Enrai Magic Overview
What is Magic
Magic is utilization of mystical energy Enrai to manipulate the world around them, which defies the natural state of things. Originally an esoteric, and secretive tradition, Magic was standardized with formal practices, rules, and understandings by the Third Izumo Empire’sImperial Mages whose knowledge barely survived after the Empire. Since then in the modern Era Magic has undergone expansion to its current extent.
How to use Magic
Who Can Use Magic
The ability to utilize magic is limited to those who have the right magical bloodline, or whose ancestry is part Yokai or Kami, although details are usually in dispute. Bloodline based Mages form the bulk of human mages, whose powers and abilities grow stronger with each generation. Magic is usually only found in the established families, but also occasionally randomly appears in commoners.
Spells and Casting
For a mage to cast magic, it requires expending mental and physical energy. The main component though, is Enrai, which a mage has a certain amount to draw from depending on their mage rank. Active Spells expend Enrai which are regained with time, while Passive Spells permanently lower the amount of Enrai a mage can have while maintained.
Mage Conduits
To actually cast spells, a mage conduit is needed to form Enrai into a usable ability. Mage conduits are pieces of equipment made from normal materials and Enrai Gemstones,as a power source. Common Mage conduits vary, but can be the following.
Types of Mage Conduits
Skill Levels for Mages and Spells
Mages and Spells can be categorized into several ranks from lower to higher: E, D, C, B, A, S. Mage ranks generally are a reflection of how many spells a mage knows, how fast they can cast, and the upper spell rank they can reliably cast. Spell Ranks refer to the level of difficulty and how strong or useful a spell is.
Enrai Corruption
Enrai Corruption is when magic becomes unstable due to magic overuse, death, pollution, etc. Enrai Corruption causes sickness in mortals, while also making magic more difficult to cast. All magic causes a certain amount of Enrai corruption, which requires purification magic to remove.
List of Spells
Magic can be categorized by the elemental type, and the usage, along with basic spells which fit neither.
Basic Spells
Elemental Types of Magic
Mages who focus on elemental type magic can master one type easier, and have broad usage.
Magic by Usage
Alternatively many mages focus on common usage, rather than the elemental approach.
Combat Magic
Combat magic focuses on optimizing magic for use in small scale fights to larger battles and wars.
Offensive, or Attacking
Defensive, or Defending
Support, Spells Which Indirectly Assist in Combat
Civilian Magic
Civilian magic refers to magic which is typically slower and weaker, but used for specific purposes in the economy.
Priest Magic
Priest magic is a specialized form which deals with Enrai the most directly, and counters most magical threats.
Technology Integration
While only used in the modern era, magical effects can be applied to technology. Either to bolster its capabilities or to create new technologies entirely reliant on magic.
Magic Users
Mages by Traditions
Only a few who can use magic have developed extensive history, practices, and rituals unique to them. Generally following certain types and usage of magic. Many mages have developed traditions with unique spells or approaches which the general mage won't have access to.
Yokai Mages
The Yokai were the original mages before humans mastered the wheel, with every Yokai able to utilize magic to a decent degree. While every Yokai has their own magical abilities they share, most Yokai Mages focus on Stealth and Illusion. Each Yokai species typically has an accompanying form of magic that only their species can use. Tengu may use flight, foxes shapeshifting, or kitsune use fox fire.
Yokai Mages are, on average, significantly better than their human counterparts, though humans outnumber them. Yokai mages may have up to a century or more of experience on their human counterparts. Traditionally Yokai approach magic through an elemental lens, focusing usually on one or two types and taking it to the limit. Each Yokai race has their own unique spells: Tengu flying, Kitsune Fox Fire, Tanuki shapeshifting, and Oni Rage.
Samurai or Battle Mages
Samurai or generically Battle mages rather than shun magic, embraced it a long time ago. Samurai have perfected the use of magic in war, careful refining their approach over generations. Samurai generally focus only on offensive and defensive spells, avoiding getting overly attached to one element.
Weapon and Armor Bonding (metal type magic): the use of metal magic to transform their equipment over time as a magical connection with their gear increases, making it overall better while used by the mage.
