Magic

[Pretzel Heart]

I'm sure this topic will be of interest to many of you...fufu, unfortunately, as humans, you'll be wasting time attempting any spells. But who knows? It won't hurt to learn about magic's special place in Roserasia, nevertheless...

Next stop we'll examine books that all can enjoy! On dancing.

Take Me on a Trip upon Your Magic Swirling Ship . . .


In this thread you may learn all about magic in Roserasia; how it works, who can use it, and what are its possible effects.​

 

[Pretzel Heart]

Magic in Roserasia​

While Roserasia is a land abundant in magical forces, to call upon them requires special skills and an inherent connection to the natural world. Humans, having progressed far beyond such a connection, have long lost the ability to conduct the necessary rituals, supplementing their inability to perform magic with intellectual, physical, and political power.

For the arie and Witches, however, strong enough ties to the ancients have allowed them to keep magical abilities both in their blood and cultural heritage.

This is important for there are two strains of Roserasian magic: that which is within oneself, and that which is summoned from the land. While every arie and Witch is born with some level of the first kind (the ingrained ability to understand and perform magic), the second must be learned through training in the ways of music, dance, song, and (sometimes) theory. Particular chants in a musical language all to the arie's own call up certain effects. At times, by feeling the spirit of the land within, a new spell can be produced and then passed onto others. However it is thought by many magical theoreticians that there is no such thing as new spells...only new discoveries. This is owed to magic coming from the earth, and having thus always existed. Because Roserasian magic is so intrinsically tied to music, it is especially beautiful not only in what it can create, but how it creates it. Despite their inability to replicate such feats, some humans just enjoy listening to the arie perform magic as a purely auditory experience, for their music is vastly different from anything humans can produce and often has a hypnotic quality (even enough to end a war, as one legend has it). To try and explain it would be a callback to the beginning of time...a primordial instinct coming out in a musical voice. This vital connection is the thing that humans can never understand nor mirror.

Magic performances can be a huge communal event for arie. Some spells require many casters, so communities gather around to dance and sing and produce their enchantments. Some ancient arien holidays revolve around such occasions, even if the exact meaning of the charms and rituals have been lost to time. However, now that humans have begun to desire more magical goods, the large-scale production of these items necessitates stricter, more structured gatherings. While still filled with song, the factories and workshops never seem to have quite the same level of freedom and joy...

Easier spells have no need for such extensive rituals, and have even begun to be born into arie like their ability to perform magic itself. Basic levitational and illumination spells are like this.

Humans have become increasingly interested in and dependent upon arien magics as time passes and their civilization develops. High society will use "magical accessories" during their balls and dance competitions, visually outdoing their opponents with a flashy display and luxurious outfit. The way that these trinkets work is that one wears them as a simple accessory (such as a broach or hairpin), but through a simple activation ritual (usually a prescribed motion or chant), can have the accessory transform into an entirely new and lavish outfit. The magical display that accompanies such transformations is just another chance to show off, with the most elegant and eye catching sequences placing these accessories into price ranges only royalty can afford. (If you've read this far, put a blue furby in your cs ;p ). Since the amount of work that goes into producing such merchandise can be quite intensive, especially if the creation of a new spell is needed, these goods tend to be pricey in general. Arie, who typically hold lower laborial positions, often cannot afford the very items they painstakingly make. However, an aria who specializes in magical accessories of a certain quality would certainly be sought-after and well off. Usually they will attach themselves to specific boutiques, but clerks may also be quite devious about partnership contracts, making some craftsmen wary.

Because of the items' popularity, many lower quality magical accessories are made in mass, considered somewhat cheap and in bad taste, but more accessible to purchase. These are more likely to be found on the shelves of market carts than fancy shops. Some more impoverished arien families may try their hand at magical accessory creation in order to attempt to escape the cycle of poverty...however, without proper training, usually these goods tend to be inferior and can be swindled for incredibly low prices by a thrifty buyer.

The other main use of magic is as a utility. Since electricity has not yet been invented in this world, magic acts to power large machinery (though such is still rather rare), like the rides at Paso Doble Park, as well as illuminate. Obviously the higher classes are the ones with the most access to such extraneous flourishes of wealth, and so employ countless arien servants to power these displays. The number of arie in one's employment is a sign of social rank and wealth. Decorative levitation is also quite popular, such as having floating candles, globes, or streamers to adorn a room.

While magic is undeniably useful to humanity, there are also those that live in great suspicion of it. As of now, besides whispered-about experiments scattered across various countries, there is no real defense against spells used in force. Most nation's armies have at least some arien soldiers, though it is thought that their magic is either too weak or too cumbersome (requiring advanced movements and rituals) to take to the battlefield. Not to say that this has stopped people from trying, and attempts to weaponize magic have existed since the beginning of war. In this regard Witches can be considered the most dangerous, as they are thought to be the only ones powerful enough to truly use the ability to its deadliest potential.

There are also those practices which are forbidden by polite society, but are difficult to regulate among desparate arien and Witch communities. Luckily, these spells are also among the most difficult to perform, with many losing their lives in vain attempts to perfect them. Because of the potential hazards involved, it is almost universally punishable by death to be caught practicing such enchantments. Portal magic is one such strain, along with things like mind control, temporal manipulation, and anything requiring the sacrifice of life.