MAGIC SYSTEM
MYTHOS
MYTHOS
The magic of this world is the natural traits, skills, talents or abilities which one in born with. It is believed that an individual's spirit forms its traits prior to birth, which predetermines what skills the individual will have in life. As such, in a sense, these skills are divinely earned from the Gods. However, these talents are not considered supernatural any more than a skill which can be learned. With enough time and effort, anyone can learn to do most anything; though many of the more "magical" abilities may take a lifetime to master. The difference that sets one individual apart from another is how much aptitude they have from birth. As such, if someone have an especially high aptitude for an ability, they may be considered blessed.
A blessed individual is known as a Hantii, and their blessing is known as a Hant.
Mental & Spiritual Hant:
Comprehension of Language
Communion with Nature
Arbiter of Spirits
Endurance of Will
Compassion for Others
Physical & Vital Hant:
Accuracy of Sight
Strength of Body
Healing of Injury/Sickness
Muse of Melody
A Hantii is a naturally talented individual, however, anyone may achieve the ability to use a Hant. The "magic" of a Hant is that some people may seem to be born already having a mastery of a specific skill.
A Hant is used as any skill or ability is used, but to a more precise and masterful degree. The usage of a Hant may be creatively stretched by anyone clever enough to find how all aspects of life are interwoven. If some parallel can be identified and exploited, a Hant may have few if any limitations of application. This does not mean that Hants do not have limitations or costs upon the individual using them.
Hants are believed to be preordained by what an individual's spirit did before being born. If that spirit was close with nature, it may be have a Hant of communion with nature when the spirit is born into its mortal body, and so on.
In a social context, Hant are commonly believed to be a calling for the individual to put their abilities to use for others, which means that expectations upon Hantii are quite demanding. On a personal level, some Hants come at the expense of the individual in other aspects of their lives. For example, in the known case of the Hant of an Arbiter of Spirits, the Hantii suffers an emotional and physical drain when exercising the ability, and that Hant in particular occurs regardless of the Hantii's intent; it cannot be ignored or blocked out. Another example, such as a Hant of Strength of Body, the Hantii may experience impairment of agility, and so on. These impacts on Hantii can be mitigated similarly with time and effort like how non-Hantii may still achieve mastery of a Hant.
If a behavior or habit takes a Hantii in a destructive direction, it is considered corrupted or fallen. A Hant, such as Compassion for Others, could be corrupted by allowing it to become overbearing, overprotective, or even stifling. Hantii and non-Hantii alike must be careful to not allow the exercise of their Hant to lead to corruption.
In addition to detrimental affects of being a Hantii, or the corruption of a Hant, a Hant can also be lost. If the Hant goes unused or unpracticed, the inborn knowledge of a Hantii or education of a non-Hantii may be overwritten by the experiences of mortal life, causing the knowledge and skills to fade. In order to avoid this, Hants cannot be neglected and must be used with regularity.
Some Hant skills are so common, they are hardly considered to be a Hant. This is most likely the case for abilities that have become a part of daily life, such as interpersonal skills, agricultural knowledge, or so on.
Other Hant skills only appear once in a few generations, which can lead to the Hantii to be labeled as an omen from the Gods.
In short, any ability can be a Hant. It is simply how talents and abilities are classified.