Magic

Magic, also known as sorcery or magecraft, is the manipulation and control of mana. Those that use magic are usually called mages, but they can also be referred to as sorcerers, sorceresses or more informally, magicians and witches.

Mana is a balancing force of nature that flows through individual lifeforms and seeks to level out the potential of all beings. In effect, only those who are incapable of accomplishing 'impossible' tasks without magic are imbued with the flow of mana. Almost all humans have some sort of mana flow, with extremely rare exceptions. The less potential one has, the more mana they are given in order to enable them to attain their desires.

However, those with mana cannot necessarily utilise it; the force of mana responds to the mind's feelings, such as resolve and desire. A hypothetical 'perfect' mage would have the desire to achieve his every desire and have full faith in his ability to do so through his magical abilities. Magic on a scale beyond the imagination and belief of the caster cannot be achieved, as it lies in a plane of possibility beyond the reach of the user. In effect, the ability of the mage to visualise the process and outcome sets the foundation for the magic, whilst his will empowers the mana to take the desired shape. There is no mage in history that reached the realm of God. Most fall within the boundaries of human possibility, but there have been rare exceptions where mages have been able to achieve mythical feats.

The New Magical Era
The rapid development of magical control is one of the primary factors that ended the Age of Myth and lead into the chaos of the New Magical Era. As rogue mages grew in power in the old order, the ability of the state to control them waned, eventually leading to the large-scale collapse of civilisation. In Arva, chaos and anarchy was rampant well until 200 NME before societies rose to control the destruction caused by magic. These societies were formed with the backing of strong magical influence to protect the people, leading to many mages holding high positions of office.