Let us start with the last question first: where is Magic found? Magic is contained within everything. Rocks, trees, the wind, people, and monsters all possess some magic. It is believed that magic is a necessary component that allows creatures to live. Other faiths believe that magic is Life. It surrounds us, flows through us, and is part of our very existence. Magic is found everywhere. Some scholars argue that the very spirit of a creature is the center of magic in living beings, while others argue that the very body of living creatures could not live or breathe without magic. I believe that they are both right. Yet, if magic is everywhere, how can we not see, feel, or touch it?

This brings us to the second question: how can magic be perceived? How do you know it’s there if you cannot see, feel, smell, hear, or taste it? Magic in its purest form cannot be detected by any standard senses. Creatures that have a greater level of magic within their being have been known to ‘feel’ magical energies. The term ‘feel’ refers to an emotional/spiritual state rather than a tactile one. Powerful elven mages have been known to simply ‘feel’ the flow of magic around them. Creatures, such as dragons, have stated that they can taste, smell, and even physically/spiritually feel the flows of magic. Perhaps they possess senses beyond those allowed to us humans. But then again, dragons are very spiritual in nature and have the ability to see into the spirit (ethereal) world.

In places where magic swells, collects, or pools, even non-magical humans have experienced perceptions of Magic. Rarely does magic collect in places called nexus points or nodes. These places can have up to 100 times the normal amount of magical energy flowing through them. Although most nexus/nodes develop spontaneously, high magic calendar days and powerful holy days can aid in the formation of such places. These ‘high’ magic areas allow even the most mundane observers to ‘feel’ the flow of magic. Human mages have been known to see, smell, and even taste the magic that exists in these areas. Each nexus or node has a powerful existence within the spiritual world. If a person were to peek into the spiritual world, he would then be able to see the magic that collects within these nodes.

From the spiritual world, one can actually see nodes along the landscape. Further, under close examination, lines that connect the nodes to one another can also be seen. These lay-lines are magical flows that link and fuel these nodes with magical power. It is believed that in historical times, Dragons used these lay-lines as flying travel routes to circle the world. The wingfolk have also been known to use these lines as navigational guides, though how they can see them is a mystery. Some scholars believe that mundane birds and migratory animals also use these lay-lines as guides in their migrations. Again, how these creatures sense or detect these lay-lines is a mystery. One thing that is known is that highly magical creatures prefer living in or near these nexus points. Ghosts, Specters, and Wraths seem to populate these locations more frequently. Fairies are another race of creatures that prefer to make their homes in or near nodes. I am sure that many other magical creatures have a relationship with these strange magical wellsprings, but as of yet, we can only guess the reasons why.

The best description of magic I have found to date is as follows: Magic is an unseen chaotic force that permeates both the physical world and the spiritual world around us. Magic ebbs and flows from one source to another, continually recycling itself. Life cannot exist without it, nor can physical form or function. It is an energy that is unique to itself, unknown to most, but possessed by all.

Unlike other forces, Magic is easily focused. Simply put, magic can be collected from a large area and concentrated or ‘focused’ into a smaller area. This functionality is what allows mages, priests, and deities amazing control of the force of Magic. Without this ease of control, we, as mortals, would never be able to master the forces of magic. It is easy to misunderstand the term ‘easy’ in this text; easy is relative to the difficulty of controlling and focusing on other forces such as fire, a storm, or light. The manipulation of magic is by no means an easy task. It is sufficiently easy in relative terms that mundane creatures can manipulate it.

Now that we know that Magic is firmly linked to the spiritual world, we can also conclude that concepts that apply to spirituality may apply to Magic. In fact, the first and easiest form of magical manipulation is through Piety and devotion to a Deity. The priest must study the theological doctrine of his particular faith for many years. During this time, he builds up an understanding of his chosen doctrine, which sparks belief. This belief or ‘Faith’ is what allows the priest to channel magic. The process a priest uses to channel magic is often misunderstood. Some believe that priests are simply tools for the deities and only necessary as a point of reference for the deity. If this was the case, then an animal or even a rock could be used as a focus tool. It is this very belief that separates the priest from the rest of the populace. It is true that priests channel the power of the gods, but it is their belief that regulates how much of that power they can channel. A novice priest cannot channel the power necessary to bring people back from the dead, nor can he re-grow limbs or banish extra planer creatures. These functions are reserved for priests who have devoted themselves and developed an unshakable belief in their chosen deity. The priest’s belief functions like a valve to the deity’s power. The greater the belief instilled in the priest, the larger amounts of the deity’s power he can channel.

The question then becomes, what are priests channeling? Where is this magical power coming from? Lacking the knowledge of an immortal deity, I can only theorize that the magical power comes from a wellspring in the deity’s realm. A node or nexus created or controlled by the deity (See Postulate of Divine Extraction below). I envision each priest as a key to a door that connects to that ‘node.’ Whenever a priest utters a prayer, it opens a door that floods the priest with magical energy. This magical energy is then channeled through the priest manipulating the ambient magical energy in the immediate area and manifests as focused magic. The greater the priest's belief, the more ‘keys’ he possesses. These ‘keys’ will unlock bigger doors and allow the priest to manifest more powerful magical effects. Only the deity knows the level of faith a priest possesses and thus controls the amount of power his servant can successfully channel. Priests with large congregations of devoted worshipers often have access to more powerful spells. This ‘collective’ belief is what organized religions strive to achieve. Churches and other places of worship then become ‘infused’ with the faith of those who frequent them, which reinforces their presence in the spiritual world. Further, faith can be quite contagious, especially in places with a strong spiritual presence. This cyclic pattern allows the power of faith to recycle itself and grow over time. Priests are then ‘gatekeepers’ that link the faith to a divine power.