#enchanters

[enchanters-hk-oc]

"Can't you see, can't you see

That you are not like anyone?

You'll never see through anyone else's eyes

And who am I to certify the sanity of a twisted mind?

A victim of perception, a twisted mind"

Avantasia - Twisted Mind

Nothing unusual, just Shikai in his lair doing evil magic stuff 🙂‍↔️

+bonus background:

[maythedreadwolftakeyou]

another dragon age song on hammer dulcimer from our ren faire pal evan.plays.dulcimer, this time the tune Enchanters :) don’t mind the background chatter/poor video quality, I had to set my phone down while it was recording to help a customer in our booth

[basicallyanotherwitchesthing]

Alicia Grace - Enchanted Circle - Lancer - 1968

[adarkrainbow]

Trivia of the day: Madame d'Aulnoy's fairy tales strongly imply (if not outright say) that enchanters are the male counterparts to fairies.

[roseofmaygreece]

Go to my YouTube to watch my new cover of Enchanter from the video game Dragon Age Inquisition! Thank you for all the support guys!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWDrUtXQ5t4

I hope you like it! It's shot in the forest in my city during this summer's heatwave! We had a lot of fun making it.

[nw-of-dark]

Mage Path: Acanthus

Enchanters, Witches, Visionaries, Sky-Wise, the Path of Thistle

Mages who follow this path have an affinity for the arcana of Fate and Time, which means they specialize in manipulating these aspects of reality through their magical abilities.

The Acanthi mages have a distinct approach to magic, focusing on the concepts of Choice and Consequence. They believe that their actions and decisions have significant effects on the outcome of events. This philosophy guides their magical practices and shapes their understanding of the world.

However, Acanthi mages are often described by their fellow Awakened (those who possess magical abilities) as flighty, reckless, and irresponsible. This is because their mastery of Fate and Time allows them to navigate around the setbacks and dangers that other Awakened individuals and ordinary people, known as Sleepers, have to face. While this ability can be advantageous, it can hinder their personal growth and development.

Acanthi mages tend to overlook the importance of learning from failure. They rely heavily on their inherent talent for timing and luck, disregarding the valuable lessons that come from experiencing setbacks and overcoming challenges. Their overreliance on their own abilities can lead to impatience and a lack of proper planning. Consequently, this can result in them getting entangled in unnecessary conflicts and problems due to their refusal to consider the future consequences of their actions.

Despite their flaws, the Acanthi mages' openness and adaptability serve them well, given their connection to the Arcana of foresight and fortune. However, their impulsive nature and lack of effective planning can be detrimental to their overall success and well-being.

Characteristics

Upon Awakening, Enchanters experience a profound expansion of their consciousness, becoming aware of the vast possibilities and intricacies within the fabric of destiny and the time stream. This newfound perception may explain why Acanthus mages often struggle to commit or focus on one particular pursuit for an extended period. They glimpse countless opportunities and perceive that anything is possible, believing that forgiveness can be found in time. This flighty and impulsive nature of Acanthus mages is perceived by other Awakened individuals, who view them as unpredictable and carefree.

Enchanters are renowned among other magical Paths for their exceptional divination skills, often serving as oracles and fortune tellers. However, this reputation does little to change the common perception of Acanthus mages as detached and unconcerned with the world around them. In truth, they are known for their mercurial attitudes, making decisions based more on emotions rather than logic or duty.

Enchanters possess a natural curiosity but easily become bored, finding it challenging to commit to anything they find uninteresting or meaningless. Nonetheless, this adaptable nature grants them a unique ability that many other Awakened lack—the capacity to laugh at themselves and derive enjoyment from life.

Among the Awakened, the mages of the Lunargent Thorn, or Acanthae, are considered the most whimsical and capricious. Some see them as free-spirited and refreshing, while others view them as unstable, immature, or even childish. Acanthus mages often exhibit an otherworldly quality, and they themselves do not deny it. Additionally, they appear to age differently from both ordinary humans (Sleepers) and mages from other Paths, as time treats them more gently, causing them to look younger than their actual age.

Maturity and stability are not the strong suits of those who follow the Path of Thistle. While they possess extraordinary insights into past and future events, they may not always fully capitalize on their foresight, which can frustrate their fellow mages. Peers often criticize Acanthus mages for their perceived flakiness or irrationality, but such allegations seem to have little effect on them. Several theories attempt to explain their peculiar behavior, with some suggesting that Enchanters are inundated with the vast branches of the time stream, causing them to perceive that nothing is impossible and no decision is irreversible. In their defense, the Path of Thistle offers far more than a mage can handle until they develop and mature in their magical abilities.

Style

A mage on the Path of Thistle, or Acanthus, often experiences magic in the form of extraordinary good luck. This aspect of their magic can lead them to perceive themselves as exceptionally fortunate, and many Acanthus mages display a tendency towards superstition, even within their magical practices. Their sense of wonder and limitless potential often instills hope in others, as Acanthus mages believe that odds can always be overcome and second chances are ever-present.

While ordinary humans, or Sleepers, perceive time as a linear progression, Acanthus mages see it as a boomerang, capable of reversing its course and returning to its point of origin. Both Time and Fate, the ruling Arcana of the Acanthus, revolve around the concept of constant change and perpetual motion. Time continues to flow, and Fate evolves as probabilities and possibilities shift. These changes can be sudden and drastic or subtle and gradual. Acanthus mages learn to embrace this ever-changing nature, as their magic binds them to the eternal fluctuations of the cosmic pulse (Time) and the unpredictable nature of the cosmic Will (Fate).

For the Acanthus mage, the world is veiled by Mists, obscuring both the past and the future. It is also encircled by Thorns, which supposedly keep each being confined within their predetermined destiny. Acanthus mages possess the ability to remove or sever these Thorns using their Awakened Will, as well as navigate through the Mists until they find their desired vision or outcome.

[kruk-art]

My little project! Finally something more than random sketches! I decided to draw crests for all orders from SoH, cause why not? Text is from Shepherds of Haven codex, and of course belong to the author.