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| gods-contracts-magic [2024/09/23 03:48] – created numilani | gods-contracts-magic [2024/09/23 03:52] (current) – numilani |
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| **//Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Rectify Conflicting Magic Systems//** | ====== Gods, Magic, and Contracts ====== |
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| ===== Magic ===== | **//Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Rectify Conflicting Magic Systems//** |
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| ==== What is "magic"? ==== | ===== What is "magic"? ===== |
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| In the context of Arborous, //magic// is defined as //any action, effect, or expression of power that bends, warps, or violates the natural laws of the universe (such as - but not limited to - physics, biology, and some formal systems like probability).// Put in layman's terms, magic is "any thing that happens through unnatural means, or any object that exhibits unnatural properties." | In the context of Arborous, //magic// is defined as //any action, effect, or expression of power that bends, warps, or violates the natural laws of the universe (such as - but not limited to - physics, biology, and some formal systems like probability).// Put in layman's terms, magic is "any thing that happens through unnatural means, or any object that exhibits unnatural properties." |
| In general, this breaks down into a few major groupings: | In general, this breaks down into a few major groupings: |
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| === Cosmic Magic === | ==== Cosmic Magic ==== |
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| Magical workings that only a god could pull off. This includes things like //magical flora/fauna// or, on a more "mundane" level, //the magical strands of arcane energy that keep the islands we inhabit floating above an endless void of nothingness.// | Magical workings that only a god could pull off. This includes things like //magical flora/fauna// or, on a more "mundane" level, //the magical strands of arcane energy that keep the islands we inhabit floating above an endless void of nothingness.// |
| Yes, people have tried to work cosmic magic. No, it does not turn out well for them. That isn't to say none have //succeeded//, only that the costs inevitably far outweigh the benefits. There are some workings of magic mortals were simply never meant to grasp, and it's likely to stay that way. | Yes, people have tried to work cosmic magic. No, it does not turn out well for them. That isn't to say none have //succeeded//, only that the costs inevitably far outweigh the benefits. There are some workings of magic mortals were simply never meant to grasp, and it's likely to stay that way. |
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| === Workable Magic === | ==== Workable Magic ==== |
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| This is what the majority of people think of when they contemplate magic - it's the sort of magic one can actually use and wield. However, workable magic is a fickle thing - the word is more a categorical description than it is a specific "thing" one can point to. However, there is one thing to keep in mind: //all workable magic is a contract between god and mortal.// That isn't to say that magic necessitates a personal relationship with any particular deity, but magic cannot exist in a place where no gods deem it so. | This is what the majority of people think of when they contemplate magic - it's the sort of magic one can actually use and wield. However, workable magic is a fickle thing - the word is more a categorical description than it is a specific "thing" one can point to. However, there is one thing to keep in mind: //all workable magic is a contract between god and mortal.// That isn't to say that magic necessitates a personal relationship with any particular deity, but magic cannot exist in a place where no gods deem it so. |
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| === Alchemical Magic === | ==== Alchemical Magic ==== |
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| There is...one exception to the previously stated rule. Alchemy itself is not "magic" per se, in the sense that the mixing of ingredients is not very different to cooking or baking or brewing. However, there is a certain "common understanding" among the Ordered Gods that, regardless of location, //magical properties of flora and fauna are to be upheld, even if used outside their territory of origin.// There are some RARE exceptions to this rule to be found in the Crowns, but these are rare indeed, and almost always short-lived; the Ordered Gods do not take kindly to their works being snubbed in this way. | There is...one exception to the previously stated rule. Alchemy itself is not "magic" per se, in the sense that the mixing of ingredients is not very different to cooking or baking or brewing. However, there is a certain "common understanding" among the Ordered Gods that, regardless of location, //magical properties of flora and fauna are to be upheld, even if used outside their territory of origin.// There are some RARE exceptions to this rule to be found in the Crowns, but these are rare indeed, and almost always short-lived; the Ordered Gods do not take kindly to their works being snubbed in this way. |
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| ===== Gods and Ascendancy ===== | |
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| ==== What are "gods"? ==== | ===== What are "gods"? ===== |
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| In the context of Arborous, //gods// are //immortal, sentient, magical beings whose existence relies upon the symbiotic, contractual relationship between themselves, their territories, and their followers.// | In the context of Arborous, //gods// are //immortal, sentient, magical beings whose existence relies upon the symbiotic, contractual relationship between themselves, their territories, and their followers.// |
| Gods are sentient, but they are not wholly invested with free will. Magic is, in a sense, a binding set of rules, one that a deity imposes upon themselves in the form of a contract to ensure their own self-sustenance. The terms of these "contracts" are not always clear, and they can vary wildly from one another, but the contract is, in a sense, the self-identity of the deity; their personality, their ideals, their very self is wrapped within this contract. More details are discussed below. | Gods are sentient, but they are not wholly invested with free will. Magic is, in a sense, a binding set of rules, one that a deity imposes upon themselves in the form of a contract to ensure their own self-sustenance. The terms of these "contracts" are not always clear, and they can vary wildly from one another, but the contract is, in a sense, the self-identity of the deity; their personality, their ideals, their very self is wrapped within this contract. More details are discussed below. |
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| ==== Ascension to Godhood ==== | ===== Ascension to Godhood ===== |
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| What exactly does ascension to godhood look like? Well, to become a deity, first you have to be dead. Sorry, but shedding the mortal coil is the first cost of ascension. Once you die, your soul is now free to pursue one of three outcomes: | What exactly does ascension to godhood look like? Well, to become a deity, first you have to be dead. Sorry, but shedding the mortal coil is the first cost of ascension. Once you die, your soul is now free to pursue one of three outcomes: |
