Magic into the modern age
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[edit] Introduction.
It is possible to argue over which is the oldest, magic or technology. Certainly, most people associated magic with being the more venerable of the two, as it reached a high state of development earlier in history. For all that though, one could argue that technology is the older, because even in the stone age there was a science of sorts, even if the cutting edge of technology was made out of flint.
Before we go any further, it is as well to underline the differences between science and magic because it is easy to get the two confused in the modern world, and that does not lead to any deeper understanding.
Magic is an active force - it makes things happen. Although theories vary as to how it works, everyone agrees that it is the Thaumatologists will that shapes the effect.
Science, by comparison, is passive. It is nothing more than knowing what will happen in the absence of magic. Science doesn't make anything happen, it just makes predictions. Of course, once you know what will happen in a given set of circumstances, it is a small step to arrange for those circumstances to occure and the desired event to transpire.
With this in mind, it becomes easier to understand the differences between certain branches of science and magic. Children at school are often confuse chemisty and transmutation magic. Both turn one substance into another, right? Indeed, but the underlying methods are very different. A transmuter uses the power of magic to force the metamorphisis, while a chemist mearly sets up the right conditions for the reaction to occure naturally. It is the difference between throwing a stone into the sea, knowing that the action of the waves will wear it smooth, and using a machine to grind the stone into a sphere.
Another point to consider is that science is available to anyone with enough brains to understand it, where as the practice of magic in any form requires that the user posseses the correct magic genetic herritage.
[edit] The age of magic and the asent of technology
As was mentioned before, magic reached a peek before technology. For a long time, magic was the dominant force in the world. Peasants would look upon those who had mastered its ways with awe or fear, while those more pragmatic saught to employ magicians for their own ends.
Magic is an art form that has to be mastered afresh by each generation, and although Thaumatologists may create new spells each student must still reach sufficient skill to be able to use that formulae. In other words, the acclumative effects of generations of magical research are mitigated. Spell casting is about persoanl achievement rather than group work. Without the formularic magic invented by the Wizard Families this problem would be even more acute.
Technology on the other hand, most definitely benefits from economies of scale. The work of one scientist can directly ease the efforts of another. An engineer can employ the advantages properties of a new polmer without having to understand its chemical synthesis.
Thus, while the advance of magic has slowed greatly, science and technology have begun to accelerate. Technology is the great social equaliser, allowing anybody to travel across the world at greate speed or see events in another country.
For all that, magic is far from dead. There are still many feats most easily accumplished with spells. Healing injuries and disease is one of them. Perhaps the most interesting, and occasionally terrifying, situation is when the two are combined...
[edit] Magical Theories
There are two main theories as to how magic works. These are Flux Theory and Resonance Theory. Each has its own adherants and problems.
Flux Theory states that the world is full of Thaumic Flux - magical energy if you will. When the Thaumatologist casts as spell, they are tapping into this energy field and using it to create the desired effect. Words, symbols and material components help to focus the casters will and channel the flux.
Flux theory is quite complete, and has been used to explain pretty much every type of magical phenomenon that has been observed. The only major problem is that no-one has ever been able to detect this Thaumatic Flux. Even Detect Magic only finds areas in which a working has been effect.
Resonance Theory dictates that the words and guestures are enough on their own to create magic. The correct gesticulations and sounds will set up a resonance with the universe at large and this creates the spell. For a sufficiently skilled Thaumatologist, simply thinking the words can be enough.
The problem with Resonance Theory is that attempts to create magic via recording of a Thaumatologists voice as they cast a spell with no other components has consistently failed. Further more the conjecture that certain magical creatures have evolved to be able to think the correct thoughts in order to activate their supernatural powers has so far proved in possible to confirm.
Beyond this academic level, arcane magic can be split into two broad groups - Wizardy and sorcery. Wizardly magic is definitely in ascendence, while the sorcerus arts slowly fade away, although a few embers still glow.
[edit] The schools of magic
All the traditional schools of magic still exist, but with changing time their popularity has changed. As with most things, a whole host regulations exist to govern the use of magic, most of the covered by the Mental Influences act and various privacy laws. The old name of the school is given in brackets, by way of reference.
[edit] Preventative Thaumatology (Abjuration)
This was never a very large school, but despite that, its future is assured because of strong demand in the security sector. While most of us cannot afford to employ a full time abjurer to protect our homes, banks; buisness and other large corporations can.
Laboratories are often shielded from scrying as a means to prevent industrial espionage, and bank vault would not be very secure if they did not prevent ethereal travel. Expensive computer system often have runic wardings to protect against magically enhenced sentient viruses.
Being mostly a passive defense, Preventative Thaumatology is largly free of legal restraints. Only those spells which may cause actual, physical harm are restricted, such as Explosive Runes.
Modern Preventative Thaumatology spells
[edit] Translocation/Materialisation (Conjuration)
Translocatiom has developed something of a shady reputation, as one of its major uses is in smuggling small items across borders. Because of this, the most proficient users of this magic are career criminals or spies, neither of which are very popular.
Despite that, most laws associated with conjurations focus on restricting the way this magic is used, rather than trying to ban it outright.
