Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Introduction to Magic: a mystic resource

This post is Part 1 of a series to augment the Magic of the Known World available for free download.

This and other mystic resources are gathered in my Magic Directory for you to explore.

Find more worldbuilding content in my Codex Directory.



As explained in this note on the widespread use of magic, magic is prevalent in the Known World, and generations of magic scholars have compiled their observations to create the Magic Codex, a functioning taxonomy of magic.

This post series corresponds with Magic Codex Chapter 0 - Magic Basics.

Within the codex, the term magic is located at (0.0) and is defined as:
magic (N) The energies used to create effects in the world without a direct physical interaction. Also the ability to manipulate said energies to create effects. Also: conjure, summon

In my Tales of the Known World saga, the word magic can refer to two different things.

First are the actual energies that a person can harness to create various effects (as in, He used magic to light a fire, or, There is magic in this grotto).

Second is the ability that a person has to harness those energies (as in, His magic can change his appearance, or, Magic runs in his family).


Check out the Magic of the Known World for more resources!


Depending on the speaker, the word magic may be used in the plural (as in, The magics in this grotto are strong, or, His magics can create any disguise). People may also use magic as an adjective, to describe something as having magical properties (as in, This is a magic stone).

In lower-class vernacular, magic can also be a verb (as in, He will magic this stone, or, He magicked this stone, or, This stone was magicked).

Magic energy is often accompanied by a scent like rain or ozone. When certain magics are cast, the energy ionizes the air to produce this scent. Not all magics create a rainy smell, and magic users can often suppress the scent of magic if necessary.



Download the complete Magic Codex:

The Known World is rife with magic. Over time, scholars have compiled all these magics and magical effects into a comprehensive taxonomy. For more about the role and inner workings of magic, check out the complete Magic Codex above.



When a person uses magic to create an effect, he is often said to conjure or summon the effect (as in, He conjured a stiff breeze through the tunnel, or, She summoned a glowing orb to light their way).

These terms are only applicable when the effect appears where it did not exist before, as opposed to simply affecting a pre-existing object in its established location.

For instance, magic used to turn a doorknob or close a door would not be described using these terms. However, a person could be said to conjure a fire in the hearth or summon a goblet from the kitchen, even if the hearth was set with logs or the goblet floated out through a doorway.


That's it for this post! Up Next: The four fields of studying magic...

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