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The Five Embodiments

Magic is a powerful force, but properly understanding and directing that powerful is more difficult than laymen believe. While legendary sorcerers might lay their enchantments over entire cities, or curse a family unto the seventh generation, most sorcerers have a much more limited scope of effects.

The manner through which sorcerers expand on their capabilities are the Five Embodiments. These five understandings of magical existance have existed since the Magus first developed the capability for sorcery, and were used extensively during the Fire War. Each understanding itself had five layers; all sorcerers instinctively understand the most basic of these layers, and can apply them to their spells, but must then take special care and effort in developing further layers. For many years, the existance of the fourth and fifth Embodiments was largely aprocyphal; while stories told that the Magus had access to them, they were often considered to be largely poetic, in order to retain the fivefold harmony that seemed to embody magic. It was not until the spread of the left-hand paths that it became clear that there were always five layers to each Embodiment, and much speculation remains as to how, and whether, the Magus was able to access these without himself following the left-hand path.

Each of the Five Embodiments is known by a parable; these parables were supposedly taught by the Magus himself to his pupils, by way of explaining the function of each Embodiment. The parables show the existance of all five layers of each Embodiment, and are meant to be considered and meditated upon by prospective students. They are not technically necessary, but nearly all modern sorcerers teach them to their students.

Learning Embodiments

Embodiments are relatively easy to learn; unlike spells or Principles, a sorcerer need not spend a great deal of time developing and charting them; instead, only the basics of training are required. However, Embodiments do require a great deal of understanding of how Essence functions in order to be purchased.

Learning an Embodiment requires a number of days of training equal to its Essence requirement. If the character has a tutor, this time is halved. Embodiments always cost 8 XP to learn, regardless of whether or not a character has a tutor. They must be learned in order, and characters may never expand upon them or create new Embodiments; they represent the sum total of knowledge of the basics of spell manipulation.

Akasha, The Embodiment Of Scope

At its most basic, sorcery is a personal affair. A sorcerer may easily and readily affect herself, or a single other target, but must individually untangle Essence flows in order to work changes against them. Akasha represents the understanding that all things are connected, and allows a character to spread a net of her Essence, entrapping an ever-growing array of things within the breadth of a single spell. It is one of the most valued of the Embodiments, especially by young sorcerers.

The Embodiment Of Scope

Bhumi, The Embodiment Of Duration

Essence is, by its nature, a transitory thing. Though a sorcerer may transform many things, their innate natures quickly change them back. Through Bhumi, however, a sorcerer learns to work their magics ever-deeper into the fabric of a thing, vastly increasing the duration of their spells. Note that because of its nature, Bhumi interacts oddly with instant-duration spells; rather than applying them each instant, it uses the duration to apply the spell's total effect, divided by the duration.

Bhumi requires a character to commit motes of Essence to spells. Commited motes may not be recovered until the spell's effects end.

The Embodiment Of Duration

Agni, The Embodiment Of Condition

Magic is not selective. It pours and twists, transforming everything in its path. Through the power of Agni, characters learn to shape magic to their will, narrowing its focus in order to affect only certain things with it. Unlike most other Embodiments, Agni does not scale quickly in cost along with its power. It is also notable that Agni is often useless unless combined with Akasha, although cunning spellcasters find ways to use it regardless.

The Embodiment Of Condition

Jala: The Embodiment Of Restoration

This Embodiment alone affects not the magic, but the mage. Essence recovers slowly, and sorcerers must scrape to regain it. Through Jala, a character recovers her Essence far more quickly, learning to tap into the flows of Creation in order to do so. Those who master this Embodiment can cast their spells with far greater frequency.

The Embodiment Of Restoration

Vayu, The Embodiment Of Distance

Magic is a personal feat. Normally, mages may aim their spells only at a target who they can touch. This is frequently difficult and unpleasant, and those who prefer hostile spells especially find Vayu to be a powerful ally. Note that characters using Vayu must still aim a spell as usual, and must be able to see their target (either physically, or through other spells) regardless of range. This becomes critical at higher-Essence levels.

The Embodiment Of Distance

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