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Celestialism - The Masters of Arcanism Arcanism, the beginning of it all. A magic largely undefined by the natural elements and left to the mystery of the void. Through the ages more and more control has been gained with the magic through the efforts of two mages. The first being the original Arcane Mage who gave the descendants the ability to cast the first mundane spells. The second, an elf who would claim the title of Arcane Mage and usher in the age of the Arcanist. Unlike other evocations Arcanism is not bound to the order of the natural world and thus possesses no true structure but rather a constantly evolving whimsy directly correlating to the research and willpower of its casters. Arcanists through the ages have prided themselves on their versatility and diversity, no two Arcanists really ever enabling the magic in the same way. With proficiency came new ideas, new techniques and new specializations within the craft. Sooner or later one was bound to unlock the true potential of the raw magical energy that makes up the magic. However such abilities are rare and only the true Masters of Arcanism may perform them. AN OVERVIEW What is Celestialism? Celestial Aura Greater Melding Celestial Familiars Arcanist Stones Crystal Growing The death of a Celestial Additions and Revisions What is Celestialism? Celestialism largely defines the difference between Master and Adept regarding Arcanism. Though its additions to Arcanism deal with raw magical energy the abilities it provides allows a Master Arcanist to demonstrate their individualized personalities out of battle and tactical skill in battle. It changes how the Arcanist will interact with fellow Arcanists and allows them to contribute an assembly of magical feats in a cultural or societal setting. The goal of Celestialism is to give more depth to the art while rewarding those who take on Arcanism as their mastery. Celestialism itself is the idea that a Master Arcanist may cross the threshold of arcane, their aura metamorphosing into a greater aura that draws in Celestials like moths to a light allowing the Master Arcanist to catalyze rare minerals into Arcanist stones which will house docile familiar beasts. Celestial Aura These Arcanists have broken through the threshold of arcana and thus have become beacons of voidal light amongst the dark emptiness. Regardless of their nature or alignment the Celestial Arcanist now seems to draw magical properties and mysteries to them, having truly mastered their art. Their aura seems more vibrant, more saturated with mana and color and will even manifest easier at certain times or after casting a spell. They seem to constantly resonate the raw magical energy and their aura color may shift towards a whiter, glossier appearance in their spells. Besides aesthetics there are a few practical uses of the mastered aura. The first being the ability to fully take on another being’s aura color when melding with them allowing the Arcanist to explore and understand others without the bias of their own aura. The Celestial Aura of an Arcanist is also more receptive in terms of sensitivity to the void. Disturbances are more likely to be noticed as well as anomalies and even the detection of other magical beings. The final use is in the crafting of Arcanist Stones & binding of Celestial Familiars (see below) RED LINES: You cannot sense what magics a being has. Instead you have a better understanding of what is and what is not magical along with how powerful something might be. (Voidal Only). Aura is not physical but rather ethereal. Manifestations of aura have no effect on the world but are instead purely aesthetic. Greater Melding (see lore on coupling or circles) Melding already exists in several forms and is now more commonly seen throughout the arcane, namely in the use of coupling or circles (see lore thread posted above) and in the use of arcane shielding where multiple Arcanists may fuse together their shields to create a stronger, more united bastion. Greater Melding follows the lines of coupling in this regard and can be seen as a clarification and expansion to that lore sect as well. At its core melding via the use of Arcanism is the act of mingling auras and if one were to participate in a melding via circling it may be assumed that the bounds of what is achievable are clearly outlined in that lore thread. Where Greater Melding differs though is through the use of one’s Celestial Aura. One who has achieved Celestial Aura may now lead Arcanists more fluidly through circling and circling, or coupling, may be achieved with non-mages. Due to the fact that mana drained is proportional to a person’s mana pool a Master is able to meld with anyone’s aura, regardless if they are a mage or not, and take on their aura color. The effect of this on a non-mage would be slightly draining still but so long as the Master Arcanist is not casting large spells in this mutual connection the non-mage is at no risk. Where Greater Melding comes into full effect is between Master Arcanist and a pupil or peer since they may now enact a coupling much easier and during combat or training sessions. This allows for the mana of a single spell to be proportionally divided among the coupling, allowing for greater feats with a bit less drainage, though exhaustion is still evident. Likewise the Master Arcanist may also pass the role of Leader, or rather the one directing the casting of spell, to another person. The effect Greater Melding will have on Arcanists is mainly to benefit multiple Arcanists working together. The spells will take on the aura colors of those involved, demonstrating the unity amongst them. The one drawback to this smaller scale coupling is that physical contact is required or at the very least a shared medium. RED LINES: Follows the lore of coupling/circling (see lore thread above) Mages must RP exhaustion since mana is still drained Telepathy is not formed through this. Only one with a Celestial