Magicka is an ancient art developed in the year 2654 of the First Dawn, where a magicka user, called a mage, wields the awesome powers of the elements to do their bidding. Magicka can be used for the most mundane of tasks, to the most destructive. A squad of talented and well supplied mages can achieve a siege of a city all by themselves. 

Mages use the latent powers in crystals and gemstones to unleash searing fire, tempestuous water, or a soothing breeze. Skilled mages can combine elements according to alchemical elemental principles, which also apply to magicka.

Magicka is primarily used as a weapon of war, but it has also seen some significant usage in modern times for mundane tasks. Currently, there are two colleges that teach and nurture mages on Alcrest. Mages are taught by masters known as philosophers. Mages that study at a college choose a magicka type to specialize in, honing their specialization to mastery. Especially gifted mages will choose to specialize in two complementary types of magicka.

Mages who register at colleges are tested and classified in four orders and are given a crystal ring to identify them, made entirely of a single unbroken crystal. A mage’s rank may change over time, and there are reexaminations that occur every 3 years. A mage who attends all 6 years will be tested 3 times. Once upon enrollment, once in their third year and once in their sixth year. 

Alabaster orders may not have selected a type but have shown an aptitude for magicka and are given a white alabaster ring. 

Aquamarine orders demonstrate basic competency with magicka, able to reliably cast spells in their respective type, and are given blue aquamarine rings.

Thulite orders are masters of one of the four cardinal types and typically have competency in a sub-specialization and are given a red thulite ring. 

Aegirine orders are masters of two of the four cardinal types and typically have competency in a combined elemental magicka type and are given a black aegirine ring.

Named mages are famous aegirine mages that have been granted a special title by a monarch. In certain kingdoms, they are also archmages. All known witches are also named.

Mechanisms of Magicka Theory

Gemstones grow naturally as clear crystals and gradually absorb an elemental aspect based on the impurities that are present in the crystalline lattice. These impurities impart the crystal cluster with an elemental affinity (Fire, Earth, Water, Air).

Mages extract the latent elemental energy in the crystals and gemstones, by using a process called Oscillation. Oscillation is the technique of appraising the crystal and resonating one’s anima with the crystal’s harmonic frequency. This is accomplished after great care and practice and is why magicka is more an art than a science. Attempts have been made to measure the harmonic frequencies with modern day mathematics. It remains an open field of research. Still, much of it is accomplished by feeling the processes, and self-interpretation. The subsequent release of this energy by the mage is called a spell.

Simply extracting and releasing the energy is an elementary process. Incorporating dynamics allows a mage to shape how the energy is released, what forms it will take and the interactions between elements. This requires both technical knowledge and imagination, as once the energy has been extracted, it is shaped by the mage’s will until it is released. This also requires significant concentration on the part of the mage. 

More advanced spells require more advanced concepts. Water mages may study fluid dynamics, and associated mathematics. Air mages may study aerodynamics. Earth mages will study alchemy, architecture and masonry.

Advanced magicka types are almost a separate curriculum. Healing magicka for example, requires the mage to study fluid dynamics, alchemy, herbology, botany and courses in medical sciences. 

Harmonic frequency: 

The frequency at which a crystal begins to resonate and releases its stored energies.

Extraction attenuation coefficient: 

The mathematical formula between the harmonic frequency to the amount of energy dispersed in the atmosphere.  The range is between 0 and 1 and is used to tell the efficiency of extraction.

A coefficient of 1 is full attenuation, and the resonation is ceased, and a number of 0 is perfect efficiency with no attenuation whatsoever.

The best mages are around .45, while a Witch has been measured at .07.

On Variable Oscillation Frequency

A skilled mage, after resonating with a crystal or gemstone, is able to regulate the oscillation frequency via a technique called ‘variable oscillation frequency’. By combining a variable oscillation frequency with the gradient of color variations in crystals, different effects can be produced at varying levels of power. As a rule, the deeper the color of gemstone or crystal, the stronger elemental power is stored within. Using variable oscillation frequency, a mage can elicit a small flame or a towering inferno from the same ruby.

Oscillating with two different elements is possible, and extremely difficult. The rules follow the same as with alchemical circles. The effects differ based on oscillation frequency, and implementation of the specific combination. There are many possible outcomes.

