Circus of the Greats

Magic in Eiliron

Magic in Eiliron

Within Eiliron, the use of magic by humans is governed by two sets of laws. The first are the natural laws, which cannot be broken because they are the very wellspring of all magic. These are:

The energy has to come from somewhere. If you cast a spell, you’re drawing on natural energies. This is the cost of magic. Responsible magickers draw energies from earth, flowing water, even hewn stone, which holds not only earth energy but the energy of its making. These energies are renewable with time. Some magic users can even draw on their own energies, but that means that their ability to work magic is limited by what they’re able to endure. Irresponsible magic users drain other people.

Magic must be used within the bounds of the natural order. What this means is that the laws of nature cannot be broken, though there has always been debate about this among some of the more adept practitioners. If there is a level of magic that breaks this rule, it has not been documented in Eiliron.

Magic can force behavior to some degree, but cannot change a being’s essential nature. People prone to doing wrong cannot be made good. Decent people cannot be turned evil.

The second set of laws is man-made, and while they vary from region to region, some laws are common to most of the societies in Eiliron.

Magic may not be used on people without the person’s express permission.

Magic must never be used to bend another to your will.

Magic may not be used to harm living things.

Magic users must be registered and trained.

Some parts of Eiliron still class magic as a capital crime. As might be imagined, these laws are difficult to enforce, and often they’re used as political ploys.

Magical practice varies widely, even within Eiliron. The majority of magic is illusion, and it has a life span. An illusion will fade in time. Some magic is sympathetic in that it plays on the natural properties of things to produce a desired effect. Some magic is a thing of powders and potions. There are almost certainly as many traditions of magic use as there are peoples of the world. There is much overlap, as might be expected, but each tradition must be learned from its practitioners.