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Magic - The Power and the nature of Magic
Topic Started: Jul 3 2015, 08:28 AM (16 Views)
Gwynbleidd
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Magic is common in the world of the Witcher, both in the traditional sense of a humanoid manipulating it and the presence of many creatures also inherently magical or able to use magic. It is derived from Chaos, a source of energy most commonly referred to as "the Power". This energy is intrinsicly linked with nature, and appears to have become far more powerful after the Conjunction of the Spheres.
Certain areas, known as Intersections, are naturally powerful in the Power: the reason for these areas existing is technically unclear, though the name comes from the common belief that they are the entry points through which Chaos and monsters entered during the Conjunction. Cats are naturally sensitive to these areas and prefer to live in them, as are dragons.
It should be noted that whilst mages are the most common magic users, there are also druids and priests capable of using magic, as well as intelligent magical species' such as dryads and certain older monsters, like ancient foglets.


Technically, all or most beings are capable of manipulating extremely basic magic, such as the Signs Witchers use, but certain individuals - known as "Sources" - are born with an innate ability to tap into Chaos and draw on it's power for their own personal uses. There are far fewer mages than there are Sources as many go mad without the guidance of a mage school or personal tutor: as such, many mages - particularly male Sorcerors - take on one or two magical apprentices.
Unusually, Sources tend to be predominantly female, and the most powerful mages in the world are nearly all women: the Lodge of Sorceresses is a secret magical and political cabal, and as the name suggests is comprised entirely of female mages.

The use of magic it not as simple as depleting an imaginary 'mana' reserve: one must draw upon the Power from the surrounding area, and thus it is also accurate to say that 'Sources', whilst they do emit more magical energy naturally, also often act as conduits to the Power when casting powerful spells or curses.
The use of powerful spells often leaves mages drained, to the point that they are barely able to maintain consciousness, and even extremely powerful mages are frequently effected by this: the differentiation between the weak and powerful appears to be the length of time before one collapses from exhaustion. Small spells often appear effortless.
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