Ologists
A Study of Arcane Specialists
“Study is the core of progress. To know is to control. To control is to thrive.”
Magic has always been there. A subterfuge to our reality. It has guided the course of man for centuries. It fascinated our ancestors, but eventually we came to understand it. At first it was barbaric imprecise ritual and rite, but with study we refine the techniques. Eventually schools of study were defined: Shamans or Rituologists, Alchemists/Alchemologists, Arcanists/Arcanologists, Hunters or Beastiologists, Shifters or Morphologists, and Demonologists. While no physical schools have existed since the sixteen hundreds the studies remain passed on by groups who remain in the shadows. Man would rather forget magic and it’s chaotic ways for a facade of normalcy and control. That is why we remain though. As much as some wish to leave the past behind, it always wishes to catch up.
In the modern day organizations have formed to tend to issues of a magical nature. To try and keep things subtle it’s largely small groups acting on their own volition. Today you find yourself in the business of Wells and Raick Private Investigations, a detective agency the most common cover for groups of specialists, whose main office is in a small town on the coast of Maine called Belfast. The company takes its name from the duo who began it. Joseph Wells and Miranda Raick. The two were well studied in all the schools of magic, and for a time were the premier Arcanologists of the western world. The business was created in the mid seventeen hundreds when the two arrived from England to study the native people’s magic as it was far more connected to nature than anything seen before. Since then the business has traded hands to apprentices through the centuries. Now it has offices in most of the states and the leadership is held by Seph Kane, a Morphologist and Hunter, and his long time partner Markiel Relov, an Arcanologist and Demonologist. Always in search of new talent the two have recruited from throughout the world seeking those who may have the talent to carry the name.
As much as the world changes the magics for ancient times still turn up and play their hands. For people to go on in their happy ignorance specialists have to keep things in balance letting magic pluck the strings of fate without allowing it to steal the will from people. Most often magic and people’s lives cross by accident. Buying a house with a bit too much history or walking off the wrong path can lead to strange encounters usually relegated to “fairy tales”. Few want to admit to these encounters, but when it’s all just a bit too strange most will turn to the friendly faces at the nearest Wells and Raick a place that has always been willing to take on even the oddest cases. So when you feel like you’re losing your mind let Wells and Raick give you peace of mind.
=====================================================================
So first things first this is totally inspired by another RP here called Priest & Hawthorne in a number of ways, and I hope the author sees that this is out of admiration not out of looking for an easy idea. It didn’t last forever but read it if you want some good paranormal stuff. roleplayerguild.com/topics/84746-pries..
Now to my world. The core of this is the schools of study or Ologies. Each have very different ways of affecting the world and as such would have a very different role in the story.
Shamans / Rituologists:
This is the oldest school, but its doesn’t mean it is outdated. The school has refined the art over millennia. It is highly connected to nature and is by far the most powerful school when looking at the raw ability of it all. A Shaman can take control of the elements in all their forms and accomplish great feats, but they have two fatal weaknesses both combining in the ritual. As the name suggests these specialists require a ritual to channel their magic, and while some are as simple as shaking a talisman others are grand multiday works with hundreds of ingredients, actions, and sometimes even many shamans. Once in 1906 a shamanistic cult decided to try and eradicate the city of San Francisco to drive people away from the area they declared sacred. The group caused the massive earthquake and fire with a ritual that lasted a whole week. If certain powers hadn’t come together to deal with them it could have been far worse.
Alchemists / Alchemologists:
Alchemy is the most scientific study. While all magic is a science really this is the only one that involves test tubes. Alchemy is the method of using arcane ingredients and other materials to synthesize different concoctions. Alchemy has many internal fields, but any dedicated practitioner knows a fair share of each. Some of the most popular are metallurgy, equivalent exchange, and brewing. Metallurgy is the traditional metal changing talents, but also does some work with magically imbued tools though most is done by hunters. Equivalent exchange is the mages alchemy the ability to alter materials into equivalent objects requiring massive focus and a precise knowledge of not only the materials and magic but of what the mage intends to make. Brewing is the making of all kinds of potions, concoctions, and poisons. In a sense an alchemist can brew a ritual for later use, but there are limits on how much can go into a stable brew.
Arcanists / Arcanologists
The traditional witch, warlock, wizard, mage, and sorceress fit here. With knowledge of the raw arcana and mana that permeates reality they can affect the world in precise ways. They carry spellbooks in some form or another (masters doing it mentally) and an implement of some sort. Brief combinations of words and actions give them control over the arcana to do with as they please. Such simplicity and precision comes at the cost of greatly depleting their mana, a magic life force in all things. To cast spells without mana would cause great harm to a person possibly even death.
