Discipline of Wizardry

When the common man thinks of magi it is the powers of the wizard that come to mind. Flashy and obvious, the magic utilized by wizards is external to himself and others and is therefore easy to see and comprehend, even if it isn't easy to do. Many myths about magi also come from small facts about wizards gleaned by common folk, and these misconceptions can be as dangerous to magi as to those who hold those misconceptions.

Powers of Wizards

Wizards are able to direct and focus energies quickly and powerfully. With practice they become able to utilize more energy, do more complex things, and impinge their will upon things at greater distances. Eventually wizards can set up magical resonances in such a way as to actually delay the onset of their magic, allowing for myriad options and alterations to their all ready formidable powers.

While magical bolts and columns of fire seem to epitomize the wizard they are also able to create gusts of wind, stunning shockwaves, and telekinetic effects. The hallmark of the wizard is that his magic is instantaneous -- once it begins it is essentially all ready over. It is true that some effects can be prolonged, but this is not the lengthy effect of a spell, but rather continued concentration and effort in a continuous and renewed resonance, something that is very draining to a wizard.

Effects of Practicing Wizardry

Wizards are able to utilize greater energies than other magi by keeping their contact with those great energies slight. Keeping the duration of contact short and utilizing most of the magic in a way external to the wizard allows them to do so without being anihilated by their own magic, but it also means that the wizard has less ability to shape and interact with his magic before it takes effect. This 'external magic' allows the magic to resonate with other external things, most notably of which is refined metal, although the years have shown that other items can occasionally show such resonances as well, depending upon their nature and the nature of the magic being utilized. Because of this wizards abhor metal, and must be sure to distance themselves from it. The greater the effect their wish to utilize the farther they must be from concentrations of metal, lest they create a dangerous and deadly backlash.

Although wizards go to great lengths to shape their magic outside of their own bodies, minds, and beings, there is inevitably some flow which is channeled through themselves, or they would fail completely. The massive flows of power slowly take their toal on the wizard, the price that they must pay for their power. The magic scours the mind of the mage, unfettering his emotions and slowly removing caution from his mind. His body is also affected, slowly becoming anemic as it too abhors the metals which are the bane of wizardry. As such experienced wizards have learned to eat large portions of red meat. What effect the magic has upon the soul, if any, has been debated endlessly, but never resolved.

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