Draetstan
Aghkar’i
Tchaermasei


World name: Astoņiae [Combination of the latvian word for “eight” (Astoniem) and the latin word for form/forms (Formae).] In the languages within it, Astoniae means “Bound by the Eight,” or “Made of the Eight.”

The Nexus: An individual capable of wielding all Aspects.

The Mechanics of Magic
[hider]In the world of Astoniae, almost every living thing has pathways that transmit lifeforce, mana, spiritual energy, and the “Will” of the mind through the body. These pathways are aligned with the nervous and circulatory systems of the physical body. However, those who utilize magic are different, for their pathways possess different numbers of “Nodes” (working name) throughout, which allow an individual to access the essence of life and magic that flows through them by harnessing, and then binding their will into the nodes, and then using them to infuse the energies with those aspects to which they have access.

As such, the process of using magic is called Unition and magic users are called Termini.

Unition has several steps, which are as follows:

[hider=Unition Steps][u][b]Step One - [i]Channeling[/i]:[/b][/u] Once one learns how to do so, they essentially focus/expand their physical awareness into the aforementioned "pathways" and "nodes" in their body. Without this awareness one cannot use magic consciously. The Termini sinks some of their awareness into the "Will" component of the energy in their pathways.

[b]Q:[/b] How does this feel?
[b]A:[/b] Heh, like you weren't paying attention to your body, and then you start paying attention, except it's a bit deeper than that since you start to feel almost a "river" of energies flowing through you. Feeling the essence of life coursing through you. Like being able to sense the beat of your heart, and the movement of all the blood through your veins. Those who are just learning how to do it would describe it as disconcerting, but also...mystifying.

[u][b]Step Two - [i]Locking[/i]:[/b][/u] The Termini (what mages are called in this world) takes the process of channeling a step forwards by not merely using "Will" to become aware of their internal network, but to assert a measure of control upon its flow, which they then use to draw Ether into the "Nodes" along their pathways. Whilst the Ether is within the Termini's nodes it is "bound" to whatever aspects the user chooses (that they have access to). This limits the potential things that the ether can do, narrowing its purpose and allowing the Termini to decide more concretely on how to formulate their casting/magic into what they want in a given instance

[u][b]Step Three - [i]Weaving[/i]:[/b][/u] The Termini releases the ether from their nodes and back into their pathways, but maintains control of it, sending it (usually) down the arms and into the hands. During this process the Ether is again exposed to one’s Will, allowing the Termini to mould its purpose more clearly, weaving in specific traits from those aspects they infuse into the ether. Occasionally Unition stops at this step as people will use the ether to infuse their body by "weaving" it into their body to infuse it with given properties till the ether "burns out," causing the effects to cease.

[u][b]Step Four - [i]Casting[/i]:[/b][/u] Ether is released into/onto the hands (typically), which are then used to physically mold the ether into shapes or to mold it before release--typically by way of specialized movements of the hands and fingers, though these movements really only act as a mnemonic tool to make working ether easier and more efficient. Once this is done the ether is released, or “cast” out where it manifests as magic proper.[/hider]
The potency of one’s lifeforce, and thus magic, can be affected by their physical fitness as well as some other attributes such as strength of mind and personality. Adrenaline and physical movements can help to amplify the strength and/or accuracy of one’s magic.

[hider=The nature of internal energies]Almost all living things in Astoniae have a system of pathways in the body that run along similar lines to the nervous and circulatory systems in the physical body. These pathways carry three notable things:

A person's [u][i][b]Lifeforce/stamina[/b][/i][/u]: Which in this case is the energy that allows their body to continue functioning. Draining a normal amount just makes you physically tired. Draining too much can start causing certain bodily systems to shut down or be damaged to some degree.

A person's [i][u][b]"Will"[/b][/u][/i]: Which in this case is that which is transmitted from their spirit/mind through the body to allow them to sense and move as well as be aware of the energy in their pathways.

