the mana in an area for
several seconds or minutes.  Persistent rumors exist about wizards who brought
forth such great magic that the area's mana was depleted for over a week.
These tales, however, are dismissed by learned mana-masters.

The mana flow is simply the flow of [[mana]] from one place to another.  What is
unusual about it, though, is that it follows specific patterns based on terrain.
Weather causes some variation, though this is usually negligible.  The end
result is a web-like pattern of mana intensity all over the globe.  Where the
lines of the web cross, the mana is rich.  Between the lines, the mana is
weaker.  With very few exceptions, there is no place in the prime world where
the mana is too weak to cast a spell-magic trigger.  Thus, spells work without
variation worldwide.  Mana-based magic, though, is sensitive to this flow, and
some powerful invocations may not work in the shallow "troughs" of this web.

==== State of Magic after III:1108 ====

Outside the physical plane of existence is, among other things, a dimension
called [[Cosmos#Elemental|"The Elemental World"]]. This is not a planet as we
know it, but is instead an enormous storehouse for the six elements: the four
physical elements (Air, Earth, Fire, and Water) and the two spiritual elements
(Positive and Negative, also called Good and Evil).  Underlying these six
elements is a special mixture of all, which is called Shadow.  (Not to be confused
with the Shadowfell).

Next to the spiritual elements, the physical elements are rather insignificant, so
when combined, they do not assert themselves as do positive and negative energy.
During his battle with the [[Godslayer]], [[Ozzie|Lord Ozzie]] powered himself up
by siphoning off energies from the positive and negative planes -- an ability given
to him by the [[Shadowlord]].  However, to rise to the level of the Godslayer, Ozzie
had to drain an enormous amount of energy very quickly.  This left a void in the
elemental world into which Shadow was able to move. It is now believed that the
Shadowlord planned for this scenario all along.

Since elemental energies are a key component in spell magic, the Shadowlord's takeover
had a profound effect on the use of spells worldwide.  While the exact mechanism of
this effect is still debated, it seemed to arise because the elements were replaced by shadow.
Suddenly, when a wizard needed two parts fire and one part water, he got three parts
shadow!  Even though every ounce of energy was still available, it did not produce the
desired effect.

In late March 1109, the
[[council|Council of Wizards]] convened for the first time since the change and
discussed what had happened.  While no real understanding of the change was
agreed upon, an edict was issued which stated (in part) that "The magic change
appears permanent and that all spellcasters should learn a new Trigger Spell".
However, since no details of this new Trigger spell were supplied, the
membership has been left to fend for themselves.

Many magicians have been unable to do the required research to replace their
spells and so have effectively lost their powers.  In addition, many magic items
used the same two-step process and so have been altered irrevocably. The
frustrating thing is that they remain magical at the same level that they were
before, but they no longer do what they did!

[[Mana]] itself remains unaffected by the [[Shadowlord]]'s takeover and so any magic
that used mana exclusively is just as potent as it was before January 1108.
Psionic powers and certain artifacts are the best examples of this situation.