#callingm

[magic-is-something-we-create]

Happy Worldbuilding Wednesday! What's something your magic system CAN'T do?

Happy WBW to you, too, Raev!!! Thank you for the ask!!!

So, one of my favorite things about the Ehlverse is that it’s kind of become a way for me to work on my magic system building, and as a result, there are a bunch of magic systems that interact and fuck with each other all over the place!! So really, it depends on what magic you’re using!

For Elementalism, which is the most prominent magic system in Firebreathers, it mostly depends on how awake/energetic you are, and the borders between different elements! As a Fire Mage, if you’re too tired, you won’t be able to light your fireplace from across the room--though it might be easier if you’re touching the logs. But, as a Fire Mage, no matter how awake you are, you won’t be able to manipulate something like, say, magma, unless you are super skilled and also 100% sure it hasn’t started cooling! (Or, in the case that it has, that you’re working really well with an equally skilled Stone Mage)

And sometimes, with magics like Calling, it depends on which type you’re using, and how you’re trying to communicate!

While L-type Calling can magically translate any language to your own, it depends on you knowing that form of your language - so if you speak Mae, and someone is trying to talk to you in Rill, that will work, but unless you know your own form of sign language, you won’t be able to understand anyone else’s. Same goes for reading and braille.

M-type Calling is a kind of mild mind control - kind of like casting “suggestion” in D&D. For one thing, if you’re not subtle about it, it’s not going to work on anyone, regardless of their magical leaning or lack thereof. However, it also won’t work on:  - Mind Mages  - Sorcerers  - other Callers  - or, for whatever reason, Goblins

And with U-type Calling, while it may have brought about a Common Language, an interesting caveat to it is that it only works on Ehl. Which, y’know, most people won’t ever need to worry about, but it’s certainly something that will need to be figured out if anyone ever goes to space ;)

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Thank you again for the ask!!! I could go on and on about this stuff, but I’m also working on worldbuilding posts relating to the magic systems of Ehl currently, so I want to have at least some of those be a surprise!!

[magic-is-something-we-create]

Hellooo! :D happy WbW. What is a piece of worldbuilding that you haven't gotten to talk much about but that you could go on and on about for hours? Tell us about it!

Happy WBW!! thank you for the ask!!! this got super long holy hell

One of the things I haven’t gotten to talk much about on here is the various magic systems on Ehl!! I’ve talked a little bit about Elementalism, but I think that and Sorcery are the only ones I’ve really explained at all? So I’ll just do a quick list here of the different magic systems!!!!

Quick TW: blood is mentioned frequently in the RUNES and ALCHEMY/ENCHANTMENT sections behind the cut

Elementalism: Think Avatar bending, but more specific, and literally every Ehlf can do it to some capacity. Also theres no avatar, they’re all just stuck with one type from birth. The types are: Fire, Stone, Water, Air, Plant, Flesh (Healer), Metal, Electric (Light), and Mind (Dark). (Sidenote: Dark Mages have a lot of unwarranted stigma attached to them, and that in and of itself is a major factor in why the Firebreathers started.)

Sorcery: Really advanced illusion magic, that doesn’t only target sight, but literally any or all of your senses, depending on the strength of the Sorcerer. It’s legendary for fucking with your perception of reality. The main religion of Emarye (yet to be named) believes that all of reality is just an affect of Sorcery, and only in death will you get to participate in True Reality. About 1 in 30 Emaryans develop it in their teens, and probably 1 in every 1000 develop it as toddlers.

Runes: Think blood magic, but like, instead of making a deal with the devil or whatever, painting certain shapes (called Runes) can change how time and space affect the target. These Runes can also be directly carved into one’s skin, but they tend to bleed faster than normal cuts, and as such, are dangerous to invoke. Technically, every Human has blood that’s useful for Runes, but not everyone likes doing it, and it takes a pretty high pain tolerance if you want/need to do it on the fly.

Alchemy/Enchantment: Similar to Runes, but more science-y, and it makes use of lots of different kinds of blood. Say you want a potion that will stop you from getting burned; you’re gonna need some Drenn or dragon blood, blood of a Healer Elementalist, a few binding agents, and a SHIT ton of patience and creativity. Enchantments are similar in terms of ingredients, but you apply it to an object, instead of drinking it, and they usually last longer than potions.

The Forges: Basically a magical smithy in Glittergale, run and protected by Dwarves. It allows all kinds of alloys to be made that wouldn’t work, usually, and imbues the metal with magical properties, such as never dulling, if used as a blade. The Dwarves are very selective about who gets to use them, and who is allowed to learn how. This has caused some tense relations with other peoples, who want desperately to have access to such weapons and/or devices.