Lastly, these pathways contain [i][u][b]Ether[/b][/u][/i] (which I may rename), which is a malleable, largely traitless semi-liquid energy-like substance. Ether is used for magic, as well as a measure of one's lifeforce.[/hider]
Now some people have nodes (which are kind of like nerve bundles, but are instead bundles of ether, lifeforce, and "Will," that can form or come into being sometime during the person's development) along their pathways. Some have more nodes than others, some have none at all. People without nodes cannot use magic, though there is always the possibility that someone will develop/form them later in life. Those with nodes can use magic.

When magic is "cast" a measure of the lifeforce is expelled, which is why magic users get tired. It's a small amount, but it's a set amount proportional to the amount of ether used.

Additionally a Termini’s physical fitness, mentally agilility (and willful personality) can increase the accuracy and/or potency of one’s magic. This is due to the fact that a small amount of lifeforce is expelled and integrated into ether when it is cast from the body. Additifionally, those whose mental fortitude and passion are strong--whose minds are agile--gain more potent manipulation of the “Will” aspect of their energies, thus allowing them to manipulate ether with greater proficiency. As with one’s fitness, adrenaline has similar effects on one’s magic, making it more potent by packing more lifeforce into less space, resulting in a greater amount being expelled when the ether is cast. However, this also means that a Termini is likely to tire at a much steeper rate than normally.

As such it is not uncommon for termini to work up adrenaline before casting. Some even imbibe various drugs to amplify certain aspects of themselves to in turn make their magic stronger--though this is more often than not a temporary effect with possibly long-lasting repercussions.

It should also be noted that once the ether is outside of your body it has two "states." The first is its base state, where it still contains "Will" in it (which requires it still maintain a connection to the Termini's body), thus allowing the individual to continue manipulating the Ether. Ether in the second state is that which has lost the aforementioned connection, and the "Will" aspect either retracts into the body or is lost (when it is lost, it makes a magic user mentally a bit more tired/taxed, which is why some spells are more mentally taxing than others).

[u][b]Side notes/Drawbacks:[/b][/u] The mixture of high adrenaline and varying loss of vitality can--especially over time--be very dangerous. This is because Adrenaline causes a lot of stress to the body, and chronic stress can be damaging, which may be compounded by the loss of lifeforce. As mentioned previously, adrenaline packs more lifeforce into less space causing more of it to be vented when ether is cast. However, when this lifeforce is vented, the adrenaline is not, essentially resulting in the termini having less awareness of how tired they really are, due to the intensity of physical sensations caused by adrenaline coursing through the body, making any damage taken less noticeable to the termini as well.

In addition to the above one must keep in mind that the use of magic tends to have more long term drawbacks if it is used too often without giving the body time to recover for while ether is not exactly lifeforce and not exactly “Will,” the continued venting of it from the body without giving the body time to replenish it will eventually wear at the body causing permanent damage that can eventually leak into the physical form causing trauma and damage to necessary systems (muscle, tissue, nerves, and blood vessels more often than not, though organ damage can occur if magic is grievously overused).[/hider]
[hider=Aspects][center][h2][i][u][b]The Aspects of Reality and Magic[/b][/u][/i][/h2][/center][hr]
These aspects are that which formed all of existence in the past and that which will continue to create and destroy more in the future as well as what stabilizes each present moment. Similarly, these aspects are also directly tied to the use of magic, for mortals are born aligned more closely with some aspects than others even if they are not capable of magic.

It should be noted that, in Astoniae, each aspect is revered and looked to almost as one might a god. The aspects each have philosophies associated with them (these are pending) that tie into their nature. The actual nature of the Eight is somewhere between God and Fundamental Force in that Gods are sentient beings of divine or infernal origin, who choose to make reality, but are often more closely tied to the material realm in their behavior or by way of their power whereas Fundamental Forces just are, and they have no will.

