NOVEL WEB The Beginning of the Grind
Foreword
It takes a special type of sort to wish to document the magic of the world. Indeed, there is no lack of representation on the matter; so you, dear ready, may ask why one such as myself would seek to undertake such a task. To read a [Mage]-[Author]’s work is to delve into the intricacies of magic—usually, their magic—and how it came to be, and how useful it proves; the critical reader may read between the lines and discover it to be an advertisement of their greatness. The [Ancient Magus]’ magnum opus will learn you of grand magics the world has forgotten; the everyday [Reader] will find little use for their tomes, as they are fraught with jargon of the likes that would make Baleros’ late [Clandestine Codebreaker] dizzy.
That is why I am delving into this territory. I have travelled from Drathian shores, through Chandrar’s dunes, and coiled for high tea with Terandrian [Mage Lords]. Far have I travelled, and much have I seen. I, therefore, believe I possess the necessary qualification to write a treatise on those who practise magic in its many forms. Far be it for me to decry the usefulness of the [Mage] authored tale of magic—they are professionals, writing in the field which they know intimately. I likewise wish not to extol myself as the premier author of the topic. Each piece has its place; and mine is for those who seek knowledge, from the humble [Washer] to the esteemed [Queen].
On the Nature Of Those Whose Classes Practise, Cast and Work Magic is a work that endeavours to provide answers for two questions. The first is thus: how does each magical class differ, from the [Witch] to the [Wizard]? The second question elaborates on the answers gleaned from question one: how do they utilise magic? I have queried both mundane and exemplar spellcasters and have been witness to both great and pedestrian feats of magic, and of course read past and present literature to aid and contextualise my findings.
I would like to thank the many…
“Wow, that’s a lot of names,” Ivory thought, bewildered. This must have taken a very long time to write, and he was going to commit a great sin: only reading the parts that concerned him! True, everything within concerned him, but from looking at the table of contents, he knew that the introductory chapters were what he was looking for: what each ‘base’ magic class was and how they differed. Exactly what he was looking for.
He flicked through the pages to see each of these ‘base’ magic classes were: [Mage], [Witch], [Sorcerer], [Wizard]. Xelphiaus’ introduction pulled no punches.
The wantonness of Wistram [Mages] would lead you to believe that being a [Mage] is the only magical class worth pursuing. That if you practised magic and were anything but a [Mage], you were second class. Dear reader, I would rather a selphid hijack my body and dance nude in a seaport than have you believe that rubbish.
[Mage] is the archetypical magical class. A [Mage] may become a [Witch], [Wizard] or [Sorcerer] given the right circumstances, desire and capabilities. The same can be said for the aforementioned classes; a [Wizard] may become a [Witch], rare that it may occur, but they are all cut from the same cloth. That cloth is mana.
As the archetypical magical class, a [Mage] can perform what [Witches], [Wizards] and [Sorcerers] can do, to a certain extent. Some might say it in reverse—[Witches], [Wizards] and [Sorcerers] can do some of what the [Mage] can. To quote a haughty Human [Archmage] currently of Wistram, “[Mages] lack for the gimmicks of lesser classes”. She is correct in saying so, that [Mages] have no “gimmick”. Nor is a [Wizard] better than a [Witch], or a [Mage] better than a [Sorcerer]: if you think in what is “best”, then you are a fool. There is just different. [Blacksmiths] create swords; [Tailors] make garments. Fights are won with swords, not garments. Few people require swords; everyone requires clothes. A crude analogy, but I am confident in its efficacy.
From my innumerable queries of bearers of these classes, I have come upon an answer for our first question. One’s magical capabilities are of the utmost importance. Wish all you want to become a [Mage], if you haven’t the mana or inherent magical capabilities, seldom will you achieve a magical class. Not impossible, but rarely indeed. Being born of two [Grand Magi] does not guarantee the capability for magic, lest some foul genealogical Skills be at play. Be you a poor sort, with little access to spellbooks and only instruction, the magically capable may gain the [Sorcerer] class. Some may be proficiently magical, but have terribly small stores of mana, unable to be expanded by Skills. These folk, generally of wealth, become [Wizards]. A wand containing bound [Lightning Bolt] spells use little to no mana, and the [Wizard] will gain Skills and spells to augment their artefacts. Lack you the wealth, then you shan’t obtain the class.
