Arcane Magic
"Arcane magic is our mortal brains trying to rationalize the most esoteric dimension of reality. You interact with space and time by virtue of existence; the lunar-arcane takes a bit more effort."
Of the Quadrilunarum, arcane magic is the most deeply mortal. It is, in many ways, a mortal science; there are formulas and institutions, and there are many intellectuals who dedicate their entire lives to furthering the art of mortal spellcraft. Arcane magic grasps at the lunar-arcane and constrains it within mortal understanding.
The Foundation of the Arcane: Intellect and Willpower
Unlike the other three Magics of the Quadrilunarum, arcane magic requires nothing other than one's own intellect (study, memory, and understanding) and willpower (physical and mental resilience to guide the lunar-arcane). There are no blessings, no chaos, and no pacts. Arcane magic is gained, furthered, and limited by one's own strength or weakness.How Arcane Magic is Gained and Mastered
Legends are many that tell of how much more abundant magic was Pre-Reckoning, and whether or not those are true, the fact of the matter is that anyone can perform arcane magic Post-Reckoning; however, it requires an extraordinary amount of effort (or luck), so much so that most people go their entire lives without casting the smallest spell. Among those who do learn arcane magic, there are two routes: study (the vast majority) or luck (the vast minority). For most, arcane magic is like any other science: they study it, they practice it, and then they master it and do their own research. This is the realm of the countless arcane institutes and universities across Emaxus and greater Yophas. These mages and wizards study spelltomes, practice spells, and memorize arcane components and formulae. Through this, they learn how to draw the lunar-arcane forth and create the conditions for spellwork; then, they need only the mental will and physical endurance to spark the magic and let the spell fly.Arcane Spellcraft
Because arcane magic is mortal magic (and akin to a mortal science), arcane spells are formulaic; they are theorized, practiced, and then shared. Arcane spells can be invented and codified. The art of arcane spellcraft is a dangerous one, as tampering with new components (or new combinations of components) can create spells with unexpected and dangerous effects, or that require a far bigger spark than the caster anticipates. For this reason, one should typically practice and/or master spells of a similar effect and class to the hypothetical spell they wish to create. Thus, spell invention is typically relegated to archmages and master arcanists, either in code or in practice.Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
I'm curious. Are spell intrinsic to the world i.e. the spell for fire is universal, or is it based on creation by an individual and then passed on to others?
Arcane spells are invented and shared; the other types of magic function differently. I'll clarify that in the article!