Aura can begin an Arcanism coupling of this nature i.e. coupling that will involve movement & combat instead of stationary circling. Arcanist Stones (See lore on Obelisks. Requires the use of Celestial Arcanism and Enchanting) Once one’s Celestial Aura is unlocked it becomes possible through the use of combined use of enchanting and Arcanism that an Arcanist Stone may be created. Mundane materials of varied values can be used to create Crude Arcanist Stones, which is the object used to bind a Celestial as a familiar. Stones may vary in size as well, larger stone requiring more attention and mana but housing largely Celestials. The imbuement process requires the Celestial Arcanist and Enchanter to fill the stone with the overly potent magical energy now possessed by the Celestial Arcanist. This causes the stone to glow and crystallize or in case of failure, crack and disintegrate. It is thought that while Crude Arcanist Stones are imperfect vessels for Celestials the rarity of resource used has an effect on the outcome. So greater gems are usually a requirement for any decent stone to be crafted and Greater Arcanist Stones require a different method altogether (see crystal growing), Arcanist Stones are also categorized as a variant of mana obelisk, or rather function in a similar way despite their heavily varied sizes (some being very small) and once bound to a familiar will require the attention of a mage to refuel it with mana however the Celestials held inside tend to be picky or rather incompatible with all forms of mana and require mana from the original binders, be it one person or multiple, in order to remain charged. Due to the requirement of mana if a bound stone is left unattended for too long the Celestial may lose their ability to manifest and if left for longer the obelisk itself will degrade until it crumbles, releasing the Celestial. Stones of higher or lower quality and durability have an affect on how long a stone may go without being recharged. It should also be noted that many minerals can be transmuted together (via the use of Transfiguration) prior to the imbuing process. Stones may also be customized to the caster and either be stationary, held in a bracelet or locket, in a staff or in a piece of armor, etc… Crude Arcanist Stones are imperfect vessels as stated above, but it is possible to create a more suitable obelisk in which to hold a Celestial. (see below) RED LINES: In order to craft a Crude Arcanist Stone you catalogue what you used to create it. Precious resources must be consumed/combined in order to create the best stones. Example Materials: Iron, Lapis, Gold, Emerald, Diamond, etc… The familiar must stay within a 50 block radius of their stone. Stones require maintenance and will eventually crumble if not maintained. Anti-magical feats can drain the stones until they crumble. Celestial Familiars & Binding (See lore on Voidal Horrors) What are Celestials? Celestials are the name given to a unique type of voidal horror. Though they share most of the traits expressed by voidal horrors, Celestials are docile and without assistance take no form other than small lights inside the darkest parts of the void where they fall to predation from greater horrors and voidal anomalies. Like horrors these beings belong to a hierarchy of which they rest at the very bottom. They display basic sentience but tend to have minor to no ability, physical or magical, to defend themselves other than the basic want and need to survive. It is because of this that Celestials are thought to be a rarity within the hierarchy and thus, if given the chance, seek to escape their transcendence into a coiled form. Those that have obtained their Celestial Aura come to realize that they are called Celestial Arcanists not only because they have obtained a certain level of proficiency but are now seen as shepherds for the Celestials. Like moths to a light Celestials are drawn to Master Arcanist and when a binding occurs many will flock towards the stone if given the chance. Through the use of an Arcanist Stone a Celestial Arcanist can draw out a Celestial and bind them to the stone, granting them life in the mortal realm. When this occurs the Celestial clings to the mundane world and because of the casters connection to the binding the form of the Celestial will be directly influenced by them. However though they possess a physical form they are still what they always were and will not directly attack a target but rather assist their Arcanist by allowing certain feats to occur. Celestial Familiars Celestial Familiars are thought to be the manifestations of the heart and soul of a Master Arcanist. They take on a physical form and serve the Arcanist as companions. There are three things to note with Celestial Familiars. Their appearance, their function and binding. The appearance of Celestials on a larger scale is impossible to describe due to their increasingly varied nature though there are common tropes that they abide by. Celestial Familiars are relative to the size of the Arcanist Stone they are bound to (See above). A Celestial Familiar will also take on the color of their casters aura but are not always completely one color. Perhaps the tail, ears, legs or eyes take on the color while the remainder of their form may differ. Celestial Familiars also tend to resemble living creatures that have added magical properties such as an extra tail, or wings or an excess of limbs or lack thereof. It is important to note that familiars are not conjurations and thus cannot be directly manipulated or controlled but rather take on key personality traits from their caster and act on their own accord. The function of the Celestials are relatively simple. Other than being a companion creature to the Arcanist the familiar may act as a focal point for the Arcanist to cast spells from so long as they are within sight-lines. Besides this feat the familiar tends to lack durability and can be dispelled easily through physical or magical means. Due