The Mechanics of the Physical and Mystical Body
What is the Physical Body?The Physical body is the vessel of the soul, the anchor for that complex collection of wills that make up the basic unit of all sentience. It is through the body that a mortal may effect the world around him, both in the mundane and the mystic. It is a designed, greatly complex series of alchemical systems, gifted to all of mortalkind by Kielm and the varied fragments of the Worldly God that remain.
Why do mortals need a body?One of the primary differences between the mortal races and immortal beings such as Angels, Psychopomps, Demons, Muses, and so on, is that immortal beings possess strong enough souls that their physical bodies are but extension of their souls - highly developed and complex Sacred Fields. Mortal souls are too weak to manifest physically, drawing only on their own power. This is the great gift of Kielm, that many mortal creation stories record. Kielm, in his pity for mortalkind, gifted them the means to exist as anything more than weak, transient spirits, completely at the mercy of higher beings. The gift of a designed, complex body allows mortal beings to take proper form, develop higher sentience, reproduce, ascend in cultural, technological, and mystical fields, and even, if necessary, contend with the divine.
What are organs?The body is entirely alchemical in origin. It follows, then, that organs are exquisitely designed self-sustaining alchemical processes, devoted to specific purposes. Food is broken down with digestive alchemical solvents. The eye uses substances sensitive to different "wavelengths" of magic. All of the body's organs contribute to one purpose - acting as an anchor to the mortal soul. Some act as tools for self-preservation. Many of the most important organs in the body contribute to the nourishment of the most important organ, the brain.
What is the Brain?The brain is the most complex and important organ in the body. Theoretically, if nothing but the brain remained, and was given sufficient nourishment and care, a mortal could exist indefinitely. The Brain, like all other organs, is an alchemical system. Through alchemical reactions that are still largely a mystery to the world's scholars, mages and alchemists, the brain effects the magical, binding the soul to the body, while acting as a conduit between soul and body. Once bound, the brain interprets magical signals from the soul into alchemical reactions, and vice versa. An example of information traveling soul-to-brain-to-body would be movement, while an example of body-to-brain-to-soul would be pain. A unique effect of this connection is the effect on instincts on the soul. For example, lust and the physical urge to mate does not exist in the soul prior to being bound to the body. The Brain is also the fount and perpetrator of the Sacred Field, which the brain has a hand in developing. The Brain also interprets "magic to magic" signals, and is thus responsible for the movement of magical energy from the Soul to the Sacred Field, allowing the use of magic.
What about birth?Birth is a unique aspect of mortality. While immortal beings can also create life, this creative process is usually limited to the higher echelons of immortal power. Immortal created life also tends to be uniform in mind and appearance, lacking the variation of mortalkind. With mortality, however, the power to create a free, intelligent, unique being is given to everyone. (Given they can find a mate, of course.) While the exact form of reproduction varies, from live birth to egg birth to the complex rituals of the Alfar, the basic process is the same, save in that last case. Following insemination, a duel magical and alchemical process begins. While purely alchemical processes form the body, alchemically-spawned magical reactions gather energy from the World Storm, specifically in the form of the rudimentary early soul. All mortals save the Alfar of Ahdsur and the Daefar draw their souls from the World Storm through this natural process. It is during this process that the early soul is bound by the brain, and, in the moment that marks true conception, imprinted with a vague replication of their mother's soul. It is interesting to note that this means that a good deal of personality traits, as well as magical potency, is passed down the mother's side. From there, the Brain forms the child's Sacred Field, still largely weak and dependent on their mother's Sacred Field for protection. It is in this way that the designed process of childbirth is a thing of grandeur, inscrutability, and complexity, more so even than the Brain.
