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Personally, I would at least have given it the limitation that the objects are still bound by their physical natures, because if you can literally make objects teleport, is there anything you can’t do?
That’s what I was thinking. But the stuff definitely moved wherever he wanted, and it wasn’t clarified whether or not he was creating things out of thin air. Some of the things seemed specifically designed by him when they manifested. At one point he emptied an entire room of dirty grime with a snap of a finger. That might be the creation and destruction of matter, on top of the Commanding. For all I know, anyway.
An easy justification for why he couldn’t tell the villain to stop would be, ‘with enough willpower you can resist,’ but I’m guessing that wasn’t ever mentioned?
Not mentioned. See, I really liked the first half of the book, the characters were super fun. I’m just so confused with the magic. ?
First, to understand it, you need a quick crash course in my universe’s rules.
*Dives in*
psychological aspect (the brain), the mental aspect (the mind)
What is the difference between the brain and the mind’s aspects?
because that can have disturbing implications (think dementors)
Ah, the dementors. Definitely cool, definitely creepy.
So basically the spiritual aspect is the glue which holds the soul to the physical world?
Soulforgings slowly develop sentience (to a varying degree depending on how much of a person’s spiritual aspect is inside of them.) Their personality will be influenced by their creator’s as well as their Command. The longer they’ve existed, however, the more free will a Soulforging develops, giving it greater ability to ignore its Command (though this remains difficult.)
They can eventually develop a separate sentience. Interesting. This is where the talking swords come in.
However, overuse of their abilities can put too much strain on the bond between Shadewalker and Wraith, resulting in the Shadewalker being pulled from their body and becoming a Wraith themselves while the Wraith is pulled all the way into the physical realm (though with no true body, they fade away again quickly.)
So they are constantly pulling closer to each other’s realms while bonded. I can see a sad story where somebody bonds to the Wraith of a friend.
I am out of signature ideas
I talked with my dad about it a bit ago and he helped me fill in some holes, so now I’m a lot happier with the whole system now.
Yay, good! Parents are often helpful with this sort of thing. Just because they don’t know much about the system anyway and they can think out of the box.
YOU TWO SWITCHED NAMES AHHHHHH!!!! I kinda like it, it’s funny. lol
We have become a plural entity. We thank you for your approval. *Swirls skirt* *Bows* *Poofs away*
I am out of signature ideas
What is the difference between the brain and the mind’s aspects?
That distinction is fuzzy in universe, intentionally, because I think it’s also fuzzy in real life. The best distinction I can give is that the brain is purely physical (which makes the distinction between physical and psychological aspect a bit fuzzy as well), while the mind is not. In real life, we sort of distinguish between the brain and mind, but we can’t really say what the mind is, because it’s not something we can study scientifically. The five aspects are sort of a gradient, so there’s a bit of fuzziness and overlap between each of them.
So basically the spiritual aspect is the glue which holds the soul to the physical world?
Basically. It’s a bit more than glue, because it also has significant bearing on other aspects of the person. Damaging it can cause mental damage, and in extreme cases, even physical damage. Basically, anything intangible and related to magic is related to the spiritual aspect.
They can eventually develop a separate sentience. Interesting. This is where the talking swords come in.
Yes, although the talking swords are actually on a different planet, Adonial. I haven’t worked out the exact details, but ancient Adonial and Oldonar had some level of contact, and the swords were made using Soulforging as well as a native Adonian magic system.
So they are constantly pulling closer to each other’s realms while bonded.
More like when actively using their abilities. Given time, the strain lessens. You just have to be careful.
A cool plot element I had for this was that some kingdom might keep a huge emergency vault of Wraiths, which someone could bond and become a crazy powerful one-man army but get Wraithed in the process.
? Fantasy Writer
✨ Magic System Creator
? Character RPer
? Appreciator of BooksIt would be really heart-wrenching if the villain killed one of the main character’s friends and sapped them of their power.
*cackles* Or one of the main characters.
Maybe the elemental people have really cool appearances to indicate their element.
At least the main character ones kind of do, which is making it really hard to find reference pictures for their aesthetics.
Vyette, earth elemental: Medium brown skin, green eyes, black hair with green streaks.
Iolyn, fire elemental: Bright gold hair and eyes, rosy cheeks
Ryla, water elemental: Pale, with blue eyes and hair
Celerant, air elemental: White hair, pale skin, grey-blue eyes
Jorin, darkness elemental: Black hair, amber eyes
Ardon, possibly an electricity elemental, possibly a prophet, probably both: Bright purple eyes, black hair
?For our Blessed Lady's sake, bring us in good ale!?
