Thaumaturgy_and_Sourcery


"I would like to remind students of these arts that everything contained within are merely abstractions and analogies, They approximate how things work quite well. But they are not the truth."
Alexander Nostra - Foreward from Treatise on Magical Mecahnics, 4th ed.

This section will contain spoilers for the story. It is recommended you not read this untill fully caught up.

Magic has gone by many names in many cultures, but it was the Parda who fisrt formalized its rigorous study, and categorized it into two distinct groups based on its origin and capabilities; Thaumaturgy and Sourcery.

Truesight


Truesight is the ability to see the objective reality of what is there; instead of seeing an apple, one "sees" the photons of particular wavelengths eminating from it, the thermal energy cycling between it and its surroundings, every layer of material of the apple, not just the outer skin.Parsing out adn understanding all this stimuli is a skill that must be developed.
Truesight can be used by anyone, but some are more sensitive to the feelings of truesight. It is a prerequisite skill for a thaumaturge to learn, as it is the only way in which to actually perceive and perform thaumaturgy.

Thaumaturgy


Thaumaturgy is the ability to move ether within a Material State system. This includes:
* Moving enery from one place to another
* Changing energy from one type to another

Anyone can manifest these abilities, but most are not truesight sensitive enough to even realize it. Those that are more sensitive and begin to experiment on their own are typically the only ones to ever pursue becoming a truly skilled thaumaturge.

Sourcery


This section will use vocabulary explained more thoroughly in the codex entry on Ether.

The name comes from the idea that one is tapping into the direct "source" of magic. Sourcery involves drawing abilities from making a pact with an ether intelligence. Ether intelligences can remain in a very unstable state before "deciding" what it will be, and during this period it may dissipate all together before "condensing". Any being desires to, at a minimum, exist, and forming a pact during this period will guarantee that at least a part of the intelligence lives on to perform whatever purpose it may have been drawn to.

A pact involves merging a still unstable Sapient State intelligence with a Material State intelligence. The process involves the Sapient State "taking root" within the Material State; both physically and mentally replacing some parts. THe amount replaced is relative to the "size" of the Sapient State.

Common Misconceptions


The demonization of magic use has resulted in most "common knowledge" of it being superstition; the result of religious dogma and propaganda. The name given to magic users; Notra; derives from Alexander Nostra, one of the greatest thaumaturges to ever live, and often blamed for the proliferation of its use in ancient times. (Despite the fact that he lived during the end of the Pardic Empire and thaumaturgic practices were already well established at that point.)