Xerchrenistic Sorcery
While the philosophies of the Shek P'Var have made some inroads in the Venarian Sea area, the predominant local magical system is distinct and has quite different philosophical underpinnings. Xerchrenism, named after a 2nd century BT semi-legendary philosopher, Xerchrenis, holds that all of existence is actually a manifestation of Will imposed on Chaos. The mundane world is really just the Will of various deities imposed on the Chaos which is the essence of existence. Creatures which have Will contribute to maintaining the natural order with their belief and daily interaction with the world. Most Xerchrenisists believe that enough people now live in the world that even without the support of deities the world would continue to exist, but this is a point of contention in philosophical circles.
By the 1st century BT several philosopher/sorcerers had appeared, using Xerchrenistic philosophy as the basis of their art. Xerchrenist sorcerers believe that anyone is capable of learning how to use his Will to impose order and form upon existence. Through rigorous physical and mental discipline strength of Will is developed until it is sufficient for this purpose.
Over the succeeding centuries many Xerchrenist Sorcerous orders have sprung up, some short-lived and some more successful. Most differ from each other in their training methods, using different means to develop and strengthen the Will. All agree on the basic philosophical underpinnings of their art and in the major points of their philosophy. Most of the orders practice some form of asceticism as a means of developing mental control. Exactly what form this asceticism takes varies from group to group.
All Xerchrenistic sorcerers recognize three stages in their careers, that of apprentice, Adept, and Magus. Many orders also include a journeyman status between apprentice and Adept. Adept can be thought of as the equivalent of a Master in a Western Lythian guild. A Magus is a senior adept.
Many of these sorcerous orders maintain schools or chapterhouses scattered around the Venarian Sea. Such orders typically are rigoursly organized and often play important roles in local politics. Others lack such central organization and rely on individual masters to train new students. Such orders are usually less concerned with the mundane world and effect a more spiritual existence. Typically they have little influence on government or politics, though individual sorcerers might be quite influential.
Another aspect of Xerchrenist methodologies is that many orders are closely tied to organized religions. While the Shek P'Var keep their studies separate from religion, many Xerchrenist orders worship specific deities and in some sense function as a second priesthood. Relations between such orders and the normal church associated with their deities vary from close alliance to outright warfare.
Two distinct sorts of magic have arisen within the Xerchrenist framework, one oriented toward immediate and relatively small effects and the other working towards long term large effects. The first school, who style themselves the Pragmatists, use magic in a fashion which would would be recognizable to most Shek P'Var, creating immediate effects in daily life. Many of their magical effects, ie spells, are very similar to spells used by the Shek P'Var in both scope and intent.
The second tradition, the Mercanians, named for their founder Mercanius Agnallius (b. 229 TR, d. 304 TR), aim at large effects which are not easily controlled. Using the principles of sympathy and contagion Mercanians attempt to influence the course of political events, wars, and the history of nations. More than one Mercanian has been employed by the imperial government to aid in trade negotiations, economic difficulties, or the course of a war. And more than one has also been executed for suspected subversive activities. Mercanian magic is often closely tied to astrology and other forecasting disciplines and Mercanian sorcerers are often also master astrologers. Most Mercanian 'spells' are unique, especially researched and created for a specific situation. Most are very long and difficult rituals, often with expensive and rare material components.
Whether Mercanian magic actually accomplishes anything is often a matter of debate among Xerchrenistic philosophers as well as potential employers. Clearly attempts to create small effects do work, but larger effects are harder to verify.
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June 8, 2002
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