Magic

Magic is the practice of wielding the powers of an outer entity through communion. Some humans, known as mages, may be able to commune with an outer entity's id, which is a difficult process that requires extreme mental fortitude to accomplish, leaving it accessible to only a select few.

History

Modern history

The practice of magic peaked during the Unraveling Wars, which opposed armies that contained tens of thousands of mages from various orders, with many world leaders also being mages themselves. Seven centuries later, magic has dwindled throughout the world as communion with outer entities faded. Even the largest magical orders now only have at most a few thousand practicing mages, with some of the smaller orders nearing extinction. As orders of mages close themselves to the outside world, there are many who no longer believe magic to be real.

Mechanics

Spellcasting

To cast a magic spell, a mage needs to have a catalyst, which is any object that can act as a vessel for the power of the entity they commune with. Catalysts can be anything from staves to talismans. Once the mage has imbued their catalyst with divine power, that catalyst is bound exclusively to them. Spells may then be cast by performing specific hand and body movements, making spellcasting resemble a mix between sign language and dance.

Organization

As magic is built on worship, users of each divine entity usually come together to strengthen their bond through schools. Due to magic's divine nature, schools often blur the line between academic, religious and military orders as they play major roles in the politics of the world.