[Witches] are curious, in that in order to gain the class, more than wishful thinking and training are required. Seldom do [Witches] occur without other [Witches] to guide them, but it can happen. A [Witch] may resemble a [Mage], [Wizard] or [Sorcerer] in practice. Their defining feature is that they focus their magic on something; their “craft”. This can be an emotion, an act, or even a thing or things. I have met—academically—a [Witch of Amour], specialising in emotions, to quote him, “...surrounding the chase of love, and the peculiarities of sex.” So, too, have I met a [Prophecy Witch], whose craft was based on a relic-class artefact that augmented her powers of magical prophecy. To become a [Witch], one’s magical capabilities and circumstances are of the utmost importance…
Ivory skimmed over the next few pages; he wasn’t interested in obtaining another magical class—could he even?—and this was enough context to move on.
The [Mage], as I have stated, is the archetypical magical class. A [Mage] learns magic—and will subsequently level—by casting magic, but also by reading spellbooks: formulae, theory, and instruction. [Mages] are perhaps the robust magical practitioners. There are innumerable specialisations that [Mages] may unlock, and this is testament to the very nature of the [Mage]: adaptability.
The [Mage] utilises magic however they see fit. What separates the [Mage] from its sister-class, the [Sorcerer], is that it casts magic in conventional ways. Complex spell formulae, rigorous studying, and then translating that into cast spells. The direction that a [Mage] takes depends on the type of magic they cast. Izril’s [Thunderfury Terrormage] started her magical career casting [Sparks] and [Jolts]. A’ctelios Salash’s [Heroic Archmage of Maddened Flesh] saved their people from utter annihilation from Dragonfire after two centuries of dedicated study. He, I am told, began by searing off children’s warts before he attained the [Formshaper] class!
Alas, the overwhelming majority will not attain such classes. [Mages]’ specialisations depend on the primary type of magic they cast. [Geomancers], [Pyromancers], [Enchanters], [Spellscribes], [Oneiromancers], [Aeromancers], [Gastromancers], [陰陽師]—[Onmyoiji] in the non-Drathian tongue—[Blood Mages]... The possibilities are, as far as I am led to believe, endless…
“Huh? Was that Chinese? Japanese?” Revelations about this world… He knew what an [Oneiromancer] was because of RuneScape, and most of the other ones were pretty self explanatory.
“Anyway. [Witch], no, [Wizard], no… [Sorcerer], here we are.
[Sorcerers] are a curious sort; from my travels, their personalities and practises tend to be as chaotic as their magic, when compared to the [Mage]’s. [Sorcerers] have a wide breadth of capabilities, as they are not bound by the inherent scholarly nature of the [Mage]. [Sorcerers] know the magic they wish to cast, and work towards casting it. No study required; it is a class based wholly in putting their magic into practice. Where the [Mage] studies a spellbook to learn [Fireball], the [Sorcerer] is casting magic until they learn the spell. The [Sorcerer] will, along the way, attain lower Tiers of the spell: [Kindle], [Scorch], [Firebolt], until [Fireball] is learnt. Utility, readers. What the [Sorcerer] wants to learn, the [Sorcerer] will learn. The ‘downside’, if one could deem to refer to it as such, is that higher order spells are more difficult for the [Sorcerer]. Where the exceptionally high levelled [Mage] or high level fire-specialised [Mage] can simply study—and practise—the Tier 6 spell [Inferno], the [Sorcerer] must do so with no instruction, only intuition and hard work.
The direction that a [Sorcerer] takes, likewise, depends on his passions. The [Sorcerer] seldom practises magic they dislike, leading to a variety of unique classes. The majority of [Sorcerers] I have met are in Baleros, with close seconds among northern Izril and Drath—the former I will soon elaborate on. I managed a rare accord with Karmilla, the leader of the Animalia Company. While she did not reveal her class, she is an exceptionally powerful [Sorceress], with “a covenant with Baleros’ keepers”, to quote her. To give some context to the non-Balerosian [Reader], Animalia is a Company of Beastkin, a contender for the next Great Company. She herself is of the Chicken variety, and their status as a powerful Company comes from their harmonious and symbiotic relationship with the fauna of Baleros. Knowing that she would not reveal her class, I asked if she would entertain me in allowing me some educated guesses on the matter. [Animalfriend Sorceress], [Druidic Sorceress], [Faunapact Sorceress] were my three guesses. Surprisingly, her reaction was to laugh! I was told she had those classes within her company, and that I was “not thinking grand enough!”—the horror, dear reader.
