THE MAGICAL SYSTEM (Updated to include special skills)

Earth. Air. Fire. Water. Aether. These are the words that begin An Enemy Defined, and they’re also the five elements of Elemental magic. Although Elemental is not the only type of magic you’ll encounter in Gowerland, it is the type I spend the most time on.

Elemental is the most powerful of the magics. As the name suggests, spells are cast by the Vedosh (witch) accessing and manipulating the elements through the aether. Each Vedosh has a different affinity for one or more elements. It is believed that access to the elements is granted by the goddess(es), which is why traditional magic involves complicated poetic spells instead of one or two words. Traditionalists consider their spellcasting to be a form of prayer, and as such they believe that short, unpoetic spells show a lack of reverence and gratitude and are an affront to the goddesses.

Kiandra was in the minority as a traditionalist. She tried to impress upon Lexi and Aeric the importance of honouring the goddesses through the words of their spells, but neither Lexi nor Aeric have the patience or the inclination to compose wordy spells when one or two words will do.

Casting non-verbally and/or without the use of one’s hands is extremely difficult and there are few Vedosh who are capable. The exception to this is fire magic, which doesn’t require a verbal spell. This is because unlike earth, air, water, and aether, fire is not something that normally exists. Unlike the other elements, it is created by the fire Vedosh, not merely accessed from the surrounding environment. However, that doesn’t mean verbal spells don’t affect fire magic. They can be used to alter the height of flames, the burn pattern, the temperature and even the density of the flames. Magical fire is not immune to the effects of the other elements. It can, for example, be extinguished by water.

The most basic feats, such as unlocking a door, operate separately from the elements. They usually include a simple movement and a word or two in Oldspeak, the original language of Gowerland. All Vedosh can use this magic, but not all Vedosh can use Elemental magic. Those Vedosh who can’t manipulate the elements are sometimes referred to as Basics by those who consider them unworthy or inferior, and as such it is considered an insult or slur.

The final type of magic is runic, somewhat of a lost art. Most Vedosh don’t even know how to read runes anymore much less use them. The Loinnai (light elves), however, remain masters of runic magic and frequently engrave runes on weapons and other items to enchant them. Dwarves were once also runic masters, but because of centuries spent segregated in the “designated areas” (i.e. the work camps) and in enslavement where all magic is forbidden, much of that knowledge has been lost. 

There are a few special talents and they each work through aether. Think of aether as my version of the Force from Star Wars. It exists within and between every object and being on the planet, connecting everything and everyone together. 

One such talent is animal communication. Animal communicators can communicate their own thoughts (and words) in a way that the animal (mammals only) understands, and they can understand the thoughts of the animals, perceived as images. Skilled animal communicators can, for lack of a better word, "warg" with the animal, seeing and hearing what the animal does as the animal does. 

Another special talent is telekinesis, allowing Vedosh to move objects with their mind.

Seers can, as the name implies, see and predict the future to varying degrees depending on their skill level, and Mind Vedosh can read minds. Both are exceedingly rare.

Healers require a bit of an explanation. Any Vedosh with potion-making skills can make tonics etc. that treat ailments, but anything more complicated requires the hands-on work of a healer. Healing exists on a continuum with, of all things, necromancy. At one end of the spectrum is a pure healer, who chooses only to practise the healing arts. At the other end is the pure necromancer, who chooses only to practise the death arts. I say choose because a healer is capable of necromancy and vice versa. 

The following example is a SPOILER if you've not read the prologue of A Journey Unveiled. You've been warned!

Although Eethelyn (Kiandra's mother) is a healer, the switch spell she uses on Aeric and Cadbian requires necromancy because Cadbian is dead. Each time she uses necromancy pushes her further along the spectrum towards the necromancy end, and each time she uses healing thereafter slides her back towards the healing end. The reverse is also true. If a necromancer took it upon themselves to perform acts of healing, they would start sliding towards the healing end of the spectrum. If a Vedosh wanted, they could exist right in the middle of the spectrum, performing equal amounts of healing and necromancy.

For information on the relationship between the goddesses, the gods, and magic, see the goddesses and gods post.