Christopher Michael
Troubadour
My current WIP is a combination Urban and High Fantasy. I have Daemon, Djinn, Vampyr (the Elder Children), Vampire (the Younger Children), Elves.... basically, all of the typical fantasy creatures.
Anyway, I'm working on a somewhat complicated magic system. I'm working under the concept of Rune Magic, Blood Magic, and Specie Specific Magic, and Innate Magic.
Specie Magic is, obviously, the magic native to a specific species. Sirens, for instance, have the magic in themselves to cause people to do what they want. Their voice, eyes, physical touch...all of it combines to create a desired effect. Every magical/fantastic race has a power or group of powers that is part of their nature.
Innate Magic, sometimes also called Wild Magic, is magic that fits into no other notable category. It isn't something found throughout a species, nor is it related to either Blood or Rune magics. Rather, it is a magic that, for one reason or another, a person is born with.
Rune Magic is utilizing magic symbols to achieve certain ends. Defense, attack, curses, blessings...all utilize runes. Most seers have runes to enable sight carved into their flesh. Most mages carry one or more runes enabling increased strength and control over their magic.
Blood Magic is an offshoot of Rune Magic. The blood of a magical being imbues the rune with far more strength than it might otherwise be capable of. Light magic involves the willingly extracted blood of the caster to enhance wards, to strengthen healing runes. Shadow Mages do much the same, although they will also utilize their own blood to empower offensive spells or imbue armor and weapons with special traits. Dark Mages will never use their own blood. They use the sacrificial blood of any magical creature they can grab in order to add extra power to their curses and attacks.
I've worked all of this out. What I need help with is the cost, the toll it takes.
For instance: Uncontrolled outbursts of innate magic will absolutely exhaust the wielder, but there is no real cost to species specific magic. What other costs should I have for using Innate Magic? What about the other magics? Should there be a cost to Rune Magic? What about Blood Magic?
I'm considering the concept that utilizing the Rune and Blood Magics for Light purposes moves you further along the spectrum towards being aligned with the Light (non aggressive, pacifistic, non-combat), where using them for Dark moves you closer to that alignment. I'm just not certain if that's enough. Or am I overthinking this?
Anyway, I'm working on a somewhat complicated magic system. I'm working under the concept of Rune Magic, Blood Magic, and Specie Specific Magic, and Innate Magic.
Specie Magic is, obviously, the magic native to a specific species. Sirens, for instance, have the magic in themselves to cause people to do what they want. Their voice, eyes, physical touch...all of it combines to create a desired effect. Every magical/fantastic race has a power or group of powers that is part of their nature.
Innate Magic, sometimes also called Wild Magic, is magic that fits into no other notable category. It isn't something found throughout a species, nor is it related to either Blood or Rune magics. Rather, it is a magic that, for one reason or another, a person is born with.
Rune Magic is utilizing magic symbols to achieve certain ends. Defense, attack, curses, blessings...all utilize runes. Most seers have runes to enable sight carved into their flesh. Most mages carry one or more runes enabling increased strength and control over their magic.
Blood Magic is an offshoot of Rune Magic. The blood of a magical being imbues the rune with far more strength than it might otherwise be capable of. Light magic involves the willingly extracted blood of the caster to enhance wards, to strengthen healing runes. Shadow Mages do much the same, although they will also utilize their own blood to empower offensive spells or imbue armor and weapons with special traits. Dark Mages will never use their own blood. They use the sacrificial blood of any magical creature they can grab in order to add extra power to their curses and attacks.
I've worked all of this out. What I need help with is the cost, the toll it takes.
For instance: Uncontrolled outbursts of innate magic will absolutely exhaust the wielder, but there is no real cost to species specific magic. What other costs should I have for using Innate Magic? What about the other magics? Should there be a cost to Rune Magic? What about Blood Magic?
I'm considering the concept that utilizing the Rune and Blood Magics for Light purposes moves you further along the spectrum towards being aligned with the Light (non aggressive, pacifistic, non-combat), where using them for Dark moves you closer to that alignment. I'm just not certain if that's enough. Or am I overthinking this?