Magic

The energy that we call 'Magic' has been a part of the universe since the Big Bang. Like matter itself, magic cannot be destroyed, only changed. It is an underlining force that binds the know universe together. Sorcerers, Magicians and Warlocks can utilise this energy to influence reality itself and, in some cases, alter it completely. There are currently two schools of thought when using magic, Law and Chaos. Lawful Magic influences reality along the line of reason and logic, doing little harm to the greater universe. For example, a Sorcerer using Law Magic might cause your muscles to lock and spasm to make you fall over, or cause water in a pool to evaporate to create a cloud. Chaotic Magic changes reality, often violently, producing ripples of magical energy which have long lasting effects on the universe. Chaotic Magic can make a man turn into a horse, or an island to float into the air. Although Chaos Magic can seem to be the more fantastical school, Lawful Sorcerers argue it does more harm than good.

Although Magic does exists in the universe, the knowledge to wield it has slowly been lost. People just don’t believe in Magic anymore, and scientists dismiss it as cheap parlour tricks. The secretive nature of Sorcerers does not help the matter, as they tend to keep their power to themselves. It is hypothesised that some races might be a by-product of Magic and this is certainly the case with Risen, as most cases of Risen being created involves Magic in some way. However, despite the belief of most Humans, most other races are a product of evolution instead of the supernatural, although it may have played a part early in their evolutionary track. It has certainly never been observed for Werewolves and Vampires to ‘turn’ Humans through biting or other means, nor are they subject to other superstitious laws.

Rituals

Rituals are the most powerful spells that can be performed. They usually involve several magical practitioners, combining power to bend magical energy to their will. The effects of a ritual are diverse and is only limited by the ritualist’s imagination. They can create a new weapon or split a mountain in two given the right amount of power. However, holding great amounts of magical energy can be harmful and the excepted limit to any ritual is accepted as five minutes.

Lawful Sorcerers use rituals to bend magic along natural means. An example of this is forming a sphere of wind to protect an area, or freezing a lake in order to make a crossing. Chaos Sorcerers force magic to do extraordinary and unnatural things. They can change someone into a frog or make the sky rain blood. Once someone has dedicated themselves to a school of magic, they can often damage themselves performing rituals involving the other school. Rare is the ritualist who is able to perform both Law and Chaos rituals to any successful degree without facing disastrous consequences.

The consequences of magic are often hotly debated among most Sorcerers. Some attribute the existence of other worldly entities as the result of spent magical forces used in spells and rituals. Others claim that all races are the result of magical fallout early in the universes creation, and the more magic used will result in the strengthening of the races in general. There are even a few who believe magic has no consequences at all.

However, there is an elusive group of shamans whose teachings tell of layers upon our world created entirely from spent magical forces. The energies that are seemingly used up in spells and incantations are actually sent to these other realities to become part of them. The energies then slowly seep back into our world ready to be used again.

The current Head Ritualist of the Guild is Sapphire Randale