THE MAGICAL SYSTEM

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 focus on.

Elemental is the most powerful and prestigious of the magics. Vedosh (witches) cast spells by reaching out through the aether to connect with and manipulate the physical elements (earth, air, fire, water). 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. 

Each Vedosh has affinity for one or more physical elements, to varying degrees of strength. No wands or tools are required, and only humans and Loinnai (light elves) can perform it.

It is believed that access to the elements is granted by the goddess(es), which is why traditional Elemental magic involves complicated poetic spells rather than one or two spoken words. Because Traditionalists, including the character Kiandra, consider their spellcasting to be a form of prayer, they believe short, unpoetic spells show a lack of reverence and gratitude and are an affront to the goddesses. Traditionalists have become the minority. Most Vedosh no longer possess 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 few Vedosh are capable of doing so. Fire magic is the exception to this rule. Unlike earth, air, water, and aether, fire doesn't normally exist in the environment; it is created/conjured by fire Vedosh, not merely accessed. However, verbal spells 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 Basic 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 inferior, and as such it is considered an insult or slur. 

The final type of magic is Runic, and the Loinnai (light elves) and dwarves are masterful at it. They frequently engrave runes on weapons and other items to enchant them. Sadly, most of this knowledge has been lost by the dwarves in Gowerland thanks to centuries of segregation in work camps and enslavement, their culture and knowledge suppressed. 

SPECIAL TALENTS 

Some Vedosh possess special talents, each of which works through aether. 

One such talent is animal communication. Animal communicators can speak to non-humanoid mammals verbally and mentally as well as understand animals' thoughts, often perceived as images. Skilled animal communicators can, for lack of a better word, "warg" with the animal, seeing and hearing what the animal does in real time. 

Telekinesis allows Vedosh to move objects with their mind.

Seers can, as the name implies, see and predict the future to varying degrees, and Mind Vedosh can read minds. Both skills are exceedingly rare.

As for healers, any Vedosh with potion-making skills can make tonics and potions to treat ailments, but anything more complicated requires the hands-on work of a healer.

Necromancy is the rarest of the rare, and because of the stigma and judgment necromancers face, they often conceal their powers, making them even more difficult to identify. Being a necromancer doesn't make a person evil. They do not choose their magic any more than other Vedosh does. Like all magic, their character is defined by how they choose to use their magic.

HUMANOIDS AND SELENITES 

So what about non-humans? And the Selenites (dark elves)? Can they perform magic? If so, how?

Some members of the humanoid races (dwarves, halflings, and grotts) can indeed perform magic. However, they require a wand or other tool, and they cannot perform Elemental magic or cast non-verbally. But don't expect anyone in Gowerland to know this. Because of the country's centuries-long oppression and enslavement of, and disdain for, non-humans, their capacity for magic has been forgotten. 

To understand Selenite magic, you must understand where Selenites come from. They are not a natural-born species. They are created from the most evil and cruel humans using a ritual called Transcendence, a process that is quite similar to our vampire myths. This takes place where they live, on Selith Island, which was formed when the goddess Selenia fell from the heavens: her body created the island, while her life force/aether created violet crystals. 

Because Selenites are not a natural species, they cannot perform Elemental magic. Instead, they draw upon Selenia's life force within the crystals. In order to do so, they must be in physical contact with at least one crystal, eventually draining it. The higher the Selenite's status, the more crystals they wear and the more powerful they become. Their casting is non-verbal.