Difference between revisions of "Soul Burners"

 
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Soulburning is a rare and dangerous application of magic using spiritual energy, often developed from other schools of magic that rely on spiritual energy, such as [[witchcraft]], [[elementalism]], or [[fae magic]]. Soulburning can also begin in someone with no magic education in a moment of desperation.  
 
Soulburning is a rare and dangerous application of magic using spiritual energy, often developed from other schools of magic that rely on spiritual energy, such as [[witchcraft]], [[elementalism]], or [[fae magic]]. Soulburning can also begin in someone with no magic education in a moment of desperation.  
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Magic uses various forms of energy available in the environment to affect the world. Every individual has a well of spiritual energy that they can use for magic--the capacity varies from each individual, but the energy is regenerative. When this energy is expended, exhaustion sets in and a spellcaster cannot continue using magic until they have recuperated. Soulburners, however, are individuals who have reckessly crossed into a forbidden and deadly practice that breaks down their very [[soul]] to fuel incredibly dangerous magic.
  
 
==Education==
 
==Education==
All cases of soulburning are exceptionally rare. There are no teachers, no schools, no rules--soulburning itself is antithetical to all established magical organizations. It is an entirely self-learned and often accidental style of magic, typically discovered in a moment of absolute desperation or insanity where a magic user extends their grasp for magical energy beyond the natural limits of the regenerative energy that spirit magic users rely on. When the pool of regenerative spiritual energy is drained, the soulburner begins breaking down their soul itself.  
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All cases of soulburning are exceptionally rare. There are no teachers, no schools, no rules--soulburning itself is antithetical to all established magical organizations. It is an entirely self-learned and often accidental style of magic, typically discovered in a moment of absolute desperation or insanity where a magic user extends their grasp for magical energy beyond the natural limits of the regenerative energy that spirit magic users rely on. When the pool of regenerative spiritual energy is drained, the soulburner begins breaking down their [[soul]] itself. Once an individual begins soulburning, there is no turning back. Every time they attempt to use magic, they default to breaking their soul down further.
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The rarity of soulburners is further compounded by the fact that it requires a certain mindset to become a soulburner. While it is a form of magic turned to in extremes, even in the most dire of situations, there are instinctual "blocks" that prevent magic users from crossing the line into self-destruction.
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==Application==
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Soulburners are masses of chaotic energy, which lulls and rises in no specific periods of their lives. Certain lunar peeks give them more power than others, while yet others reduce it to a point when even the simplest of tasks are out of reach. This doesn’t mean that they are without danger; soulburners can burn away all of their soul in one shot if they’re not careful, leaving nothing—-no soul to pass on and [[reincarnate]].
  
The rarity of soulburners is further constrained by the fact that it requires a certain mindset to become a soulburner. While it is a form of magic turned to in extremes, even in the most dire of situations, there are instinctual "blocks" that prevent magic users from crossing the line into self-destruction.  
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Spell casting is achieved through similar means as other forms of magic, typically following what the the soulburner already knows from their original practice. However, soulburners care more about achieving their desired effect than worrying about collateral damage and the damage to themselves (so long as they’re still alive at the end, at least... most of the time). Some applications of soulburning are more innate--such increasing their own strength, agility, or stamina and to shrug off massive damage, or heal themselves.  
  
Once an individual begins soulburning, there is no turning back. Every time they attempt to use magic, they reach for the soul itself. They use their own soul  for the sake of performing magic and supernatural feats, which can include increasing their own strength, agility, or stamina and to shrug off massive damage, heal themselves, or weave intricate “spells” that go off like wildfire and consume everything in their path.  
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For spells, soulburners generally go through a process of Focus > Speaking > Visualization > Release. First, the soulburner must focus their energies (which usually just means setting up how “big” the spell is going to be). The second step is usually a spoken incantation, which is generally in their native language and typically shorter and more straightforward that incantations in other magic systems, such as shouting “Fireball!” The third step is the visualization of the effect, i.e.; a fireball. The fourth step is release. Some soulburners seem to disregard focus, speaking, and visualization steps, but they just work faster than others. Others neglect to speak the spell, and instead only focus, visualize and release. This magic is not a defined form, as it is generally self-taught, so soulburners tend to find the way to cast that is easiest for them.
  
