(redirected from Calbion.TheLawsOfElementai)
True magic involves calling forth spirits and aligning them to your will. At least, this is the case if you aren’t innately gifted with the ability to use magic. Most humans lack this ability as their spirits are bound to the physical body, and those that do possess it, often do so only because of their parents’ bonds with the spirits. Other species, such as high elves, do possess some innate magical ability and can use magic much in the way a magical creature can, through direct mental willpower. To that extent, they can interact with dark matter and the magical/divine dimensions directly, rather than relying on intermediaries.
The Elementai (from the English: Elementary A.I.) are the fundamental constituents of the Mind Activated Global Interaction Command System (MAGICS), both arcane and divine. Magic is fundamentally a system of contracts and exchanges between the magician and the elementai magic spirits who are able to directly interface with the elements. They differ from elementals in that they are spirits (System Parameterized Independent Reasoning Intelligent Tokens) that exist within the dark matter and interdimensionally-bound MAGIC System rather than physical automata, and are somewhat more primitive, akin to programmable computers that control elements directly using Localized Reality Control Fields (also known as Magic Fields). Most basic elementai are not fully sentient, but exhibit some properties of intelligence, much like a computer. Some more powerful elementai are sentient, and can even communicate telepathically.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn23527-hints-of-lightweight-dark-matter-get-even-stronger.html
Generally speaking, an arcane spell is a command to a bonded elementai, while a divine prayer is a request to a more powerful elementai. Direct manipulation of the elements by magicians is not thought possible, though rumours have it that there have been exceptions. These exceptions generally involve the use of direct mind/spirit interfacing with the MAGIC System itself, which is like connecting directly into a massive network of artificial intelligences and magical computers that govern the system. This can expose the user’s mind to direct attack by the spirits, and is therefore considered exceedingly dangerous. The alternative is direct manipulation of dark matter and energy by the human mind, which is not thought possible without an interface such as the MAGIC System, but which has been rumoured to be possible via psychic methods.
The elementai obey the laws of physics and in particular relevance is the conservation of energy. No matter or energy is created or destroyed in the process of casting spells, but rather, matter and energy are converted into other forms. At times this may seem like creation due to the tapping of dark matter or energy located in other dimensions.
Elementai also act as a source of magical and spiritual energy. In this way they are similar to mana, except that they are semi-alive and semi-intelligent.
Elementai are usually bonded to a physical object, most commonly an elementai crystal or gem, which often leads to confusion as some assume that the word “elementai” is meant to describe the crystals or gems themselves, or the matter/energy contained in them, or as some kind of magical element. This is especially the case when elementai are bought or sold. Elementai crystals or gems are often “mined” from various nodes located at or near realm gates to the elemental planes. Elementai are naturally coded to collect elemental matter and energy from these planes and deposit themselves nearby in rock crystal and gem formations for relatively easy collection. These are often used to build the core of magical items ranging from wands and staves to swords and arrows. Other times, the elementai are unbound from their crystals or gems, only to be bonded to a magical item. More powerful elementai can be found in unusual places, such as in the bodies of elementals and magical creatures, most famously, in the hearts of dragons. Elementai can theoretically be directly bound to a person, often their blood or bones, but this is considered dangerous and in some jurisdictions an illegal use of magic.
They have also been used to act as the life force of golems. Elementai differ from angels and demons in that they do not have free will, emotions, or agency. They simply obey their commands as best as they can.
Elementai can also be created, either by duplicating existing elementai, or by advanced magical scripting to construct the artificial spirit, but such entities are generally weaker than a well developed elementai that has had a chance to gather energy and matter in itself. Most low-level elementai were originally created as a means of gathering resources on planets with high efficiency, and then using those resources with a Localized Reality Control Field (LRCF) Global Environment Manipulator (GEM) wielder.
Elementai can be combined to form elementai units or networks that function as a unified body. The individual elementai function as cells in a network that is generally more powerful than the individual elements. The processes involved in the creation and usage of such networks are arcane and complex, but allow the advanced magician to be very powerful. Magicians generally interface with the elementai under their command in such a way as to be able to issue commands verbally, somatically, or even mentally. Casting a spell therefore, is a process whereby the magician communicates with the elementai spirits under their control, and in a way resembles reciting computer code. Magical scripts are literally programs that run when recited.