The aforementioned reveals that while the Aspects do have “personality” in a fashion and even consciousness, that they are not truly “gods” and are closer to fundamental forces than anything else. It is unknown if the Aspects arose from some other force, it is only known that--as far as mortals are aware--they have simply always been.[hr]
[center][h3][u][b]Time's Trinity[/b][/u][/h3][/center][hr]
[i][u][b]Absence.[/b][/u][/i]
Associated with emptiness, nothingness, the unknown and death. Absence is both the state of total lack of substance in any form, and the uncaring apathetic void that slowly eats away at any given thing, reducing anything it touches from a state of wholeness to a state of non-existence. Often known as the Forbidden aspect.

[i][u][b]Movement.[/b][/u][/i]
It is the prime force that keeps reality changing, in motion. It is like the kinetic energy that your muscles use to drive movement, but it instead is the energy that drives the universe forwards.

It is often thought as synonymous with life. “Forward” flowing transmutation uses this, meaning magic that improves something or brings it into a more developed or complex state.

[i][u][b]Suspension.[/b][/u][/i]
The state of stasis, a frozen moment of the present time. Making something persist in a single state for a period of time. However, suspension is never permanent. It is the aspect of the fleeting moment, a snapshot of the current state of reality in an instant. This is used for sealing or preservation magic.[hr][center][h3][u][b]The Middling Mediator[/b][/u][/h3][/center][hr]
[i][u][b]Concord.[/b][/u][/i]
Harmony, treatise, the agreement to cooperate. This aspect can link or attune things to one another, it is what unites the other aspects, and while it is essential, it is not quite as potent or necessary as the aspects held within the Trinity. This aspect has no true and proper opposing point.

It is the middling aspect which helps to unite or harmonize the others, maintaining balance and the connections even between those disparate aspects who revile their own interactions with one another. Concord is connection, harmony, and while it is sometimes balance, this may not always be the case. Concord possesses no opposing point among the aspects, 'cept the oft opposing points of all aspects: Absence.[hr][center][h3][u][b]The Quantum Quatra[/b][/u][/h3][/center][hr]
[i][u][b]Adamancy.[/b][/u][/i]
Representing that which cannot be changed, altered, or moved. This aspect is unyielding, immovable, and solid in the most literal sense. Adamancy is what allows the existence of solid substances and it governs defense, durability, and along with its counterpart, the manipulation/control/creation of any non-etheric manifestation. It is resolve and stability, the physical world in its least malleable form.

Mages with the aspect of Adamancy are those who focus on defenses or reinforcement of existing structures. They might preserve something--in a more permanent, lasting fashion than a mage of Suspension might, for the act is one of material rather than one of time, whose nature is to ever flow. Similarly this magic might be combined with other aspects to embolden and empower the mind, making people more willful and certain of the validity of their actions and thoughts.

[i][u][b]Inconstancy.[/b][/u][/i]
It is the fickle, the malleable, and the easily influenced. Inconstancy is an aspect tied to the physically malleable substances and states of existence. It is hesitance, it is impressionability, it is the easily affected winds, and most of all it is the unstable and ever changing physical state of existence.

Mages with the aspect of Inconstancy are those who reduce, but not through deterioration like those of Absence, but rather through shifting physical substances from more complex states into less complex or more easily malleable ones. Combined with other magics it might make one more impressionable or easily influenced and manipulated. Additionally, one might use Inconstancy magic to make work something that--through conventional methods--would never be worked due its sheer durability.

[i][u][b]Dynamism.[/b][/u][/i]
An aspect governing those forms of ether which often interact with physical reality, Dynamism is something that allows physical motion, heat, electrical energy, light, and even life and magic to an extent. It is the more tangible of the two etheric aspects, and the translating force of the mind. It is the seat of perception.

[i][u][b]Abstraction.[/b][/u][/i]
The realm of ideas and concepts, of that which hardly ever tangibly interacts with the physical realm/aspects of reality. It is knowledge, philosophy distilled. It is the the intangible, insubstantial aspect of the mind. It is the seat of comprehension.[/hider]