Abbas-Al-Morim
Sage
(After a lot of thought on magic, I've finally come up with a concept I'm more or less happy with. Thought I'd share and get some constructive criticism. There might be little inconsistencies in the text. I wrote it off the top of my head when the muse suddenly struck.)
In Ferranaia, there is no magic to be found in the physical realm. No one is born with innate magical talents and not even a thousand years of study or practice could shape a mind into magical conduit. The ethereal realm is the source of all magic but it is separated from the physical realm by a barrier referred to as the veil.
The ethereal realm is a mirror image of our world. It’s the world-as-should-be. Objects in the physical realm are representations of their physical counterpart. Unlike their physical counterparts, these objects are perfect. They capture the essence of what it means to be that specific object.
The ethereal realm is not just populated by perfect objects, it’s also the home of higher beings — colloquially known as demons. These beings are the perfect rendition of humans. They are every bit as diverse as the humankind but they are all perfect in one aspect or another. At first, there were only a select few of these beings — as there were only a select amount of human traits. First there was conscience, then there was strength and intelligence. But demons are not only representations of perfect virtues — some excel at what humans would consider vices. There are demons of greed or cruelty just as there are those who represent beauty or kindness.
A demon’s strength is determined by many factors. Usually, the older generations are stronger than the newer ones. However demons can grow in strength as they accomplish their goals — thus becoming more perfect. A demon of wrath that can kill other demons will grow stronger . A demon of gluttony will grow stronger when he devours souls.
Over time, these first demons started to procreate — in their own way. Countless new generations of demons have come into existence and now their power and perfection varies. There are many kinds of demons now and not one of them is entirely similar to another. New variations have led to some interesting demons. A demon of vengeance was created out of the union of a demon of greed and one of wrath. Those rare scholars who study the origins of demons are called (ethereal) genealogists. They are referred to as demonologists by the common people.
To use magic, a person must strike a bargain with a demon. To do so, he has to be able to communicate with the demon. He can do so by summoning the demon temporarily or permanently (by providing a host). Demons usually ask a price for their favor. Usually, their price is something that will give them an advantage in their own realm. In return, they’ll grant powers, bless or curse. Some demons ask regular tribute for their powers while others ask only a single thing in return for a lifetime of power.
There are also limitations to magic. For a demon to manifest his powers in the physical realm, his presence is needed. For this, the demon could give the mage a scroll, possess the mage partially or agree to possess another person and obey the mage for a set amount of time. Some demons give powers that do not require this. The gift of clairvoyance can be given through dreams. Once struck, a bargain cannot be altered — except with the consent of both parties. As demons are usually infinitely older and more experienced than humans, they often manage to get more than they give.
Demons can be summoned by humans to the human world. They will not be able to stay for long without a proper host. When summoned without a host, only the most powerful can do more than see and talk. To summon a demon, a true name is needed. These names are very hard to find (the easiest way to do so, but also the most dangerous way is to visit the ethereal realm). Scholars who research the true names of demons are called (ethereal) onomatologists. They too are often referred to as demonologists by laymen.
It is also possible to breach the veil and enter the ethereal realm. There are several ways to do so — you could let a demon summon you (something that requires consent. The rule is demons in the ethereal realm cannot breach the veil without a human’s consent — and even then he is severely limited). Research has shown that on certain days, the veil between both worlds is less thick and humans can enter the realm through the use of a hallucinogenic substance. Demons, however, still cannot pierce the veil on those nights — contrary to popular folklore.
In Ferranaia, there is no magic to be found in the physical realm. No one is born with innate magical talents and not even a thousand years of study or practice could shape a mind into magical conduit. The ethereal realm is the source of all magic but it is separated from the physical realm by a barrier referred to as the veil.
The ethereal realm is a mirror image of our world. It’s the world-as-should-be. Objects in the physical realm are representations of their physical counterpart. Unlike their physical counterparts, these objects are perfect. They capture the essence of what it means to be that specific object.
The ethereal realm is not just populated by perfect objects, it’s also the home of higher beings — colloquially known as demons. These beings are the perfect rendition of humans. They are every bit as diverse as the humankind but they are all perfect in one aspect or another. At first, there were only a select few of these beings — as there were only a select amount of human traits. First there was conscience, then there was strength and intelligence. But demons are not only representations of perfect virtues — some excel at what humans would consider vices. There are demons of greed or cruelty just as there are those who represent beauty or kindness.
A demon’s strength is determined by many factors. Usually, the older generations are stronger than the newer ones. However demons can grow in strength as they accomplish their goals — thus becoming more perfect. A demon of wrath that can kill other demons will grow stronger . A demon of gluttony will grow stronger when he devours souls.
Over time, these first demons started to procreate — in their own way. Countless new generations of demons have come into existence and now their power and perfection varies. There are many kinds of demons now and not one of them is entirely similar to another. New variations have led to some interesting demons. A demon of vengeance was created out of the union of a demon of greed and one of wrath. Those rare scholars who study the origins of demons are called (ethereal) genealogists. They are referred to as demonologists by the common people.
To use magic, a person must strike a bargain with a demon. To do so, he has to be able to communicate with the demon. He can do so by summoning the demon temporarily or permanently (by providing a host). Demons usually ask a price for their favor. Usually, their price is something that will give them an advantage in their own realm. In return, they’ll grant powers, bless or curse. Some demons ask regular tribute for their powers while others ask only a single thing in return for a lifetime of power.
There are also limitations to magic. For a demon to manifest his powers in the physical realm, his presence is needed. For this, the demon could give the mage a scroll, possess the mage partially or agree to possess another person and obey the mage for a set amount of time. Some demons give powers that do not require this. The gift of clairvoyance can be given through dreams. Once struck, a bargain cannot be altered — except with the consent of both parties. As demons are usually infinitely older and more experienced than humans, they often manage to get more than they give.
Demons can be summoned by humans to the human world. They will not be able to stay for long without a proper host. When summoned without a host, only the most powerful can do more than see and talk. To summon a demon, a true name is needed. These names are very hard to find (the easiest way to do so, but also the most dangerous way is to visit the ethereal realm). Scholars who research the true names of demons are called (ethereal) onomatologists. They too are often referred to as demonologists by laymen.
It is also possible to breach the veil and enter the ethereal realm. There are several ways to do so — you could let a demon summon you (something that requires consent. The rule is demons in the ethereal realm cannot breach the veil without a human’s consent — and even then he is severely limited). Research has shown that on certain days, the veil between both worlds is less thick and humans can enter the realm through the use of a hallucinogenic substance. Demons, however, still cannot pierce the veil on those nights — contrary to popular folklore.
Scribe
Myth Weaver
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Inkling
Auror