Soulburners are masses of chaotic energy, which lulls and rises in no specific periods of their lives. Certain lunar peeks give them more power than others, while yet others reduce it to a point when even the simplest of tasks are out of reach. This doesn’t mean that they are without danger; soulburners can burn away all of their soul in one shot if they’re not careful, leaving nothing—no soul to pass on and reincarnate.
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The greatest danger soulburners possess is the sheer available power of the soul itself. The average human [[soul]] is a composite of universal energies that have been divinely crafted. Even the most powerful sorcerer's offensive spell would pale in comparison to a soulburner's potential. Soulburners can level cities with a single spell.
  
Spell casting is achieved through similar means as other forms of magic, but soulburners care more about achieving their desired effect than worrying about collateral damage and the damage to themselves (so long as they’re still alive at the end, at least... most of the time). Soulburners generally go through a process of Focus > Speaking > Visualization > Release. First, the soulburner must focus their energies (which usually just means setting up how “big” the spell is going to be). The second step requires a spoken incantation, which is generally in their native language and typically shorter and more straightforward that incantations in other magic systems, such as shouting “Fireball!”. The third step is the visualization of the effect, i.e.; a fireball. The fourth step is release. Some soulburners seem to disregard focus, speaking, and visualization steps, but they just work faster than others. Others neglect to speak the spell, and instead only focus, visualize and release. This magic is not a defined form, as it is generally self-taught, so soulburners tend to find the way to cast that is easiest for them.
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==History==
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Soulburners have appeared off and on throughout history, amongst humans and elemental races alike. More tend to appear during wars of magic as magic-using soldiers are pushed beyond their limits
  
 
==Soulburners and Religion==
 
==Soulburners and Religion==
The gods are not fond of soulburners because they abuse the power of their soul that the gods have given them, and put themselves at risk of destroying that soul. As a result, clerics have some mixed feelings about soulburners. Some priests may find it to be their sacred duty to either destroy or try to “fix” any soulburners they come across, while others are content to leave them to their own devices rather than get caught in the maelstrom. In more compassionate religions, clerics may desire to help younger soulburners find a better way to live, or stay out of the path of older, less trainable soulburners. To most religions, however, soulburners are considered heretics for abusing their god-given gift.
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The gods are not fond of soulburners because they abuse the power of their soul that the gods have given them, and put themselves at risk of destroying that soul. As a result, clerics have some mixed feelings about soulburners. Some priests may find it to be their sacred duty to either destroy or try to “fix” any soulburners they come across, while others are content to leave them to their own devices rather than get caught in the maelstrom. In more compassionate religions, clerics may desire to help younger soulburners find a better way to live, or stay out of the path of older, less trainable soulburners. To most religions, soulburners are considered heretics for abusing their god-given gift.
  
 
However, some churches may employ soulburners as harbingers of great destruction to increase the faith of their followers. Other churches may use soulburners as heretic hunters, employing them to seek out and destroy others of their ilk, with the thought that at least they would destroy one heretic, if not both in the process. A soulburner could also be convinced to destroy the opposition as well; a temple of a light god could send a heretic into a temple of darkness to devastate their enemies. Though the collateral damage would be massive, good would still triumph and take out two birds with one stone.
 
However, some churches may employ soulburners as harbingers of great destruction to increase the faith of their followers. Other churches may use soulburners as heretic hunters, employing them to seek out and destroy others of their ilk, with the thought that at least they would destroy one heretic, if not both in the process. A soulburner could also be convinced to destroy the opposition as well; a temple of a light god could send a heretic into a temple of darkness to devastate their enemies. Though the collateral damage would be massive, good would still triumph and take out two birds with one stone.

Latest revision as of 18:28, 18 October 2020

Soulburning is a rare and dangerous application of magic using spiritual energy, often developed from other schools of magic that rely on spiritual energy, such as witchcraft, elementalism, or fae magic. Soulburning can also begin in someone with no magic education in a moment of desperation.

