Elements

In the world of Mereldia, magic is an everyday occurrence in the cities. For the wild folks, it is a quite rare sight and usually, is connected with demons or gods.
To be able to learn magic, it is required to visit special classes. Only members of the High Society or the more wealthy middle class can afford those classes, though. When being of level 20, the individual can take an entrance exam in a Magic Academy. There they will learn more advanced magic.

But before we come to the magic levels and tricks, let's at first talk about the different kinds of magic and what determines which kind your character has. Overall there are six different kinds:

Right from the birth, it is determined in which element your character is most talented in. Which kind it is both depends on heritage and personality. When someone is born, they usually have the talents of their parents as their possible talents. It depends on in which direction the personality unfolds, which of the elements will involve as a talent. It also is possible, that the talent lies in an element that did not appear in the family at all, just because someone's personality is a very good match with it.
The talent for an element does not mean that someone is restricted to use only one element, though. It just means that the element they are most talented in is the one they can evolve better and faster than all other elements. Every other element will probably never be as strong as the talent element. The only restrictions are the opposite elements, which cannot be used at all. But more about that later.
Sometimes it also happens that someone has no talent for an element at all. These people can't use strong magic and are usually bound to stay on beginner levels forever if they even get that far.

Water

It is one of the easiest elements to manipulate since it is safe to touch and bend in every way. When used correctly it can become a dangerous weapon, though. Water can be frozen and the bending of ice is quite dangerous. One wrong move and you have in icicle stuck in your throat. But also in its liquid form it can be a dangerous weapon, especially when a lot of it is around. Other than that, water is the element that gives the user the most freedom because every shape and form can be made with it and with that every mage can find an own individual form for their water. Water mages are also known to be the ones strongest connected to their element. Try to get them out of the water. It is HARD. Also, the more training a water mage gets the colder their body temperature becomes (usually 2°C/3.5°F below their usual body temperature). They do not notice this though and are not feeling cold. The exceptions are Caspanas, who get a high magic level very suddenly and then at first have to get used to the colder body temperature. Once they get used to it they won't feel cold again because of it, though!

Fire

One of the most dangerous elements to manipulate and also one of the hardest. Fire always has been a danger and a fear of many, so even bigger is the power you achieve when you are able to control the deadly flames. An advanced fire mage is not dependent on already existing flames but can summon their own, which burn with the power of their magic. The more magic a mage has, the better they will be able to control the flame's nature, even being able to lower their heat, so that even cold fires are possible. It takes years of practice, but a mage of about level 50 has the freedom a water mage has with the water, they can manipulate the flames to their will, let them take individual shapes, which creates an own style of magic, which differs from mage to mage. Fire mages have, in contrary to water mages, a higher body temperature (usually 2°C/3.5°F above their usual body temperature). Just like water mages this change does not really get noticed by them (except if they are Caspanas like explained above) and they can, therefore, cope well with higher temperatures.

Air

A silent element which can become a destructive power when it is used by a practised mage. An advanced air mage can completely control the air and bend it in any way they like. Only mages that are above level 50 are able to summon tornados, though, mages below that level can only use frail whirlwinds, which also can decide between winning and losing in a battle. S-Class mages can create very strong winds and also so-called "sharp" winds, which are winds that are like razor blades and can give someone serious physical damage. How hard the element is to master mostly depends on the mage. More calm and silent individuums have a higher chance of mastering the element faster and better than those who are for example impatient and hyperactive. Also here every mage finds an own style and shape of their invisible element eventually. In general air, mages are known for their silent and calm but often at the same time also outgoing and boisterous personality. Most of them (not all! this is a stereotype!) are speed devils and very charming.

Earth

An element for grounded and steady souls who can also tend to be stubborn. It requires a lot of concentration and nerves to master it. An advanced mage can manipulate and control the earth more seriously, being able to form the earth in every way they want. The speed of the forming depends on the magic level, though. An S-Class mage could also cause serious earthquakes and would even be able to form a whole house with their powers. Once a mage is able to form the earth to their liking (usually up from level 35), their own styles start to form.

Light

The easiest element. Other than the four physical elements, which all have a dark and a light side to them, light is the pure kindness. Light magic is used for blessings, healing and magic that is connected with the stars. Despite its kind nature, it can also become a good weapon, depending on the spell. The most powerful spells in a fight with light magic are summoning spells, that can summon certain magical artefacts that can help to defeat their enemy, or even spirits that are connected with the element of light, like for example constellations.

