Magic takes two forms — the magic which is used, and that which uses. They exist in direct opposition, anathema to one another; a person who has one cannot have the other, although they may, over time, replace what they have.
Glyphs
Glyphic magic is of solar origin, more prevalent in equatorial latitudes. It is the ability to write down a desire and, through focus and power, turn that desire into reality. The glyphic syntax is very powerful, able to convey many ideas with even more precision than the common language, but requires exceptional attention to detail; as little as a single error in a single stroke may render the spell ineffective, or cause it to backfire disastrously. The power is usually passed down in families, though it can manifest spontaneously as well.
- Glyph Overview
- Technical Details (recommended reading for mages)
- Istria's Mage Academy
- Inheritance of Power
Taint
Once, myths spoke of ravenous monsters, aggressive beasts that killed anything they could get their hands on. Of people who were not people, horrific demons that looked human, but in the dark would transform into their true monstrous shape. After the comet fell in the southern jungles, these legends became less mythical and more real, its power stretching out over the land to corrupt everything it could reach, twisting life to its desire. As for glyphs, taint is heritable — but unlike glyphic power, exposure to a strong dose of the comet's insidious magic can cause a person to acquire taint.
Other useful reading: the origin of life and magic.