YES YES YESSSSS
Mooooost of the time. Except when they’re in the desert. ? Or if they get freeze-dried and packaged. (That got dark…)
omcccc
Whaley you’re so funnyyy I love that *dies laughing* you’re a vibe XDDXD
Just imagine if a Pitt was born mute. That would be a really interesting character. I bet they would still feel an emotional connection to plants even if they can’t sing to them.
OMC THAT WOULD BE SO COOL!!!!!!!!!!!
I love that idea so much!!!!!
Ooh I like that.
Oh reallYYYY? I kinda thought it was cringe at first…thanks for the encouragement <3
*Gasps* Girl is at the bottom of the food chain, that’s no good.
yeahhhh….*cries*
#MakeNahimTakeABreak
(the real ones will know)In real life, we sort of distinguish between the brain and mind, but we can’t really say what the mind is, because it’s not something we can study scientifically.
Maybe the brain tethers the mind to real world senses, similar to how the spiritual aspect can keep the soul tethered to a place?
A cool plot element I had for this was that some kingdom might keep a huge emergency vault of Wraiths, which someone could bond and become a crazy powerful one-man army but get Wraithed in the process.
That’s cool. I don’t know how the kingdom would convince someone to bond with the Wraiths though. XD
*cackles* Or one of the main characters.
As long as it’s not the bubbliest, funniest character. That’s the worst. Although now you’re probably considering it…
Iolyn, fire elemental: Bright gold hair and eyes, rosy cheeks
Awww, cute name.
Whaley you’re so funnyyy I love that *dies laughing* you’re a vibe XDDXD
I love that idea so much!!!!!
Feel free to use it!! I don’t have Pitts in my story, so it only makes sense to use it in yours.
thanks for the encouragement <3
Ofc!
I am out of signature ideas
Ahhhh hahaha YOU’RE SO COOL
I WANNA BE LIKE WHALEY WHEN I GROW UPPPP
slayyyy
#MakeNahimTakeABreak
(the real ones will know)?✨?✨?✨?✨?✨?✨??✨?????????✨?✨??????✨?✨✨?✨?✨??????????✨??✨??✨?✨?✨?✨?✨??
(Thanks :])
I am out of signature ideas
First off, those two memes are painfully hilarious. XD Thank you for blessing this place with them. XD
Now.
That’s some cool concept imagery. ?
Yay! My quirky mental imagery has been deeply complemented. XD
I want them to be like the Silent Warriors in Aerethtrae, but more mystical. If that makes sense. XD Like Tolkien’s Valar or descriptions of angels without a traditional lense fogging the awe I felt when I read about them as a child.
But also not four faced cherubim either. ?
Hence the idea that they’re literally made of light, which I took from the verse saying “He maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.”
Which as a side note, makes them a sort of brethren with anyone with light in their blood.
How does the concept of ransom blood work? What are some of the other unbreakable laws (if you’ve thought them up yet)?
Um… It’s actually an old thought from the first idea revisited. I’m not sure, but it’s something like in Narnia when the Deep Magic says an innocent intercessor can save a traitor.
In my world, a traitor to life/light forfeits that and is bound to death/shadow. Any ransom must be paid in blood by one unbound and restoration must come from one who has authority to give back light.
Other laws are more simple, like scientific principles. Light always casts out darkness because darkness is literally the lack of light. So the power of the Faded comes from a sort of vacuum that sucks up and destroys. They can sway, steal, confuse, bind, afflict, and mortally wound if their influence is complete, but there’s not much else.
There also another “law” about signs of royalty like a woman’s uncut hair being a symbol of her “freeborn/lighted” status. (A concept reflecting Biblical principles of Godly submission/authority that I wanted to use for years, but thought it wouldn’t fit. Until I found out that long/short hair was a status symbol in Pagan England. Literally why medieval brides wore their hair down. It’ll be fun to explain to people. XD)
And I really need to figure a lot more out because it’s all still pretty vague.
Also hey, light and dark is a very universal metaphor, and if you add some of the literal uses of light/dark in the scientific world, that could make for a system which is on the high allegorical side, but concrete in some ways at the same time.
Oo, that’s a brilliant idea! I know it’s a pretty common metaphor – almost cliche- so I’ve been struggling to find ways to make it engaging.
You have listened to fears, child. Come, let me breathe on you... Are you brave again? -Aslan
I’m reawakening this topic because I’m putting together a list of magic system questions for myself. (Felt like updating my world bible.) They will be posted here when I’m done!
I am out of signature ideas
*waits in anticipation*
You have listened to fears, child. Come, let me breathe on you... Are you brave again? -Aslan
The amount of parentheses I used is criminal
Okay here we go! Change anything you want if you use this.
