Practitioners of Wild Magik

The following is an excerpt from the unpublished work, A Brief and Comprehensive History on Magik as Discovered through Laboriovs Meditations by Cecil Guudhart. Cecil promises it will be completed before long, precedent says otherwise.

Much like the songbird, we practitioners of magik are varied in our habits and elegance. I myself have concentrated my studies and works to the civilized hubs of cities, mostly for the food one must understand. We urban wyzards and sorcerers tend to band together in schools of practice or ateliers. For example, I am a member of the Silver Water Sanctum and treasurer-elect of the Ivywood Truth Seekers. But magik was not crafted in cities or villages, it is a child born of the wild.

Venture into the frontier kingdoms or traverse mountains untamed and one will find no end to those who harness magikical energies. In this section I wish to shed some light on a few documented practitioners of the wild, both great and terrible.

Witch o’ the Wood

Many common folk have had run-ins with a witch o the wood. These women and their huts will appear on the edge of populations without warning and seemingly at random. Whether through teleportation or by walking on a pair of chicken legs, where once an empty forest grove lay the night before, a wood and thatch hut now sits surrounded by exotic herbs and trinkets.

Folklore has not been kind to witch o the woods. Those who have not encountered them have spread unfounded rumors about cannibalism or ill-fated wishes. It could not be further from the truth. Regardless, a village newly visited by one of these mystics may treat them with apprehension or even hostilities. I beg any reader of this to not follow in such a way.

The truth is, witch o the wood will gladly provide much needed services to any folk who come asking for aid. They are healers, soothsayers, herbalists and occasional accountants (for some reason). Many will exchange skills for nothing more that eggs, crop, or company.

Their magik is, as reported, wholly at the will of nature. They engage in rituals of elemental worship and incantations spoken in aulde tongue. Others may seek to bend magik to their will, but the witch o the woods simply asks it for help. I may not agree with such a passive approach but one can hardly argue with the results. These witches bring much help to common folk across the land and should be lauded for their noble efforts.

Beyond what I have just written, not much is known of these wild women. Some think their herbal remedies are the ancestors of alchemy and that perhaps the founders of our modern alchemical schools were, in fact, witches. What is known, however, is that should one go asking a witch about once they came, the source of their power, or anything of a personal nature, the hut and all its splendor will be gone in the morn. I should very much like to know why.

Mancers

As described in Mort Carney’s excellent, but occasionally incorrect, Archaeologies and Knowledges of the Faye, a peoples called the Faye once inhabited much of our continent. It’s accepted that they had some kind of primordial connection to nature, a harmony that we humans do not possess. As such, these Faye knew the true names to the elements of nature and life. Some examples include Quenya (water), Hix (fire), or Denary (stone). For further examples I direct you to Mort’s book, but skip chapter 14, its complete tripe.

‘Mancers’ is a loose title applied to roving wyzards capable of controlling a specific force or element by speaking the name of it. A hydromancer will speak ‘Quenya’ and water will act as their servant. Pyromancer will speak ‘Hix’ and send the flame of a candle to burn your eyebrows off. Necromancers, well, I’d rather not get into that.

One may be reading this and think, ‘good heavens, Cecil has just given us magical incantations to use! I shall go forth as the land's greatest wyzard!’ To that I say, give it a try. I have spent many a night shouting ‘Quenya’ to a bucket of rainwater to not so much as a ripple. Therefore, it is clear that there is another piece to their mystical puzzle. Some other kind of connection is needed in order for the force to respond to its name. I have no idea what it is.

In my days, I have met many mancers. In fact, I have even known one so capable they could speak the name of not just one thing, but many. So powerful was she that water would be her shield and fire her sword. Alas, even she did not know why these things listened to her so. I do hope in her continued journey of self-discovery that she will return to share knowledge and tea. Leighanna, if you’re reading this, my door is always open for you, Boyse, Tourmaline and Kurt. Come round and I’ll put the kettle on.

Cunning Folk

There are many cults and religious sects throughout the land. I find that while most use incorrect names or histories, they all tend to point in the same direction. Once there was nothing and then there was something. Profound, I know, but so it is true with humans. Once we weren’t here and now, we are. Further still, some believe that with the creation of humans other beings of divine power came with. A name that continues to come up in research is known as Baruga, the god of imagination.

Baruga is described as a giant frog who walks on two legs, loves wine and is the smith of dreams. I didn’t make this up, it’s just what people say alright?

Cunning folk are followers of Baruga. They are illusionists and sorcerers who harness the raw energy of imagination to such power that it can become reality, of a sort. Reports have spoken of men and women who create screaming dragons of fire in the air or others who bring forth rain storms of diamonds. What must be understood is that it’s all fake, merely projections of the cunning folk’s imagination. However, this imagination may still cause someone who touches the flames to burn or who feels the diamonds to be cut.

It’s not such a stretch, is it? Those who fall ill but believe they are mending may fare better than those who think they are deaths door. What is the difference? Belief, and belief is a powerful thing.

I have taken a meal with a friend, a cunning folk themself, and filled my belly with roasted duck, capers, cherries and golden potato. I was absolutely stuffed and felt like I may burst. It was only as we were enjoying the dessert of vanilla flan that he enlightened me to reality, none of the food was real but rather all his imagination. The food in front of me vanished, but my belly remained full. My body was so convinced of the delicious meal that it continued to feel as though I had gorged myself. Should I continue to only eat the meals of my cunning friend, however, I would starve to death with a ‘full belly’.

Pellars, Druids, Enchanters, Mages, etc

The world is a large and mysterious place. Common folk will run into all sorts and those who practice, or claim to practice, magik may not fit neatly into the above categories. So much is not known about the true nature of magik, it's limits or practices.

The enchanter known as Kelly Sorrow could imbue swords with golden light and create mirrors which see through walls.

The druid known only as Ranana could take the shape of a fox or bear at will, until he was shot by a hunter that is.

The wandering mage Terra Warvy had a magical staff capable of bringing down castle walls or calling down lighting from the heavens, until she died of a carriage accident that is, completely unrelated.

I can honestly say I have no idea how any of them did it. While that might frustrate many in my or any scholarly field, I find it so very exciting. What else may we learn about that mystical energy known as magik and what may we discover about ourselves in the process. Wonderous indeed.