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| === Vassalage === | ==== Vassalage ==== |
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| Those who served a deity often choose to become a vassal for them after death. Not all gods take vassals, but others accept vassalage from any who wish it after death. Vassalage is an imprecise term - some deities have specific tasks for their vassals to do, while other deities simply offer a place of eternal, quiet solace. This also offers spirits the opportunity to occasionally visit the mortal plane in some fashion, depending upon the agreements made with the deity that controls that territory. | Those who served a deity often choose to become a vassal for them after death. Not all gods take vassals, but others accept vassalage from any who wish it after death. Vassalage is an imprecise term - some deities have specific tasks for their vassals to do, while other deities simply offer a place of eternal, quiet solace. This also offers spirits the opportunity to occasionally visit the mortal plane in some fashion, depending upon the agreements made with the deity that controls that territory. |
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| === Ascension === | ==== Ascension ==== |
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| Alternatively, there's nothing stopping a particularly ambitious spirit from ascending to godhood, other than the difficulties involved. To ascend means to be in constant competition with other deities - good, evil, and indifferent - in an eternal, cosmic power struggle. It also means that a newly-ascended spirit-turned-deity is easy prey for malicious gods to try and kill, manipulate, or drive mad. | Alternatively, there's nothing stopping a particularly ambitious spirit from ascending to godhood, other than the difficulties involved. To ascend means to be in constant competition with other deities - good, evil, and indifferent - in an eternal, cosmic power struggle. It also means that a newly-ascended spirit-turned-deity is easy prey for malicious gods to try and kill, manipulate, or drive mad. |
| In addition, there's the necessity of forming symbiotic contracts in order to ascend - this is not a well-understood process, given that deities don't generally converse about this with mortals. It's unclear if the lack of communication on this subject is because deities are somehow universally forbidden to speak of the details, or because the details are so cosmically incomprehensible that there aren't proper words to even describe the concepts involved. Suffice it to say, there appear to be solid, dangerous reasons why you don't see many new deities popping up in the world, and it's probably best left at that. | In addition, there's the necessity of forming symbiotic contracts in order to ascend - this is not a well-understood process, given that deities don't generally converse about this with mortals. It's unclear if the lack of communication on this subject is because deities are somehow universally forbidden to speak of the details, or because the details are so cosmically incomprehensible that there aren't proper words to even describe the concepts involved. Suffice it to say, there appear to be solid, dangerous reasons why you don't see many new deities popping up in the world, and it's probably best left at that. |
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| === Consumption === | ==== Consumption ==== |
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| This is, in theory, the end state of all deities. Gods without any anchoring to reality through contracts simply...cease to exist after a time. It's unknown where these souls go, but presumably they have to go somewhere. One of the great mysteries of the universe, I suppose. In any case, whatever this force is, contracts are the counter-force; they serve to anchor a deity to reality. The only way for gods to avoid consumption is to anchor themselves to reality more strongly than the force that tries to annihilate them. | This is, in theory, the end state of all deities. Gods without any anchoring to reality through contracts simply...cease to exist after a time. It's unknown where these souls go, but presumably they have to go somewhere. One of the great mysteries of the universe, I suppose. In any case, whatever this force is, contracts are the counter-force; they serve to anchor a deity to reality. The only way for gods to avoid consumption is to anchor themselves to reality more strongly than the force that tries to annihilate them. |
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| ===== Magical Contracts ===== | ===== What Are Magical Contracts? ===== |
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| ==== What Are Magical Contracts? ==== | |
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| As mentioned, gods become gods through the creation of contracts. Some gods tie these contracts to their territories, others to an entire race, and still others to select mortals whom the deity deems worthy, or to mortals who worship said deity. Some gods choose to sacrifice power amongst the pantheon for stability, and tie their contract to multiple sources. This makes them weaker, but also harder to kill. Other deities crave the power of godhood, and thus tie themselves strongly to one source, leaving them empowered but vulnerable. | As mentioned, gods become gods through the creation of contracts. Some gods tie these contracts to their territories, others to an entire race, and still others to select mortals whom the deity deems worthy, or to mortals who worship said deity. Some gods choose to sacrifice power amongst the pantheon for stability, and tie their contract to multiple sources. This makes them weaker, but also harder to kill. Other deities crave the power of godhood, and thus tie themselves strongly to one source, leaving them empowered but vulnerable. |
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| ==== Types of Contracts ==== | |
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| ==== Individual Contracts ==== | ==== Individual Contracts ==== |
| * **Narrowly-Scoped** - Typically, lineage contracts provide an extremely narrow set of magical capabilities. | * **Narrowly-Scoped** - Typically, lineage contracts provide an extremely narrow set of magical capabilities. |
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| === Ideatic Contracts === | ==== Ideatic Contracts ==== |
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| Some deities, rather than specifically bonding with a specific group, will instead create open-ended contracts with any who choose to adhere to specific tenets (or "ideations", hence the name). These tenets/ideations are not specific actions - though many groups of people form certain rites or rituals as a learning aid - but rather are specific concepts, ideals, morals, or philosophies that must be embraced. Those who more fully embrace or embody these tenets tend to receive greater magical benefit, though whether this is due to the deity awarding greater power or simply because rigorous training tends to yield mastery is unclear. | Some deities, rather than specifically bonding with a specific group, will instead create open-ended contracts with any who choose to adhere to specific tenets (or "ideations", hence the name). These tenets/ideations are not specific actions - though many groups of people form certain rites or rituals as a learning aid - but rather are specific concepts, ideals, morals, or philosophies that must be embraced. Those who more fully embrace or embody these tenets tend to receive greater magical benefit, though whether this is due to the deity awarding greater power or simply because rigorous training tends to yield mastery is unclear. |