Wizards

A wizard is a scholar of the arcane magics. He takes in the magic that surrounds him, binding it into a spell pattern with a desired result, such as a ball of fire, or to turn the light from a fire to purples and greens. The spell pattern is committed to memory, and stored within the mind of the spell-caster. To complete the pattern, and unleash the spell, special gestures or words or material components allow the caster's thought patterns to meld with the spell pattern, and unleash the desired result. The energy released from spell-casting burns itself clear of the caster's mind, leaving a blankness where the spell pattern once was. More powerful wizards can store dozens of spells of varying energies because they have extended the spell-storing powers of their minds considerably. Less powerful wizards can only store a few spell patterns with little arcane energy -- some of which comes from within their own bodies.

The wizards of Gaeleth have been hunted and persecuted by the various churches, since just after the Storm Wars. The prophets of all the gods spoke as one, and said that "The mages shall remain silent for five centuries, lest the Dark God return." An Inquisition against the mages began, and although peaceful at first, quickly became quite ruthless and bloody. The wizards suffered the most, as their spellbooks with their patterns were confiscated, their magical items and creations either destroyed or hidden, and their very souls placed upon the torture racks. They are hunted by the elite Seekers of the Inquisition, and rarely are they safe. Their god -- the Goddess of Magic, Agincoth -- supposedly died during the Storm Wars. Most are lost, and angry. Many are confused. But their noble (and sometimes ignoble) pursuit of knowledge continues, despite the difficult times.

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