Look everyone, it's a thing · 3:15am Aug 31st, 2015
I told you I was working on things, even if I couldn't actually get writing done. Every universe has their own framework for magic, and I've already got so many frameworks for other things, hey, why not?
A Brief Primer on Magic and Its Associated Mysteries
Although there are a few academies — all of them possessing credentials that are, at best, dubious — that claim otherwise, magic is more than simple sorcery, and is wielded by more than just unicorns. Unicorn sorcery is, however, the most overt manifestation of “magic” as it is typically understood, and as such, will be the focus of this primer.
Please note that although “magic” and “sorcery” are often used interchangeably in everyday conversation, they are two distinct concepts. Sorcery is a group of techniques used to give structure to ambient magical energy — magicum (pl. magica) — in order to produce varied effects (“spells”), while magic refers to sorcery as well as other similar phenomena covered under a much broader field of study.
All spells are defined by their individual formulae. Although they may take many forms when published, from pictograms to mathematical equations to songs or stories, at a basic level, a spell formula is a set of mental instructions for shaping a spell from magica. There is no single “correct” methodology for recording formulae: No two ponies are exactly alike, and just as no one method of teaching works equally well for all ponies, no single kind of formula works equally well for them, either. It should be noted that in all observed cases, even if a formula is not ideal for a given pony, any formula relating to their special talent is considerably easier to learn, due to any confusion of ideas being smoothed over by the Magic of Destiny (see below).
Although the basics of sorcery are taught during youth — whether by parents or through formal schooling — many unicorns do not feel the need to learn more than what is needed to get through the day, or what is required by their particular talents. Of greatest importance beyond the basics but before advanced learning is the recognition of the division of sorcery into four distinct disciplines as follows:
Detection
Spells of this discipline are focused on “seeing,” particularly of things that are far away or hidden. This includes any numbers of spells intended to locate missing objects or ponies — house keys are particularly popular — as well as spells for remote viewing or listening, and even spells to look through objects, whether walls or a living body. No actual sights or sounds are produced by these spells, it must be noted; rather, the knowledge is communicated directly to the mind of the caster. Spells intended to read thoughts are also a part of this discipline in the academic sense, although their definition as detection spells in the legal sense is somewhat murky.
Health
Spells of this discipline all act to alter living organisms. Because of the natural resistance to unwanted change through magic that organisms possess, these spells will only ever initiate changes that will bring the organism back towards its “natural state.” Chief among these spells are those intended for wound closure, as well as spells intended to purge toxins from the body and provide prophylaxis against illness. A popular spell among the affluent is the ubiquitous “Healthy Glow,” which rapidly removes loose hairs, broken feathers and dead skin, as well as remedies bad breath, brightens the coat and mane, masks bloodshot eyes, removes bags from under the eyes, and leaves a pony feeling like new. It must be noted that, because spells of this discipline will only alter an organism towards its natural state, they cannot be used to inflict harm. It is also not generally accepted practice to use these spells to correct serious injuries, such as broken bones or deep punctures, due to the risk of complications; rather, they will be set to mend using non-sorcerous means, with spells then added on top in order to accelerate recovery.
Illusion
Described broadly, illusions are spells that alter the way the world is perceived. This includes any number of utilitarian spells that reduce or eliminate background noise, produce images and sounds for entertainment, conceal objects and creatures from the senses (including the classic “Invisibility” spells), flavor food, and even produce full-sensory hallucinations. A key piece of information to remember is that the effects of these spells are not real, although they may feel completely real. Because of this, like spells in the health discipline, they cannot be used to directly inflict harm. Hypothetically, an illusion could be used to conceal a dangerous situation from a pony, allowing them to be harmed by wandering into danger, but this is not generally considered a risk due to the inherent sharp difficulty of connecting the number of illusions required for such a thing. Similarly, the use of illusions for the purposes of fraud is not considered a large risk, due to the inherent near-impossibility of creating illusions that are both real enough to fool a victim, and persistent enough function without constant, obvious maintenance.