And development?A child's development can be split into three categories; the "growth" of the soul, of the Sacred Field, and of the physical body, each linked. Physical development varies widely between species, and even within species. Physical development, barring disease or disorder, involves the growth of an individual into the full adult example of that race ; the development of primary and secondary sexual features, rapid muscle growth, height, and so on. The method can vary widely; for example, the Naga are known to molt; the Ha'dri, stages of metamorphosis brought on by magical distortions; for humanity, the period of rapid growth known as puberty. Physical growth for the average human ends from 19 to 21. The Sacred Field, too, is developing during this period, as the Brain actively layers the Field into increasingly complex matrices. The Sacred Field is known to develop in it's entirety on average between the ages of 13-16 for nearly all species, but there have been extreme cases with those as young as 9 and those as old as 19. Like the body, however, the Sacred Field never stops changing, and can undergo incremental or even wild changes even later in life, usually linked to extensive skill in a certain craft, as well as will. Those with a masterful skill of the blade, for example, have often said that the blade seems like an extension of themselves ; in some ways, this is true, as continued use has shown that the Sacred Field can literally reorganize itself to accommodate such a skill. The same can be said of magic, perhaps even more importantly, as skilled personal control over one's Sacred Field is one of the cornerstones of magic use. It has also been shown that, in cases of extreme duress, men of extreme will have briefly been able to overcome normal human limitations. This is actually the strength of their soul briefly manifesting in the same way a divine does; as a part of their physical body. The souls "grows" as well, in complexity and intelligence. Their intelligence depends on their mother's traits, their upbringing, as well as a good deal of random chance. The soul grows from physical stimuli, including life experiences, both positive and negative, culture, religion, and education. All of these things contribute to one's personality. Just like the body and the Sacred Field, the rate of development can vary widely; however, one's soul never stops growing. Theoretically, one's soul could continue to grow in intelligence and complexity indefinitely.
What's the secret behind Magic Potency?Magic Potency is just that - any given individual's natural ability to use magic. Note, however, that this has nothing to do with one's intelligence. One can be the greatest natural mage to ever live and be a complete dolt. In many cases, however, magical potency corresponds with rigorous education, as greatly potent children are much sought after. Magical potency is determined by a great number of things - the natural strength of one's soul; the efficiency of one's Sacred Field; your mother's magical traits; your race. Certain races, such as the Alfar of Ahdsur, with their supremely old souls, have powerful souls, and thus are greatly magically potent. It should be noted, however, that despite their potency, the Elves are religiously and culturally against many forms of magic. While a great deal of these things are left to chance and to race, it should not be forgotten that one, sufficiently devoted to practicing magic, can "rewrite" their Sacred Field and even enhance the strength of their soul to make it easier to cast spells.
And finally, what is the Sacred Field?The Sacred Field is a dense, complex matrix of magical energy which both surrounds and permeates the physical body. It is an extension of the Soul, and can be likened to a magical bloodstream. It is the Sacred Field which allows the casting of magic; magical energy flows from the soul, through the brain, and into the Sacred Field, from where it enters the physical world, being funneled through the "lens" of both spoken and signed Sigillum, to act as a catalyst for a larger Weave reaction. While sometimes such things vary, any form of magic that involves personal output and not complete divine interference involves this same magical transference. It is the Sacred Field that also acts as a personal magical barrier, barring mages or other magical interference from damaging the body. It is not possible, for example, to boil another's blood inside their body, or ignite the oxygen inside their lungs. In immortal beings, this is a natural occurance - the Sacred Field IS their body, and they are simply asserting dominance over their own being - and to an extent this is true for mortal beings as well, but the effectiveness of mortalkind's Sacred Field points to it being another feature of design. Only a few abilities and natural materials, such as Navium, Cognimancy, and Curses bypass or directly target the Sacred Field. The Sacred Field is also greatly important for the normal functions of the mortal body. Without the Sacred Field's protective features, transient magical energy can and will interfere with the delicate alchemical processes of the body. It is possible to be born with or have one's Sacred Field damaged, or weakened - the quickest way to do so being standing next to a deposit of Navium - and the symptoms of such are devastating. A slightly weakened Sacred Field can induce paleness of skin, susceptibility to disease, and weariness; moderately, severe paleness, chronic nausea, aches and pains; severely, visible rot and wasting of the skin, cancer, easily broken bones, and so on. At each stage the ability to cast magic is degraded, given the link. It should be noted that, by it's very nature, Alchemy is able to bypass the Sacred Field, and is both a great boon and a severe risk because of it.
One last thing - what's the deal with Vitamancy and Necromancy?Vitamancy is a highly developed magical science. It seeks to use the Sacred Field itself, to move along it's contours, and fuel the Sacred Field's own pathways to invoke a healing process. Necromancy is a bit different, and has a tougher time of it. Many early Necromancers were not motivated by a desire for power but for a desire to conquer death. Many, many attempts at "true" resurrections have been attempted over the years; nearly all have failed. The problem lies in the great complexity of the processes at work - not so much the gathering of the soul, but of the replication of such things as the Sacred Field and the Brain. To date, these remain the greatest impediments towards the "Holy Grail" of Necromancy - a perfect resurrection, which remains only in the realms of the miracles of the divines.