On Gemstones and Crystals

When their elemental energy has been used, the gemstones and crystals lose their color, becoming clear. They naturally replenish their color, and thus their energy over time. A mage that has lost the color in all their gems is said to be “clear”. Being a clear mage on the battlefield is a death sentence. 
Rubies are the strongest gemstone for the fire element. Rubies range from a deep crimson to a lighter shade of pink. Red garnets, red quartz and sunstones are also frequently used by mages. 
Sapphires are the strongest gemstone for the water element. Sapphires range from a royal blue, to shades of aquamarine. Blue topaz, aquamarine, and moonstones are also frequently used by mages.
Topaz is the strongest gemstone for the earth element. Topaz has many colors and is capable of absorbing many other elements. However, the earth element ranges in color from a pale yellow to a deep brown. Citrine and beryl are also frequently used by mages.
Emeralds are the strongest gemstone for the air element. Emeralds range in color from yellow-green to a deep forest green. Peridot, jade, and bloodstones are also frequently used by mages.

Due to the constant use of gemstones and crystals, mages tend to be quite gaudy in appearance with multiple pieces of jewelry. Many have multiple earrings, rings, necklaces, bracelets, bangles, anklets and armlets, all containing precious and semi-precious gemstones. Their staves also contain gemstones throughout, and a crystal cluster at the top. It’s also common to carry multiple pouches containing additional crystals and gemstones.

Color is the determining factor for a mage on deciding whether to use a gemstone or crystal, and prices from merchants reflect that. Quartz crystal can be worth many times the price of sapphires and emeralds. However, a perfect gemstone will always be more expensive than a crystal, as they have a higher capacity for elemental energy.

On Witches

Witches are supremely talented natural mages, reincarnated from the founding mages. Each reincarnation has memories of their past lives, so each Witch is born knowing that they are a Witch and possesses the ability to use magicka. All Witches are female, and their race is Ailude or Asekilen. At any given time, there are only six witches present on Alcrest. Some of their identities are publicly known, others are not.

A Witch has never made all their true abilities known to the public, though throughout recorded history, some have been magicka instructors teaching pupils, while others have served at court as a kingdom’s court mage. In fact, as of the events of the Blades of Alcrest, there are two Witches who are serving in a public capacity – the First Witch serves the Rinadaese, and the Second Witch serves the Ilorisian Empire. The ones who are known but uninvolved live out of the public eye, while others who are unknown may or may not make themselves known in their lifetimes. The Fifth Witch is one such example, who was a Queen nearly 300 years ago, but whose incarnations afterward have not made themselves known since.

Witches are known to be masters in all four of the cardinal magicka types, and if they were to be assessed, they would hold an aegirine ranking. 

Abridged Primer On Magicka Types

A mage may choose to study in one of the four cardinal magicka types, becoming a fire mage, earth mage, water mage, or air mage. Within these cardinal types are further specializations that may require a mage to take up multiple disciplines, or focus on specific aspects of their chosen specialization, like the healing mages, bombard mages and construct mages. Specializations call for incredible skill and frequency control.  

Types: Fire Magicka

Mages dedicated to fire magicka are often soldiers in a kingdom’s army, as they seek to extract the most fire energy at once for flame related spells. They wield the power of flame and are sought out by militaries of every nation. Fire magicka is the most popular type for students to research. Fire mages cast spells like Enflame, Fire Guard, Fire Wall. Generally, fire mages are in an assault role. Fire magicka is the control over plasma.

Sub-specialization: Bombard Mage
Bombard mages are a fire type mage who specializes in the Bombard spell, instantaneously releasing enormous amounts of fire energy at pinpoint precise locations, to explosive and devastating effect. They are especially effective against buildings and structures, and lethal to unsuspecting soldiers in formation. It is weaker on the battlefield, as the explosions created are especially large and hazardous to both sides of the conflict. Bombard mages excel in sieges and are strong against an earth mage’s defenses.

Types: Earth Magicka

Mages dedicated to earth magicka often find themselves in high demand across the continent. They can find work everywhere, from farms, quarries, mines, to the battlefield. Anywhere there is a need to move earth, an earth mage can find a living. Unfortunately, earth magicka is the least popular of the disciplines. Earth mages cast spells like Excavate, Earth Wall, Earthen Bulwark. Generally, earth mages are in a support role, and are extremely strong supports, countering most other assault magicka. Earth magicka is the control over solids.  

Sub-Specialization: Structural Mage
Structural mages are an earth type mage who specializes in constructing earthen or stone structures. This specialization requires mastery over several earth spells, and a virtuosity over Oscillation frequencies, to erect structures suitable for habitation or other purposes. They are useful everywhere there are people. 

Types: Water Magicka

Mages dedicated to water magicka are often in support roles. They are immensely useful as support in militaries, supplying life supporting fresh water to thirsty troops. On the battlefield, they serve as counters to fire mages, dousing the flames with torrential waters. Despite being mostly support, they can be deadly with the Aqua Gaol spell, trapping an enemy in a sphere of water until they drown. Water mages cast spells like Soothing Rain, Tempest and Aqua Gaol. Water magicka is the control over liquids.

