Arcane Magic is a powerful force in the mortal sphere. Those who master it can rain fire upon their foes, heal wounds instantly and bewitch their rivals. Throughout Esterra and beyond you will find mages, warlocks, witches, and more who attempt to reach mastery in a wide variety of ways ranging from personal superstition to scientific inquiry. But just as magic can create power it can also corrupt. To be this powerful and hold these capabilities in yourself can sometimes lead to dangerous personalities and delusions of grandeur. The arcane is just a force to be used and cares not who its end.
See also Spellcasting
The Source of Arcane Magic
Arcane Magic originates from the mortal sphere, in the same way that gravity, warmth, and time originate from the mortal sphere. It is a force that essential to existence within the mortal sphere and is present to some greater or lesser extent in all things. In places where the arcane is particularly strong, it can spontaneously affect the world often in the form of curses, magical creatures, or fonts of physical magic known as leylines. The core understanding of the arcane is still a study being undertaken. How it moves through the world, its purpose and the true extent of its power are still being understood by mages across the world.
The Use of Magic
Spellcasters will control and bend arcane magic to produce a wide variety of effects. To do so requires mana, which is a measurement of the amount of power a spellcaster has available to them at a time. All beings of the Mortal Sphere have some amount of mana within them that ebbs and grows with use and can be improved in the same way that one would train to run further or fight harder. In the process of drawing forth their own arcane powers, mages can also draw from concepts, the natural world, and other aspects of the Mortal Sphere to ignite that power within them. This forms the basis of the chants and techniques that mages use as part of their spellcasting.
Unknown Magics
Schools of Magic across the world are still unravelling the exact nature of magic and its uses. New ceremonies, spells, and artifacts are being researched at every waking moment. However, there are some magical effects that are not well understood by the world, such as Necromancy. Research into these topics is sporadic, due to their religious consequences.
Waystones
Scattered across the world, although more common in Esterra, are powerful Waystones. These naturally occurring rock formations are deeply connected to the Mortal Sphere. They allow mages to open temporary portals to safe locations within a range. However fuelling these Waystones is a difficult affair, particularly for the transport of more than a few people. This causes them to be only truly accessible to large nations and even then, only used for moments of worth or danger.
The Waystones within Passage is supported by a group of scouts known as Concordian Pathfinders. Elite rangers and survivalists recruited from across The Concord, Pathfinders travel far and wide looking for locations that may require a Waystone portal to be opened. They ensure that the location is safe from foes and from environmental dangers. They often remain in a location to support the portal and then flee after it is finished. This often places Pathfinders in a wide variety of extremely dangerous situations.
As far as The Concord is aware, there are either too few Waystones in the world or not enough motivation to empower them for their use to be widespread and The Concord is the only nation known to use them commonly.