[quote=@Hunter of Dreams]
I feel somewhat invested after making it through all of that information :D 

I am not terribly familiar with all of it, however, and was wondering if someone would mind telling me the main differences between Arcane and Ki?  It seems to me that they are basically the same thing, but applied and manipulated differently, so I don't think I'm interpreting it correctly.
[/quote]

Here's the brief, Tex-Approved guide to Arcane and Ki!

AhehEHehEHEM-*HACK*

Arcane energy is the base of ALL energy in the universe. All atoms, from hydrogen to whatever-the-fuck-omini-ginous-shitonium, produce arcane energy at a constant pace as their electrons spin round and round. Not only that, but electrons, protons, and neutrons (and basically all the building blocks that make up atoms, A.K.A. all matter everywhere) are simply byproducts of arcane energy hardening over the course of millions of years.

Arcane energy is the body of the universe, it's in everything. It's in the air, ground, water, etc. It is also the source behind all forms of energy because of this, including the most powerful and ever present force of all, gravity, since large deposits of arcane energy are attracted to one another. For the purpose of this universe, physics, chemistry, and all science everywhere is due to arcane energy.

Due to arcane energy being the basis of EVERYTHING, it can be manipulated by humans to create just about anything. Using it, humans can create all sorts of magic. Since it's the source of EVERYTHING, it can theoretically be used to do ANYTHING, within reason, and as long as the user is powerful enough to do so.

~

Ki on the other hand, is the essence of the soul. It is only found in living things, and it cannot be detected. It is a spiritual essence that makes people who they are. In a sense, it is the presence of consciousness. Ki, being spiritually attached to a person's body, cannot exist outside of a host. It will disappear, seemingly into nothingness, as it leaves a person's body. 

However, since Ki does not abide by the laws of physics, it can bend the rules in regards to how the body works. For example, a person could cast a spell on themselves to increase their muscle mass using arcane energy, but with Ki, they can increase their power without physically affecting the composition of their body at all. It is an unreal power. Ki can also do things like harden skin, increase how quickly people move, give people a sixth sense, or anything else that would improve a person's natural physical abilities. In a nutshell, Ki is a true magical power-up that cannot be explained by science alone.

Ki is also 100 times more powerful than arcane energy if you were to compare it by sheer mass. In some cases, Ki can be solidified for a short amount of time, and expelled from the body in many different ways. This Ki is harmful to all except the user, and can easily overpower all forms of normal magic. This however, is EXTREMELY rare, and I'm not allowing it early on in the RP.

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So yea. The super mega simple explanation is:

Arcane = science
Ki = Spirit