Magic

FAQ **How common are wizards, priests, druids, and other users of magic and how are they perceived by the general public?** Rare. Among the many clergymen, Christian or pagan, found throughout Europe only a very select few ever manifest divine power. These elite clerics are known as Chosen, as in the Chosen of Aphrodite, Odin, Marduk, etc. and they are objects of iconic reverence and respect within their faiths. They can take very militant forms as well, of which paladins are the best known type. Torchbearer priests are no less impressive, seen as embodiments of the divine will of their patrons, missionaries traveling among savage lands and peoples in need of illumination. Druids are even rarer, and the secluded nature of their existence means they are seen by few besides the communities they chose to guard and even then they may do so from a discrete distance. Rangers are more commonly in contact with human settlements and travelers, but very few of the huntsmen can call upon supernatural power. Few have the talent or toughness to become wizards, in spite of the programs of identification and training that most nations and some non-governmental organizations long ago put into place. They are almost universally objects of wonder, suspicion, and fear. As a group they are seen as having no allegiance to any cause save themselves and legends abound with tales of dark mages doing all manner of horrible things. Few are the stories of so-called white wizards. **Are magical effects or objects a common feature of towns or cities?** No. **How common is it to see a magic item?** Very rare. Each magic item is a unique creation, usually a relic from the time of the Ancients. Some are closely guarded secrets, others famously in the possession of storied individuals, bloodlines, nations, and others remain hidden or unclaimed, whether in vault, forgotten hiding place, or simply lying about the ruins of a empire that fell long ago. Others still are wielded by the Ancients as in olden days. **Are there many magical races or creatures?** Lots. The Wilds are full of them. That is why few other than Torchbearers even attempt to travel in such lands. **Are reagents needed for most spells? What about a spell focus like a wand, staff or holy symbol?** Yes. This is even more so the case for wizards than for clerics and druids but they too usually need something to help fuel the spell or blessing instead of the spellcaster providing all that is needed. The types and amounts of the items and ingredients vary based on the spell. Players are encouraged to develop a list of what they may need (with the help of the DM of course) for their spells. In Rolemaster reagents for all spells are not listed in detail as in some systems but as this is important we will need to work a little to come up with suitable ingredients. Foci are almost universally used in order to offset some of the harm that channeling divine power does. Runes help with this immensely as well, as do familiars. **Do wizards have to "memorize" their spells each day? Do priests, druids, paladins, rangers have to select their spells?** No. Wizards keep their written spells in spellbooks because their mortal minds are not built to permanently hold such power. But they read over the various spells available to them, as well as other reminders and focusing methods, etc. that the spellbook contains to remind them how to access what they need during the day. They do not select specific spells, using spell points instead. Other spellcasters pray to their gods, commune with nature, or otherwise get in harmony with the powers that will grant their abilities, allow them to focus their senses or recall, fight with exceptional focus and vigor, or whatever. **Are most spellcasters generalists or specialists?** Specialists Of course, priests tend to have spells and blessings that thematically make sense for the god they serve. Paladins are the same, and druids and rangers reflect their natural connections, often to a nature god, but perhaps also to natural spirits or to the forest gestalt, etc. Wizards each work within a tradition, a closely guarded way of stealing magic. These traditions involve a great deal of formal training and to do so means taking a focused approach to improve one's control and use of a specific type of magic before moving into another. Some never leave the single tradition, pyromancy for instance, in which they first began. In many cases this is because other traditions are simply not available since even a single spell is priceless and closely guarded. Wizards don't just hand out their world-changing knowledge. Those with tremendous focus give up diversity of power, of course, but that is offset by greater potency in their chosen path.
 * What is the origin of magic?** Magic comes from divine beings native to our world that are collectively referred to as gods, or from powerful entities that dwell in the infinite regions of the Great Beyond, such as the Rift and the Elder Veil. Priests and others with a pious connection to earthly gods are granted blessings that enable them to perform supernatural feats or that provide extraordinary benefits. Wizards steal their powers from the reserves of gods and the Great Beyond through the use of formulas in the form of spell and ritual. The Ancients and other beasts, monsters, incarnations, and entities in our own world or others house varying amounts of magic on a permanent basis that confer unusual powers and traits and also have changed such species through prolonged contact. Similarly, the use of spells by priests and wizards exacts a cost paid in mind, spirit, and body as mortals channel energy suited only to those of the empyrean realms.