Magic

Magic is a force of nature that allows some beings to do things beyond the scope of the natural world. All living things have some magic within them, the magic of the Titan Ayana who brought them life. However, there are few who can actually control magic and do things with it. Those with any amount of magical power who can actually perform spells are known as mages. Any magic in a force greater than a simple lifeforce is gifted to mortals through the Mogdi at the behest of the Gods and the Titans. Magic is granted seemingly at random, no scholars have figured out the reason why some people are gifted and some are not. Some claim there is a philosophical need for those individuals to control magic, others deny that case.

Magic's Use
The amount of magic that can be channeled by one individual is defined by his mana. Mana is his magical force, his potential to do magic. As a mage performs a spell, mana is depleted. When mana is exhausted completely, the mage can then dangerously use his own lifeforce. Such a drain at best makes the mage tired and at worst takes him into cardiac arrest and kills him, or puts him into a lengthy, sometimes (though rarely) endless coma. Mana is replenished through rest. Another mark of a strong mage is one who not only has a large pool of mana but can also replenish relatively quickly. A mage can augment his mana pool with few spells, though such spells are difficult and non-mages can gain mana through very difficult and dangerous spells as well, though a non mage will never reach the potential of a mage who had the power from birth. The  Hand of Seinac is an organization that performs such a ritual so their paladins can track down and destroy warlocks and other evil mages (though often with excessive zeal.)

Magic is controlled by giving it commands through spells and rituals and channeling its energies as needed. The more powerful the spell, the harder and more complex the ritual. Simple spells are a matter of word and will and difficult spells may require mystical rites, reagents and perhaps even other mages. Magic is a dangerous force. Anyone with the slightest bit of magic, including non-mages, must at some point release magical energy. Non mages do this by the occasional shudder or twitch and that generally goes unnoticed. Mages however are far more dangerous. Such energy can be channeled safely, but it requires education. For this reason the School of Arcanites takes young children, generally at an infant age, and trains them to control their magic. Once they reach the age of ten, these children are either released back to their parents or accepted as students. If magic is not controlled, a mage could inadvertantly cause damage and death to those around him. Parents are given the right to refuse to consent, but few who understand the risks of uncontrolled magic will refuse. The  Paerian elves typically have sorcerers in their own home villages and it is those sorcerers who typically train Paerian mages though a few do attend the School of the Arcanites.

The Schools of Magic
Magic is broken down into several schools:

The first four schools are Elemental Magic. Spirit is a separate form of magic that works with the lifespirit of a living being, sentient or non. Spirit is often used for healing or for mentalism.
 * Earth - the magics of stability, strength, defense.
 * Fire - the magics of power, instability, consumption.
 * Air - the magics of change, speed and chaos.
 * Water - the magic of current, flow and pressure
 * Spirit - the magic of life, mind and body

Limitations:
Impossibilities:
 * Time Travel. With the exception of rare prophecy forecasting, time travel is not possible.
 * Creation or destruction of matter. Like in physics, matter can neither be created, nor destroyed. Same goes for energy.
 * Life. Life cannot be created from non-life. Life can only be revived in the dead. New life cannot be created. However, modified "life" or undeath can be created from other preexisting life forms (for example, the Khad'jira are a form of undeath created by plague victims)
 * Resurrection of the Dead. Technically, if the spirit still remains in the Spiritual Realm, this can be done with a very difficult spell. However, once passed on to the Hereafter, the dead cannot be brought back.
 * Love. True love can only be simulated, not created through magic (mentalism.) The victim may think she's in love, but it is an illusion, not reality.

Terms and Definitions
There are several terms for magic users:


 * Sorcerer/Sorceress is synonymous to mage and generally used by Paerian elves
 * Warlock refers to any mage who dabbles in demonic magics
 * Witch refers to any female mage who worships Septu'xia
 * Wizard is also synonymous to mage but generally refers to hedge wizards and hermits
 * Crone is a term for an old woman who uses spiritual magic and potions and lives like a hermit (similar to hedge wizard)
 * Necromancer is any mage using necromancy
 * Pyromancer, Aeromancer, Hydromancer and Geomancer are those who perform elemental magics (fire, air, water, earth respectively)
 * Arcanite: Any mage that graduated from the Society of the Arcanites and joined them.

Spells

 * Fia tania - a simple fire spell that lights a target on fire.  Used to test potential Arcanite students.  They have one minute to use it to light fifty candles.  An easy task, even for children, if they have enough magic potential.