to their ethereal nature Celestials do not attack, but can and will defend themselves if possible. However they largely rely on their caster to defend them. Communication between caster and familiar is essential as the familiar will work on its own in order to help its caster however due to being created in the image of its caster the two tend will familiar will tend to form patterns and behaviors based on its caster. Due to the level of sentience a Celestial has the caster and Celestial may gradually come to understand each other better in order to raise their collective efficiency. Binding The act of gaining a familiar requires an immense amount of meditation from a Master Arcanist as they are beings of whimsy brought to life through the caster's willpower. In order to summon a Celestial to the mortal plane the Arcanist imbues a part of themselves into the process, allowing the Celestial to latch onto ideas, thoughts and characteristics of its caster. Likewise Celestials are given names when brought to this world. Once summoned the Arcanist must bind the Celestial to an Arcanist Stone (see above) in order to allow them to remain in their physical form. It is noted that through Greater Melding an Arcanist may assist another in summoning their familiar. Once bound to an Arcanist Stone a familiar may accompany the individual or individuals who participated in the summoning. Familiars tend to be idle within their bound Arcanist Stone unless their caster draws them out in order to conserve their supply of mana. While active in physical form the Celestial Familiar will constantly draw mana from their stone. This amount is relative to their size but most familiars have the ability to remain in physical form for extended periods of time before requiring recharging. This can be anywhere from a couple days to weeks to months depending on the quality of the bound stone. It should be noted that it does not require mana to summon them their stones but rather simply having the will to summon them and the usage of their given name is sufficient. (This process usually takes 1-2 emotes. Same for withdrawing the Celestial.) RED LINES: Celestial Familiars are magical companions mostly just for aesthetic purposes. They do not attack or cause physical damage in combat. Their function in combat is as personalized focal points for a caster. Familiars must be in line of sight in order to be used in combat. Familiars do not physically attack. They can defend themselves and depending on what the familiar is this may cause different results and effects. Familiars are bound to an Arcanist Stone and cannot be moved away from the stone. Too far away and the familiar will disperse back to the stone. Celestials are types of Voidal Horrors. This mainly pertains to the physiology of that magical creature with the exceptions of not always having rough or dry skin and the inability to manifest their own magical power. Crystal Growing Celestials come to welcome their new homes, and go further by beginning to nest. Due to their relative luxury of no longer being preyed upon they begin to draw upon the same magical energy that led them to their bound stones. Life a seed in fertile ground an Arcanist Stone begins to collect crystalline constructs around them made of what seems to be the raw energy that that makes up the more durable spells of Arcanism, albeit in a more wild, untempered manner. If left unattended these crystals, which will take on the aura color of those involved in the initial binding, encase the Arcanist Stone and surrounding area, aesthetically altering the environment into a warped habitat for the Celestial. Arcanists may either mitigate or enhance the spreading of a crystal garden. When given an abundance of mana or even linked to a steady supply of mana from a greater mana obelisk or an equivalent the Arcanist Stone roots into its surrounding environment like the mother tree. The scale of this can be from very small crystal formations on a necklace that contains an Arcanist Stone to entire Forests that have become overgrown with crystal due to an overabundance of mana. At a certain point these crystals become large enough to begin cultivating. For the most part this type of crystal is extremely fragile and volatile in the use of spell crafting or enchanting however due to its attunement to the Celestials it proves of to be of use in the making of what are called Greater Arcanist Stones which in comparison to Crude Arcanist Stones are more durable and efficient in how they bind a Celestial, often lasting longer without recharge and less likely to crumble if left unattended. It should be noted that a bound stone does not seek out and consume mana on its own but rather requires nurturing and attention in order to grow. These crystal gardens would soon crumble if left uncared for by a mage. The benefit of crystal growing is the production of higher quality Arcanist stones but also bound stones attached to the garden may essentially feed and recharge off the crystal, should there be enough of it in the area. Large amounts of crystals grown from this imbuement process will begin to alter the surrounding environment. The air will grow thick with residual mana, the ground pulsing with energy. Crystal Gardens are depicted as sleepy environments that possess a gloom or rather shroud of magic, giving them an ethereal appearance. Darker hearts The danger of creating a crystal garden is evident though due to the relative worth of crystals in general. Likewise should darker hearts take control of a garden the bound familiar might be overtaken by blight and morphed into some feral abomination from the void (see event clause). It is because of this these gardens are to be kept secret or guarded. Despite their ethereal presence they seem to have no truly negative effect on their environment. Plants and animals may still inhabit the gardens, though whether or not they begin to take on properties of the gardens is yet unknown. Event Clause - Due to