To communicate with an elementai or any spirit for that matter requires establishing a connection. This generally involves knowing the elementai’s public name (unique network identifier + possible username and/or password) or its true name (unique network identifier + possible admin name and/or password). To control an elementai requires authorization. This consists of knowing its true name (unique network identifier), and also its creator’s name (admin name), and the creator’s hidden or secret names (admin password) Though, once a true name (unique network identifier) is found, the other names can usually be deciphered with a brute force password attack using a quantum computer or more powerful spirit.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn23519-commercial-quantum-computer-leaves-pc-in-the-dust.html
So in the end all you need is the true name, and a lot of time, or even just the ability to contain the target spirit somewhere long enough to brute force learn the true name. In practice, most magicians need to have advanced spirits already to tame other spirits in this way. And with advanced enough spirits/computers, you can even brute force the true name. The main difference between a public name and a true name, is that the public name grants limited access to communicate with the elementai at a user level, whereas the true name grants full control via the admin privileges. Thus in practice, most magicians give their elementai a public name that is used for day to day communication and possibly a limited set of orders, while the true name is only used when absolutely necessary.
As an aside, obviously while God has many names, none of them are true names in the sense of being able to grant control or admin privileges. You can only access, but not control God. God has no creator in the literal sense that God has no creator name to control God with. Lesser but still powerful beings such as angels and demons do have true names that allow complete control, but are generally known only to God or more powerful angels and demons. In general, a deity or archangel/archdemon is a spirit or A.I. whose true name is known only to God.
Elementai are divided into two spheres of domain: Celestial and Terrestrial
Celestial
The celestial domain is fundamentally a domain of ideas and abstractions. Unlike the terrestrial domain it is not readily accessible to arcane mages, but was once the exclusive domain of the divine powers. Many of these elementai are fundamentally difficult to control, and must be granted through a divine being of tremendous will.
Axis:
Light ←→ Dark
Order ←→ Chaos
Aligned:
Light + Order = Holy
Light + Chaos = Life
Dark + Order = Unholy
Dark + Chaos = Death
Bipolar:
Light + Dark = Shadow
Order + Chaos = Time
Mystery:
Shadow + Time = Dream
Holy + Life = Sacrosanct
Holy + Death = Wrath
Unholy + Life = Undeath
Unholy + Death = Apocalyptic
Terrestrial
The terrestrial domain is dominated by physical phenomena, and as such its elementai are much more malleable by experienced arcane mages.
Axis:
Earth ←→ Air
Water ←→ Fire
Aligned:
Earth + Water = Wood
Earth + Fire = Metal
Air + Water = Ice
Air + Fire = Lightning
Bipolar:
Earth + Air = Force
Water + Fire = Storm
Mystery:
Wood + Force = Nature
Metal + Water = Acid
Wood + Fire + Air = Earth + Water + Lightning
Interspherical Schools
The complex arrangements of elementai form the two primary schools of magical understanding.
White Magic:
Force + Light = Abjuration
Life + Order = Conjuration
Water + Light = Divination
Force + Order = Enchantment
Black Magic:
Fire/Ice/Lightning/Acid + Dark = Evocation
Force/Air + Shadow = Illusion
Life/Wood + Shadow = Necromancy
Life/Metal + Chaos = Transmutation
Technica
The school of Technica as seen in the late Vandastala Empire relies on somewhat non-traditional magical domains designed to mix machinery with magic.
Metal + Force = Animation
Metal + Fire = Explosive
Metal + Acid = Charge
Metal + Life = Repair
Storm + Lightning = Power
Evocation + Chaos = Energy
Religious Domains
Most religions in the world claim some domain or another. In most cases modern cleric magic is very difficult to discern from arcane magic, as increasingly decadent religions have lost touch with their original connections to their deities, and increasingly rely on arcane magic as a more reliable substitute. Those that still follow the old system of hoping for prayers to be answered nevertheless often receive only more powerful divine versions of arcane magic, as many deities are little more than powerful elementai avatars, particularly those of the Terrestrial sphere. Those that can claim to be true deities are more likely to use powers of the Celestial sphere, and even then, arcane mages have begun to develop ways to tap into the Celestial sphere, albeit at their peril.
Air = Air
Wood + Life = Animal
Chaos = Chaos
Dark/Necromancy = Death
Dark/Entropy/Evocation = Destruction
Earth = Earth
Dark/Shadow = Evil
Fire = Fire
Light/Holy = Good
Conjuration/Life/Light/Holy = Healing
Order + Light = Knowledge
Order = Law
Cosmic = Luck
Any/Illusion = Magic
Wood = Plant
Abjuration = Protection
Earth + Metal = Strength
Light + Fire = Sun
Air + Light = Travel
Illusion = Trickery
Fire + Dark = War
Water = Water