World-building Notes
Affinities of Magic
World-building notes on the various affinities of magic featured in DEITIES Project.
While there remain two main sources of magic, there are countless affinities of magic — specializations, disciplines, and other manifestations that magic can take when being cast by a deity. The affinities of magic that a deity becomes best skilled with often correlates to the domains or phenomena they’re associated with.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
MAGIC AFFINITIES
While there remain two main sources of magic in the world of DEITIES, there are countless affinities of magic — specializations, disciplines, and other manifestations that magic can take when being cast by a deity.
Both True magic and Chaos magic can be used to cast various Magic affinities, but certain ones may be easier to rely on depending on the energy source used to cast it. For example, Chaos energy is not a reliable source for using Healing magic, but works very well when using Combative or Elemental magic.
As mentioned in previous notes on the Magic System & True Magic: “The affinities of magic that a deity becomes best skilled with often correlates to the domains or phenomena they’re associated with. There’s no true limit to the amount of affinities a deity can learn, but certain affinities of magic are more common than others, and some may come more easily to certain deities.”
[Ex: One of Osiris’s magic affinities is with Animation, which can be used to control the movement and behavior of objects. He’s able to manifest this affinity in various ways, including manipulating the movement and reach of his wrappings and bandages.]
CATEGORIES OF MAGIC AFFINITIES
Below is a collection of several affinities of magic deities can learn with training and practice. The following information is not an exhaustive list of all affinities or their forms, but brief information on some of the more well-known ones, as well as a few common examples of use. Details and visual designs for certain affinities may be expanded and adjusted as the project continues to develop.
[NOTE: While some of this information is interpreted from Ancient Egyptian religion and texts, many parts are more based in fantasy, and remain primarily relevant to the fictional world of DEITIES Project.]
[1] ABILITY ENHANCEMENT & PERCEPTION (Perceptual Magic)
Enhancing one’s abilities and perceptions, or the abilities of another, is a common affinity among deities that requires some precision to rely on. While some forms of this affinity must be actively used to have an effect, other forms can be more passive and will activate when required.
Some notable deities who have an affinity for ability enhancement and perceptual magic include Horus, Bastet, Anubis, Anuket, Shezmu, Wepwawet, and Sobek.
EXAMPLES
- Using magic to temporarily increase strength, durability, and stamina to better perform physical tasks.
- Enhancing one’s kinetic agility, such as reflexes and speed, to better maneuver obstacles or avoid threats.
- Momentarily enhancing perception of one’s surroundings, such as through sight, scent, hearing, or other senses.
[2] CREATION, ANIMATION, & DESIGN
Creation magic can be used to give life to beings, while magic used for animation and design can be cast on both living beings and nonliving objects. Advanced forms of this affinity is often reserved for creator gods because of the required amount of energy needed, but minor forms of this magic can also be learned by other deities.
Some notable deities who have an affinity for creation, animation, and/or design magic include Atum, Ra, Geb, Ptah, Khnum, Khepri, and Osiris.
EXAMPLES
- Inducing and controlling the growth of plant-life and crops, sometimes at highly accelerated rates.
- Controlling the movement of objects — either under a deity’s direction or from the object’s own autonomy — to gather them nearby or return them to their proper places during tasks (aka telekinesis).
- Animating dormant shabti to life, and shifting them into their different forms for assistance with certain tasks.
- Enhancing the metals, wood, and other material used in crafting divine weapons to magically reinforce them.
[3] CHANNELING & REINFORCEMENT
Channelling magic through other objects is a common affinity that most deities learn in some form, and many objects can be imbued or reinforced with magic to expand their uses.
EXAMPLES
- Channeling magic through divine weapons or instruments to be used offensively (related to Combative magic, below).
- Storing magic within vessels and charms that can be used later for casting specific spells and effects.
- Using magic to reinforce common [non-divine] tools and material to better resist damage and decay for a prolonged time.
[4] OFFENSE & COMBAT (Combative Magic)
Magic can be used offensively by deities to attack others in the midst of combat, sometimes alongside or in lieu of using divine weapons.
Some notable deities who have an affinity for offensive and combative magic include Set, Horus, Sobek, Sekhmet, Montu, Pakhet, and Mafdet.
EXAMPLES
- Channeling offensive magic through divine weapons (related to Channeling magic, above).
- Projecting and aiming waves of magic energy to attack or capture opponents.
[5] DEFENSE & PROTECTION (Protective Magic)
Many deities learn how to use some form of defensive magic — not only to defend themselves from opposing attacks or threats, but to protect others from the same. Protective spells can also be used to defend objects or places.
Some notable deities who have an affinity for defensive and protective magic include Ma’at, Thoth, Bes, Taweret, Anubis, Wenut, and Nephthys.
EXAMPLES
- Drawing protective circles to shield those within by blocking offensive spells.
- Creating wards around large areas or places — such as altars and temples — to repel and block opposing spells, or to prevent entry from trespassers and uninvited guests.
- Forming protective barriers with magic to deflect, absorb, and even reflect back physical blows and opposing magic.
- Casting spells to stun, confuse, inhibit, or otherwise hinder opponents’ attacks or magic.
[6] ELEMENTAL PHENOMENA (Elemental Magic)
Elemental magic is among the most common affinities deities learn to use, with most deities having a natural inclination to at least one if not more. Each element can be conjured and manipulated in a variety of ways, and can often be used offensively or defensively with careful training.
Some notable deities who have an affinity for their respective elemental phenomena include Sekhmet (Fire), Geb (Earth), Anuket (Water), Shu (Air), Ra (Light), Khonsu (Darkness), and Set (Lightning).
EXAMPLES
- Creating sparks of fire to light lamps and torches; creating fires for cooking; or using flames or lightning to threaten or burn enemies.
- Manipulating the flow of water to fill containers; using waves of currents to cleanse and cool items or douse flames; or drawing out absorbed water (such as from the ground, or from plants),
- Controlling the current of air to blow away objects or foes; using wind to gather materials such as sand to use against enemies; guiding the path of projectiles thru currents or wind.
- Sifting the earth to create holes or mounds to capture foes; gathering and compressing particles of sand, metals, or gems into solid masses (or vice versa).
[7] WEATHER & GEOGRAPHICAL PHENOMENA
Magic that affects weather and geographical phenomena are closely related to the affinity for elemental phenomena, but the effects are often more widespread and prolonged — with the potential to affect others within a given area. This affinity can often manifest as a passive ability of deities whose domains include said phenomena, so it’s often necessary for said deities to learn how to control their mindset and mood, in addition to their magic.
Some notable deities who have an affinity for their respective weather or geographical phenomena include Set (Thunderstorms), Geb (Earthquakes), Tefnut (Rainfall), Hapi (Flooding), Pakhet (Sandstorms), Yamm (Cyclones), and Ra (Sunlight).
EXAMPLES
- Adjusting the temperature of items or of water, warming them to boil or melt, and cooling them to solidify (and in very rare cases, to freeze).
- Manipulating weather to control the amount of sunlight (via cloud coverage) and/or precipitation in a local area.
- Creating storms, or otherwise affecting them to increase or decrease their strength and range; controlling multiple currents of lightning.
- Causing or calming geographic phenomena, such as earthquakes, mudslides, or the flooding of rivers.
[8] HEALING & MEDICINAL (Healing Magic)
While all deities can benefit from their accelerated healing abilities, there are times when using healing or medicinal magic is preferred if not necessary. Healing is an advanced affinity of magic that requires careful training to use, due to the large draw of energy needed to properly heal themselves and others.
Some notable deities who have an affinity for healing and medicinal magic include Isis, Nephthys, Hathor, Sekhmet, Serqet, Heqet, and Thoth.
EXAMPLES
- Accelerating the healing rate of physical injuries and various illnesses.
- Restoring energy and stamina to the body after exhaustion or fatigue.
- Reducing or removing the sensation of prolonged pain from wounds and injuries.
- Negating the effects of venom, poisons, and other toxic substances within the body or a material.
