Spells

On Ayaria, magic permeates everything. Yet active magic, the sort that someone can actually use, is fairly rare. Those who are able to practice it were once forced into hiding, as secret societies would cull those who practiced it in what they considered the wrong way. As such, many mages still reflexively keep to the shadows where they can.

Rituals vs Spells

A ritual is a very specific form of magic that is narrowly focused on what it can do. Spells are, instead, grouped by category and nonspecific. Each echelon spells out what a given character is able to do with their spells, but does not list out specific spells they learn.

The idea here is that the rituals are concentrated, powerful forms of magic; the spells as listed here are a repertoire of generic abilities that one can say they are doing with a spell.

Using Magic

It's as simple as justifying that it makes sense to be able to use a spell in the given context. For example, a fire mage would have a hard time justifying how their fire-based abilities would allow them to be sneakier and thus allowing them to use their magic to gain a bonus on such an action.

Magical Energy

Every time a spell is used, it exhausts the mage a little. Assuming the mage is in a living body, they are able to replenish this energy at every sunrise.

Whenever the mage uses a spell to supplement an action, reduce their Erudition by one. Spells used merely for utility, such as those of first echelon, do not reduce their Erudition.

Spell Echelons

Echelons are both the measure of a mage's aptitude with a given domain of magic, and the power of the spells they gain access to at that domain.

Reaching First Echelon

The character must have a trait that associates them with the domain of spells they are learning. This can include rituals of a specific domain: e.g., the character learns of a ritual and performs it, and now that ritual is tied to them. They are associated with that ritual's domain, and may begin practicing minor spells of that domain.

First Echelon

The mage is able to use their spells as simple utility that makes sense with their domain. A fire mage could light a candle, but could not cool a drink; a death mage could end the suffering of a small animal, but could not mend a wound.

Reaching Second Echelon

A mage of first tier has two options: learn a second ritual of the same domain, or consume the power of a mage who are themselves at second echelon.

Second Echelon

The mage's spells grow more powerful, and may be used as a supplement to their existing skills. When they are performing an action, they can add half their Erudition as a bonus on the action if they are actively using a spell to supplement what they are doing. The mage may only do this with one action per round.

Depending on the context, whatever the mage is interacting with may be particularly vulnerable or outright immune to the effects of the spells, and therefore the bonus might change. If, for example, they are using illusions to supplement sneaking past a creature that is immune to illusions, their magic will provide no bonus.

Spellblade, Erudite, or Spellthief

A mage may choose to specialize in a particular method of using their magic at this point, reaping the benefits of attaining third echelon in a narrow field without putting forth the effort of reaching the third echelon.

Spellblade. The character is able to add their full Erudition as a bonus to their Prowess.

Erudite. The character is able to add their full Erudition as a bonus to their Erudition. So, doubling it.

Spellthief. The character is able to add their full Erudition as a bonus to their Cleverness.

Reaching Third Echelon

As with reaching second echelon, the mage has two choices: learn a third ritual of the same domain, or consume the power of a mage who are themselves at third echelon.

Third Echelon

The mage's spells allow them to use their full Erudition as a supplement to their existing skills. If they chose a specialization at second echelon, this is in addition to that. The mage may still only do this with one action per round.

The Cannibal Mind

Consuming someone else's power is the only way to achieve the fourth echelon. They must consume a total of four souls to reach fourth echelon, but they may be people of equal power to them now. If the mage already consumed another mage's power to reach second and third echelon, that means they must only consume the power of two additional mages of third echelon.

Fourth Echelon

This is the point at which the mage may make rituals of their own, and spread those rituals among their followers. Every time such a ritual is used, this character's Erudition goes down by one. It will then be replenished at the end of the day as with normal spells, assuming they remain alive and in a living body.

Traits

Every echelon is its own trait. As are every ritual, and the specializations if a mage chooses a specialization at second echelon.