Magic is a fickle mistress, and I have played with her plenty. So many types too; you have no idea the variety until you dip your toes in yourself...
Now, this will be mostly talking about systems I work with, rather than magic that persists and is useful for your universe, dear reader.
If I'm talking about abilities or spells; unless stated otherwise to be spiritual, natural, or other nature of energy, you can assume it is magic.
Magic is supernatural force that occurs regularly in everyday life, used as tools and bought and sold all over the world. It is also the main form of art or combat utilized by Mages.
Magic has been around longer than Opulence, longer than Asgairth, and probably longer than any of my friends has ever existed; and every type functions the same way.
Every type of magic inherently is derived from the very source of all magical energy, is sourced by a particle called Etherano;
and is programmed with the mind while each magic is stored in The Soul. Intent is everything. There is more magic in the twist of a ring at points than anything done to amaze with visuals.
This does not mean spiritual energy is the same as magic; while everyone has a supply of mana and inner etherano which is created within the body by absorbing Etherano from
the ambient surroundings, spiritual energy and magic do not usually mix.
In fact, they are so opposite in nature that they usually can't mix, don't engage, or it is very risky and can can corrupt the soul if magic is channeled directly through it.
Think of it as the vessel for an organ, but the organ is meant to just be housed there; not permeating through the vessel.
The average energy network follows similar, but not exactly, to your nervous system, with major clusters of energy nodes lining the body.
Due to this, some areas are easier to release from than others; such as hands, feet, even your eyes are going to be easier than your hip or elbow.
Over the years, Magic continues to evolve, governments even form departments and bureaus where individuals research, development and create countless new forms of Magic.
No two types of magic are the same, nor is anyone's magic of the same name likely to function the same as another person's.
Part of it is genetic, part of it is intent and what energy and thoughts are put into programming Etherano and by extension magic.
Magic is the physical embodiment of the spirit's innate programming; as mentioned with it being like a organ within a vessel.
When the physical spirit of an organism connects with the spiritual flow of nature and etherano, the spirit forms Magic as a product of the connection.
This then goes through intent logic.
Though Magic goes beyond reason, it is still born of reason and it takes an enormous amount of concentration and mental ability to use it.
As such and linked to intent, one's strength of feelings plays an important part in one's ability to properly use Magic.
One's Magical Powers are also tied to one's life force, just like spiritual energy. Run out of mana, the soul can't function.
Run out of spiritual energy; your soul has no energy and thus you die. This is also why wounding the spirit or magical system can impact the soul as well.
Every Mage has a container of Ethernano inside their body that determines the limits of their Magic Power.
In the case that it becomes empty, Ethernano will come from the atmosphere and enter the Mage's body and, after a while, their Magic Power shall return to normal.
Magic often has several components; Verbal, Somatic, and Material but advanced mages and those who trained extensively with their magics can bypass many, if not all of these requirements.
Certain individuals who are skilled in sensing are able to detect Magic Power from afar without relying on their five senses, be it a Mage's or powerful Magic Item's.
This is possible because every Mage or magical being emits a certain amount of Magic Power in the form of a Magical Pressure which can be sensed.
This is used to locate Mages nearby, the range of one's sensory ability being determined by one's skill and can allow one to detect others over long distances and how much are approaching.
Any being who wields Magic has a unique signature to their emitted Magic Power. One can recognize the power of their friends and acquaintances
after some time and ascertain someone's identity, including traces of Magic that's been left behind, being able to better sense their presence
from relatively great distances.
Someone's Magic sense can also be used to gauge another Mage's power, with experts able to even tell if Mages are secretly concealing their true power.
It can however be extremely difficult to gauge one's true strength if an opponent possesses power besides Magic that far exceeds their own, or is corrupted Etherano
such as Cursed Energy which inherently has a different physical structure to that of a normal Etherano particle.
Magic Power can be forcefully taken from Mages, allowing the user to absorb the Magic of another individual and utilize it for their own means, this results in the Mage whose Magic
was stolen to be weakened and fall unconscious at the very least and needing time recover their Ethernano.
Magical Spells and abilities can also be absorbed be targets, preventing them from taking potential offensive damage from the attack.
However, due to its malformed nature, cursed energy cannot be absorbed or blocked by anti-magic, or absorbed by magical barriers.
Various types of magic abilities and items are capable of negating any spells, disintegrating any magic based ability within the vicinity of the effect, or otherwise neutralizing magic.
Though is the magical power of one is weaker than their opponent; they will be unable to nullify the magic.
For Cursed Energy, which again is a subsection and malformed branch of magic; you need specifically anti-curse or curse removal effects. This is often much more difficult to master,
and much more rare to come across.
At absolute mastery, one can attempt to obtain a pure energy-form state where they become the magic itself or element. This takes an exceptionally long time to accomplish
then requires magic or spiritual energy to hit the target if an energy-based magic; and may render physical attacks useless.
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