Disciplines of the Magi

Understanding magic is really such a trivial thing, far less than most people realize of it. The trick is that most beings are unable to reduce their mentality to such a fundamental level, to become so basic in their intellect as to finally understand a portion of the Wyrld itself and to shape is as one shapes one's own hand with the flexing of muscles.

-"Musings in Script", diary of Menthios, Chosen of Thule, 548 AB

To those not initiated into its ranks the practice and use of magical powers seems like the ability to transcend the Wyrld. This is not the case. Magic and its practice are fundamental to what the Wyrld is and how it functions. When one eats a cherry they throw away the stone, uninterested in it without realizing that the stone is fundamental. Without the stone at the center there would be no cherry around it. Such is also the common man's view of magic.

Studies by magi and metamagi have revealed many things over the years since humankind became an organized dominion capable of supporting enclaves that could delve into the arcane arts. Arcturus Maltigen wrote that "In their truest form magi are a sort of parasite, or perhaps a symbiont at best, that feeds upon the natural energies of the Wyrld that leak out through its skin" in 14 AK. Although this discovery came relatively easily further progress was halted for almost a century before another true breakthrough was made.

The paralysis in progress came because magi continued to attempt to understand these energies that come from the Wyrld, the energies that many consider to be the very essence and reality of magic itself. Because this emmanation is of the nature of the Wyrld, and not of the nature of intelligent persons, this attempt was doomed to failure. Eventually a magi named "Sclerus" who was deemed a failure by his comrades for his inability to even attempt to work with the stuff of magic made a huge discovery.

Belittled by his colleagues, Sclerus gave up hope of ever understanding the stuff of magic and yet knowing it was fundamental to the Wyrld decided to pursue its relation to the elements. Though he was scoffed at and ridiculed his studies led him down interesting paths until the failed magi was focused completely upon the interaction between the Wyrld as a whole and the fires that existed scattered about it.

Sclerus kept his studies secret as they began to yield more and more fruit and within a score of years it became impossible for him to hide his success any more. He had advanced far beyond any of his fellows and wielded powers that many had thought impossible until then. Magic was not an art that could harden or mend a plow and strengthen the curse of an evil eye, no indeed. The study of the arcane could yield drastic results, as demonstrated by the ability of the "failed" magi Sclerus to hurl enormous balls of fire into the sky, and melt metal and stone with his gaze. Sclerus became the first to specialize in one arena of abiliy and therefor the first to know what it is like to truly access the power of magic in the Wyrld.

As a child I was determined to be the greatest swordsman the Wyrld had ever seen, and to be so handsome that I was the desire of all the ladies of the court, though I myself held no courtly rank.

The first scar I earned in pursuit of my first quest ruined my chances of the second ever becoming true. It was the greatest lesson I ever learned. If one wishes to learn one thing, and learn it well it will come at the expense of other things, perhaps even all other things.

-"Beginning of the Welcoming Address", Charbidden Amuddies, Thulean Academy of Natural Talents, 581 AB to present.

Having learned that true power in magic comes through specialization the magi of the Wyrld accomplished and learned many things over the decades to come. Like all times of great growth and change there was much strife in this time, although it was strife that the common people were ignorant of for the most part. At first magi each studied areas that seemed of interest to them, but as the master and apprentice system became the norm specific Disciplines slowly became established.

When one begins the study of magic now the begin with tasks they are unlikely to realize are associated with magic in any way, but the tasks are at least as critical as the specific words of an incantation learned many years later. These tasks will begin the work of shaping the apprentices mind to a particular mindset, a way of viewing and understanding the Wyrld that is necessary for evoking a particular sphere of magic.

Wyrldscape is a free form play-by-post role playing game created for the enjoyment of interaction and creative writing. This compendium exists to aid those who would play in its infinite vaults. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use. All contents and information are © 2000-2003 Wyrldscape Consortium; all rights reserved.