Spell
A spell is generally magic cast to achieve a specific effect. The nature of a spell, and how it is cast, depends on the type of magic used by the caster. In earlier times, spells comprised complex rituals and long incantations. Note that when mentioning spells, this wiki commonly refers to spells in modern magic.
How Spells Work
Magic is mostly intent. The caster focusses their will to direct the magic in order to achieve a specific effect. A spell in and of itself is a means to aid in focussing one's will onto a specific goal for long enough to achieve the desired effect.
In earlier days, this was done through specific rituals, designed to put the caster into the proper mindset, and song-like chants to focus the will. Modern magic has condensed this into a short incantation, primarily in Latin and, in most cases, comprising only 1-2 words. This is possible due to the use of foci, such as magic wands.
Ultimately, the effectiveness of a spell is determined by the skill and power of the caster, as well as their ability to maintain focus and intent.
A highly skilled caster may be able to cast a spell without a focus or incantation, relying solely on their intent and visualization abilities. However, for most magic users, the use of a focus and incantation can provide a helpful focus and aid in controlling and directing their magic. It is similar to how some athletes may have a specific routine or pre-game ritual that helps them focus and prepare mentally for their performance.
In addition, the use of a wand or other focus can also help to channel and direct the caster's energy, making it easier to shape and control the spell's effects. Movements associated with spellcasting can also serve to reinforce the caster's visualization of the desired outcome, as well as providing a physical anchor for their intent and focus.
While it is possible for a skilled caster to cast spells without these aids, for most practitioners they provide a valuable and necessary framework for effective spellcasting, and they are exactly what they are because that is what works best. However, there is no "best practice" to determine what will work best, other than trial and error. There seems to be no clear logic behind it. Why that is is unclear, it may just be the nature of magic.
Incantations
An incantation is a short exclamation, typically 1-2 words. In western tradition, incantations are spoken in Latin, although this is not a requirement. The reason for this has historic reasons.
During the late 4th and 5th centuries, when the Roman Empire began to decline and the Christian religion grew stronger, Latin became the predomiant languge for religious and occult purposes. The highly flexive nature of the language made it possible to convey a large amount of information with a single word.
It should be noted however, that Latin is not the only language that allows for this, other examples being Sanskrit (which is a common language for spells in Asia), Russian, Finnish, Hungarian, Arabic and Turkish.
Seeing how a spell is primarily designed to focus the caster's intent and will, one might believe the actual incantation is not really relevant. One may just as well recite a nursery rhyme in order to start a fire. However, this is not the whole truth. The short incantations used in modern spellcasting are often the result of a long process of refinement and experimentation, to find the most effective and efficient way to focus the caster's intent and energy. The specific words used can have a significant impact on the resulting spell, as they can influence the caster's mental state and emotional resonance with the magic they are invoking. Alas it is not clear why that is the case. If there are any rules or patterns to why some combinations of words work better than others, they have not yet been determined.
Types of Spells
In modern magic, spells are separated into 7 categories. These categories are defined by the effects and intentions off the spells.
Generic Spells
Generic spells are usually a direct effect. Examples for generic spells are Flamma and Illustro.
Transfiguration Spells
Transfiguration spells, as the name implies, change the nature of objects. A classic example for a transfiguration spell is Mutatio Verto.
Charm
Charms, also called enchantments, are spells that modify properties of objects or individuals, or add new properties. The difference to transfiguration spells is often explained that transfiguration changes what an object is, while enchantment changes what it does. Charms are probably the most common type of spell. An example for a charm is Color Verto.
Jinx
A jinx is a type of dark charm. Jinxes are unique in that can be cast without a focus, but they do require the caster to keep eye contact on the target. The jinx is kept in place by the caster concentrating on the target while repeating a chant. A common jinx is Immoto.
Hex
A hex is a type of dark charm generally aimed at living beings and intended to cause suffering to a target. Some hexes may be amusing, others may be downright evil. A typical hex is Confundio.
Curse
Technically, curses are not spells as they work differently. A curse is similar to a form of magical affliction. Curses are a separate category in and of themselves.
Counter-spells
Although counter-spells are basically generic spells, they are considered a separate category. While some counter-spells, like Solvincula, are pre-defined, they may also be rituals, tailored specifically to certain effects or curses.
Miscellaneous Techniques
Not considered an actual category, there are two "spells" that do not fall into any of the categories above, as they are always cast without an incantation.
- Magic Throw (aka. simple cast) - a basic cast that can be unleashed by flicking one's focus without incantation. This creates a magic missile that, depending on its force, can knock things over or cause damage or harm.
- Basic Block (aka. direct block, magic parry, basic deflection) - by using one's focus and improvising a protective barrier, directed spells can be blocked. One should also not try and block more powerful spells with this technique, especially if the opponent is stronger than oneself. Certain spells, such as Exarmo, cannot be blocked in this way. It is important that one should try and deflect a spell with this technique, rather than block it head-on.