In Drath, my reputation preceded me; I can only imagine this is why I was afforded an interview with one of Drath’s [Historian] equivalents. The Drathian people seldom give away their secrets—much like any other peoples, I would imagine—and I must make it plainly apparent that I am in debt to Sima Qian, who was kind enough to speak to me. Drathian culture is mostly insular, with [Merchants], adventurers and [Sailors] most knowledgeable in the communities of each continent. Much of Drathian culture and customs was revealed to me, but it is of [Sorcerers]—and [Mages]—that I speak now. The Drathian people, as is known, have their own language, with some differing dialects in the islands. When I spoke of my endeavour to document magic, I was told that Drath’s magical classes differ from ours in function; the people of Drath make little distinction, and this is reflected in the classes their young spellcasters receive. Sima Qian found it strange how [Sorcerer] and [Mage] are separate classes, and noted that Drath’s entry level magical class should be understood as one that utilises any and all magic. He told me of the subsequent class which was known to me: [Onmyouji]. [Onmyouji]...
Ivory read on for another hour on the [Sorcerer] entry. The Drathian portion he found particularly interesting; he surmised that Drath was some kind of ‘catch-all’ Asian continent. There were Japanese ofuda, a city of magic whose description sounded a lot like Angkor Wat, and much more. He totally wanted to go there.
He flicked back and read over the [Witch] section and skimmed the [Wizard] one; he didn’t imagine he’d be buying many magical artefacts, but the information was cool nonetheless.
He closed the book with a whoomf, and he declared that this outing was a monumental success. He not only had a far better idea of his class, but also had a wide breadth of ideas he could pinch from the other classes he read about. Some delicious opportunities.
Ivory wasn’t sure how to flag someone to return the book. The front desk would take a while to get to, and he didn’t fancy lugging this big ass book with him as he did so. He also didn’t want to get lost. With a stroke of luck, Arist entered the big room and saw Ivory waving at him. Ivory was enjoying greatly never being inconvenienced. Yet. Skills were awesome.
“All done, Ivory?” he asked.
“Yup. I didn’t read all of it, but I learned a lot. Very well worth my time coming here! Actually, is there some kind of review I could write?”
“A review? No, but I’ll be certain to flag this book for [Readers] and [Mages] curious about magic. The best review is to tell people to visit the library!”
“Cool, I definitely will. I don’t want to borrow this one, should I just leave it here for you to return, or…?”
“Yes, that is fine.”
“Great. Well, thanks for your help, mate. I’ll be sure to speak highly of this place.”
“You do us an honour. Good evening.”
Evening! How long had he been in here?! He got his iPhone out—9%, better turn it off after—6pm! Time flies, he supposed.
He made his way out of the library and headed back to The Woolen Pillow for tea. He was kind of on autopilot; his body was going through the motions, but in his head, all that he had a thought for was magic. All the different possibilities! All the fun he could have! Before he knew it, he was sitting on his bed, nice and full.
Time for another stocktake of the situation. He was only a Level 3 [Sorcerer], so he couldn’t exactly plan to cast grand magics just yet. Before he could think of what he wanted to specialise in, he actually needed a well rounded pool of abilities, Skills and spells. To do that, he needed to actually do magic. Yes, he had lots of inspiration to draw upon, but actually putting that into action was the difficult part. Tomorrow was that adventuring thing, maybe that could be a good start? There was no rush, anyway.
Satisfied with that line of thought, he decided on a bath, because he damn well could. He was pleased to find that the water had been replaced!
Feeling nice and refreshed, he opted for an early night. Ivory’s phone was off to save battery, so there was no alarm to get him up—even if he slept like 12 hours, he’d have heaps of time before he needed to be at the guild.
As Ivory lay snugly in bed, he thought of his new main, continuous long term goal. Level up as much as possible. As he began to nod off, he heard that voice.
[Sorcerer level 5!]
“... Great start.”