Magic System Questionaire
Basic Magic Information
Write a summary (in a couple sentences) for your magic system. How would you quickly summarize it for someone?
What terminology do you use within your system? (Invented words or not)
What can the magic do? Divorce this from complex costs or combat details. Just explain what its capabilities are.
What prompts the magic into action? Does it act on a user’s will, an abstract concept or emotion, or something else? Does it have a will of its own?
Why does the magic work? What is its source?
What can it not do? Does it have any natural restrictions based in science or inner logic? Why? (Limits don’t always need an explanation, but thinking about it helps.)
Is there a cost to magic (i.e. use of energy or resources)?
Can magic be enhanced, and if so, by what? (If done so with technology, see later section.)
Can magic be neutralized or defended against by something?
Magic Users
What is the basic, textbook relationship between magic and its user?
How is magic accessed? How does one become a magic user?
If the magic requires energy or resources, is this cost located within the user (emotional or mental strength, for example, or some power storage in the soul)?
Who can tap into it and why?
Are there any creatures, gods, monsters, etc. (beings different from those of the primary people group) that can use magic also? If so, do they use magic any differently?
How harnessable is magic? Are users only able to tap into a part of the magic? If so, what determines their power level?
How do users try to get around their limits?
Can one get stronger or better?
Is it exhaustible? What effect does exhausting their magic have on the wielder? Does using their magic have any effect on a person’s health?
Can the ability to do magic be lost? If so, how?
What do magic users do within the setting? Are they warriors, architects, hunters, doctors, priests, artists, thieves, leaders? Do they have a specific role?
How customizable is magic? In what ways has it been molded by individual creativity?
With all of these elements in mind – and if this is possible – how is magic used in combat?
Magic in Detail (Optional section)
If needed, make charts detailing how the power works, down to the exact costs and limits corresponding with abilities.
History of Magic
How did magic first come to be?
How did magic users first discover it?
What have users learned about magic? How much knowledge has been collected?
If that knowledge is passed from user to user over history, how?
Who are some important figures in the history of magic?
Has magic changed over history? (In use or essence)
How have users’ perspectives on magic changed over time?
What do users believe about it in the modern day? How close to correct are they? In what ways are they wrong?
Magic in Nature
Does magic act through the natural world? What is its relationship with animals, plants, geography, weather?
Is the natural world ultimately helped, hindered, or unaffected by magic?
Are there any natural or artificial conduits of magic?
If all users/conduits of magic in the natural world were eliminated, would magic still exist? Can it be removed in any way, or is it akin to math, a law of reality?
Magic in Society (These questions presuppose the magic is used within the society itself)
How has magic influenced culture? (Art, music, fashion, etc.) Perhaps there are cultural elements that rose out of magic?
How has the existence of magic shaped society’s ideals?
How much of this society utilizes magic? Does it belong to only a specific amount or group of people?
If so, what does the average Joe know and/or feel about magic/magic users? Are they considered champions or outcasts? And how do magic users feel about normal people? What is the relationship between magic and non-magic people?
How does the government/system of authority look at magic?
Are there laws in place to prevent the misuse of and/or control of magic?
Is there magical education?
If relevant, how has wartime – tactics, formations, defenses and siege warfare, etc. – adapted to magic?
Magic and Technology (If relevant)
How does magic affect technology? Does it stifle it (who needs it when you have magic?) or accelerate it (mapping natural phenomena for science, utilizing sources of energy, etc.)?
Can technology be a conduit for magic?
If so, does it better utilize the magic? Speed up the process? Amplify its reach? Invent a new use for magic entirely? What does it do to make magic better?
How does the technology work? Does it have an explanation a common person can pick up on, even if they aren’t a scientist? Or is it too hard to understand?
How much training does using/repairing/creating/improving this tech require?
How available is this tech for the common person? Is it something buyable at a shop, or will it take a person great pains to find it?
Aesthetic Details
Describe how magic is recognized by living things. Can it be detected through the senses?
Does it have an element of artistic appeal? If so, what?
What are some specific aesthetic choices you made to characterize the magic?
What do these aesthetics have to do with its nature?
Magic in Relation to Story
What are the characters’ relationships with the magic? Does it influence their character arcs?
How does the magic weave into the plot? What is its importance, and does its role change over the course of the story?
How does magic relate to the themes of your story? Does it represent anything, or is it a neutral force to be used for good or bad?
Why did you make this magic system in the first place? What about this original system appeals to you? How can you lean into that appeal in your story?
I am out of signature ideas
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