Introductory Notes on the Magical Energies Of The Perilous Lands Universe
The Magical Energies of The Perilous Lands were born upon its creation. Although no one living in these lands knows its origins, many stories have come down through history, by the various cultures now living here. Magicians and Scholars have gathered what information they could over the centuries, and tried to assemble it at the University of Ticasi, as a resource for all. Much of this information is in the form of tall tales, beloved by their peoples; much of it is what priests of various faiths have been allowed to share with their congregations. The secrecy of many religious faiths has made some research difficult for scholars, but some things can be implied from general observations of faith practices and overheard prayers to various gods.
Although, through the effects of Time and War, many stories have been lost, what has been gathered about the mysterious energies that we call “Magic” has been compiled in this document. It exists merely to try to simplify much of what has been discovered in our researches.
It is believed that, upon the Creation of our universe, that Magic was either created by the process of Creation, or was the Source of the Creation itself. No one can be sure.
This original Magic seems to have had two forms: 1) energizing, or living magic, and 2) stabilizing, or non-living magic. This is actually a misnomer, as both forms of magical energy are part of Life. It is just that one is visibly active by our intelligent races of human, elf, dwarf, etc., and the other much slower in its actions, and not often is its movement seen by living beings, except in certain of the elemental forces.
Over time, hundreds or even thousands of years, the gods of The Perilous Lands developed their own systems of philosophy in how the Magical Energy could or should be used, and when one should not use it. Gradually, these magical energies of Light and Dark were stretched through the actions of the gods, until the Original Magic was broken. What cataclysms might have occurred, we mortal races were not kept informed of, but Magic was split into many pieces, just as the light of the sun can be split into the colors of the rainbow.
And that, indeed, is what much of our modern magic is comprised of. Its various forms, now called Alignment Magics, shows off its various energies in such rainbow colors. And, in fact, it is the visible colors of these magics that have helped us formed our modern theories of Magic.
Here is a brief, if very simple, summary of Magic, according to our current theories. There is no effort here to separate these forces into more than their most basic designations.
Any new information that our readers may gather is most welcome. Please submit your findings to the Secretary of The Council of Scholars, Ticasi University. Please to not send information directly to an individual College or Temple. Your information will be distributed to all interested sites upon the campus, with a copy also being filed at both University libraries for reference use.
Original Magical Energies
| Source | Energy Color | Spell Effects |
| Life Creation/Affirmation (White Magic) | White, often showing as rays/streams of light beams consisting of magical energy Needs balance of so-called “non-living” matter to provide places where it can exist. Irony is that “non-living” things, such as stones, so have a form of Life, albeit a very slow-moving one. | Renews/strengthens Life Force Forces created for energies of movement, growth, transformation of living states, expansion |
| Created upon the creation of universe; source of the Creation itself. This is the mobile energy magic of Life & all mobile/moving living things, magical & non-magical (from bacteria to behemoths) | Spells often have colored tint hinting of alignment of caster, but may not (less color when most pure & when energy able to be drawn from Original Life Magic) | Healing, resurrection, birth, renewal/replenishment of energy, resources, etc |
| Life Denial/Rejection (Dark or Black Magic) | Black, dark smokiness, often in cloud/smoke forms consisting of magical energy | Removes Life Force from a source by either drawing it out of a living thing toward itself or by sending anti-life energies into it to break it up, destroy it |
| Created during creation of universe, as the stable energy to form places/homes upon which Life can/may exist. This includes the principles of the physical sciences, stars, solar systems, planets & other so-called “non-living” things down to the smallest stone or grain of sand. Meant to be the stable form of Creation, upon which moving Life can exist, its energies/strength/stability have been appropriated & twisted by Dark/Black Magicians to demobilize the active energies of White/Life Magic. | Spells often have color tones or shades hinting of alignment of caster, but may not (less color when most pure & energy able to be drawn from Original Dark Magic | Death, immobility, disease. Draws away Life Force from its living source & dissipates it to the surrounding space: the air, the ground or water (if in sea, river, etc) Forces created to stop movement of energy, allowing stabilization & non-movement, rest, diminution |
Alignment Magical Energies
| Source | Energy Color | Spell Appearances |
|---|---|---|
| Elder | Green | Healing, life-affirming, calming |
| Law | Yellow, golden, fiery | Brilliance, life affirming, inspiring, energizing; strengthening |
| Chaos | Red, fiery | Fiery, burning, angry; burns life |
| Balance | Orange, calming fires | Calming/dampening down of fiery energies; as a friendly campfire/safe shelter |
| Kotothi | Blue | Cold, shocking, life-drawing |
| Shadow | Purple | Darkness & light working together; a weird harmony that settles into calm |