the nature of Crystal Gardens it is assumed that the owner of the garden or region in which the garden presides will be contacted for event use. This is mainly to allow the owner to help the event process and describe the nature of whatever familiar is bound to the garden should it become corrupted. This can be the birth of a lesser, greater or arch-horror depending on the situation. RED LINES: Despite allowing the ability to grow crystals you must still mechanically represent them and their products. Corrupted Familiars are event creatures only for use of the ET. They have no specific traits and are instead left up to the jurisdiction of the ET and LT involved. The Death/Dispellment of a Celestial There may come a point where these fragile voidal beasts die or rather are dispelled. In the event that a Celestial is slain in battle their body is dispersed back the Arcanist Stone they are bound to. However if the stone does not have the mana required to keep the Celestial bound it will begin to rapidly crumble and if allowed break, releases the Celestial back to the void. Because Celestials take on physical forms they still possess weaknesses such as having what all voidal horrors have, a “heart of horror.” Though due to their nature are usually referred to as celestial hearts instead. If pierced or destroyed they will instantly die and disperse back to the stone in an attempt to stay within the mortal realm. It should be noted that due to predators, and the level of sentience that Celestials have, dying and being dispelled back to the void is perhaps their greatest fear. Depending on the size of the Celestial and the bound stone they may be completely dispelled after receiving mortal wounds (wounds that cause them to demanifest) anywhere from 1-5 times). Arcanist Stones may be repaired and Celestials may be transferred to new stones to avoid the eventual declination of their present bound stone. If their vessel manages to survive a death the Celestial will become unable to physically manifest for 2 hours (IRL). If dispelled back to the void it may be possible to bind the same Celestial again if drawn out by their name and by someone who they have a strong connection with but the chances are slim and it's more than likely that a different Celestial will take their place or if they do manage to be bound again they may appear changed or morphed in some way. Celestials that have become blighted and turned into other voidal abominations may never again become Celestials, having lost their docile and innocent nature to darker hearts. Instead of depending on their caster for protection and nurturing they will become the abominations they once were hunted by. This is what separates a Celestial heart from a true heart of horrors. RED LINES: Deaths of your Celestial Familiar should be recorded and dealt with accordingly. Not doing so breaks lore and is considered PGing. Additions & Alterations to existing Arcanism All of the above are spells and abilities that are considered “end game” for a Tier 5 Arcanist. The main idea is give Arcanism more connection to how a character behaves and interacts with the story, characters and world around them. Through Celestialism it is hoped that Arcanists will now have a product to use during interactions similar to how enchanting gives a product as well as allowing for better communication between Arcanists and the ability to work together. This major addition is help enhance a shared experience many will get through Arcanism and help players express their characters personalities and the personalities of other players. In addition to this lore I am bringing up two (really it's one) amendment to the original lore that is completely separate from this piece of lore. Trap Shield: A bubble barrier is placed over a target.The Arcanist becomes stationary but can now hold and trap anything within so long as direct line of sight and unbreaking concentration is held. This is effectively a tier 4-5 spell. Chaining: Chains of arcane are cast upon a target, binding a body part or parts so long as direct line of sight and unbreaking concentration is held. This is effectively a tier 4-5 spell. RED LINES: While these spells are cast the Arcanist is immobilized. Meaning they may not move or participate in the casting of additional spells. Basically just a small support buff. Arcanists can create hard shields and objects so there isn’t much reason to bar the ability to better trap or impede movement so long as the drawbacks are upheld. The implementation process will go something like this: - I will likely demonstrate this in-game first as I have always self-taught new Arcanism feats as a way of adding them into the world. - Tier 5 Arcanists who come across this knowledge IG may then make a new MA for Celestial Arcanism if you have tier 5 Arcanism. - Celestial Arcanism does not take up a magic slot but rather fills in your other mastery. So instead of having two tier 5 magics, Celestial Arcanism becomes your only tier 5 magic. Due to this instead of having two tier 4 magics you will now have three tier 4 magics, and the final magic remains at novice. - You may then begin self-teaching each addition. I.E. you don't automatically learn these additions if you are Tier 5. TLDR; I know I know. Super long. Here you go: At Tier 5 Celestialism can be learned. Melding allows shared spells between Tier 5 to lower tier Arcanists. A type of coupling/circling (see lore) Celestial Aura is the mastered Aura and allows the imbuement of Arcanist Stones (w/ the use of enchanting as well) and crystal gardens. Celestial Familiars are a docile type of voidal horror (see lore) that can be bound and given a physical form. Mostly just aesthetics to allow greater customization & interaction via the use of Arcanism. Credits to: BrandNewKitten, because I wrote this lore like 5 times. Charcoal for story-boarding with me through the renditions and being on my two person dream team. Mephistophelian for his assistance on all things arcane.