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sparkindarknessAmazingly enough, I managed to miss out yet another snippet on my guide to magic in the Spark in Darkness world. Odds are eventually I’ll get them all, but Clan Caamalis is of the opinion they’ve very long odds.
Last point (hopefully): the weakening arts.
This is related to the loss of magic in the world that I’ve already covered, and like that there is no real consensus on why this as it is. There is no end to the arguments about it, however.
Basically, there are some powers that are becoming more and more frequent with each generation (though they are only recently actually becoming common). They are even manifesting in greater and greater numbers among Clan Camaalis itself, though to a lesser degree than among other magical fraternities. These powers seem to be weaker versions of more dominant powers. Some examples: A Medium looks a lot like a weaker version of a Necromancer. One of the Shadow Touched seems to be a cut price Sorcerer. While True Elementalists were always rare, most Elementalists can, or could, control at least two Elements. (Any combination but the most common ones are Fire and Earth or Air and Water. Slightly less common is Fire and Air or Water and Earth. Air and Earth or Fire and Water is almost unheard of in any but True Elementalists). Some modern Weakened Elementalists can’t even control the entirety of their element – leading to ‘Electricity Elementals,’ ‘Glass Elementals’ or even ‘Radiation Elementals’. There are some classically ‘psychic’ abilities (like reading tarot cards or scrying into a crystal ball) that are no appearing in isolation, rather than as jut one talent among many (i.e. before someone who read a tarot to see the future could just as easily read a palm or toss yarrow sticks).
There are many theories among the Camaalis as to why these Weakening Arts exist and why they are becoming more common, as yet no consensus has been reached.
1) They aren’t more common at all (also known as the ‘wishful thinking’ theory among more cynical Camaalis). All that’s happening is that with greater world communication and ever more efficient Camaalis organisation (quickly greeted by a resounding ‘HA!’ from doubters) is that Camaalis is simply hearing more about them. The old ‘you only find them when you look’ saying becoming true. A less up beat version of this theory says that with ever reducing numbers of Magicians and the general weakening of Magicians then these Weakening Arts are just more noticeable. ‘It’s easier to overlook even the greatest river when looking over an ocean, but even a tiny stream stands out in a desert’ saying coming true.
2) It’s just another sign that magic is failing (aka the ‘fatalist’ theory). As magic leaves the world, of course the greatest arts are going to become lost. If there were more magic in the world then Medium’s WOULD be Necromancers etc. They point to the fact that Camaalis has relatively few of the Weakening Arts compared to none Camaalis Magicians as proof of this – after all the none Camaalis are bound to weaken sooner than the Clan is (this has merit, but more than a few recognise an excuse for pride for pride’s sake). This has caused considerable contention in that some powers haven’t yet manifested a Weakening Art version – the implication being that these powers weren’t among the greatest arts to begin with. Needless to say, some feathers are being ruffled by the suggestion. The flip side of this is those without Weakening Art versions claiming that they are MORE magical than those cursed with lesser versions of their arts, that their power is too great to diminish (at least yet). Some even say they are jut better stewards of their arts (though only a few since no-one’s exactly sure HOW you steward and art). This ruffles yet more feathers and generally ensures that civilised debate on why some powers weaken and others don’t is impossible.
3) It’s not weakening, it’s ignorance! (Also known as the ‘wilful blindness to reality,’ ‘you youngsters aren’t listening to me so I’m going to have a tantrum’ or ‘nostalgia isn’t what it used to be’ theory.) The argument runs that all of these people with Weakening Arts are all actually the full version of their powers, they’re just ignorant and poorly educated and don’t receive proper guidance. They don’t listen to their teachers either, and would it kill you to listen to someone older and wiser for a change, boy? As implied, this s generally held by stubborn, older Camaalis who generally have an ulterior motive. Most sensible Camaalis dismiss this because the Weakening Arts ARE manifesting among the Camaalis, whose education is superlative, certainly more so than the ‘full versions’ you can find outside the Clan. Besides which, Weakening Arts can also be found among those who draw upon the Third Power, which doesn’t need education per se. A relation to this theory claims it’s because magic is no longer ‘pure’. This generally translates to ‘you’re not using your powers in the way I tell you to – heretic!’ ad is similarly ignored as going against the Camaalis doctrine of magical eclecticism, adaptation and research. After all, it’s made Camaalis the strongest group for centuries, now it’s going to weaken them?
