Magic comes in a variety of types, though they are usually classed as Elemental, or an Adept Discipline. Witches and Warlocks are an exception to this rule, although their use of magic is not well documented.
The constant use of magic is said to rejuvenate the body, and can extend a sorcerer's lifetime, with many characters in the series being over five hundred years old. The rate of age slowdown is noted to be inconsistent, though it at least partly depends on how often magic is used. However, Tanith, who regularly uses her magic, is in her eighties for most of the series, and appears as if she's in her early twenties, so the effects are quite noticeable. How long a sorcerer needs to use magic for before the slow down starts is about 2-3 years. Depending on the strength of the sorcerers magic the age slowdown differs, as Greta Dapple was 200 years old and looked like she was 100 while Tanith was in her 80s looking like she was 20. The slowing of age is exempt to some magical beings, as the Witch Dubhóg Ni Broin of The Crones of The Cold Embrace was of an advanced age by mortal standards and wore every year of it.
Derek has stated that sorcerers can live to well over a thousand, but it has rarely happened.
The Source of all Magic[]
True Names[]
- Main article: The Three Names
True Names are the source of Magic. Every sorcerer has a True Name, and that enables them to use magic. If a sorcerer finds out his True Name, it is said that can be extremely powerful, being able to take on the Faceless Ones, Argeddion, Lord Vile or Darquesse.
Walden D'Essai[]
It was said by Greta Dapple that Walden D'Essai had a theory that true names are not the source of magic, but directly connected to it.
The Unnamed[]
- Main article: The Unnamed
The Unnamed didn't have a True Name but could still manipulate Magic.
Valkyrie Cain's power[]
Militsa Gnosis begs Valkyrie Cain to display her powers, because Valkyrie is uniquely connected to the Source of all Magic, her magic is pure and unfiltered.
Branches of Magic[]
Elemental[]
- Main article: Elemental
Elemental magic involves the use of Air, Water, Earth and Fire. However, Air and Fire are the most commonly used. This is due to the fact that Earth magic is mostly only used for defense and Water magic has less practical or combative use except when large bodies of water or snow are nearby.
Adept[]
- Main article: Adept
Adept magic has a variety of different magic. Some include Necromancy, Symbol Magic and Teleportation.
Reflection Magic[]
- Main article: Reflection
Many mages can learn the art of creating a perfect duplicate copy of themselves, known as a Reflection. This branch of magic neither falls under Elemental nor Adept. Some glitches exist in this magic, such as the reflection developing near-sentience, such as Valkyrie Cain's reflection did when it was killed.
The Surge[]
- Main article: The Surge
The Surge is a natural process that occurs in all mages. It sets a mages's magical discipline such that they can only use one branch (either elemental or adept). Although it has only been confirmed for Necromancy, it is very heavily implied that it applies to all Magical disciplines.
The Passage[]
- Main article: The Passage
The Passage is a belief of most Necromancers that The Death Bringer will block all natural life and death, resulting in no babies being born and no death. Argeddion had a similar plan, however his plan is to give Magic to everybody in the world, not take it away.
Neoteric[]
- Main article: Neoteric
A branch of magic that develops around a users own nature and personalty without training. This magic can be similar to be a known adept discipline, but with certain quirks unique to a specific user. For example, Nero can teleport similar to teleporters, but does not need to be contact with others to teleport to them and anti-teleport sigils don't affect him. Their magic resembles magic used by most sorcerers, not to be confused with Warlock or Witch Magic. It stands to reason that Neoterics have three names, the same as other sorcerers.
Sub-Branches[]
Some branches of magic grant their users extra abilities, such as Wall-Walking allowing one to open and seal doors. Tanith Low once provided an analogy comparing Magic to a Tree, with the Trunk being the Source of all Magic, the branched representing different magic disciplines and twigs on the branch representing sub-powers of a discipline.
Known Mages[]
- For a full list Category:Adepts and Category:Elementals.
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