Magic in Minerva

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Revision as of 17:31, 15 June 2007

Magic in Minerva is made possible through the channeling of mana (magical energy) with an amplification tool (a magic rod or wand, staves, etc). Magic is also measured in magical units called Ouni. Ouni is used to measure the amount of magic needed for certain tasks.

Explanation

All living beings have a certain amount of mana contained in their souls. With practice, one can be trained to project this energy into the surrounding environment. On its own, raw mana can do little more than move objects and exert physical force, but with a particular focus it can be formed into more proper magical effects.

Foci take on many different forms; the most common are energy or elemental foci such as heat (fire), cold, electricity, and similar things. More complex foci are commonly known as spells, and these involve manipulating mana very precisely, usually with the aid of incantations, gestures, or rituals. While experienced magic users can sometimes make do without these aids, they are extremely helpful in maintaining one's focus.

It should also be noted that mana is not exclusively found in individual souls; mana is also present in the surrounding environment, albeit much more diffuse than the sort found in living beings. Certain areas acquire greater concentrations of mana, either naturally or by human intervention. While it is useless for everyday applications, mana of the land is undoubtedly powerful and can sometimes be coerced by very powerful magic users.

History

Human beings have always possessed the magical energy necessary to cast a spell, but they have not always had the knowledge. There is little historical evidence to indicate the presence of magic before the year 1000, and even when it did appear, records from the early second millennium indicate that it was primarily a gifted few who were able to practice it. The amplification rods (the most common form of amplification tool) that today make it possible for any commoner to cast a spell did not come into practice until at least the 2200s; as such, sorcerers were extremely valued in the period prior to this and often grew vastly wealthy.

With the invention of amprods, magic grew into a sort of "science," in that it was researched and empirically improved. It was in the mid-third millennium that magical researchers arose and stimulated public interest in magic, in what came to be known as the Magical Influence. From that period on, magic became an essential tool to everyday life for much of Minerva.

Magical research

Research into the nature of magic has gone on for as long as magic itself has been known to Minervans, but the nature of this research has varied over the centuries. Only fairly recently has the specific nature of mana and the development of complex spells come into widespread practice. For much of history, magical "research" was more about learning how to reliably produce and reproduce magical effects, and such practice was primarily the domain of the gifted few. The amount of mental refinement required to invent a spell from scratch was simply not available to anyone who could not afford to spend much time in quiet contemplation and experimentation.

Magical researchers seek to understand how magical energy impacts the universe and how the magical energy can be manipulated in new, useful ways, much the same way scientists study the natural world and apply their knowledge as technology. The nation of Cyrophite is the world capital for magical research.

Use in modern Minerva

Magic is in incredibly common use in Minerva today. Aside from daily activities made much easier by the accessibility of rods to citizens of most wealthy countries like Senzanya and Cyrophite, much of Minervan technology is dependent on mana as an energy source. For this reason, many young adults looking for work find jobs as hired magicians in industrial companies.

Conjuration

The original spells were given to prophets of the God of Magic, Prymos, and the Goddess of language, Ralaia. They gave the magic and the language of magic to certain high priests. Together, they formed an understanding of magic - a theory of magic - which was difficult to master, and required the would-be magic user to undergo study and initiation through twelve levels. Those who chose this path became what came to be known as "The Bounded." They were bound to the God and the Goddess for the rest of their lives, which usually turned out to be very long indeed.

This is a more direct belief system than that of the Endless, the Irithists, whose worship is presently little more than empty rituals and celebrations. Nevertheless, there are quite a few existing different schools of worship of the various deities, and there are many, many stories of the gods and of their adventures among themselves and with humans.

See also

• Technology in Minerva
• Music in Minerva
• Art in Minerva
• Literature in Minerva