The Foundations of Magic
Magic begins with what a being is.
Most supernatural abilities are inherited or tied to a creature’s nature.
An angel’s power is celestial.
A dragon’s magic is connected to its homeland.
Demonic abilities may be determined by lineage, transformation, classification, or the being responsible for the demon’s creation.
Because of this, one supernatural creature cannot necessarily learn another species’ abilities.
Power and skill are not the same.
Possessing magic does not mean knowing how to control it.
Some abilities appear instinctively, while others require training, written instructions, runes, rituals, or years of practice.
Two members of the same species may have very different levels of control—and may not possess exactly the same abilities.
Magic requires a valid connection.
Power must have something through which it can operate. That connection may be:
- blood or lineage;
- a spoken command;
- a rune or symbol;
- a physical object;
- a true name;
- a place of origin;
- an oath or contract;
- or an existing supernatural bond.
Magic is strongest when the user possesses both the power and the authority to affect the target.
Words and symbols give magic direction.
Spoken commands, written spells, and runes provide structure for supernatural power. They tell the magic what it is meant to affect and how it should behave.
Runes may be used to open doors, construct portals, reinforce buildings, restrain supernatural creatures, or bind magic into an object.
They are powerful, but they are not indestructible. A rune can be damaged, interrupted, incorrectly written, deprived of power, or overwhelmed.
Magic has limits.
Magic consumes energy. Excessive use can cause exhaustion, pain, loss of control, unconsciousness, or physical injury.
It also cannot directly accomplish every desired outcome. Some forms of magic can create a condition but cannot command the final result. Others require a compatible bloodline, a known destination, a physical anchor, or the correct authority.
Magic may bend the rules of reality, but it does not erase them.
