So, i decided that i wanted to make an alternate earth with magic, so i began to write an essay on how magic works. Here's what i have so far.
On Magic
Magic, in its simplest form, is the unexplained phenomenon whereby the laws of physics may be broken. There are many methods by which it may be utilised, some of them, data would suggest, dating back to the days of paleolithic man, and many cultures around the world have been using magic since their early history, notable examples being the Egyptians, whose knowledge was spread to other mediterranian cultures, the Aztecs and Mayans, the Celts, and the Japanese.
The Egyptian form, better known as Coptic Magic, depends on the use of so-called “magic circles” to either affect an subject, which may be animate or inanimate, within its bounds, or to summon a subject to its bounds. The circle, which need not be precise, is drawn on a flat surface, and, depending on the desired effecs, is drawn with other geometric patterns and symbols within, and often incorporates writing, which describes the desired effect. Upon completion of the circle, the Coptically trained magician places the subject, or, in the case of a summoning, a substitute of similar mass to the subject, within the bounds of the circle. Once this is done, the magician begins to chant a song or poem describing his intentions, and commanding the circle to carry out its purpose. While traditionally the song is written in ancient Egyptian, studies have demonstrated that there is no known language that does not work for this, including artificially constructed languages. Similarly, there seems to be no one language or script that has a better effect as the writings within and around the circle. Once the circle has served its purpose, it (which, it appears, may be drawn with anything that makes a mark) completely vanishes, leaving no trace of its presence. To that end, it is not uncommon to write down a copy of the circle, to preserve the knowledge for later use, but care must be taken lest the drawing within the book or scroll be itself used for magic accidentally. However, it is not uncommon to use a scroll on which a circle has been drawn as a ready-prepared circle, and, with the song written down with it, may be sold to non-magicians for a (rather hefty) price.
Mesoamerican magic, which was performed by the Aztecs and Mayans, involved the ritual sacrifice of an animal, the removal of its skin, and subsequent preservation of the skin. The skin was then prayed over by a priest, and generally decorated with beads, feathers (unless it is the skin of a bird that was used) and pieces of obsidian. Then it was given to a warrior, who, when it as worn in battle, granted the wearer the abilities of the creature from whence it came. A jaguar-skin generally granted the wearer powerful claws and great strength, the skin of a bird would give the wearer the ability to fly, and so-on. Which of the animal's abilites was granted was outlined in the “prayer” that the priest gave, which was, most likely, a magical incantation, and not really a prayer to the gods, though this has been a point of contention among magical historians for quite some time.
Aztec Magic is going to be based on the use of animal skins to gain the abilities of the animals, Celtic will be wands and potter-type stuff, and i'm not sure what Japanese will be. any ideas?
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Topic: On Magic: an in-progress essay about magic in an alternate earth (Read 1087 times)