That Spell You Weave… — Derek Barton

This week I have been focusing on research for the upcoming sequel.  I want to expand upon the basics of magic and spellcasting from my first book, Consequences Within Chaos.  Again even though it may not always be a huge part of your characters’ lives, it comes into play and it’s an important detail to work out.  Knowing what is available or what can be utilized by any character can help direct your plot as well as add depth to the world surrounding them.

In the first book, my main character Taihven uses “Sigil Magic” which means that before he casts a spell, he inscribes a fiery pattern in the air specific to the spell he wants to use.  It is the spell’s “focus” or what draws out unique powers in unique ways.  His specialty is the Evoker Class: spells based in natural elements (fire, earth, air, water) and for destructive or offensive uses.

His sister, Letandra, utilizes Mending Magic (Healing).  This type of magic is more energy or soul-powered magic and the power funneled through the hands.  This type of magic also gives you an insight to the type of person she is:  a guardian or protector at heart.

The villain or my antagonist has unusual abilities and spells that require a vocal element.  Definitive words are the focus for his spells which are of a chaotic nature and also used destructively.  It added more to my novel’s final climatic battle — two opposing types of magic versus both using the same type of spells against each other.

One other type of magic I hinted at is used by a secretive cult called the Beleardea.  They are “facilitators” or middlemen that specialize in obtaining cursed items or finding cursed items to be bought by the highest bidders.   They are not actively evil, but their amoral actions define their motives.  The magic that they utilize is Eldritch Magic.  This is archaic magic that one can derive from an ancient deity or entity after it grants you favor when you  act on its behalf.  The Beleardea serve an ancient evil and thus gain incredible power from it.

When you google “types of magic” you will absolutely be amazed at just how many types there can be.  Not just the old wand or from a staff type of magic used in the Harry Potter stories, but magic centered on energy, planar, divination, elemental magic, soul (“ki”) magic, blood ritual, transformation, necromancy or even witchcraft.  There are over a hundred different versions of magic types.  So when you decide that you are going to have a fantasy world be sure to give this aspect a lot of thought.  It will define your world, your characters and the lands that these powers can come from.

What other types of magic appeal to you as a reader?  What would you like to see in a movie?  Couldn’t it be argued that the Force is just another version of magic?