The spells cover near everything and as such arcanists usually pick one or two fields. All the elements are fields, nature magic, utility magics (lights, telekinesis, telepathy, etc.), and more.
Hunters / Beastiologists
These men and women may never cast a spell in their lives instead they rely on the magic in other things. They study magical creatures primarily and usually hunt or tame them. Alongside that they craft magical weapons and devices. They tend to work closely with or become alchemists, at least a metallurgist a small way, as well. They have by far the widest variety of options with all sorts of magic weapons and enchanted tools as well as hundreds of magical creatures to use (either alive or as materials).
Shifters / Morphologists
Shifters do not use their mana in outward projections, but rather affect themselves in various ways. The three main groups are werecreatures, enhancers, and clerics. Werecreatures are straightforward enough this shifter can take on half or full animal forms based on skill. The number of creatures also requires a lot of training. Most average shifters take about three; a land, air, and sea creature, but there is no requirement of any sort on what are chosen. Enhancers keep their human form, but mold it in many ways. They can alter strength and proportions gain special talents and more for a short time. Talented enhancers also can change their full appearance for a long time to imitate others, but it takes a lot of their mana to hold the form. Clerics are magical healers that can use mana to cure disease and mend wounds.
Demonologists
While some have given the school a bad name Demonologists work both with and against dark magics. They work with the mysterious ether from the infernal plain to do fantastic feats. Using ether and mana taxes the body greatly and as such many demonologists need a familiar from the infernal plain: imps, hellhounds, and such are popular choices. Some demonologists want more though and make bargains with greater demons. It has never been known for this to work out for the mage in this case. The magics granted by ether include: minor divination, raw magical control (blasts of raw arcana and other ways to weaponize it), spatial alteration (blink and portals), and the ability to commune with demons.
Bargains with greater demons can give much greater powers, but are certain doom to any fool who would try to make such a deal.
Now while these are guidelines i haven't defined every last possibility. These are more meant to define how you can work with magic. If you want to make golema then you might combine demonology and alchemy or if you want to be a straight elemental mage you might do arcanist with one or two rituals. I do hope you have the self control to not do anything ridiculous. If you have a specific magic that you don't know where to put it ask me and we can figure it out.
I don’t have any characters sheets or anything yet, but hey its just an interest check so I hope no one minds.
A Study of Arcane Specialists
“Study is the core of progress. To know is to control. To control is to thrive.”
Magic has always been there. A subterfuge to our reality. It has guided the course of man for centuries. It fascinated our ancestors, but eventually we came to understand it. At first it was barbaric imprecise ritual and rite, but with study we refine the techniques. Eventually schools of study were defined: Shamans or Rituologists, Alchemists/Alchemologists, Arcanists/Arcanologists, Hunters or Beastiologists, Shifters or Morphologists, and Demonologists. While no physical schools have existed since the sixteen hundreds the studies remain passed on by groups who remain in the shadows. Man would rather forget magic and it’s chaotic ways for a facade of normalcy and control. That is why we remain though. As much as some wish to leave the past behind, it always wishes to catch up.
In the modern day organizations have formed to tend to issues of a magical nature. To try and keep things subtle it’s largely small groups acting on their own volition. Today you find yourself in the business of Wells and Raick Private Investigations, a detective agency the most common cover for groups of specialists, whose main office is in a small town on the coast of Maine called Belfast. The company takes its name from the duo who began it. Joseph Wells and Miranda Raick. The two were well studied in all the schools of magic, and for a time were the premier Arcanologists of the western world. The business was created in the mid seventeen hundreds when the two arrived from England to study the native people’s magic as it was far more connected to nature than anything seen before. Since then the business has traded hands to apprentices through the centuries. Now it has offices in most of the states and the leadership is held by Seph Kane, a Morphologist and Hunter, and his long time partner Markiel Relov, an Arcanologist and Demonologist. Always in search of new talent the two have recruited from throughout the world seeking those who may have the talent to carry the name.
As much as the world changes the magics for ancient times still turn up and play their hands. For people to go on in their happy ignorance specialists have to keep things in balance letting magic pluck the strings of fate without allowing it to steal the will from people. Most often magic and people’s lives cross by accident. Buying a house with a bit too much history or walking off the wrong path can lead to strange encounters usually relegated to “fairy tales”. Few want to admit to these encounters, but when it’s all just a bit too strange most will turn to the friendly faces at the nearest Wells and Raick a place that has always been willing to take on even the oddest cases. So when you feel like you’re losing your mind let Wells and Raick give you peace of mind.
