Wild Magic and Whole Casting - An Explanation

Wild Magic and Whole Casting - An Explanation.

This book first and foremost concerns the practice of the Art of Wild Magic, often called the 'true' art of Andrinor, or Whole Casting. It also covers Wild Magic zones and the effect of surge.

Yet before we can proceed we should clear up a few issues concerning the naming of this art. Wild Magic is a wholly inaccurate name, more a description of the art's mishaps rather than its successful application. Alternatively calling it the 'true art' is unbearably pompous. Any use of arcane magic, in all of its diverse applications, is true to Andrinor's intent. This is why I continue to use the, perhaps flawed, term 'Whole Casting.' Whole casting describes the art at its best in intention. It represents the desire to one day have the full unfettered capacity of the Vortex at our fingertips. I will be the first to readily admit that the art of whole casting in comparison to other advanced applications of magic has a long way to go before it can yield its full potential, but every step we make forwards is progress. It is therefore that I ask you the reader of my work to be patient with my findings. Much of the characteristics of the practice do not give themselves to easy definition. In fact any systematic ordering of Wild Magic and its zones of effect so far derived must often employ so many exceptions, that it renders the theory useless. But I am getting ahead of myself. Let us first examine what the art of Whole casting encompasses.

So what is Whole Casting? Well let's clarify, as previously stated, it is not Wild Magic. Whole casting is essentially about striving to expand the imposed limits on arcane spell casting. To reach beyond and grasp nothing less than the full potential of the Vortex. This is done by unchaining spells from the reliable, constrained flow of the vortex that has been researched and refined by the blood, sweat and tears of many mages before us. Of course as any mage knows, change a simple gesture, the ordering of a word, and a spell can fizzle or worse. Spells have been crafted, constructed and slapped together to be reliable, one hundred percent of the time even at the cost of restricting these spells. Essentially we've limited our spell's potential power so we can be safe. But safe from what?

Wild magic. Uncontrolled and raw energies, cascading, spilling, flowing and ebbing, bursting, burning and tearing through our connection to the Vortex. Overwhelming our intended spells to produce chaotic, unpredictable, dangerous effects. effects that kill, maim and drive mad. So we've got two tragic choices. either we can cast stunted little spells or we can make a bonfire out of ourselves. With such prospects, why bother? Well there is another choice. Whole Casting is finding the sweet spot, the 'just enough' and maybe a little bit more. As one of my mentor's once so colorfully said, it's like juggling hedgehogs while you balance on a tightrope. It's dancing with a heavy orc lass and having to guess the steps. Colorful euphemisms aside, It's opening yourself up to the Vortex just enough to empower your spells and still live.

Whole Casting is often maligned by its common parlance as Wild Magic. As we've just learnt, that is totally wrong. Wild magic itself is an unfortunate and occasional byproduct of whole casting. An uncontrolled surge of raw energy from the Vortex occurs when a mage fails to properly channel the excess energy correctly, or if they draw on a particularly chaotic pocket of unfiltered energy. The effect of this is that the intended spell is overwhelmed and the excess energy takes on its own form. These effects vary from the beneficial to the fairly terminal. Key examples being reversal of downward forces, regeneration of the caster or mind altering effects and of course self combustion. See Magus Aiko's study on Wild Magery and its effects for more details. Regardless, despite my own continued observations and other Whole caster's continued research there is no correlation between what spells are cast and what a resulting surge will do.

Now excuse me while I must once again justify the practice of this art. Many readers may be thinking why would any sane mage put up with potentially unreliable, backfiring spells? Well, firstly with study and practice these 'surges' of wild magic can be reduced. If you are not familiar with Flenken's model of arcane power, please put this tome down and go educate yourself, because I can't be arsed to explain it here in more depth than the following. Basically we take the number 1.0 as being an ideal and fully realised mage, the model for this being the rotund and mighty Flenken himself. I myself am a 0.75 on the Flenken scale as a caster of about 30 seasons. Whole casting allows me to exceed this, I have observed my spells last longer, hit harder and channel more energy from the Vortex of the appropriate type. On the other flip of the coin, when improperly channeled I've seen spells that are left a tad weaker, shorter and less potent. With proper study and experience a whole caster can learn to cast above and beyond the Flenken ideal of 1.0.

Due to the possibility of surges, a Whole caster must always be watchful of his spells, as nothing can be taken for granted. Now of course, accidents happen, and even the most experienced whole caster surges however occasionally. Wards, preparation and a strong will are key tools. Mental warding should always be up and available to recast. We've lost too many fine minds from the unrelenting and tumultuous emotional assaults of the unfiltered Vortex. To any who wish to follow in my footsteps I would advise to expect the unexpected. Especially with Andrinor's sense of humor.

Yet despite these dangers, both mental and physical, words fail to describe the sheer joy and beauty of successfully channeling raw unbridled energy through your spells. All I can come up with is ham-fisted metaphors in comparison to being present in that sublime moment, as you open yourself to the swirling depths of the Vortex. As my understanding of the art has deepened, I have come to realize the riddles of those that have walked this path before me, were not out of spite, mental deficiency or lack of academic rigour, but simply because they glimpsed things beyond our current understanding, limited as we are by mortal perspectives. So you too must also forgive my similar faults in my descriptions ahead. As great as these failures of perspective are, we as Mages bearing Andrinor's marks are chosen to wield his Vortex. We do him and ourselves a great disservice to not reach out and grasp fully what is in front of us.

G.E. Great Magus of the Red Order.