Modern Transloction/materialisation spells
[edit] Analytical Thaumatology (Divination)
Analytical thaumatology has developed into the largest and most important of the school. There are few walks of life in which it is not used to some degree. Thaumaturgists' use this school when performing safty checks on large structures in order to find cracks and other signs of fatigue or corrosion. Even today, sailors rely on weather forecasts made with this sort of magic.
There are a few more contriversal uses of Analytical thaumatology as well. Privacy laws restrict its use, and even the police have to obtain a warrant before using spells such as know alignment. Even if such warrants are available, many law enforcement agencies choose not to use them because it can make obtaining a conviction harder due to the Stanhope defence. The Stanhope defence revolves around the fact that just because someone fails the alignment test, that still doesn't mean that they are guility of the crime in question - but it will prejudice the police against the defendent, destroying their supposed impartiality. Some people have questioned the logicallity of the Stanhope defence, but nevertheless, it still often appeals to a jury on an emotional level.
Despite that, analytical thaumatology is still used in police work, mostly in finding factual evidence at a crime scene. In this respect it becomes the partner of Animatology.
Modern Analytical Thaumatology spells
[edit] Mindcontrol (Enchantment)
In the modern world, virtually all uses of Mindcontrol are illegal. As a consequence, this school has suffered - and many people would like to see it die all together. In certain parts of the world, even owning the instructions on how to cast Charm Person can get you arrested.
Attempts in the past to work mindcontrol spells into TV commercials have not helped this schools reputation any, and arguments that it could be used to rehabilitate offenders have so far fallen on def ears.
One of the few spells to survive the legal purge is Sleep, which has obvious applications in controlling riots.
[edit] Energetics (Evocation)
This school used to be associated with battle mages throwing fireballs and magic missiles. In the modern age, this rather dramatic function has become mostly redundant. Throwing fireballs takes a lot of skill. Throwing grenaids is much simpler.
Energetics still sees some military use, but mostly in a supporting role. It can be used to block the enemies radio transmissions in a small area while still permitting your own or generate electromagnetic pulses large enough to disrupt computer systems.
On a more prosaic level, simple energetic spells can be used to temporarily power an uncharged mobile phone, or jump start a car with a flat battery. Although neither application has seen much industrial use, skilled wizards have been known to employ both. The second method has been used for illegal purposes, but most cars these days are designed so that the key must be present to allow fuel flow, preventing magical hot wiring.
[edit] Illusion
Aside from retaining its old name, the school of illusion is also noteworthy for the large amount of cash associated with it. Illusions are just the thing for creating special effects in movies, and a skilled illusionist can make a good living this way - if you can get into the business, as there are far more hopefuls than jobs.
Tragically, many such hopefuls find their way into a life of crime where their skills are just as profitable. Individuals and organisations who teach illusion magic are often accused of breeding the next generation of con artists. Knowing illusion magic doesn't carry many legal restrictions, but using it can do.
This schools association with Thralmuntar has not helped its reputation at all, especially amongst the priestly sects. Mentioning that gods name is a good way to send an illusionist into a fit of frustration.
[edit] Animatology (necromancy)
Mention of this school usually brings to mind the undead, although there creation by this magic is illegal in most countries. It's most common application is in forensics, where it can be used to speak with murder victims directly. Some academics class priestly healing magics as form of animatolgy.
[edit] Transmutation
Magic can't compete with technology for mass production, but if you are looking for a one off product, sometimes it is easier to use magic. Also, having someone on hand who can cast the mending spell can save a lot of time and money.
[edit] Sorcerus Arts
While the theories and conjectures of wizardry are concerned with trying to understand the underlying principal by which magic interacts with the world, most of the lore associated with sorcery is concerned with the practical means by which spells can be shaped. Sorcerus techniques are somewhat unique to each practitioner, but over the centuries many of them have commited their insights to permanent records. Most of these books were originally written in Kalchichu, but many have been translated (Often badly.) and others started of in a different language. Because they are considered rather archaic and outdated, not many copies exist any more, although Retchan of Jiyank keeps an extensive library of such works for prosperity, and periodically commisions reprints of those he comsiders most worthy. It is believed that his is writing his own, a work awaited with some interest.
These books have influenced sorcerers for a long time, and many who study a given grimore tend to develop spell casting powers similar, although rarily identical to, the original authour. Many will refer to themselves as following a given path. Some of these paths are listed below.
[edit] The Path of Thalmuntar
Described in The Book of Truth and Lies this book contains much lore concerned with revealing and concealing the truth. It one of the older works, and several variations exist. By modern standards it is an odd mix of analytical thaumatolgy, mind control and illusion magics.
[edit] The Path of the Lich King
Another old work, this time believed to have been copied from the last few chapters of The Book of Eternity. Many of the excercises and insights it contains are rather unpleasant, but for all that it does contain some potent magic.
[edit] Instruction Manual MC03
Much more recent and still being printed on a large scale, this Manual is produced by the Kalchichi military and distributed to its Mage Core. The Mage Core are the militaries rank and file arcane spell casters, who are still trained in the sorcerus ways. The Core still esques the name "Thaumatologists", and often refer to themselves as Battle Mages. A useful read to any younge kobold hoping to join the military, but it does not contain many high level spells.