Darkness

The most dangerous of all magic kinds. It even is so dangerous, that its use is forbidden in the countries who follow a regime. The mages who use dark magic are usually controlled by it, instead of controlling it themselves. Their minds become wicked and the individuums would, therefore, do things they would not do under normal circumstances. Someone who is overthrown by the darkness changes to the dark side and after a while does not even have the ability to see the difference between good and evil anymore. It is impossible to heal someone who has been overtaken by the dark power, nothing can help them, except death. The ones who manage to use dark magic without being overthrown by it (which are rare cases) are called witchers (m) and witches (f). They are often arrested for their doings and hung. When someone uses dark magic, and might it only be for a second, they will never be able to live it down. Once the power has been used, it will continue to spread itself and consume the person from within. It is impossible to stop this process so that every dark mage will eventually fall for the darkness forever and therefore turn insane.

These six different magic types are again divided into two kinds: the elements and the roots.

The elements are things one can perceive in a physical form: Fire, Water, Earth and Air. One can only learn to use up to three of them and only one of them can be learned to be used at full potential. This is one of the laws of magic, which says that the main element may not be contradicted by its contrary element. Secondary elements meanwhile can be used equally, even though they contradict each other.

As you can see in the graphic above, the physical elements can vary in their form of usage, which means that they can either lean to the dark side or to the light side. Every mage has a pull to one of the physical elements and therefore their magic is never pure. Where between light and darkness a mage's power lies is refered to as the Magic Root. The more your character's magic to the light or dark side, the more your character's personality and magic use will also be influenced by the light or the dark side.
The power to let the magic types be balanced out has belonged to the Tuath Dé, the royal fae. They could master a magic called "Elementri", which means a balance between all six kinds of magic. They could use all six elements equally strong and did not fall for either side. Since they have gone extinct millenniums ago, the art of Elementri and the power to wield it has been lost. Therefore your character, as well as every other creature in Mereldia that uses magic, is not able to balance their magic correctly and therefore they WILL fall to one side or the other.

✦ Example 1

      Main Magic:    Air
    Secondary Elements:    Fire |      Water
      Magic Root:      Light [can only be either light or darkness]

✦ Example 2

      Main Magic:    Water
    Secondary Elements:     Air |     Earth
      Magic Root:     Darkness [can only be either light or darkness]

Magic Usage

The use of magic is not as spread as most of you might think. Only 5% of the population in cities (at most) are able to use magic at all, and this includes the military. The magic is individual to everyone though and therefore also the way of which it is used is individual. It is not like the character has one element as a talent and therefore will also only be able to do certain things with that element alone. No, the possibilities are endless. Let me make a few examples.

If you want your character to use music as their magic, then the element that lies as a basic to it is air. It does involve air manipulation, but your character does not have to be able to summon storms or similar things you would connect to this element. Their talent lies in manipulating the air so that the music (sound waves) becomes a powerful weapon.

Another example would be metal manipulation or similar stuff. The basic element is earth, but the metal has little to do with plants or the ground itself.

Yet another example would be teleportation. The basic magic types are air and light (your character can use both, though one element might be stronger than the other, keep that in mind!).

So you see, there are endless many possibilities to use magic. Your mage can be a dream walker, an artist, a musician, a shooter, a diviner, a swordsman and many more things! Be as creative as you wish with that. If you are not sure about the magic type that bases your character's use of magic, then you can always ask Lilafly, since she is the expert in this department. Please still note the group then, since we admins do not like to receive private notes about group stuff.

Apart from the form of using magic, there are also always other magic types that influence the magic type your character is talented in. For example, fire and earth are closest to darkness and therefore are more likely to fall for it. Meanwhile, water and air are closest to light and therefore it is harder for the user to fall for dark magic. Also, while other elements of magic apart from the main element can be practised, there always is at least one kind that will not be able to be mastered at all: this would be the contrary magic. For example, when your magic kind is fire, you cannot use water magic (and vice versa). In the graphic on the left, you see the circle of elements. It should be self-explaining now.

When we go back to our examples above, we can now add the use of magic to them. Please keep in mind that there are several different ways to use the exact elements given below and that the option that is illustrated only shows one of the ways to do it.

✦ Example 1

Main Magic:    Air
Secondary Elements:    Fire |      Water
Magic Root:      Light [can only be either light or darkness]
Magic Use:

Levitation

The ability to make things float. How long they can be held afloat depends on how heavy the objects are. Masses one could not left with one's physical body are only possible to be lifted with great effort (something like a shelf or a rock).