Magic uses various forms of energy available in the environment to affect the world. Every individual has a well of spiritual energy that they can use for magic--the capacity varies from each individual, but the energy is regenerative. When this energy is expended, exhaustion sets in and a spellcaster cannot continue using magic until they have recuperated. Soulburners, however, are individuals who have reckessly crossed into a forbidden and deadly practice that breaks down their very soul to fuel incredibly dangerous magic.

Education

All cases of soulburning are exceptionally rare. There are no teachers, no schools, no rules--soulburning itself is antithetical to all established magical organizations. It is an entirely self-learned and often accidental style of magic, typically discovered in a moment of absolute desperation or insanity where a magic user extends their grasp for magical energy beyond the natural limits of the regenerative energy that spirit magic users rely on. When the pool of regenerative spiritual energy is drained, the soulburner begins breaking down their soul itself. Once an individual begins soulburning, there is no turning back. Every time they attempt to use magic, they default to breaking their soul down further.

The rarity of soulburners is further compounded by the fact that it requires a certain mindset to become a soulburner. While it is a form of magic turned to in extremes, even in the most dire of situations, there are instinctual "blocks" that prevent magic users from crossing the line into self-destruction.

Application

Soulburners are masses of chaotic energy, which lulls and rises in no specific periods of their lives. Certain lunar peeks give them more power than others, while yet others reduce it to a point when even the simplest of tasks are out of reach. This doesn’t mean that they are without danger; soulburners can burn away all of their soul in one shot if they’re not careful, leaving nothing—-no soul to pass on and reincarnate.

Spell casting is achieved through similar means as other forms of magic, typically following what the the soulburner already knows from their original practice. However, soulburners care more about achieving their desired effect than worrying about collateral damage and the damage to themselves (so long as they’re still alive at the end, at least... most of the time). Some applications of soulburning are more innate--such increasing their own strength, agility, or stamina and to shrug off massive damage, or heal themselves.

For spells, soulburners generally go through a process of Focus > Speaking > Visualization > Release. First, the soulburner must focus their energies (which usually just means setting up how “big” the spell is going to be). The second step is usually a spoken incantation, which is generally in their native language and typically shorter and more straightforward that incantations in other magic systems, such as shouting “Fireball!” The third step is the visualization of the effect, i.e.; a fireball. The fourth step is release. Some soulburners seem to disregard focus, speaking, and visualization steps, but they just work faster than others. Others neglect to speak the spell, and instead only focus, visualize and release. This magic is not a defined form, as it is generally self-taught, so soulburners tend to find the way to cast that is easiest for them.

The greatest danger soulburners possess is the sheer available power of the soul itself. The average human soul is a composite of universal energies that have been divinely crafted. Even the most powerful sorcerer's offensive spell would pale in comparison to a soulburner's potential. Soulburners can level cities with a single spell.

History

Soulburners have appeared off and on throughout history, amongst humans and elemental races alike. More tend to appear during wars of magic as magic-using soldiers are pushed beyond their limits

Soulburners and Religion

The gods are not fond of soulburners because they abuse the power of their soul that the gods have given them, and put themselves at risk of destroying that soul. As a result, clerics have some mixed feelings about soulburners. Some priests may find it to be their sacred duty to either destroy or try to “fix” any soulburners they come across, while others are content to leave them to their own devices rather than get caught in the maelstrom. In more compassionate religions, clerics may desire to help younger soulburners find a better way to live, or stay out of the path of older, less trainable soulburners. To most religions, soulburners are considered heretics for abusing their god-given gift.

However, some churches may employ soulburners as harbingers of great destruction to increase the faith of their followers. Other churches may use soulburners as heretic hunters, employing them to seek out and destroy others of their ilk, with the thought that at least they would destroy one heretic, if not both in the process. A soulburner could also be convinced to destroy the opposition as well; a temple of a light god could send a heretic into a temple of darkness to devastate their enemies. Though the collateral damage would be massive, good would still triumph and take out two birds with one stone.