Theorem

Theorems

  Theorems are an approximation of supernatural knowledge, arming the mundane with the ability to understand and act against supernatural forces. Those who practice Arcana with no theory struggle to control their power or that of others. Theorems do not require a Minor Merit to pursue.

History The acknowledgment of Arcana as a disparate series of schools began in the 1298th year of the Second Era, when the Deepholds proposed that the sprawling and bloated study of Arcana be separated into Theorems dictating its various classifications. Arcanology - the formal study of Aetheric Sorceries and Practices - was born from no less than fifty years of bureaucracy. Twenty years later, Theurgics took shape to classify the in-born Arcana of Dominion. Lore soon followed six years later, encompassing Fae Glamour and the so-called 'Minor Glamour' of magical beasts. Lastly, Occultism was formalized in 1391 to explain the various forms of taboo or forbidden Arcana to do with souls, the dead, or Blights. From then on, arcane scholars on the surface of Antarok above the Ur'duun and even some of the Faefolk within Elphyne adopted the concept of Theorems, and academia - even mundane institutions - have since done all they can to educate their pupils on what is known.

Purpose Theorems govern not just the study of Arcana, but also its principled usage. The more is known about a Theorem, the more apt a mage is at wielding their Arcana. Magi who lack theory know little about their own spells, and they struggle to respond against the spells of others or even their own mistakes. Such 'hedge magic' spells are slow, prone to fizzling or even backlash - yet some argue those who refuted Theorems have on occasion joined the ranks of the Ascended; these detractors fail to mention the Apotheotic commonly referenced - Nunis Daar - was missing chunks of his brain by his own error and could no longer operate the muscles in his face. Branches A Theorem is split into three basic conventions: The first is Metaphor, or how well the mage not only understands but feels the theoretical nature of Arcane forces at play. The second is Esotera, or the sum of related worldly experiences and liturgical knowledge the mage has accrued. The third is Sovereignty, or the mental ability of the mage to calmly direct forces in spite of stimulating circumstances. Metaphor Arcana is born of Metaphor; more precisely, foreign Arcane Forces are antithetical to the individual dreams of the Godheads bleeding into one another, creating miracles that defy the natural laws each uses to ground reality. Every form of Arcana can be traced back to the laws of another Plane. Namely: The Soul is a natural consequence of the Aetherium, and thus is privileged to grow as a Psychic or else draw Aether from the plane of infinites. Life Force - or Saol comes from Elphyne; Fae Glamour evolved where Life Force suffuses the very air. The force of death - Miasmata - comes from Pandemonium, and indeed all Undead owe their continued existence to the Plane. Spirits - and mundane energies such as heat - are Geist, a consequence of Aarda; this is true of all Spirits from the majority of planes, save for the Void, and Gehenna. Fabula is the complex Antarokian force of change, underpinning all other forces within the Aetheriocentric System. Anathema is the force which drives exchange and dissolution, composing Daemons. The mundane elements of Matter - earth, water, and air - are thought to be a byproduct of the Ur'Duun, and its Elemental Spirits lend credence to this theory. 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. Esotera Sovereignty

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