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The following entries are by a mage in the temple of Jirah and the clan of Arcanum (a training school for mages). I've only included my 2 favorite entries but there are many (au.betterbox.net/forums).
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Title: Journal of a Young Mage
By: Kaelan
3rd in the month of Jirah’s Temptation, 678
I would like to begin recording my work and what I’ve been researching in the Tower library. From observing the other students, I’ve learned that those who are less likely to write their work down are more likely to have to do twice as much, when they have to go back and look up what they’ve forgotten. I will begin my research this evening into the topic of the origin of magic. Some of the questions I would like to answer have been listed below.
Where does magic come from?
Does magic differ between the different sorts of magic users in Tharel, or is this based upon training?
Is god-given magic used by clerics different from the magic employed by sorcerors? If so, why are they different and how are they different?
Does everything have magic in it, or is magic specific to sentient beings?
In those without the talent to wield magic, why is this talent absent? Do they have magic within them without the ability to use it, or are they devoid of magic? Why do spells cast by others work upon them, when they can not cast their own?
To what extent does the will to learn magic augment or detract from the natural talent and ability to use magic?
These are only some of the questions I have, and I’m sure more will crop up as I move into my research. I’ve been given some idea of where to look and what theories to explore by Archmage Naren, and I’m sure my work will progress much more quickly now that I have many fewer chores, I’ve been allowed access to the laboratories and the restricted section of the library.
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19th in the month of Jirah’s Temptation, 678
After having spent several rather musty days in the library, among my other duties, I’m really not closer to answering any of my questions, though I have come across several interesting hypotheses. I’ve also come to the realization that several of my questions run together. Some of the hypotheses regarding the origin of magic include the following.
1) All magic originates in Sainos.
This appears to be one of the more prominent theories in the Tower. Of course, this is to be expected, most of the students here are devotees of the Mad God. I am not quite so quick to just accept this theory, however. There are a few things I find fault with about it. For instance, if all magic originates from Sainos, why would he portion parts out to his enemies? I understand he’s the Mad God, but certainly no one would be that mad. And if all magic originates from Sainos, why was there magic before Sainos existed? Sainos, as with all of the existing gods, is a bi-product of the use of the Rod of Destruction. The Rod is arguably the most powerful magical artifact in existence. How was it, then, created before the existence of Sainos? All of the answers I can find to this question are shady at best, and some are blatant fallacies.
2) Magic, like everything else, was present in the Void. When all of the other elements mixed to make the world, magic was also mixed.
This one is most popular among the mage-historians of Cylad’s domain, with their emphasis on the creation of the world. But if magic was part of this Void item of theirs, then why is it not listed specifically as one of the elements in their official version of the mythos?
3) Magic is given to the mortals of Tharel by the gods.
My response to this is, then where do the gods get their magic? This theory as to the origin of magic has absolutely nothing to do with the origin. It might be a part of the answer to some of my other questions, but it isn’t very useful as to the origin. And if magic is given to the mortals by the gods, then why are some people totally lacking any magical ability, no matter how hard they try? And why do others, who actively preach the non-existence of any god, still have the ability to perform magic?
4) The being Fjiorim was a being entirely of magic, and imbued it with part of her essence upon creation. When she was destroyed, the rest of her essence spread out over the world. Calling upon magic is calling upon the essence of Fjiorim.
This theory seems more believable than most. I have been trying to find holes in it, and the main one I can find involves why some can access that magic and others can not. Perhaps if I find the answer to that question, this theory will be proved or struck down. A part of this theory is that those with the talent for magic simply have the ability to call on the magic that is present in all things since Fjiorim’s destruction and that the gods, as descendant from Fjiorim, are so magically powerful simply because as her descendants they know how to call upon that magic in ways that would defy mortals. But then, Fjiorim had to pull her magic from somewhere, which brings me back to theory two.
If there is a mixture of theories I am likely to believe, it would be something between two and four. One is simply not very plausible, and three does not answer the question at all. In the rest of my research I will work with the assumption that I have found the correct theory and that there is not one floating out there that isn’t present in the library of the Tower. Perhaps my research will prove or disprove one or all of these theories, or create a new explanation. It simply irks me that a question that has had so much study devoted to it, as the origin of magic has, doesn’t have a direct answer appended onto it.
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This posting is a very good example of the depth and thought people put into their characters at Adventures Unlimited. Please come by and check us out.
Ytrewtsu
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