.Wizard(s) According To Perplexity
Mizahar is a world where magic functions quite differently than what you would find in the typical fantasy setting. Where in most fantasy settings magic is institutionalized, universal, and has complete and utter structure to how ever spell, potion, ritual and spellbook is written, Mizahar does not possess such things.
1.) What is a Personal Wizard?
He is exactly what such a title implies. He is a practitioner of magic that is utterly and completely subjective to his own experiences. While all Personal Magic has similar beginnings, none of it is wielded in quite the same way by each wizard who practices it. They are unified in that they practice the same Discipline. Little else. Why? Because the individual must establish the connection between the power they wield and the action they want to perform. How one Fluxist rationalizes him being able to send another man flying with a single punch might be totally different from another who finds that a ludicrously dangerous idea. Why put energy into sending a man flying when you could strike pressure points and leave him crippled?
Adopting Personal Magic is embarking upon a way of life. It is dedicating oneself to the development of an art style as much as it is a pursuit of otherworldly and unnatural power. (A point I will get to momentarily.)
2.) What is a World Wizard?
Some might argue that World Magic is where things become less of an art and more of a science. I disagree. The beginnings might be the same but their implementation varies from wizard to wizard. Take Spiritism for example. Writing a universal guide to Spiritism is beyond impossible. Manuscripts that may or may not exist might discuss the basic tools needed to practice and induct another into the Discipline but how to use those tools? All of it is completely subjective to one’s ability to communicate with Spirits.
You could have all the tools in the world at your disposal but if you can’t establish a connection with the spirits the magic was designed to interact with, you can perform none of its higher functions. Thus, each instance is a new experience in and of itself. You have a fundamental backbone to draw on for guidance, the rest is up to you.
Don’t believe me? Alright. Alchemy. Perhaps one of the most scientific of the World Disciplines. With alchemy you have the fundamental calculation responsible for guiding all alchemic reactions. That is to say,
A + B - C = D
Or to put it into perspective…
Orange + Red Apple - Orange Color = Red Orange (albeit this is a very, very simple example)
Once again, the fundamental formula remains the same across the board but the reaction itself is subjective to the skill and reasoning of the individual. In the alchemy lore the following is stated:
Once the ring is loaded, the Alchemist will start the charging by shedding a drop of his blood, as in Summoning or Animation, and pressing the wounded limb against a meridian keystone. Using the connection between his life and the item, the Alchemist wills the Djed from the charger materials to start moving through the ring.
Now, it goes one to say quite a bit more but my point is this: the alchemist controls the reaction. Which means, while the framework for what SHOULD take place is there the details of the reaction are subjective to the individual alchemists reasoning. The reaction is driven by the alchemist and cannot take place without the exertion of his will. So, while every alchemic formula might follow a simple framework every reaction is entirely managed and pieced together based on the experiences of the individual alchemist performing the reaction. For instance who’s to say another alchemist might not have used a different component in the same reaction?
Orange + Red Rose - Orange Color = Red Orange (Again, a very, very simplistic example)
The end result was the same but the road to get there was different. I think you get it by now.
3.) Why make those differentiations only to tie them (sort of) together? What’s your point?
To bring to light how much of a personal journey being a wizard really is. My point is that, in Mizahar, picking up even ONE discipline of magic is introducing yourself to a world where you as a mortal are able to perform things you shouldn’t be able to. Mortals were not born with these powers. They were discovered or gifted by powers higher than them. Adopting one form or the other awakens you to a new perspective on life that was not previously possible. With that comes the heavy burden of forever being an outsider.
You are, in essence, completely and utterly unnatural. No one will ever look at you the same because you can do things that are contrary to the very nature of what you are.
As such, you walk alone and in walking alone you embark upon a journey of discovery that is as much a dream as it is a nightmare. Even other wizards will never fully understand you. They might be able to discuss similarities but the road to achieving a single result will always differ, even if it’s only slightly, between two mages. With such things in mind there are a few things wizards will never be:
a.) Never will a wizard be an outright idiot. Untalented? Perhaps. Quirky? Definitely. But an idiot? A buffoon? It is a disgrace. They would likely end up killing themselves with the very powers they laughably sought to control.
b.) Never is a wizard ignorant of the weight on their shoulders. Ever. People HATE mages. People FEAR mages. People ACCUSE mages. People RUN from mages. People KILL mages. That is the legacy one adopts upon assuming even ONE discipline of magic. You are a freak and people WILL go out of their way to make you aware of that fact once discovered. Or on the opposite end of the spectrum you are expected to knowledgeable, intelligent, and wise. If you fail in that expectation you are regarded with disdain or worse, you are viewed as useless and expendable.
c.) Never will a wizard wantonly bestow magic upon another. Why? Induction into practically every discipline of magic is a highly personal experience, one each wizard will likely never forget. You don’t brandish that around with gusto. It is not something one brags about because several initiations are grueling, painful, and change the individual so remarkably it scars them down to their very soul. Or in the case of some World Magics they involve becoming acquainted with rites so perverse to the general public, to share those things is to invite an angry mob upon your head. Animation for example. Giving life (or rather the semblance of it) to that which shouldn’t have it? A corpse made to walk again? Heresy in the eyes of some. Abominable in the eyes of others. Incomprehensible to most.