4) There is no weakening, there’s only change. (Aka ‘radical’ theory). In the same way that magic isn’t leaving the world, it’s only changing and Camaalis is failing to adapt to these changes. This argument isn’t entirely wishful thinking as proponents point out that the so-called Weakening Arts (which they call Changing Arts) have always existed, albeit in much smaller numbers. They also point out that in some ways the Changing Arts are superior to the powers that supposedly spawned them. A Medium can do some things with the spirits of the dead that a Necromancer can only dream of (being welcomed by them for a start. Securing willing co-operation and even friendship). Those Elementalists confined to just one element control that element with a skill and power that far exceeds those who diversify into others. Those who are limited to but one factor of a traditional element aren’t actually limited at all – they’re new Elementalists of new perceptions of elements (e.g. Radiation and Electricity don’t actually fully fall into any of the main four and Glass has elements or perceptions beyond mere Earth). These are just new powers in a changing age and Camaalis is betraying its tradition of eclecticism by not embracing them. Detractors point out that the facts peak for themselves and the Weakening Arts are weaker in the vast majority of circumstances and incidental benefits do not make them a new discipline of merit. They also accuse the radicals of wishful thinking and arrogance – assuming that magic cannot decrease and Camaalis magic will not weaken (the last because the idea that Weakening Arts weren’t weak only came about when they began to manifest among the Camaalis. It was ok for other groups to weaken but the idea that Camaalis would is alien to them).
Despite being a fierce debate, most Camaalis aren’t overtly involved in researching it, being more concerned with their own fields of study and generally of the opinion that it doesn’t matter whether you call them the Weakening Arts or the Changing Arts, magic is magic no matter what you call it. Some who have studied Naming reject this, claiming that by labelling it you can force the magic to fit the label rather than the label to fit the magic (which has some merit in the case of the self image of users of the Third Power). Most Camaalis consider it the height of arrogance to think you can change a branch of magic simply by giving it a different name. Generally this just proves that there’s nothing even remotely related to magic that Camaalis won’t argue about ad infinitum et nauseum. Which is probably why they’re so good at it.
Last point on the Weakening Arts: while there is some stigma attatced to these practioners, there’s not too much. You’ll get some snide remarks but when it comes down to it a Camaalis is always a Camaalis. However, this may be because so far there has not been a Camaalis born with a Weakening Art as their dominant power. They’ve always had a ‘proper’ power to fall back on and soften the blow. The tolerant attitude may change, at least among some Camaalis, if one is born with nothing but Weakening Arts.
Last point (hopefully): the weakening arts.
This is related to the loss of magic in the world that I’ve already covered, and like that there is no real consensus on why this as it is. There is no end to the arguments about it, however.
Basically, there are some powers that are becoming more and more frequent with each generation (though they are only recently actually becoming common). They are even manifesting in greater and greater numbers among Clan Camaalis itself, though to a lesser degree than among other magical fraternities. These powers seem to be weaker versions of more dominant powers. Some examples: A Medium looks a lot like a weaker version of a Necromancer. One of the Shadow Touched seems to be a cut price Sorcerer. While True Elementalists were always rare, most Elementalists can, or could, control at least two Elements. (Any combination but the most common ones are Fire and Earth or Air and Water. Slightly less common is Fire and Air or Water and Earth. Air and Earth or Fire and Water is almost unheard of in any but True Elementalists). Some modern Weakened Elementalists can’t even control the entirety of their element – leading to ‘Electricity Elementals,’ ‘Glass Elementals’ or even ‘Radiation Elementals’. There are some classically ‘psychic’ abilities (like reading tarot cards or scrying into a crystal ball) that are no appearing in isolation, rather than as jut one talent among many (i.e. before someone who read a tarot to see the future could just as easily read a palm or toss yarrow sticks).
There are many theories among the Camaalis as to why these Weakening Arts exist and why they are becoming more common, as yet no consensus has been reached.
1) They aren’t more common at all (also known as the ‘wishful thinking’ theory among more cynical Camaalis). All that’s happening is that with greater world communication and ever more efficient Camaalis organisation (quickly greeted by a resounding ‘HA!’ from doubters) is that Camaalis is simply hearing more about them. The old ‘you only find them when you look’ saying becoming true. A less up beat version of this theory says that with ever reducing numbers of Magicians and the general weakening of Magicians then these Weakening Arts are just more noticeable. ‘It’s easier to overlook even the greatest river when looking over an ocean, but even a tiny stream stands out in a desert’ saying coming true.
