Metaphor

Metaphor

  Comprising the Planar Forces of the world, Metaphor is a form of energy that lives in the concept of a thing. All mundane things are born from several forms of Metaphor, as are the spells and artifacts that make use of it. Manipulating Metaphor is the aim of not just mages, but practitioners and Theorists.

Metaphorical Forces

• The Soul is a natural consequence of the Aetherium, and thus is privileged to grow and draw Aether from the plane of infinites.

• Life Force - or Saol comes from Ælphyne; Fae Glamour evolved where Life Force suffuses its very air.

• The force of death and memories - Miasmata - comes from Avernus, and indeed all Undead owe their continued existence to the Plane.

• The force of dreams and nightmares - Somnium - stems from the amorphous reflections of Arcadia.

• Fabula is the complex Antarokian force of sound and omens, underpinning all other forces within the Godlands.

• Anathema is the force from Gehenna responsible for shadow and dissolution, composing Daemons.

• Heat and light are born from Luxium, shining down from the stars leading to Aarda.

• Earth such as stone or sand is derived from Geomena, the primal force that drives geology on other planes from within the Ur'Duun.

• Air and winds are composed of Aeris, a force belonging to Céleste far above Antarok.

• Water is derived from Imber which fills the depths of Lacon - the ocean of Antarok.

• Cold is the bitter Ardor emanating from Æylune, thriving in the absence of warmth.

• The All and Nothing force of Absentia is similar yet limited as Nihilos is not a true Godhead, just as the Void is not a true Plane.

Nativity

Attempting to work with the native metaphor of any given Plane comes with caveats.

Using Fabula, the native force of Antarok, as an example: Mystics will have difficulty sensing manifestations of Fabula beyond themselves, and Aetheric Glass tuned to its signature will be entirely opaque without first traveling to another Plane. Practices which attempt to construct objects from Fabula Alkahest whilst upon Antarok will struggle with both accuracy and specificity.

Invocation

Metaphor is invoked through theory by tying one's understanding of a Godhead's concepts, their forces, and their Plane to an aspect of the self, others, objects, or their environment as a whole. This is often comparable with religion and indeed many faiths teach Metaphor to their supplicants or utilize it with their Theurgical Language. Doing so creates a sensation associated with that Metaphorical Force within one's awareness.

Example: Animists who mentally understand the purpose of Saol and attribute Mimira, Godhead of Ælphyne, to the presence of a beast - in understanding that Saol powers its flesh - who then translate this through speech and gestures, are likely to conjure a feeling of Saol Metaphor within themselves and the beast to ease its nature. See Animism.

Sovereignty

Sovereignty is born from the sum of Metaphorical and Esoteric understanding, forged together through practice. When one truly understands a form of Arcana, they experience an edge of control. This control allows them to direct their spells more accurately, calling upon them more quickly and safely through Metaphorical Expression than someone who has not studied theory. There are more jagged bumps, edges, and irregularities in a spell conjured by a mage who has not cultivated this concept.

Metaphorical Expression

To express or cant an incantation is to think, chant, or gesture the very feeling of a Metaphor, speaking verbally or non-verbally the Metaphor of the forces you wield. A Fulgurist might thrust their body in arcs and swoops, screaming at a high pitch to better call upon the Luxium that fuels their spells with heat. This process confers a significant edge to the mage, with each canted Order of Expression applying around five percent more control and power to the spell.

• Thought, the First Order - Canting via one's thoughts is the first order of expression, aligning oneself with a force by suffusing their thoughts.
• Speech, the Second Order - Canting via one's speech is the second order of expression, priming the environment for an expression of Sovereignty.
• Gesture, the Third Order - Canting via one's gesture is the third order of expression, directing Metaphorical forces towards one's intention.
• Sacrifice, the Fourth Order - Canting via sacrifice is to harm oneself or destroy a sentimental belonging, fueling a force with intensity.
• Environ, the Fifth Order - Canting within the bounds of an environment metaphorically connected to the force will add that power to a spell, if aware.
• Planar, the Sixth Order - Canting within the very Plane a force is from will yield a slight edge to casting, if aware.

Articles on Arcana

Main Page