#1: Magic in The Time Before Author: Smee, Location: UKPosted: Sat Apr 26, 2008 3:14 pm — Magic in the World of Terrelee is based on Runes, coupled with a mage's innate ability.
Runes come in a vast variety of forms, from writing them, tracing them in the air, mentally picturing them, or even in some special cases, singing/playing on an instrument.
By far the most common is tracing runes in the air, or against a palm ready for release.
Typically spells cast from runes performed mentally are far weaker in effect.
The Time Before is set many years after a great war that descimated the mage population, (and caused the formation of the Dead ring that completely seperates the North and South hemispheres of the planet). Vast quantites of magic knowledge was lost.
Modern day mages are still re-learning most of what was lost, and as such knowledge is segmented and specialised. There are no longer the schools of magic and formalised learning of the past and mages aren't looked upon with much favour by the general population. Particularly since the Sempa started attacking.
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Casting magic is addictive and knowledge of one rune in particular causes great euphoria in a mage. So much so that they can become lost within themselves to the point of forgetting to eat and eventually dying. The appear much like drug addicts, and are labelled as Emflikar. No known cure is documented.
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The Time Before is set in the Northern Hemisphere, and the innate magic ability is restricted purely to men. There's no documentation of women ever being able to use magic.