Sub-Specialization: Surge Mage
Surge mages are a water type mage who specializes in taking the Deluge spell to its limits, unleashing a wall of water on the battlefield to wash away the enemy. They are especially effective against infantry and other land-based troops. Surge mages are also strong against fire walls. They are typically countered by earth mages or nullified by another surge mage casting in the opposite direction. 

Types: Air Magicka

Mages dedicated to air magicka are found in support and assault roles. The second most popular research discipline for students, air magicka can best be described as a jack of all trades. They can be found on the battlefield supporting fire mages by intensifying their flames, or in an assault role with spells like Piercing Wind. An air mage’s command over the air can be particularly deadly, removing the air from a building, and creating vacuums. Air mages cast spells like Gale, Piercing Wind and Wind Cutter. Air magicka is the control over gases.

Sub-Specialization: Projectile Mage
Projectile mages are an air type mage who specializes in combining the Piercing Wind spell with stones or specially made metal pellets. They focus the entirety of the Piercing Wind spell’s area of effect into a miniscule area behind the stone or pellet, which accelerates the projectile to lethal velocities. They typically use a weapon called a “dakione”, or wind-tube, a steel tube mounted to wooden stock. They are effective against most creatures and vehicles. They are countered by earth mages, who have command over stone, metal and earth. 

The following are advanced magicka types, achievable by having a mastery in and oscillating with two cardinal elemental types. They are all aegirine mages by definition and so are rare and sought after by all nations. The advanced disciplines require an immense amount of elemental energy, and so their spells are not cast frivolously.

Advanced Types: Force Magicka

Mages dedicated to force magicka are masters of both fire and earth magicka. Force magicka makes short work of lifting heavy objects, pushing or pulling objects, or even the casters themselves. Force magicka interferes with the attractive forces between objects, either amplifying or nullifying them. Naturally, the mage can also alter their own attractive forces, allowing them to shoulder heavy objects, or causing them to float. Force magicka is the signature magic of the incarnations of the Sixth Witch of the Infernal Oculus.

Advanced Types: Healing Magicka

Mages dedicated to healing magicka are masters of both earth and water magicka. Healing magicka is one of the most important magicka types and healing mages are particularly sought after for their rarity. Utilizing the life bringing energies of both water and earth, the healing mage is capable of closing wounds, reknitting bone, and curing malady. Healing magicka supplies the elemental energy that interferes with one’s own body to accelerate its natural process of healing to an absurd degree. It can reknit severed limbs but cannot regrow them beyond what is already naturally possible. Healing magicka may better be known as “growth magicka”, as it also functions on animals and plants.

Advanced Types: Ice Magicka

Mages dedicated to ice magicka are masters of both water and air magicka. Ice magicka is as deadly as fire magicka, with some of the utility of earth magicka. The ice mage is capable of encasing their enemies in ice, creating ice paths across water, or erecting structures made entirely of ice. Ice magicka interferes with the local temperature, dropping the target or area to subzero. Ice mages also have the ability to stop the flow of energy, making them particularly deadly to other mages. 

Advanced Types: Lighting Magicka

Mages dedicated to lightning magicka are masters of both air and fire magicka. Lightning magicka is primarily an assault type and is devastating on the battlefield. The lightning mage casts various spells harnessing lightning, electrocuting groups of enemies, disrupting electromagnetic fields to attack from range, or setting traps. Lightning magicka interferes with the natural atmospheric processes of electrostatic discharges. 

On Incantations

Spoken incantations are not required to cast magicka. Students are taught however to recite certain mnemonics to help focus their concentration on the crystal frequencies, and their own Breath. Due to the constant adjustments and stream of information that must be processed to cast spells, most mages will utter or whisper to themselves while casting. Certain aegirine mages, and all Witches have no need. 

On Colleges

Magicka is taught, studied and researched at magicka colleges, of which there are two currently operating in Alcrest. The colleges, the cities and the lands they sit are considered self-governing and independent city-states. All countries value magicka and respect the neutrality and right of the college to self-govern.

Attending a college is not free, and tuition must be paid yearly. This means that most commoners cannot afford tuition, so the student body are largely nobles. Freeman commoners make up a minority, and most who attend are children of wealthy merchants and business owners. There are occasionally poor commoners that attend, but they usually have exceptional potential and some sort of servile contract to a lord that is sponsoring their education, that goes into effect upon their graduation.