Magic of the Frontier
Magic in the Frontier is an intricate dance between the primal forces of nature and the mysterious realm of spirits. Those who wield magic draw upon the power of spirits connected to the six primal sources: Sun, Moon, Stars, Earth, Sky, and Ocean. By forging a deep connection with these spirits, magic-users are able to manipulate the fundamental energies of the universe, giving rise to wondrous and awe-inspiring abilities.
How Magic Works
The process of using magic begins with the formation of a bond between the magic-user and the spirits associated with their chosen primal source. This connection is often established through rituals, meditations, or a unique event such as the Firstborn's Binding ceremony. Once the bond is formed, the magic-user gains the ability to channel the power of the spirits, allowing them to harness and control the primal forces.
Casting Magic
To cast a spell or use a magical ability, the magic-user must first attune themselves to the spirit's energy, reaching out to the spirit through their bond and drawing upon its power. This process may require a combination of concentration, gestures, or incantations, depending on the nature of the spell or ability being invoked. As the magic-user's connection to the spirit deepens, they gain access to more powerful and complex abilities, allowing them to further bend the primal forces to their will.
The Price of Power
However, magic is not without its risks. The spirits that inhabit the Frontier are powerful, enigmatic beings, each with their own desires and motivations. While some spirits may willingly lend their power to magic-users who share their goals, others may demand a price for their assistance, whether it be a favour, a sacrifice, or even a portion of the magic-user's own life force. Those who would wield the power of the spirits must navigate these treacherous alliances, ensuring that their thirst for power does not lead them down a dark and dangerous path.
In the end, magic in the Frontier is a complex and wondrous force, its potential limited only by the imagination and conviction of those who wield it. As a magic-user in this world, you will find yourself at the heart of the struggle between nature and progress, your abilities a testament to the enduring power of the spirits and the primal forces they embody.
Innate Magic
There have been recorded cases of Half-Bloods manifesting innate magical abilities. This is usually caused by a triggering event which awakens their previously dormant spiritual side. They are able to manifest a limited form of magic, e.g. lightning magic, without the traditional spirit pacts.
This form of magic is:
- Instinctive: No formal training or ritual required
- Limited: Usually manifests as a single element or effect
- Triggered: Often awakens during moments of extreme emotion or danger
- Unpredictable: Without training, can be difficult to control
Unlike Firstborn magic, which relies on maintained relationships with spirits, innate magic draws from the Half-Blood's mixed heritage—a spark of the spiritual world bound within mortal flesh.
Dark Magic
Dark magic, also known as the Seventh Source, is a wicked and heinous form of magic that does not directly connect to the Primal Sources. Instead, it draws upon the primal energy within magical creatures themselves to fuel spells. Unlike the six Primal Sources which each have a specific nature, dark magic is more versatile and has many uses. At its most extreme, it was even capable of resurrecting someone from the dead.
Characteristics
- Incantations in Reverse: Dark magic spells are normally cast through incantations in which the mage speaks in reverse
- Destructive by Nature: Always requires an act of destruction and consumption to accomplish
- Cheap and Fast: Considered a cheap, fast, and easy way of casting magic compared to forming spirit pacts
- Corrupting Influence: Dark magic corrupts the user over time, twisting both body and soul
The Cost
The price of dark magic is steep. Each spell requires the consumption or destruction of something living—the essence of a magical creature, the life force of spirits, or in desperate cases, other sapient beings. The caster draws this energy into themselves, converting it directly into magical power.
But this power comes at a terrible cost. Each use of dark magic leaves a mark, slowly transforming the caster. Their appearance changes, their emotions dull or twist, and eventually, they may become something no longer recognizably human—or Firstborn.
Why It's Forbidden
Both Firstborn and most human societies consider dark magic an abomination:
- The Firstborn view it as the ultimate perversion of the spirit-mortal relationship, treating spirits as mere fuel rather than partners
- Humans fear its corrupting influence and the monsters it creates
- Spirits themselves hunt dark mages relentlessly, viewing them as existential threats
Yet despite these prohibitions, some still turn to dark magic—desperate for power, driven by grief and the desire to resurrect the dead, or simply seduced by its ease compared to the slow cultivation of spirit relationships.