Shinobi or Stealth Mages
Shinobi or generically Stealth Mages utilize mage to aid in staying undetected from natural and magical means, blending in among enemies, setting ambushes, and gathering information. Shinobi use a variety of magic, some offensive, self enhancement, and stealth magic mainly.
Trap Magical Conduits: Shinobi have developed techniques required to use magic through specially made mage conduit traps which allow for delayed spell use.
Onmyoji or Religious Mages
Onmyoji or more generically religious mages are the oldest tradition of human mages, being the most focused on magic itself. Onmyoji are focused on ensuring humans are safe from the supernatural forces in the world: Yokai, Kami, and even Magic. Of the major traditions, Onmyoji have the most broad focus, allowed by the fact they fully focus on learning magic. Whereas Samurai, Shinobi, and even Yokai are learning magic and non magic skills. This has allowed them to be numerous while powerful, but if they focus on anything its priest magic, with its focus on neutralizing the dangerous effects of magic and Yokai.
In many places Onmyoji are an organized force, either in clans or a centralized bureaucracy which manages a nation's magic, Yokai, and kami. Although typically all clergy have studied some of the Onmyoji tradition. Onmyoji tradition dates back to the Izumo Empire, and so are more widespread, but are usually known in different regions by different names.
Zaibatsu or Industry Mages
Zaibatsu or generically Industry mages came from the expansion of mages outside of the old mage clans and families. The Zaibatsu focused on using their magic to create goods, and make money. Zaibatsu mages almost entirely focus on magic related to their singular profession: smiths, craftsmen, artisans, etc. With Zaibatsu at most having one combat spell for self defense against non mages.
Mages by Social Class
Even among the same magic traditions, mages do not necessarily fall into the same social class, and vary a great deal in status, prestige, wealth, and political power.
Old Mages: High-ranked magic, noble/clergy clans
Old Mages refers to clans or houses which can trace their lineage back to the days of the Izumo Empire. They typically are considered the upper nobility and clergy of most countries, as most royal and imperial clans. The old mages have a natural advantage, with generations of bloodline making their magic naturally easier and more powerful.
Although they are ancient and proud, old mages are generally resentful towards the expansion of numbers of mages. Some have adapted well, embracing and employing new mages, and taking their own magic to become the highest ranked. While others have attempted to politically restrict new mages from achieving any real power, and may have also let their abilities go from political luxuries.
New Mages: Mid-ranked magic, Burgher, Samurai, Shinobi clans
New Mages are those who’ve emerged mainly since Izumo’s fall. Because of the Kyofu Plague and Nomadic invasion which killed the bulk of mages, they were able to fill the gaps from the old mages dying in mass. In addition the expansion of magic, meant society generally required more mages in all areas, allowing for quick promotion from Clanless mage to clan based mages.
New Mages generally form the majority of the burgher class, as well as the majority of troops and sailors in most militaries. The highest of them are local clergy and minor nobles.
Clanless Mages: Commoners
The Starting point at some point for all mages, Clanless mages refer to those without any connection or tradition to call upon. They are entirely starting from scratch, whose magic is usually fairly weak, but service is required by the ever expanding magic sector. Usually considered lower class or base by other mages, clanless mages are greatly looked down upon, and typically attempt to join an existing clan or house by employment or marriage.
How clanless mages gain access to a bloodline magic, varies greatly, and is poorly understood due a lack of interest. The easiest method is to birth a hybrid Yokai-Human, who passes on their magic. More legendary are children of Kami and Humans, but are usually considered no longer possible. Many clanless may have unknown mage ancestry, many mage clans and houses disbanded during the plague and wars, and lost knowledge of their magic. Unverified methods, and peasant theories believe the Kami choose new mages, while others hold that those exposed to Enrai can actually develop magic if they don’t die. The Mage authorities generally dismiss both.
Tribal Mages: Shamans, Local Chiefs, and Yokai mages.
Tribal Mages typically refer to magic lineages which fall out of the definition of a clan or house, and general established order among mages.
Public Perception of Magic
The general public's idea of magic changes greatly depending on location. Most have a healthy fear and respect for it, with many non-mages relying on magic’s protection from Enrai Corruption and Yokai. More recently radicals have called to make magic the state controlled, or to ban it outright to abolish the power discrepancy.
Type
Metaphysical, Arcane
Brief Timeline of Magic
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