4.) So, what is a wizards to Perplexity then?
A remarkable individual who has taken it upon themselves to live a life dedicated to understanding a higher mystery in one form or another. Because that is what it is. Magic in Mizahar isn’t a hobby. It isn’t a tool. It a way of life because picking up even one of its many paths changes your life irrevocably.
The Disciplines and You
So how do I think people are supposed to react to certain disciplines? Well, that really depends on where your character is. Generally speaking though, I have formulated an opinion or two on what one can expect. Mind you, these are my opinions. Nothing more.
AuristicsNormal Person- You have a sixth sense about things. The average person would have no idea that you possessed this magic whatsoever unless you actually told them. They might find your staring a little odd and the fact that you’re rather intuitive about certain things off putting but hey, some people just have that ability, right?
Other Wizards- You’re nosey. Your gaze holds the potential to reveal things they don’t want others to know. Every effort that can be made to conceal things from you will be taken. It is either that or avoid you entirely. At best, you’ll mind your own business. At worst? You’ve seen too much.
FamiliaryNormal Person- WHAT IN GODS NAME IS THAT!?
Other Wizards- For those that know of Familiary, are you being dominated by your Familiar? Can you get me one? No? What good are you? Are you a danger? You are? Fine. I’ll just kill one of you and be rid of both of you.
FluxNormal Person- You’re really strong. Did you just punch that guy through a wall? That’s not natural. What are you? It’s not safe to be around you. Stay away from me. By the way, you’re bleeding out of your…well…everywhere.
Other Wizards- What are you? A barbarian? Go play with your sticks. By the way, I have a desk that needs moving. Care to lend a hand? A little to the left.
HypnotismNormal Person- You’re really nice to be around. People may gravitate toward you. You come off as rather charismatic or charming and people seem to agree with you on a lot of things. Wait…you mean you can control people’s thoughts? You’re a Hypnotist!? Villainous. You must be purged.
Other Wizards- Caution. If you’re a known hypnotist, rarely will you find yourself speaking to someone alone. There must always be a witness. Somehow. You know, better to just not be around you at all. You’re a schemer and use your powers only to advance your personal agendas.
LeechingNormal Person- Are you sick? Try these herbs. No? Let’s go see the doctor. Well, that didn’t work. Healer maybe? That didn’t work either? What’s that? You’re a Leecher? You mean you STEAL the essence of other living things until they’re drained of their very life? Cue mob.
Other Wizards- You are an abomination so thirsty for power you sacrifice your own health, the purity of your own essence, to slake your insatiable appetite. Expect thinly veiled disdain or strained tolerance at best. At worst? Complete isolation away from the SANE wizards who can’t be bothered with you.
MorphingNormal Person- People with either mistake you for a Kelvic or depending on your particular style of Morphing, assume you’re crazed and vindictive. You take on the shape of other people? Criminal. You’re trying to hide something. You’re either better off imprisoned with the psychopaths or being put down like the animals or creatures whose shapes you borrow. What you do isn’t natural anyways.
Other Wizards- Well that’s…nice? I guess. There are worse things.
ProjectionNormal Person- If things start moving of their own accord there’s obviously a ghost. Call for a Spiritist. It’s not a ghost? Projection? You remove your SOUL from your body? Doesn’t that make you the walking dead? Are you even alive? Do you watch me when I sleep? Why would you even do such a thing? Creep.
Other Wizards- Paranoia, perhaps. Curiosity is more likely. Excusing the fact that they could very well take advantage of the fact that your body become completely exposed when Projecting, this might be something worth investigating. If things start moving about unexpectedly though, expect retaliation or even safeguards.
ReimancyNormal Person- Nope. Get out. Fire from your mouth? Lightning spearing forth from your fingertips? I don’t think so. The world is dangerous enough as it is.
Other Wizards- You’re mad? You’re not mad? You must be mad. You know what, we’re just going to assume you’re insane. If you’re not already you will be soon enough.
ShieldingNormal Person- Why are you waving your hands over that doorway? Oh you’re a Shielder? I don’t see anything. What’s that do? I guess it sounds safe enough.
Other Wizards- Hey! I’ve got this lab that needs re-Shielding. I know you just put one up but my experiments got a little out of control. If you know what I mean! Oh that right, you don’t! Silly me! Oh and when you’re done you can go back to cowering in your corner because I know you don’t want to be part of the real magic anyways. Thanks. You’re a pal.
VoidingNormal Person- A endless black abyss symbolic of emptiness and the absence of life? Cue mob.
Other Wizards- Golem broke down. Again? Summon the Voider. Time to dispose of this trash.
To Be Continued...Stay tuned for the World Magic section! 
by Keene Ward on December 16th, 2014, 6:49 pm 
thanks for putting this up.
