Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Magic Spells
Magic can be used in various ways. It can be brought about by carrying a magic amulet or charm. It can be brewed into a magic potion. In this class, we are interested in the use of wands to cast magic spells. While the theory and practice of spell casting is properly the subject of a spell casting class, a minimum amount of information is necessary to understand the use of magic wands.
A magic spell is a highly concentrated form of magic consisting of the fusion of raw Quintessence and an incantation, which produces a specific supernatural effect when cast in a focused beam that hits the subject of the spell. There is no obvious limit to the number of spells that can be cast. If a mage can imagine it, then he can cast a corresponding spell.
An incantation is a magical command stating the intended supernatural effect of the spell that is used to focus the mind of the mage when transmuting particles of raw Quintessence into golden threads that are woven into the spell that is cast as a focused beam at the intended subject of the spell. Although the mage typically speaks the command out loud, the mage may also say the words of the incantation silently in his mind, although this takes considerably more practice and concentration. Clearly speaking the words will help you to concentrate on casting the spell, and this is why you will be speaking the words of your spells out loud during your initial years at school.
In lands once conquered by ancient Rome, spells are traditionally cast using Latin incantations. In other parts of the world, other languages are typically used (e.g., Old Mandarin in China). Although any language could be used, an archaic language is usually better than a mage's native language because it helps the mage concentrate his mind and will on crafting of the spell, thereby making it stronger and better controlled. There is no obvious limit to the number of possible magical spells.
The proper name of a spell is typically a shortened form of its incantation. Sometimes, this would be ambiguous so the proper name would be the entire incantation. For example, the Creare fulgur spell is often referred to as the Fulgur spell. However since you are just beginning your study of magic, we will keep things simple and refer to the spell by its English translation: in this case, the Create lightning spell.
Casting a spell consists of the following seven steps occurring in the following order:
1. Gather Quintessence - The mage mentally travels up through the spiritual plane of existence and on into the astral plane of existence where he gathers sufficient raw Quintessence to create the magic spell.
2. Weave the Spell - Speaking the incantation and clearly envisioning the spell's desired effect, the mage mentally concentrates the particles of raw Quintessence he gathered into golden threads of magic and weaves them together to form the magic spell.
Forcefully speaking the spell's incantation helps the mage focus and thereby more easily and completely visualize the spell's intended result. With sufficient practice, a mage may eventually reach the point where he does not need to speak the incantation out loud. However, it still greatly helps if he at least silently says the incantation within his mind. This ability to cast silent spells is a very important skill as it enables the mage to secretly cast spells in front of mundanes. It is also a useful ability during fights or duels for it makes it harder for one's adversary to recognize and block magical attacks.
3. Aim the Spell - The mage points the wand at the target of the spell. This step is often performed simultaneously with the previous step.
4. Mentally Cast the Spell - Using force of will, the mage mentally propels the magic spell along the nerves running down from his brain through his neck, shoulder, arm, and hand, and on into the wand's handle.
5. Strengthen and Focus the Spell - The part of the magical creature stored in the wand's core and the magical wood comprising the wand's handle and shaft strengthen the magic spell as it flows through the wand. The mystical crystals and metals, if any, focus the spell into a tighter beam.
6. Flight of the Spell - The spell leaves the wand's tip and flies towards the subject of the spell in the form of a beam of pure Quintessence, the width of which depends on how well the mage and wand have focused the spell. The speed of the spell is for all practical purposes infinite for it appears to reach the subject instantaneously.
7. Arrival of the Spell - All, some, or none of the spell strikes the subject of the spell depending on how well it has been aimed, how much it has been focused, and whether it has been completely or partially blocked by a counter spell. The spell takes effect in direct proportion to the amount of Quintessence that strikes the subject.
The mage performs the first four of these steps, while the wand automatically performs step five, and the spell automatically performs steps six and seven. The steps performed by the mage become easier with practice and eventually become so automatic over time that they do not require conscious effort.
If any of the above necessary steps are incorrectly or inadequately done, then the spell will have little or no effect on its target. For example, the mage could gather insufficient Quintessence, lose his concentration, not apply sufficient will power, or just plain miss his target, which is probably the most common error made.
Almost all spells are temporary, with the duration of the spell's effects depending on the amount of Quintessence hitting the subject of the spell. This in turn depends on the amount of Quintessence that the mage has gathered from the astral plane, how much it is strengthened by part of the magical creature in the wand's core and the magical woods making up the wand's handle and shaft, how much it is focused by the wand's mystical crystals and metals (if any), and how well the mage aims the spell at its target.
Relative Importance of Creatures, Woods, Crystals, and Metals
The components of magic wands influence the strength and focus of the spells cast with it. The above figure shows that the choice of creature for the core of the wand has a bigger effect on the strength of the spell than the choice of the wand's wood(s). Similarly, the choice of the wand's crystal(s) has a larger impact on the focusing of the spells than the choice of the crystal's metal settings.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone