[FONT="]On Metamagical Occurrences
[/FONT][FONT="]by Wizard Theonrak Hyperes[/FONT][FONT="]
Prelude:[/FONT]
[FONT="]I have written this modest article because upon my relatively busy time on Toril too many lesser minds have pretended to know about the subject and the use of metamagic. It is even so that some users of arcane talent dare to talk of this subject when they are clearly incompetent to educate apprentices in proper wand usage. To understand what is metamagic, one must understand what is magic. Such extensive subject will not be taught in one book or even two so the ones who are rural, simple and uneducated in the matters of arcane better put this book back to the shelf before spoiling any more of the precious ink with dirty, greasy hands. After this humble explanation I hope I do not need to constantly run into all sorts of creatures who let out most infuriating lies about Metamagics and its use. Of course, the sad fact is that illiterate fools never cease to amaze me...
Chapter 1 - What is metamagic?
As mentioned before, metamagic can be understood only through understanding what is magic. Metamagic is only intended for those who have given their life to the noble goal of magical pursuits and its use is limited to them alone. Anyone who lacks the education in basic magical pursues cannot even hope to grasp the wonders of metamagic yet alone success in any of its infinite possibilities and quests. In fact, should some foolish apprentice try to tap into the metamagic without proper guidance, the overpowering magical fluctuations will result in a painful death - which is not at all a bad outcome for the rest of us.
Shortly (if slightly barbarically said) metamagic is the study of the magic, or more precisely the study of the forces and laws which serve as a foundation to the magical reality. The foundations are generally considered to be those set by the Glorious Entity also known as Mystra, Mystril or the Lady of Magic. The Weave She has formed for us offers unlimited mysteries and variations to explore and it is said that even She Herself does not know all of them. But on such subject, the Meta-Metamagic, I do not write here. (Likely if I wrote, you would immaturely claim everything said to be false and in your ignorance start a pitiful storm of backbiting which I am too tired to receive letters about.)
Identifying the current laws (If you were witty enough to note the use of word "current" then you realize that the laws, although -mostly- stabile, do change and can be changed) is most crucial for this Art. One must begin from here. To actually determine what is a law and what is simply a particular occurrence in a larger system requires calculating mind and utter patience which majority of the speaking mammals on Toril are incapable of.
Spell categories (or "Spell schools" as I have heard them to be called in some inferior magical assembles) can be viewed as a very large scale laws in the Weave as they separate different kind of spells from others, forming groups of spells which have something in common with one another. This factor is often called "universal", an attribute connecting each single spell to one another under the specific category. As obvious as it is, I will elaborate to the less perceptive readers that changing the universal may exclude some spells from a certain category and changing a particular attribute in a spell may change its category from one to another. This means in practice that "specialized" wizards, as they call themselves (Seemingly a poor attempt to create an illusion that they are somehow more skilled in the magic than actual wizards, they have began to use this false term), are foolishly limiting themselves from connecting into the mysteries existing in metamagic and can never reach full potential with their magical dabbling.
[/FONT] [FONT="]Given that I do not have time to educate you to understand all the beautiful knowledge related to the Metamagic in this concise effort to civilize the islands whole population, I will define that metamagic can be divided into two major aspects when it comes to the actual spellcraft. This is what the next two chapters speak of.
Chapter 2 - Current spells and use of metamagic
Current spells can be manipulated to behave differently under current metamagical laws than they normally would. This is how most wizards use metamagic and is the reason why so much rubbish regarding the subject of metamagic exists and has spread to the lips of every snotnose apprentice. Current spells refer to all the spells that can be known at any determined time. This includes the spells that even apprentice wizard knows, those that arch-maguses know and those that none knows but can be known given the current laws of the Weave (the determined time). The poorly argumented view of most magicians is that most current spells are known by the majority of the wizards. They of course refer to such spells as "Magic missile", "Invisibility" and the oh so legendary "Fireball". And then these same idiotic individuals grin and jump around like mules, thinking they know all about magic! Well, it is my great pleasure to tell what clowns they have made of themselves.
It is true that some very sophisticated individuals who have dedicated all their efforts to the Weave (like myself) can be aware of a multitude of spells which exceed the dabblers abilities by far. But in any possible metamagical frame, there is thousand times thousand and more different variations to form a spell and the asinine "magicians" will be left dancing around in ridiculous joy with only scraps of power in their muddy paws as we true wizards rise to embrace the wonders awaiting us. Nonetheless, it seems that I have wandered away from the topic at hand and I will return to it.
The way how metamagic is used to current spells can be explained rather simply but the actual talent of course requires years of practice and perfection. The wizard first begins by studying the metamagical laws he wishes to change. For simplicity, I will use the quite widely used metamagical instance of extending the duration of a spell. Normally a particular spell has a certain time limit of how long its effects last. Using the metamagical studies, the wizard can now alter this particular attribute in the spell and thus increase (or decrease) its time of effect. Usually it requires more focus and strength from the wizard to succeed in this. Those who can be expected to advance at all in the metamagical studies will quickly learn the universal factor in question, I will call it "time" here, and are able to adjust it without much further trouble on most of their known spells.
Extension is of course only one of the multitude of ways one can change the way his spells function. However what is common to this kind of metamagical study and practice is that they all effect the spells existing particulars and modify them to function in a new way. This can only amuse a sagacious mind so long and luckily for those who are still reading this essay on basics can now turn their eyes on the last and most important chapter.
Chapter 3 - Metamagical craft
I doubt even one from ten thousand readers can reach this level but in my tender-heartedness I have decided to share this chapter with you as well. Metamagical craft is where the true power and magical enlightenment begins to open and I will only moisten your tongues with the magnificent subject we are about to enter so focus your attention completely on what is said here if you at all care for your own education.
Metamagical craft can be said to start from the task of creating new particular attributes for a spell. This is indeed a very challenging task to even the brightest minority but some have succeeded in it and our knowledge on their successes is available to us in various forms although many cannot see them without someone holding their hand and pointing at the correct direction. One such instance can be noted in the spell often referred to as the "Delayed Blast Fireball". The brilliant wizard devised this spell from the so mundane spell known as Fireball. A sufficiently smart reader would have noted earlier how the time universal is not a particular attribute in all the spells known to common wizards. Now then this ancient wizard had noted this fact too and wanted his fireballs to have this time universal as a particular attribute in his Fireball spell and thus created a "new" spell. Those who know anything about the Delayed Blast Fireball might now think how ingenious solution this was but I must sadly tell you that your mind is not very innovative. It is a very impractical way of shaping the fireball spell after all but I won't be sharing more of that to you.
I am sure that some of you are now naively thinking how you could create a new spell from every spell that lacks a time particular. You are inane to even think of it as that easy, as somekind of creative spree where you mindlessly choose particulars and add them to the "pile". No. It is a long process of identifying the nature and relation of particulars, universals and metamagical laws in our current metamagical system. Only the best of the best can try to understand the metamagical pursuit on that level and the best of those can actually make something completely new. The earlier example of Delayed Blast Fireball was only one of the most basic ways to craft something in metamagics and it is so that the spell has received its place in the so called "common" spells rather than under those subject to metamagics. Once again the public has formed false beliefs because in truth all spells are in one way or another subject to metamagics and the list of "common" spells is simply an outcome of long work started in the early ages and recorded to these days. In my last, brief section I will focus on true creation.
The creation of a completely new spell, not tied to any known spell particulars or universals, can be seen as one of the most challenging tasks on the field of metamagic study before one ascends to the meta-metamagical area. What is required is of course the ability to understand and know all current particulars and universals but also to reach beyond the veil. A truly ingenious person can, with extensive study, form such methods which can reach behind this veil of ignorance and take pieces of knowledge which have not yet been known. I do not say that they did not exist in the metamagical system before but rather none had perceived them before nor had any used them as components in their spells. Now that is a truly remarkable, Godlike feat and likely none of you readers will ever experience it. I do not know why I even lifted your hopes up...
Epilogue:
If I was successful, no more do I hear idiotic fairy tales about the metamagic and its use. I conclude this article with a quote from Azrabon Demotronius' book "Quadruple approach to metamagical duplex dilemmas".
"... and to understand it you must go beyond the mind."[/FONT]
[/FONT][FONT="]by Wizard Theonrak Hyperes[/FONT][FONT="]
Prelude:[/FONT]
[FONT="]I have written this modest article because upon my relatively busy time on Toril too many lesser minds have pretended to know about the subject and the use of metamagic. It is even so that some users of arcane talent dare to talk of this subject when they are clearly incompetent to educate apprentices in proper wand usage. To understand what is metamagic, one must understand what is magic. Such extensive subject will not be taught in one book or even two so the ones who are rural, simple and uneducated in the matters of arcane better put this book back to the shelf before spoiling any more of the precious ink with dirty, greasy hands. After this humble explanation I hope I do not need to constantly run into all sorts of creatures who let out most infuriating lies about Metamagics and its use. Of course, the sad fact is that illiterate fools never cease to amaze me...
Chapter 1 - What is metamagic?
As mentioned before, metamagic can be understood only through understanding what is magic. Metamagic is only intended for those who have given their life to the noble goal of magical pursuits and its use is limited to them alone. Anyone who lacks the education in basic magical pursues cannot even hope to grasp the wonders of metamagic yet alone success in any of its infinite possibilities and quests. In fact, should some foolish apprentice try to tap into the metamagic without proper guidance, the overpowering magical fluctuations will result in a painful death - which is not at all a bad outcome for the rest of us.
Shortly (if slightly barbarically said) metamagic is the study of the magic, or more precisely the study of the forces and laws which serve as a foundation to the magical reality. The foundations are generally considered to be those set by the Glorious Entity also known as Mystra, Mystril or the Lady of Magic. The Weave She has formed for us offers unlimited mysteries and variations to explore and it is said that even She Herself does not know all of them. But on such subject, the Meta-Metamagic, I do not write here. (Likely if I wrote, you would immaturely claim everything said to be false and in your ignorance start a pitiful storm of backbiting which I am too tired to receive letters about.)
Identifying the current laws (If you were witty enough to note the use of word "current" then you realize that the laws, although -mostly- stabile, do change and can be changed) is most crucial for this Art. One must begin from here. To actually determine what is a law and what is simply a particular occurrence in a larger system requires calculating mind and utter patience which majority of the speaking mammals on Toril are incapable of.
Spell categories (or "Spell schools" as I have heard them to be called in some inferior magical assembles) can be viewed as a very large scale laws in the Weave as they separate different kind of spells from others, forming groups of spells which have something in common with one another. This factor is often called "universal", an attribute connecting each single spell to one another under the specific category. As obvious as it is, I will elaborate to the less perceptive readers that changing the universal may exclude some spells from a certain category and changing a particular attribute in a spell may change its category from one to another. This means in practice that "specialized" wizards, as they call themselves (Seemingly a poor attempt to create an illusion that they are somehow more skilled in the magic than actual wizards, they have began to use this false term), are foolishly limiting themselves from connecting into the mysteries existing in metamagic and can never reach full potential with their magical dabbling.
[/FONT] [FONT="]Given that I do not have time to educate you to understand all the beautiful knowledge related to the Metamagic in this concise effort to civilize the islands whole population, I will define that metamagic can be divided into two major aspects when it comes to the actual spellcraft. This is what the next two chapters speak of.
Chapter 2 - Current spells and use of metamagic
Current spells can be manipulated to behave differently under current metamagical laws than they normally would. This is how most wizards use metamagic and is the reason why so much rubbish regarding the subject of metamagic exists and has spread to the lips of every snotnose apprentice. Current spells refer to all the spells that can be known at any determined time. This includes the spells that even apprentice wizard knows, those that arch-maguses know and those that none knows but can be known given the current laws of the Weave (the determined time). The poorly argumented view of most magicians is that most current spells are known by the majority of the wizards. They of course refer to such spells as "Magic missile", "Invisibility" and the oh so legendary "Fireball". And then these same idiotic individuals grin and jump around like mules, thinking they know all about magic! Well, it is my great pleasure to tell what clowns they have made of themselves.
