Excerpt from “Wizardry: A Guide to Magical Realms” Prologue, by Professor Maureen Hanlen

Excerpt from “Wizardry: A Guide to Magical Realms” Prologue, by Professor Maureen HanlenAt first, I did not believe it when the messenger said that Anerassi of Thorenald had requested my aid in writing one of her books, but I suppose the study of magic is not her forte, after all. As with many people in the world, most simply aren’t born with the potential to learn magic. Manipulating reality is a gift one must be born with and cannot be taught, only nurtured and developed. Genetics do not seem to play a part, as two gifted individuals are not guaranteed to produce a gifted offspring. Similarly, two ungifted individuals may produce a gifted child. Species, however, does seem to play a part, though no one, currently, seems to know why this is. We Ploverlor have the highest birth rate of magically gifted children, meanwhile, Lohrkes have one of the lowest. Hat'kal appear to be unable to produce gifted offspring, but that may also be due to their inability to speak the verbal components of magic.To begin, I suppose, it would be best to start with the basics. Primarily, the schools of magic, as they are known to us scholars. There are two commonly acknowledged schools of magic covering a broad spectrum of subtypes which we will go into more depth later in this book. The first school is known as Elementalism. Elementalism uses ancient techniques, pioneered by an ancient civilization, thought to have belonged to a race of gods. These enigmatic beings were able to use these techniques, a combination of verbal components and hand gestures, to bend the elements, the4 very fabric of reality, to their will. Many magic universities, such as the one in which I am employed, have been studying these techniques, recovered from ancient texts and reliefs, to better understand their nature, and even develop new ways to use them, such as a recent discover of, what is now known as “Spatial” magic, or the ability to manipulate the space between objects. I will expand more on the varying known types of Elementalism later in this book.The second school of magic is known as Transmogrification, or “Body Alteration.” This school has a staggeringly wide array of applications and will probably require multiple chapters to cover in detail. The basic principals involve a practitioner alters their own body to take on properties of another creature or object. One example of this could be a Transmog mimicing the abilities of a deadly Pearl Toad to crystalize their saliva into a highly venomous barbed coating. Some scholars in the greater magic universities are even, purportedly, trying to develop a means to combine Transmogrification and Elementalism. As of the writing of this book, their experiments have only met with disastrous results.While not magic, per say, I feel it necessary to mention the Lohrkes and their “Technomancy.” Technological devices that manage to emulate the effects of magic. It’s o wonder, their their low rate of gifted births, that they would seek alternate means of simulating magic’s effects. Anyone with a functional appendage could now wield the power to control lightning with the press of a switch, for instance. Absurd, if you ask me. As if any simple device could properly capture the subtle nuances and sophisticated arts of real magic. It’s a little sad, really.Finally, while I, personally, do not believe in its existence, or at least, that it is any different than ordinary Elementalism or Transmogrification, the concept of “Divine” magic is hotly contested. There are those out there who would believe that, through strong enough faith, that they can invoke the will of their “gods.” These claims are based on legends of saints performing miracles in ancient times. If this were the case, then why would the gods have bothered to gift us with magic in the first place, if any heretical priest of monk could just call down the divine wrath of their false idols? Preposterous!If you enjoyed this read, please consider supporting my patreon. The next Anerassi’s Journal topic will be up for vote soon. https://www.patreon.com/Queblock -- source link

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