School of Divine Magic

Subject: School of Divine Magic 1/29/2009, 8:00 pm

The School of Divine magic is believed to be based in the wielder’s faith in a benevolent god and as such can only be used in a manner that is in line with the perceived god’s will. Generally the power of Light is found in devoted clerics to fulfill their idea of their god’s plan for him individually or for a group of followers. The power can be used primarily in two Domains: Life and Elemental.

Life: The power of Light can be used as energy to bolster, heal, invigorate and empower allies. It can be used to remove harmful magic effects from other schools (most powerful against Necromancy and other dark type schools). In order to be effective in a positive way on other people, the target must not hold any malicious feelings for the cleric.

Elemental: The power of Light can be used as an Elemental type magic by being manipulating Light into a solid form. The simplest spell is a ball of Light which is a small, solid ball of light that follows the caster around. Offensive uses of the power can include blinding flashes, weapons formed of solidified Light (spears, arrows, swords and maces), solid forms that explode on contact, and binding and/or burning cords. Defensive uses of Light can be solid barriers (shields, armor and “Lightskin” a barrier that forms on the skin of the caster). Other Elemental type uses of Light can be building temporary constructs: bridges, ladders and other simple tools. In extraordinary circumstances a cleric can also construct a temporary companion out of light to fight with them.

Mind: Through careful study and training of their own minds and emotions clerics can learn to understand and be instinctively aligned with others’ minds and emotions. These abilities are latent and unreliable at the best of times. They are, however, excellent judges of character and can pick out a liar in no time.

General guidelines: Above all users of the Light’s power are servants of their faith’s ideals. The use of Light is usually not seen as a command form of casting, the cleric asks and the power responds. Since it is not practiced as a command/dominance type of casting it can fail depending on the faith of the cleric. It is possible to impede the flow of the power of Light around a caster and suppress the effects of the spell but it is not possible to cut off his access to the power because the strongest source of power is the cleric’s faith. Using the Light can have different side effects on the cleric: some may be exhausted by the flow of power, some experience pain as the power draws on their own strength and some are exhilarated and find great pleasure in using the Light. Almost always there is a time of recovery or replenishment required after casting any major spells.

Equipment: As a sign of their faith most Light users wear light armor, normally simple cloth raiment. They may carry a mace or staff to serve as a focus for their casting and to defend themselves physically, but are usually not skilled in physical combat. There are, of course, exceptions to this: there are a few more combative faiths that require their clerics to prove themselves in battle but even these do not allow their clerics to use bladed physical weapons. Clerics often carry symbols of their faith in the form of talismans or jewelry (necklaces and bracelets being the most common but rings and piercings are known to be used too) that they believe have been blessed by their god and imbued with special power. These artifacts will not work for anyone but the approved cleric, even members of the same faith cannot use each other’s relics without a formal ceremony.

Learning: Since the use of Light powers is based on faith, specific spells are not taught and there are no formal institutions for teaching the use of the Light’s power. Tenets of faith and discipline can be taught and passed on from an elder cleric to a younger one. Often there are trials given to clerics both young and experienced by their patron god to confirm or strengthen their faith in preparation for more knowledge and Light based power. Each faith has a set of Ancients or Elders that are held to be the most devote and powerful of their faith’s followers in the past. Reading the collected works of their lives is believed to set the young cleric on the right path and provide inspiration to progress in their own faith. Copies of these works are held in various cloisters under the care of a Guardian that may require some task to be accomplished before access is granted to them.

Rumored: It is rumored that there is an opposite type of cleric that serve dark gods. These supposedly have powers given to them similar to the Light clerics except the use Darkness. Such rumors are spoken of delicately and normally denied in public or formal writings.

Unspoken truth: The power does not come directly from any god, the gods having abandoned mankind (or vice versa). But these clerics exercise their own willpower and discipline in doing what they believe is right and good. This power of will and clearness of conscience seems to tune them more closely with the force of Life magic. Most clerics find out eventually that there is no god behind their power but continue to maintain the charade to avoid the perceived stigma of being considered one of the traditional mage classes (which are still considered suspicious in some areas of the world). There is a small contingency of clerics that truly continue in their faith even after the discovery. They hold out hope that they may one day find a benevolent god that will vindicate their lifetime of devotion.