Post by James on Jul 18, 2014 22:17:19 GMT
So apparently, I need to make a public service announcement for people. What? Who am I? My name is James Kensington, Commander of the Wardens, member of the Alliance of Swords and serving a community service sentence by teaching part time at the recently reopened Akashibai Academy. I've been practicing magic longer than you've been alive, and one of the foremost leaders in the fields of magical theory, application, and spellbreaking. You cast it, I destroy it.
Anyways, on to the lecture. Take notes people, there will be a test on this. I think. I don't really know how they run things around here.
Magic is one of the fundamental forces of nature. It exists in each and every being and helps give force to life itself. There's a lot of theories about where it comes from and why it exists, but that's hardly germane to this discussion. You ask twenty different people about what it is, you'll get twenty different answers. Chakra, Chi, Mojo, Juju, The Force, I've heard damn near all of them. With varying degrees of power and precision, many people throughout this world can control magic, and manifest it to alter the world to do what they're after.
Now, pay attention, this bit is important. Magic is all about belief on a fundamental level. Belief in God, Yahweh, your own ability, whatever. You can't use magic to do something you don't believe in. In order for your magic to work, you need to believe that it's going to work.
Second important bit. Magic comes from inside yourself. Whenever you cast a spell, you're throwing out a bit of your own power with it. Yes, yes, it comes back, stop panicking. A good nights rest will do it. Now, as you're casting your magic around, it is going to wear you out. It's going to make you more and more tired, and more often than not, your first time hitting your limit is going to knock you out cold for a couple hours. Don't worry about it, it happens to pretty much everyone.
Now, this means it is possible to kill yourself with your magic, though your innate safety mechanisms will most likely knock you out before this can happen, but not always, so don't rely on it. Unless you're in a life or death scenario, don't push yourself too hard.
Ok, everyone still with me so far? No? Your eyes look glazed over. Go take a ten minute recess or something. Whatever students do for ten minutes. Use protection.
*Ten minutes later*
Everyone back? Good. Sit down, shut up, and let's get this over with.
Everyone is going to have different specialties when it comes to magic. Some people are going to be more gifted at evocation, quick and dirty combat magic, whereas others are going to be more adept at enchanting, the art of laying down spellwork that lasts anywhere from hours to centuries. When doing magic you aren't all that talented it, it's going to wear you out faster than if you use magic you're more experienced with.
There are various ways of increasing the amount of magic you can cast before running out too. Getting yourself a metaphysical 'workout' helps. It helps expand your limits, deepening the reserves you can draw upon. The precision, concentration and practice you have for a spell works as well. The amount of energy you call up also affects it, naturally so. Depending on the element you call up, you can invest extra energy to control or maintain the spell as well, but it'll wear you out faster too. Summoning a gout of flame fifteen feet wide at it's farthest is going to cost more energy then a thin beam that does the same job. It's a matter of control and focus, and if you're going to be wielding the primal forces of creation, you should certainly have that.
Ah yes, one last thing. Pick a second language to cast in. Doesn't matter if you make up words on the fly, or use an archaic dead language, like Latin, or a living language like French or Italian. Use something other than your native language. This provides a barrier between your mind and the raw power of magic itself, preventing you from burning yourself with feedback or overflow on the magic.
That's it. Pencils down. No more note taking. Any follow up questions, ask James or Vivianne for further clarification.
Quick recap for you:
Pretty much anything can be done with magic and imagination
Magic wears you out as you cast, drawing upon your own reserves to do so
Everyone has different specialties
Believe in your abilities
Practice and Discipline matter
Insulate yourself with a second language
Further lectures may be needed. I shall reconsider and post any relevant information regarding them in the main hall for you to find. Now scurry off somewhere else, there's a Rakshasha running loose over in Europe and I have to go take care of it.
Anyways, on to the lecture. Take notes people, there will be a test on this. I think. I don't really know how they run things around here.
Magic is one of the fundamental forces of nature. It exists in each and every being and helps give force to life itself. There's a lot of theories about where it comes from and why it exists, but that's hardly germane to this discussion. You ask twenty different people about what it is, you'll get twenty different answers. Chakra, Chi, Mojo, Juju, The Force, I've heard damn near all of them. With varying degrees of power and precision, many people throughout this world can control magic, and manifest it to alter the world to do what they're after.
Now, pay attention, this bit is important. Magic is all about belief on a fundamental level. Belief in God, Yahweh, your own ability, whatever. You can't use magic to do something you don't believe in. In order for your magic to work, you need to believe that it's going to work.
Second important bit. Magic comes from inside yourself. Whenever you cast a spell, you're throwing out a bit of your own power with it. Yes, yes, it comes back, stop panicking. A good nights rest will do it. Now, as you're casting your magic around, it is going to wear you out. It's going to make you more and more tired, and more often than not, your first time hitting your limit is going to knock you out cold for a couple hours. Don't worry about it, it happens to pretty much everyone.
Now, this means it is possible to kill yourself with your magic, though your innate safety mechanisms will most likely knock you out before this can happen, but not always, so don't rely on it. Unless you're in a life or death scenario, don't push yourself too hard.
Ok, everyone still with me so far? No? Your eyes look glazed over. Go take a ten minute recess or something. Whatever students do for ten minutes. Use protection.
*Ten minutes later*
Everyone back? Good. Sit down, shut up, and let's get this over with.
Everyone is going to have different specialties when it comes to magic. Some people are going to be more gifted at evocation, quick and dirty combat magic, whereas others are going to be more adept at enchanting, the art of laying down spellwork that lasts anywhere from hours to centuries. When doing magic you aren't all that talented it, it's going to wear you out faster than if you use magic you're more experienced with.
There are various ways of increasing the amount of magic you can cast before running out too. Getting yourself a metaphysical 'workout' helps. It helps expand your limits, deepening the reserves you can draw upon. The precision, concentration and practice you have for a spell works as well. The amount of energy you call up also affects it, naturally so. Depending on the element you call up, you can invest extra energy to control or maintain the spell as well, but it'll wear you out faster too. Summoning a gout of flame fifteen feet wide at it's farthest is going to cost more energy then a thin beam that does the same job. It's a matter of control and focus, and if you're going to be wielding the primal forces of creation, you should certainly have that.
Ah yes, one last thing. Pick a second language to cast in. Doesn't matter if you make up words on the fly, or use an archaic dead language, like Latin, or a living language like French or Italian. Use something other than your native language. This provides a barrier between your mind and the raw power of magic itself, preventing you from burning yourself with feedback or overflow on the magic.
That's it. Pencils down. No more note taking. Any follow up questions, ask James or Vivianne for further clarification.
Quick recap for you:
Pretty much anything can be done with magic and imagination
Magic wears you out as you cast, drawing upon your own reserves to do so
Everyone has different specialties
Believe in your abilities
Practice and Discipline matter
Insulate yourself with a second language
Further lectures may be needed. I shall reconsider and post any relevant information regarding them in the main hall for you to find. Now scurry off somewhere else, there's a Rakshasha running loose over in Europe and I have to go take care of it.