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MAGIC
From the Journals of Ian McNee (a continuing work in progress)
Magic, sometimes known as sorcery, is a conceptual system that allows an individual to control the natural world (including events, objects, people, and physical phenomena) by utilizing certain universal energies whose nature is generally beyond the scope of the technologically oriented science of all known sentient races. The level at which an individual may manipulate these energies is determined by two factors: mystic potential and study/training. Mystic potential refers to the innate spiritual energy that exists in all living beings. The amount of this energy varies greatly from individual to individual. Unlike mutant powers, these powers sometimes remain dormant for the individual's entire lifetime. Even beings born with vast amounts of potential energy may only access it by learning certain techniques and then by performing these techniques properly. Though the effects of magic are remarkably varied, the energy used to create these effects can be categorized as originating from one of four distinct mystical sources: Egocentric, Ecocentric, Exocentric and Necromantic. Three of the four (Egocentric, Ecocentric, Exocentric) were introduced to Earth by its first Sorcerer Supreme, Agamotto, who recorded information about his discovery and mastery of these "Three Paths to Enlightenment" in THE BOOK OF THE VISHANTI.
Egocentric (from the Greek: ego, "self") This method for manipulating mystic energy, originally known as the Lapis Path, refers to magic derived from tapping into one's own spiritual energies. This particular form of magic may appear to the untrained eye to be psychic in nature, but indeed spiritual energies are tapped rather than psychic or mental energies. Egocentric skills include astral projection, hypnosis, mental domination and telepathy.
Ecocentric (from the Greek: oikos, "household") This method for manipulating mystic energy, originally known as the Emerald Road, refers to the ambient mystic energies of an environment. After learning to control his/her personal energy through the study of Egocentric magic, a sorcerer may next learn how to connect his own life force to the ambient mystic energies of the surrounding environment. Once entwined, the energy may be manipulated to create a variety of effects As with individuals, some places have greater "mystic potential" than others. On Earth, magic energy flows through chartable courses called "ley lines" or lung-mei (dragon paths). Churches and temples are oftentimes built along these lines with sacred sites like Stonehenge and Glastonbury Tor occurring at points where two or more ley lines meet. (See INDEX C: SACRED SITES OF EARTH) Other dimensions such as the Dark Dimension or the various mystic realms have much greater mystic potential than those of the Earth Dimension, but their alien energy is far more difficult to control (See INDEX B: OTHER DIMENSIONAL MYSTIC REALMS).
Once an environment's mystic potential has been tapped, a sorcerer may manipulate it to form and hurl energy blasts (usually referred to as "Bolts of Bedevilment") or erect basic shields. Illusions and disguises are also woven together out of ecocentric materials. One may even conjure up small "solid" items, though said items are not usually very stable and may disappear as quickly as they appeared. Classic elemental substances (Earth, Air, Fire and Water) are also available to the learned mage and may be manipulated into weapons, shields or in some cases, minions.
A specialized form of Ecocentric Magic is known as Weaver Magic. A Weaver Mage, also known as "Wyrdling" learns to mystically see the "threads of destiny" or "life-threads" that float around all living things. Instead of tapping into his own energies (as with Egocentric) or into the ambient energy that surrounds him (the traditional Ecocentric method), the Weaver Mage taps into the personal energies of another individual. Not to steal them (as with Necromantic), but to read them and possibly manipulate the energy lines within the other individual's aura. A Weaver Mage may instantly learn the entire history of anyone or anything just by touching one of these threads, and an experienced Mage is sometimes able to create more favorable fates by entwining this thread with that thread or shearing away knotted destinies. Through careful manipulation of these "Life-lines" a powerful Wyrdling could prevent an undesirable fate from coming to pass. In addition to weaving preferable fortunes, the Weaver Mage is gifted at fashioning bindings, crafting illusions and weaving enchantments into items, especially cloth items. A Grand Master of the Wyrdling Way created Dr. Stephen Strange's Cloak of Levitation.
Exocentric (from the Greek: exo, "outside") This very advanced form of magic, originally known as the Golden Way, refers to the form of magic that draws upon forces from dimensions outside our own. Only very experienced sorcerers are able to communicate with powerful mystical beings that inhabit these "other dimensions" and appeal to them for assistance. To invoke the aid of godlike beings (also referred to as the mystic principalities) such as Cyttorak, Ikonn, Raggadorr or Watoomb (See INDEX A: MYSTIC PRINCIPALITIES) a sorcerer must learn complex incantations and master subtle gestures in order to increase the chances of receiving a positive response. The more powerful the entity (or the less powerful the sorcerer) the more complicated the ritual of invocation becomes.