Void Magic

[Old Man Jean 235]

• INTRODUCTION •

Void Magic is a school of magic built around channeling the energy found between dimensions known as 'The Void' or 'The Warp' to produce unique effects and reactions by altering dimensional reality at a small scale. A young magic across Valucre, Void Magic is poorly researched and understood due to the inherit danger to the caster and the dimensional wall. These risks to caster (mutation, death, insanity) and dimension (dimensional rifts, void horrors entering reality, local reality warping) has limited research to Government accredited insinuation's with dimensionally sealed 'pocket reality' rooms. Furthermore, there is some debate as to the use of Void Magic even if made safe to reality and caster, as many of the witnessed effects are far from pleasant or seeming in the benefit of those whom consider themselves 'Good' - leaving a morality question should the Magic exit the research stage into the practical. 

• POTENTIAL EFFECTS •

As a magic school Void Magic is a 'hybrid' type, including effects such as illusion, mind alteration, direct attack, physical alteration (both improvement to user or debilitating to target) and even summoning - furthermore it is a 'channeling' magic, using the caster as a conduit for Void energy and therefore is independent of the caster's own mana potential, allowing even 'weak' casters to produce incredible effects. However due to the nature of Void energy and the natural risks of channeling magic even of the raw arcane the backlash potential of casting beyond one's ability is catastrophic, including horrific mutation, loss of sanity or even death. It has been shown that some caster's have a natural affinity for channeling Void energy and suffer fewer side effects and risks as a result - this is especially true for 'planar outsiders', those who have arrived to Valucre from outside it's home dimension. This suggests brief 'exposure' to the Void that true dimensional jumping entails might alter magic compatibility, though further research is required to confirm if intentional exposure would allow any caster a better affinity. 

 • OBSERVED SPELLS •

Limited spell casting beyond channeling has been done on the subject due to the inherit risk of trying to manifest complex structure to the raw Void energy - it has been observed that simply channeling possesses far less risk then actively attempting to structure the energy into spells. Actively attempting to structure the energy even when using traditionally 'safe' methods such as rune etching, ritual casting and meditative chanting have resulted in serious backlash, requiring immediate 'pocket reality' dispelling and even medical attention in one case. What attempts have been made have shown that Void Magic has a dark purple hue and manifests itself as 'smoke' radiating off the user rather then the more traditional 'aura' when looked upon with magic detecting implements. In a controlled environment a few spells have been documented, including but not limited too an illusory effect that caused temporary madness, a caster briefly growing a second set of arms which eventually shriveled and turned into aforementioned purple smoke and finally a direct attack of a series of 'tentacles' bursting forth from a triangular rift in front of the user's casting hand. These 'tentacles' attacked with intelligence, grasping a test mouse; contact with the tentacles caused excruciating pain, horrific cancerous mutations and a strong constriction which broke bone; furthermore the tentacles were 'sticky', making escape nearly impossible. They faded in the same purple smoke in a slow dissolving effect, which left the room smelling putrid and required a dispel of the 'pocket reality' due to the unknown effects of the smoke. 

 • ACTIVE RESEARCHERS & INSTITUTIONS •

The Gaian Academy

Head Research Analyst - Doctor Megan Starweight, PhD Mana Mechanics and Computational Casting (NPC)

Lead Casting Structure Research Analyst - Doctor Isamu Nakamura, PhD Computational Casting and Spell Structure Engineering (NPC)

Lead Channeling Research Analyst - Professor Alan Mickle, Master's Channeling Magic and Chaos Magic (NPC)

Lead Magic Permanency Viability Analyst - Professor Ming Shechin, Master's Magic Permanency and Practical Magic Application (NPC)

Lead 'Caster' - Itylra Yurieshanyaar, Undergraduate Void Magic and Combat Casting (Old Man Jean)