On The Nature Of Magic: Part 2
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Title: On the Nature of Magic: Part 2
Author: Selayna Silverleaf
6. On the True Nature of Magic
The Nature of Magic is both far simpler and more complex then traditional magic theory asserts. The truth is that magic is the essence of he universe, the motive force if you will, for all action and things.
7. How magic functions
For magic to work it must have three things: A concept, a guiding will, and sufficient power to counter whatever resistance exists to the concept. For example, the traditional spell An Nox (Cure) meets these criteria as follows: The guiding concept is traditional magic theory, the guiding will is that of the mage, and the power is obtained form the reagents that are expended to cast the spell.
Creature magic also meets these criteria. it follows the concept of the spell the creature wishes to cast. I.e. if the creature wishes to cast Vas Flam (fireball), they are using the same basic concept to from the spell that a human mage would use. The creature of course provides the guiding will. The energy is derived both from the creature's connection to the mana that abounds in Sosaria, but also in part by humanity's belief in the creature's power. No doubt, the first creature to cast such a spell had a difficult time doing so, but it succeeded and in time was able to draw energy from humanity's belief in it's power.
Magic items also follow these three criteria. For a magic item, the guiding concept is an object of power as conceptualized by many people (who has not met a warrior who dreamed of a mighty magical blade) In the case of most items, the guiding will is that of humanity as a whole, and it's belief in and desire for objects of power. The power, of course, is provided by belief.
8. The Laws of Magic.
8.1. Magic must be conceptualized. That is to say, that the effect must be clearly imagined.
8.2. There must be a guiding will for the magical effect, be it from a single mage, or the collective will of an entire race.
8.3. There must be sufficient power to generate the effect.
8.4. The more often a given magical effect is caused to manifest, the easier that effect will be to manifest in the future. This is due primarily to a breaking down of the resistance to the effect and then, later, to it's use of belief to power it. It also seems that a given effect will become easier to perform (although to a far lesser degree) even if belief in and resistance to the effect remain constant. I surmise that this is caused by the effect "wearing a pathway" through reality in which it is able to happen more efficiently.
9. In Closing
This book was written as a summary of the conclusions I reached from the study of twenty centuries of meticlous inquiry into the subject of magic theory.
Sincerely,
Lady Selayna Silverleaf, Founder of the Sisterhood.