Astral Wings

A spell that grants one wingsmade out of light and air magic. One locks a spell for them on one's back and then one can fly as long as the magic holds. But flying stays flying and therefore isn't a very easy thing to do. The artificial wings cannot be kept for great amounts of time and will dissolve eventually. One should best be on the ground when that happens.

Lightning

The ability to summon lightning. This spell is a combination of fire and air magic and it requires certain weather conditions (the sky must be filled with electric tension), which is why it cannot be used all of the time.

Mist

A spell to summon mist. It is a combination of water and air magic and forms clouds of mist. How wide-reaching they are depends on the general dampness of the air and how skilled on is with it.

✦ Example 2

      Main Magic:    Water
    Secondary Elements:     Air |     Earth
      Magic Root:     Darkness [can only be either light or darkness]
      Magic Use:

Water Manipulation

Can manipulate water in all its three states, though it is challenging to manipulate two states at the same time.

Mind Reading

Dark magic is used to enable this power. One can read the minds of others when certain conditions like physical contact or at the very least eye contact is made. It is a very difficult practise which not many (mortals) are capable of. | Keep in mind that this is a basic ability of fae!

Plant Manipulation

Due to mastering not just water, but also air and earth, one has the perfect elements together to make plants grow. It can be used to make oneself a pretty garden or to generally help plants with their growth.

Mist

A spell to summon mist. It is a combination of water and air magic and forms clouds of mist. How wide-reaching they are depends on the general dampness of the air and how skilled on is with it.

Magic Level

The last thing you have to keep in mind are the classifications of magic skill. There are four of them overall and they are defined each by the magic abilities one has in their respective potential. What is meant with that is that mortals cannot nearly use as much magic as fae can. What, therefore, would be a high magic skill for a mortal, would just be about average for a fae. Keep in mind that magical strength and abilities are about the same as stamina and muscle strength. They have to be trained to improve. One does not just get gifted higher abilities (except if you're a Caspana).

Here are the classifications:

Beginner

The mage is just starting with their training and cannot yet practise anythign out of the norm. They have to stick to the basics, for more advanced spells would require more magical potential and they have not gained that stength yet. Most mages stay in the beginner stage because they are simply unable or unwilling to improve further.

Advanced

The mage starts to tap into more serious territory with their spells and is slightly higher regarded than beginners. They still are the mediocre and do not stand out much usually when it comes to their abilities.

Supreme Class (S-Class)

This is the skill level where we're really start talking. When one is an S-Class mage, one can specify their magic use further, forming a unique style for it and even use spells that are not possible for the two classes below. Since it is very hard to get to this high skill level, S-Class mages are rare and therefore are met with respect and admiration most of the time.

Superior Supreme Class (SS-Class)

If you get this high, you can't get any higher. Reaching this class of magic skills is so rare, that cases of it happening always get recorded in history. SS-Class mages are prodegies and geniuses that have come that far not only due to raw strength, but also due to wits and relentless training. Not everyone has the potential for it though and for most it stays being a big, unreachable dream.

And again we are picking up our examples from earlier and now assign the levels to them.

✦ Example 1

Main Magic:    Air
Secondary Elements:    Fire |      Water
Magic Root:      Light [can only be either light or darkness]
Magic Use:

Levitation

Astral Wings

Lightning

Mist

A spell to summon mist. It is a combination of water and air magic and forms clouds of mist. How wide-reaching they are depends on the general dampness of the air and how skilled on is with it.

Magic Level: S-Class (mortal) | Advanced (Caspana) | Beginner (Fae)

✦ Example 2

      Main Magic:    Water
    Secondary Elements:     Air |     Earth
      Magic Root:     Darkness [can only be either light or darkness]
      Magic Use:

Water Manipulation

Can manipulate water in all its three states, though it is challenging to manipulate two states at the same time.

Mind Reading

Plant Manipulation

Mist

A spell to summon mist. It is a combination of water and air magic and forms clouds of mist. How wide-reaching they are depends on the general dampness of the air and how skilled on is with it.

Magic Level: S-Class (mortal) | Advanced (Caspana) | Beginner (Fae)

The levels assigned here in those two examples are the respective levels for mortals, Caspanas and fae alike. More specifications about the magic abilities and how their use is linked to the level is explained in the next page of the magic section: Leveling

Go there to find out more about it and also to have explained how magic is leveled outgame.