Relic Arts

Overview

The Relic Arts are the result of Caydon Rel's ascension to divinity and his manipulation of Marus' natural laws. As the God of Magic, he molded Glow, Primal, and Faith into a solitary force bound by the Veils he wove around each sophontic soul in his Realm. He gave birth to an egalitarian system of magic centered around a Gifted's use and growth of their Veil through diligent practice and the absorption of potent magical energies found within the Natural Treasures of the Realm of Seas. The Lord of Magic watches over all Paths to Power from his cathedral-academy in the Tempus Sea, where his priests spread his word to the people of Marus. He has but one demand for all those who inhabit his Realm: Improve Yourself. A Sophont who develops their magical abilities on Marus, or a Gifted as they are better known, will begin their advancement as a lowly Copper by consuming the power within their first Natural Treasure. They will gain the ability to manipulate its element and influence the subtle concepts it touches upon. Only by forging their Veil through adversity and absorbing their second and third Natural Treasures will they advance to Tin and Bronze respectively. Their fully-developed Veil will have completed its growth and matured like fine wine as they amassed their power to the cusp of advancing to Iron. The Realm's oldest and most powerful practitioners fuel coveted Relics with their potent Veils as they seek the ever-advancing heights of Steel and Gold on their Paths to Power.

Copper

The weakest of the Gifted sit at the start of their Paths to Power, brimming with untapped potential and paralyzed by overwhelming opportunities.

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When using magic, their blood glows with a deep reddish-orange light.

Tin

The most numerous of the Gifted, many of these individuals struggle to expand their Paths to Power beyond this transformative growth period.

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When using magic, their blood glows with a soft silvery-blue light.

Bronze

These well-established Gifted have developed the foundation of Path to Power and now look to new sources of untapped power to advance.

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When using magic, their blood glows with a vivid yellowish-brown light.

Iron

These Gifted have joined the ranks of the truly powerful on Marus with seemingly bottomless fonts of power obtained through their first Relic.

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When using magic, their blood glows with a bright greyish-iron light.

Steel

These Gifted have gained deep insight into Marus' fundamental forces and developed unwavering control over their magic through their second Relic.

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When using magic, their blood glows with a gleaming silvery-steel light

Gold

The oldest and greatest of the Gifted, whose peerless skills and the absorption of a third Relic have allowed them to become one with the magic of Marus itself.

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When using magic, their blood glows with a resplendent yellow-white light.

Blessed Saint & Wise Sages

Among the Gifted, there are true prodigies who develop their abilities far beyond the capability of their peers. These practitioners delve deeply into a singular aspect of their Path to Power and reach towards the pinnacle through intense specialization, careful selection of Natural Treasures, and a deep understanding of their Path. Through the procurement of their first Relic, they attain heights of power usually only dreamed of by Steels and Golds.

There is 1 secret on this page.

General Information

Realm

Marus

Type

Metaphysical

The Gifted...

Practitioners of the Relic Arts are known as the Gifted. They possess a Veil and have begun to absorb the pure energy held within a Natural Treasure, understanding and exploring the fathomless potential of even just that single Primal Element to better fuel their magic. A Gifted's blood and their Veil will develop a series of magical qualities as they advance that denote their relative rank in power.

...And Their Veils

Veils are a metaphysical aura that grows around every Sophontic Soul on Marus. From birth to adulthood, Veils must develop and mature until their Sophonts become capable of consciously controlling it and absorbing the pure magic of Natural Treasures into themselves. These magical forces shape and influence each Veil's innate properties, creating a unique and recognizable fingerprint.

Natural Treasures...

Marus' true treasures lie in its abundant, naturally-produced objects infused with potent magical energies. They are prized by all living creatures in the Realm of Seas as vital components of the natural ecosystem, the catalyst of Gifted advancement, and the essential power source of the great magical constructs that aid and protect their cities.

...And Their Relics

These artifacts of a bygone age now serve as the greatest tools of Marus' most powerful Gifted. The origins of these metallic objects are shrouded in mystery, and each responds uniquely to each Veil and its Path to Power. They are vital to attaining higher-tiered advancement and inflict permanent changes in exchange for their vast magical benefits.

Saints

These Ironed Gifted have embodied and nurtured a deep connection to a Divine Domain, walking a Path to Power of devotion and miracles as they develop their abilities to become a Saint. These dedicated acolytes walk in the footsteps of divinity and often serve a patron who guides their future advancement.

When using magic, their blood glows with a vibrant hue denoting their patron or chosen Domain.

Sages

These Ironed Gifted have cultivated and fostered a deep connection to an Elemental Concept, walking a Path to Power of extreme specialization to develop their abilities into those of a Sage. They are unparalleled savants with a deep understanding of the world and how their unique magic may influence it.

When using magic, their blood glows with a pure light denoting their element or chosen Concept.

Becoming a Sage is required to know this secret.

The Workings & Techniques of Magic

All magical acts performed by a Gifted are commonly referred to on Marus as Workings. When a Gifted wishes to wield their magic, they first consciously and willfully weave their Veil towards its purpose and fashion it with concise intent. Through standard Techniques, a Gifted draws upon the Primal Elements around them, cycles them through their manipulated Veil, and projects their subservient forces into the world to make their imagination a reality.

Surger Technique

One of the first fundamental techniques a Gifted will ever learn is to manipulate their Veil to empower their own body or something they hold. This school of Technique is built around projecting one's power inward with specific intent.

Example Workings
Mage Armor, Flaming Fists, Empowered Healing

Striker Technique

A foundational technique in which a Gifted manipulates their Veil to strike at a distant target or otherwise project their power elsewhere. This school of Technique is built around projecting one's power outward with directed purpose.

Example Workings
Firebolt, Acid Splash, Eldritch Blast

Maker Technique

These more advanced techniques develop as a natural progression of projecting one's power outward, in which a Gifted manipulates their Veil to create stable, physical manifestations. This school of Technique is built around projecting power that persists independently of its creator.

Example Workings
Wall Spells, Conjured Objects, Servant Creation

Ruler Technique

These complex and advanced techniques are often not practiced adequately until Iron, wherein a Gifted manipulates their Veil to actively control the ambient magic in an area, suppressing Veils or creating large-scale effects. This school of Technique is built around claiming dominion over your surroundings.

Example Workings
Darkness, Antimagic Field, Fear, AOE Abilities

Comments

Author's Notes

This was probably the hardest of all the Marus articles to write. How to explain the intricacies of a magic system without making it overly detailed or complex. I took heavy inspiration from the xianxia genre of fantasy novels, notably books like the Cradle and Primal Hunter series. I wanted to focus on a system of magic with two clear levels of play. Most gifted will only ever see the ranks below iron, but all Sophonts on Marus will one day attain some rank as a Gifted. Magic goes hand-in-hand with living life on Marus with its most powerful practitioners vital to maintaining the divide between civilization and the magical wilds.

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