Magic3

On the Categorization of Magic:Almost all magic can be classified into one of two groups. The names givento these groups are varied. Some have called them the Chaotic and Orderedgroups; while this is technically accurate, it is confusing, as most firemagic falls into the group described as "Ordered", while many protectivespells are considered chaotic. Frequently they are referred to as OldMagic and New Magic, reflecting the fact that Old Magics are considerablyharder to create and to learn, and thus must be handed down by generationsof wizards. The terms we shall use are External and Internal magics, todescribe the sources of power used by practitioners of these magics.The distinction between the two types of magics is best shown by example: Example of External Magic: "If I chant the four mystic runes while throwing dried oak leaves into the air in front of me and gesturing with my enchanted athame, then that door will open." Example of Internal magic: "If I use my telekinetic powers to open that lock, then push on the doorknob, then that door will open.""Internal" magics draw power from the user's magic or energy reserves. Theyare controlled directly by the user. They need not be memorized, and nospecial ingredients are required; you just throw the right kind of energyat something, and it works."External" magics, on the other hand, tap into the fundamental chaos thatunderlies reality. Special ingredients, ritual gestures, unpronounceablemagic words, and the like are usually needed to trigger the effects.These spells must usually be memorized from books, cast, and re-memorized.They are much less adaptable than Internal magics; any change in the castingof an External spell results in wildly unpredictable, and often quitedestructive, results. On the other hand, External spells are far moreversatile, as there are a lot of things that Internal magic just can't do.For example, it's very difficult to affect something you can't see viaInternal magic, not because the forces won't coalesce or anything sillylike that, but because the caster will probably miss. Divination spellsare completely impossible with internal magic. Flight is not impossible -that's a fundamental restriction of wizardry, not of internal magic ingeneral - but it's difficult, especially compared to Triolus's EtherealLevitation, a third-level Old Magic spell that accomplishes the sameobjective at a cost of only two hen's teeth and a leaf of nightshade.Furthermore, there are intrinsic restrictions on the power of any Internalmagic user; only so much energy can be stored in any one body, and it canonly be regenerated so fast. Old Mages are restricted only by theavailability of magical spells and components, and by the rate at whichthey can memorize new spells.What is the practical application of all of this? Wizardry, thepredominant magical discipline on the world of Dirt, is a strongly Internaldiscipline. Most of its spells rely on throwing power around, and, assuch, it is extremely popular. However, there are times when one reallyneeds a divination, a long-distance assassination, or a polymorph spell.Providing these resources are the Clerics, the followers of theplaneswalkers, the source of most of the Old Magic on Dirt. A partial ordering of the magical disciplines in Dirt: Warlockry INTERNAL Elementalism Witchcraft Wizardry Artificing Sorcery Illusion Psionics Herbalism Che'tai training Jordanism Necromancy Thaumaturgy Clericry EXTERNAL