Calling Type M: So, there are a few types of Calling, as it’s a catch-all term for any linguistic magic. Type M is Manipulative, meaning that people who have and use it can influence others to do things they otherwise wouldn’t. Sirens are the most well-known for having a genetic tendency for this type, though about 1 in 200 people have it overall. (Sidenote: Ember has Type M Calling, but has moral qualms with using it. Yes, it comes up multiple times in F/irebreathers.)

Calling Type L: Type L Calling is Language. Essentially, when one consciously uses this form of Calling, anyone and anything can understand them, regardless of language barriers. This works verbally, with gestures, or with writing. Fairies are known to have a genetic inclination to this form, though about 1 in 50 people have it overall. (Sidenote: Ozzie has this type, but when he asks for help from Ember with it, Ember assumes he has Type M. This also comes up as a running gag for a while.)

Calling Type W: This one is Worldwide. It’s where Common Tongue came from, and any sentient species can understand and use it, without having to learn it first. However, said person has to know at least one language fluently; Common mimics one’s own language when encountered.

Lesser Shifting: So, the names for Lesser and Greater Shifting are a little confusing. Lesser Shifting is the ability to completely Shapeshift almost at-will; the only restraints are one’s pain tolerance and amount of sleep had beforehand. About 1 in every 100 people worldwide have this type.

Greater Shifting/Blending: Greater Shifting, on the other hand, is the ability to fine-tune your shapeshifting, and can be achieved through practice. However, Mikrona are naturally-occuring Greater Shifters. They call the ability Blending, and it holds HUGE religious importance for them. It’s encouraged to use it constantly, to create a closer bond with the nature around you, so lots of Mikrona have near-constant changing skin patterns and other minor features.

Botany: This one is a healing type of magic that depends on the plants of Sieril. Rather than healing physical injuries, though, a Botany ritual will cure someone of any diseases or infections they have developed. The rituals depend on specific, rare plants, and good timing with the moon + stars, and always take place at night. This magic is pretty much the entire reason only 98% of the Sharali died in the Day Plague, rather than running them to extinction.

Worldly Magic: Finally, this is the magic of Ehl itself, the Growths and Decays, and the Echoes of Prophecy. It’s basically the creator of all of the other magics, as well as almost every other living thing on Ehl, and it’s what people tap into during adrenaline rushes. The Priestesses of Nimia are able to use it to incur Prophecies for guidance, as well. In Mayhism, it is thought to be the manifestation of the goddess of magic, Venn.

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PHEW that was a lot ;alskjfa;sldkf 

I get very excited about my magic systems, if you can’t tell 😅

Also this is v relevant to Ehl itself so:

Ehlverse Taglist:

@charles-joseph-writes : @adaparkwrites : @vioaeon

[magic-is-something-we-create]

Happy WBW from writingamongthecoloredroses! What is your world's stance on magic? Is there anything forbidden? Is there anybody famous for doing forbidden magic?

Thank you, happy WBW @writingamongthecoloredroses!!

For most of the Ehlverse, it’s pretty... difficult to take a negative stance on magic, since 1) most peoples have inherent magics, 2) most peoples were created through magic, and, most importantly, 3) every major religion in the Ehlverse is based on the positive existence of magic in some way or another. Overall, most people either have positive or fairly neutral feelings towards magic, since it is so entwined in their very existence. 

The only people who are even slightly negative towards magic and its users are an almost-insignificant minority of Goblins, who, even then, only believe that the world depends a bit too much on it, and people need to tone it down in case of a massive Decay.

Their ideas are shot down pretty swiftly, usually, since most of the world sees the threat of a massive Decay to be small-to-none.

That being said, there are limits to what is an acceptable use of magic. The equivalent of the Geneva Conventions basically states as follows:

1. Use of large-scale Runes is prohibited outside of warfare, and if any civilians are affected by Runic warfare, the offending Nation has committed a war crime, and will be held accountable to the satisfaction of the affected Nation. 2. The use of Manipulative Calling or Mind Elementalism to cause a number of defections, mass-suicide, or otherwise influence large amounts of enemy fighters, is prohibited, and will be met with a kill order for the person(s) behind the manipulation. 3. Sorcery of any kind is prohibited in warfare, and will be met with a kill order for the person(s) behind the Sorcery.

And it goes on a little bit more; essentially, it’s illegal to use magics in ways that can cause harm to a great number of people, either physically or mentally. 

There are also, of course, laws against using Calling, Mind Elementalism, or any other mind-altering magics to influence the consent of a sexual partner, and smaller-scale laws against using magic to harm another person. The ones listed above are just examples of world-wide things that anyone can name off the top of their head.

Ehlverse Taglist:

@adaparkwrites : @charles-joseph-writes : @vioaeon