Manipulation
Likewise described broadly, manipulations are spells that alter the way the world is. The most common spells are naturally telekinetic manipulation and light production, but this discipline also includes spells for shape changing, mind control, and physical manipulations such as fire starting. Unlike illusions, manipulations are completely real, and are typically much more difficult to cast. Also unlike illusions, manipulations are very much capable of inflicting direct harm. Although most manipulations are very challenging to cast, there are nonetheless serious legal considerations associated with them; as such, all published spell formulae are designed to include an imprint of the caster’s magical signature in them for the purposes of criminal investigations. It should be noted that many legal scholars, this author included, argue against the inclusion of this imprint mechanism in spell formulae, as sheriffs and rangers have access to a variety of detection spells that would be capable of identifying a particular magical signature without needing an imprint. This debate is currently ongoing.
It is worth noting that some texts or academies — particularly those academies intended for military and law enforcement — may categorize an additional fifth discipline. Most frequently, this discipline is identified as “Combat,” but it must be noted that this is not an officially recognized discipline of sorcery. It would be more accurately described as a “sub-discipline,” as it borrows ideas and theories from the four recognized disciplines and utilizes them to produce spells that are optimized for fighting. As a rule, combat spells have a very complex formulae, and studies have shown that even in individuals with a special talent for this type of offensive magic require extensive practice before they become proficient. Such spells also possess a very narrow scope of application and are often unsuitable for many uses where other, similar spells may be very effective. However, such spells are also extremely efficient; they do not require a great deal of energy, and do not required continual concentration once they have been cast.
The distinction between combat and noncombat spells is sometimes very slight. Legally, the distinction is not defined by the intent of the spell in question, but in the methods in its formula. As an example, take two similar manipulations; the Firestarter and Flamethrower spells. Both spells act to produce flame, but differ in their methods. Firestarter, which is not intended for combat, creates the conditions that allows flame to appear, but that is all; for the flames to actually appear and burn, both fuel and a phlogiston (air is the most common) are required, and beyond that, additional manipulations are required to shape and move the flames. Flamethrower, by contrast, does not require either fuel or phlogiston, as it converts magica directly into flame and projects it forward as a jet as a part of its formula, with no additional manipulations required. Indeed, most “fire manipulations,” especially those used in entertainment, are partial- or full-sensory illusions paired with an illumination spell, as illusions cannot produce light.
Because of the potential for abuse, the use and distribution of combat spells is carefully controlled by law. Formulae include built-in imprinting mechanisms so that a caster’s magical signature can be easily recovered for criminal investigations, the formulae themselves are not published or made available to the general public, and any academies or classes that teach them require certification and registration with the Royal Office of Investigations, including those administered by the Sheriff’s Guild, by the Ranger Corps, by the Merchant Fleet, by Provincial Militias, by the Equestrian Army and Navy, and by the Royal Guard.
The Magic of Destiny
A relatively new theory of magic proposed and later documented by Princess Twilight Sparkle. Destiny holds its own kind of magic, and will generally work to guide a pony — and perhaps nonponies as well — to their destination in life. It is very careful to note that “destiny is not set in stone,” and can and will change with the decisions that an individual makes in life, as well as due to influence from external forces. Per Princess Twilight, a pony’s destiny is the direction their life will take at a moment, meaning that destiny is unchanging only as long as no action is taken to change it.
Similarly, Princess Twilight notes that a pony’s special talent, specifically their mark, does not represent all that they will be in life; it shows only talent, not destiny. She provides, as an example, a special talent for casting detection spells. Such a talent does not necessarily mean that a pony is destined to become a detective; indeed, as long as they are able to practice their talent, they could be just as happy and just as productive as a nurse, a chiropractor, a soothsayer, or even an engineer.
Presently, there is little to support this particular theory, but Princess Twilight has furnished all of her available notes and documentation to Camembert University, and is currently corresponding with faculty to devise experiments to better document related phenomena. Several researchers and academics, this author included, feel that the events surrounding her ascension are proof enough, but applaud these efforts nonetheless.