- Applying or enhancing healing properties to medicinal materials and substances, which can be consumed by others.
- In some especially rare or unique cases: Self-repair by regrowing or regenerating lost limbs (Osiris and Yamm).
[9] SPATIAL, STORAGE, & SUMMONING (Spatial Magic)
Spatial, storage, and summoning magic is a common affinity for deities to learn. There are limitations to the types and amount of items a deity can store with magic — generally, the larger the item, the more energy needed to store and re-summon it. However, the energy to cast this magic often remains minimal, and can become as second-nature as their transformations.
EXAMPLES
- Storing and summoning divine regalia and divine weapons, particularly during transformations.
- Access to spaces between realms, which can be used to store and retrieve material items.
[10] TRANSFORMATION
All deities learn how to transform to and from the shape of their sacred animal(s), and some deities can gain additional mastery of transformation magic. Given time and practice, this affinity can be used to help deities shift into various forms and states.
Some notable deities who have an affinity for transformation magic include Ra, Isis, Bastet, Mafdet, Ma’at, Yamm, and Set.
See notes for Introduction to Transformation for more extended information and examples.
[11] COMMUNICATION & DIVINATION
Deities rely on various methods to communicate with others across different areas, or to gain insight or hidden knowledge on certain topics or events. Most forms of communication magic require mutual cooperation to perform, while others might not — depending on the strength of the caster — but there are certain limitations to all forms within this affinity.
Some notable deities who have an affinity for communication and divination magic include Thoth, Isis, Neith, Seshat, Wadjet, Nekhbet, and Ma’at.
EXAMPLES
- Using a stela or a reflective surface/substance to scry other deities, mutually or otherwise.
- Writing messages on surfaces enhanced with magic, that can transfer to other areas for the recipient to read.
- Non-verbal communication thru the mind between other deities (aka telepathy).
- Praying to other deities — particularly at altars, monuments, or temples, or by using stela — which can be further enhanced with magic.
- Invoking the name and titles of other deities to briefly call upon their aid, and to borrow their abilities and power.
- Communicating or gaining insight through premonitions, visions, or dreams.
[12] TRAVEL & TRANSPORTATION (Transportive Magic)
When deities find it necessary to travel to different areas that are a distance away, they may rely on the use of transportation magic to do so. This affinity is used sparingly by most deities due to the high amount of energy needed to travel via magic, which can increase when a deity needs to transport additional beings.
Some notable deities who have an affinity for travel and transportive magic include Thoth, Nut, Shu, Tefnut, Seshat, and Wepwawet.
EXAMPLES
- Creating portals to instantly transport from one area to another, either within or between different realms.
- Using magic to transport and arrive at the shrine or sacred places of deities, if given their permission or access.
- Locating and finding access to travel routes and passageways that are usually hidden between realms.
- Other unusual means of traveling, such as through levitation or teleportation.
[13] SOUL PROJECTION
(( WIP: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Consectetur libero id faucibus nisl tincidunt eget nullam. A cras semper auctor neque vitae tempus. Facilisi nullam vehicula ipsum a arcu cursus vitae congue. Neque sodales ut etiam sit amet. Eget nunc scelerisque viverra mauris. ))
Some notable deities who have an affinity for soul projection include Osiris, Anubis, Thoth, Atum, Ma’at, Ptah, and Ra.
EXAMPLES
- (( WIP ))
[14] OTHER AFFINITIES OF MAGIC
There remain some forms of magic that may not fit as easily within common affinities; that have more limited uses; or that are restricted to very few deities. These unique affinities of magic are not all fully understood or recorded, and may be learned or manifested from certain deities under special circumstances or on a case-by-case basis.
Some notable deities who have other unique or rare magic affinities include the following examples:
- Ability to dynamically change appearance of their physical age (Khonsu).
- Ability to dramatically shrink physical size of body in their divine/human form (Khepri).
- Transforming or blending into large phenomena or locations, such as the sky (Nut) and the earth (Geb).
- Transforming into a physical object, such as the form of a single feather (Ma’at).
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