It is true that some very sophisticated individuals who have dedicated all their efforts to the Weave (like myself) can be aware of a multitude of spells which exceed the dabblers abilities by far. But in any possible metamagical frame, there is thousand times thousand and more different variations to form a spell and the asinine "magicians" will be left dancing around in ridiculous joy with only scraps of power in their muddy paws as we true wizards rise to embrace the wonders awaiting us. Nonetheless, it seems that I have wandered away from the topic at hand and I will return to it.
The way how metamagic is used to current spells can be explained rather simply but the actual talent of course requires years of practice and perfection. The wizard first begins by studying the metamagical laws he wishes to change. For simplicity, I will use the quite widely used metamagical instance of extending the duration of a spell. Normally a particular spell has a certain time limit of how long its effects last. Using the metamagical studies, the wizard can now alter this particular attribute in the spell and thus increase (or decrease) its time of effect. Usually it requires more focus and strength from the wizard to succeed in this. Those who can be expected to advance at all in the metamagical studies will quickly learn the universal factor in question, I will call it "time" here, and are able to adjust it without much further trouble on most of their known spells.
Extension is of course only one of the multitude of ways one can change the way his spells function. However what is common to this kind of metamagical study and practice is that they all effect the spells existing particulars and modify them to function in a new way. This can only amuse a sagacious mind so long and luckily for those who are still reading this essay on basics can now turn their eyes on the last and most important chapter.
Chapter 3 - Metamagical craft
I doubt even one from ten thousand readers can reach this level but in my tender-heartedness I have decided to share this chapter with you as well. Metamagical craft is where the true power and magical enlightenment begins to open and I will only moisten your tongues with the magnificent subject we are about to enter so focus your attention completely on what is said here if you at all care for your own education.
Metamagical craft can be said to start from the task of creating new particular attributes for a spell. This is indeed a very challenging task to even the brightest minority but some have succeeded in it and our knowledge on their successes is available to us in various forms although many cannot see them without someone holding their hand and pointing at the correct direction. One such instance can be noted in the spell often referred to as the "Delayed Blast Fireball". The brilliant wizard devised this spell from the so mundane spell known as Fireball. A sufficiently smart reader would have noted earlier how the time universal is not a particular attribute in all the spells known to common wizards. Now then this ancient wizard had noted this fact too and wanted his fireballs to have this time universal as a particular attribute in his Fireball spell and thus created a "new" spell. Those who know anything about the Delayed Blast Fireball might now think how ingenious solution this was but I must sadly tell you that your mind is not very innovative. It is a very impractical way of shaping the fireball spell after all but I won't be sharing more of that to you.
I am sure that some of you are now naively thinking how you could create a new spell from every spell that lacks a time particular. You are inane to even think of it as that easy, as somekind of creative spree where you mindlessly choose particulars and add them to the "pile". No. It is a long process of identifying the nature and relation of particulars, universals and metamagical laws in our current metamagical system. Only the best of the best can try to understand the metamagical pursuit on that level and the best of those can actually make something completely new. The earlier example of Delayed Blast Fireball was only one of the most basic ways to craft something in metamagics and it is so that the spell has received its place in the so called "common" spells rather than under those subject to metamagics. Once again the public has formed false beliefs because in truth all spells are in one way or another subject to metamagics and the list of "common" spells is simply an outcome of long work started in the early ages and recorded to these days. In my last, brief section I will focus on true creation.
The creation of a completely new spell, not tied to any known spell particulars or universals, can be seen as one of the most challenging tasks on the field of metamagic study before one ascends to the meta-metamagical area. What is required is of course the ability to understand and know all current particulars and universals but also to reach beyond the veil. A truly ingenious person can, with extensive study, form such methods which can reach behind this veil of ignorance and take pieces of knowledge which have not yet been known. I do not say that they did not exist in the metamagical system before but rather none had perceived them before nor had any used them as components in their spells. Now that is a truly remarkable, Godlike feat and likely none of you readers will ever experience it. I do not know why I even lifted your hopes up...
Epilogue:
If I was successful, no more do I hear idiotic fairy tales about the metamagic and its use. I conclude this article with a quote from Azrabon Demotronius' book "Quadruple approach to metamagical duplex dilemmas".
"... and to understand it you must go beyond the mind."[/FONT]