2) It’s just another sign that magic is failing (aka the ‘fatalist’ theory). As magic leaves the world, of course the greatest arts are going to become lost. If there were more magic in the world then Medium’s WOULD be Necromancers etc. They point to the fact that Camaalis has relatively few of the Weakening Arts compared to none Camaalis Magicians as proof of this – after all the none Camaalis are bound to weaken sooner than the Clan is (this has merit, but more than a few recognise an excuse for pride for pride’s sake). This has caused considerable contention in that some powers haven’t yet manifested a Weakening Art version – the implication being that these powers weren’t among the greatest arts to begin with. Needless to say, some feathers are being ruffled by the suggestion. The flip side of this is those without Weakening Art versions claiming that they are MORE magical than those cursed with lesser versions of their arts, that their power is too great to diminish (at least yet). Some even say they are jut better stewards of their arts (though only a few since no-one’s exactly sure HOW you steward and art). This ruffles yet more feathers and generally ensures that civilised debate on why some powers weaken and others don’t is impossible.
3) It’s not weakening, it’s ignorance! (Also known as the ‘wilful blindness to reality,’ ‘you youngsters aren’t listening to me so I’m going to have a tantrum’ or ‘nostalgia isn’t what it used to be’ theory.) The argument runs that all of these people with Weakening Arts are all actually the full version of their powers, they’re just ignorant and poorly educated and don’t receive proper guidance. They don’t listen to their teachers either, and would it kill you to listen to someone older and wiser for a change, boy? As implied, this s generally held by stubborn, older Camaalis who generally have an ulterior motive. Most sensible Camaalis dismiss this because the Weakening Arts ARE manifesting among the Camaalis, whose education is superlative, certainly more so than the ‘full versions’ you can find outside the Clan. Besides which, Weakening Arts can also be found among those who draw upon the Third Power, which doesn’t need education per se. A relation to this theory claims it’s because magic is no longer ‘pure’. This generally translates to ‘you’re not using your powers in the way I tell you to – heretic!’ ad is similarly ignored as going against the Camaalis doctrine of magical eclecticism, adaptation and research. After all, it’s made Camaalis the strongest group for centuries, now it’s going to weaken them?
4) There is no weakening, there’s only change. (Aka ‘radical’ theory). In the same way that magic isn’t leaving the world, it’s only changing and Camaalis is failing to adapt to these changes. This argument isn’t entirely wishful thinking as proponents point out that the so-called Weakening Arts (which they call Changing Arts) have always existed, albeit in much smaller numbers. They also point out that in some ways the Changing Arts are superior to the powers that supposedly spawned them. A Medium can do some things with the spirits of the dead that a Necromancer can only dream of (being welcomed by them for a start. Securing willing co-operation and even friendship). Those Elementalists confined to just one element control that element with a skill and power that far exceeds those who diversify into others. Those who are limited to but one factor of a traditional element aren’t actually limited at all – they’re new Elementalists of new perceptions of elements (e.g. Radiation and Electricity don’t actually fully fall into any of the main four and Glass has elements or perceptions beyond mere Earth). These are just new powers in a changing age and Camaalis is betraying its tradition of eclecticism by not embracing them. Detractors point out that the facts peak for themselves and the Weakening Arts are weaker in the vast majority of circumstances and incidental benefits do not make them a new discipline of merit. They also accuse the radicals of wishful thinking and arrogance – assuming that magic cannot decrease and Camaalis magic will not weaken (the last because the idea that Weakening Arts weren’t weak only came about when they began to manifest among the Camaalis. It was ok for other groups to weaken but the idea that Camaalis would is alien to them).
Despite being a fierce debate, most Camaalis aren’t overtly involved in researching it, being more concerned with their own fields of study and generally of the opinion that it doesn’t matter whether you call them the Weakening Arts or the Changing Arts, magic is magic no matter what you call it. Some who have studied Naming reject this, claiming that by labelling it you can force the magic to fit the label rather than the label to fit the magic (which has some merit in the case of the self image of users of the Third Power). Most Camaalis consider it the height of arrogance to think you can change a branch of magic simply by giving it a different name. Generally this just proves that there’s nothing even remotely related to magic that Camaalis won’t argue about ad infinitum et nauseum. Which is probably why they’re so good at it.
Last point on the Weakening Arts: while there is some stigma attatced to these practioners, there’s not too much. You’ll get some snide remarks but when it comes down to it a Camaalis is always a Camaalis. However, this may be because so far there has not been a Camaalis born with a Weakening Art as their dominant power. They’ve always had a ‘proper’ power to fall back on and soften the blow. The tolerant attitude may change, at least among some Camaalis, if one is born with nothing but Weakening Arts.