=====================================================================
So first things first this is totally inspired by another RP here called Priest & Hawthorne in a number of ways, and I hope the author sees that this is out of admiration not out of looking for an easy idea. It didn’t last forever but read it if you want some good paranormal stuff. roleplayerguild.com/topics/84746-pries..
Now to my world. The core of this is the schools of study or Ologies. Each have very different ways of affecting the world and as such would have a very different role in the story.
Shamans / Rituologists:
This is the oldest school, but its doesn’t mean it is outdated. The school has refined the art over millennia. It is highly connected to nature and is by far the most powerful school when looking at the raw ability of it all. A Shaman can take control of the elements in all their forms and accomplish great feats, but they have two fatal weaknesses both combining in the ritual. As the name suggests these specialists require a ritual to channel their magic, and while some are as simple as shaking a talisman others are grand multiday works with hundreds of ingredients, actions, and sometimes even many shamans. Once in 1906 a shamanistic cult decided to try and eradicate the city of San Francisco to drive people away from the area they declared sacred. The group caused the massive earthquake and fire with a ritual that lasted a whole week. If certain powers hadn’t come together to deal with them it could have been far worse.
Alchemists / Alchemologists:
Alchemy is the most scientific study. While all magic is a science really this is the only one that involves test tubes. Alchemy is the method of using arcane ingredients and other materials to synthesize different concoctions. Alchemy has many internal fields, but any dedicated practitioner knows a fair share of each. Some of the most popular are metallurgy, equivalent exchange, and brewing. Metallurgy is the traditional metal changing talents, but also does some work with magically imbued tools though most is done by hunters. Equivalent exchange is the mages alchemy the ability to alter materials into equivalent objects requiring massive focus and a precise knowledge of not only the materials and magic but of what the mage intends to make. Brewing is the making of all kinds of potions, concoctions, and poisons. In a sense an alchemist can brew a ritual for later use, but there are limits on how much can go into a stable brew.
Arcanists / Arcanologists
The traditional witch, warlock, wizard, mage, and sorceress fit here. With knowledge of the raw arcana and mana that permeates reality they can affect the world in precise ways. They carry spellbooks in some form or another (masters doing it mentally) and an implement of some sort. Brief combinations of words and actions give them control over the arcana to do with as they please. Such simplicity and precision comes at the cost of greatly depleting their mana, a magic life force in all things. To cast spells without mana would cause great harm to a person possibly even death.
The spells cover near everything and as such arcanists usually pick one or two fields. All the elements are fields, nature magic, utility magics (lights, telekinesis, telepathy, etc.), and more.
Hunters / Beastiologists
These men and women may never cast a spell in their lives instead they rely on the magic in other things. They study magical creatures primarily and usually hunt or tame them. Alongside that they craft magical weapons and devices. They tend to work closely with or become alchemists, at least a metallurgist a small way, as well. They have by far the widest variety of options with all sorts of magic weapons and enchanted tools as well as hundreds of magical creatures to use (either alive or as materials).
Shifters / Morphologists
Shifters do not use their mana in outward projections, but rather affect themselves in various ways. The three main groups are werecreatures, enhancers, and clerics. Werecreatures are straightforward enough this shifter can take on half or full animal forms based on skill. The number of creatures also requires a lot of training. Most average shifters take about three; a land, air, and sea creature, but there is no requirement of any sort on what are chosen. Enhancers keep their human form, but mold it in many ways. They can alter strength and proportions gain special talents and more for a short time. Talented enhancers also can change their full appearance for a long time to imitate others, but it takes a lot of their mana to hold the form. Clerics are magical healers that can use mana to cure disease and mend wounds.
Demonologists
While some have given the school a bad name Demonologists work both with and against dark magics. They work with the mysterious ether from the infernal plain to do fantastic feats. Using ether and mana taxes the body greatly and as such many demonologists need a familiar from the infernal plain: imps, hellhounds, and such are popular choices. Some demonologists want more though and make bargains with greater demons. It has never been known for this to work out for the mage in this case. The magics granted by ether include: minor divination, raw magical control (blasts of raw arcana and other ways to weaponize it), spatial alteration (blink and portals), and the ability to commune with demons.
Bargains with greater demons can give much greater powers, but are certain doom to any fool who would try to make such a deal.
Now while these are guidelines i haven't defined every last possibility. These are more meant to define how you can work with magic. If you want to make golema then you might combine demonology and alchemy or if you want to be a straight elemental mage you might do arcanist with one or two rituals. I do hope you have the self control to not do anything ridiculous. If you have a specific magic that you don't know where to put it ask me and we can figure it out.
I don’t have any characters sheets or anything yet, but hey its just an interest check so I hope no one minds.
