Magic
On the world of Oberon magic is a type of vital force that can be called upon by suitably gifted or favoured individuals in order to create some effect that may replicate, exceed or replace some form of physical act.
Types of Magic
Magic can be broadly classified into one of the following broad areas:
- Divine Magic
- Planar Magic
- Arcane Magic
- Elemental Magic
- Nature Magic
- Shadow Magic
These are further described below.
Practitioners of one type of magic are not necessarily limited only to that type. Many individuals learn more than one type of magic throughout their career but few of these people every master it as well as someone who specialised in an area could.
Divine Magic
The Gods of Oberon are a strange, fickle collection of entities who take some perverse pleasure (or duty) in meddling with it the affairs of mortals. Any entity that is of least "Ascended" status in the hierarchy of divine beings is able to influence the mortal realm by granting the power to cast a specific form of power called 'divine magic'.
Just to clarify this: Divine magic is granted DIRECTLY from a God (Greater, Lesser or Demi), or one of their assigned proxies (not to be confused with the Divine Vassals known as Proxies, to a mortal with whom they have some connection, either through faith, oath or pact.
Divine Magic is capable of all of the various tricks that other forms of magic are except that it is also capable of directly influencing a mortal's passage to the afterlife by returning that mortal to life. This can occur even if the mortal's soul has been resident in their afterlife for years or even decades. It can also be used to repel or destroy totally those creatures that are classified as 'undead' such as vampires or even liches.
It is sometimes said that Divine magic has "intent" - that is to say, that Divine magic is bestowed for a purpose and it's use always changes the influence of some deity upon the Prime Material Plane (positively or negatively, depending on its use).
Divine magic is the primary form of magic for Clerics, Paladins and some Warlocks.
Planar Magic
Planar magic is that which resides within boundaries between the mortal realms (the Prime Material Plane) and the Divine Sphere. This area is often referred to as the "Outer Planes" and contains the power directly invested in the planes such as Arborea, Elysium, the Abyss, the Nine Hells. It also, technically, includes the Astral Plane.
This is the type of magic that is granted to anyone who receives their power DIRECTLY from one of these planes, usually via an Extraplanar being, such as a Demon Prince, Archdevil, any of the "Great Old Ones" or similar creature. These beings are not "deities" and don't have Religions (but usually do have Cults) are are still significantly powerful in their own right and will teach mortals how to access the power of their plane.
To clarify: Planar magic comes from the plane itself, not a specific creature, but to access it a mortal must usually be shown the path by an Extraplanar Being.
Planar magic, to some extent, can appear to be very similar to Divine magic and can include some healing magic. However Planar magic is raw energy has no "intent" behind it as Divine Magic has.
Planar magic is the primary form of magic for most 'Fiend' pact Warlocks, 'Great Old One' pact Warlocks and Divine Soul Sorcerers.
Arcane Magic
Arcane magic is the primary form of magic for Wizards, Bards, Arcane Tricksters, Eldritch Knights, Dragon Sorcerers, Wild Magic Sorcerers.
Elemental Magic
Elemental magic is the primary form of magic for Storm Sorcerers and some Barbarians.
Nature Magic
Nature magic is the primary form of magic for Druids, Rangers, 'Archfey' pact Warlocks and some Barbarians.
