03. MAGUS

[PHANTASMOON]

MAGUSCLASS

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PRACTITIONERS OF THE ARCANE

Magi are humans who perform magecraft or Thaumaturgical Theory, the act of performing possible miracles. Humans can be magi by possessing a MAGIC CIRCUIT, a secondary neuron system within their bodies. Most people, including normal humans, have a magic circuit, but not everybody gets the chance of using it for magecraft. Normally they are used for replenishing life energy, but once “opened”, an individual may switch it on and off whenever he or she requires it for magecraft.

An average magus has twenty units of magic circuits, but it is possible to gain more. One famous artificial way is the use of a THAUMATURGICAL CREST – the transfer of one’s magic circuit to a descendant. However, it poses the same risks of an organ transplant, and as such most would prefer to slowly integrate the Thaumaturgical Crest into the heir. This common practice led to two traditions – of only one of the offspring, usually the eldest, being taught to become a magus, and of one’s prestige being determined by one’s heritage. The more generation of magi your family has, the better. However, this is an inaccurate assumption, as it is possible for a parent with no magic circuits to give birth to one with magic circuits, and vice versa.

Furthermore, it is not only the amount of magic circuits that determines one’s magic potential. Magecraft may be performed by converting prana into the energy required. Thaumaturgical Theory dictates the rule of Equivalent Exchange – the stronger the magic, the more prana is required to use it. However, the amount of prana a magic circuit may process differs from person to person. The ideal magus, therefore, has a good amount of high-quality circuits.

Magi have been living in secrecy for years, going as far as killing any witnesses they may see. Most magi learn at home with their parents, or are sponsored by the Mages’ Association.

It is said that the ultimate goal of a magus is to reach Akasha.

[PHANTASMOON]

It is the largest organization of magi in the world, located in several areas in the west. Most magi join the association in order to be provided funds and resources for their practice. It is composed of three branches that act and function as individual and separate groups. Their priority is the secrecy of magic – they will not interfere with the affairs of others unless it poses a threat that may reveal magecraft to the entire world.

They are constantly at odds with the Holy Church – as of the moment, they are under a non-aggression agreement, but the tension tends to break at times.

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Located in underground areas in Britain is the official headquarters of the Association. The Clock Tower is most known for its study and research in all schools of magic. Patents pertaining to magic are evaluated by the Clock Tower. It also functions as an Academy, providing lessons and workshops to any magus with a firm control of their magecraft. However, discrimination in the Clock Tower is abundant and often magi with shorter generations are ignored or humiliated. This discrimination has lessened after the research conducted by El-Melloi ii, but prejudice still exists within the community.

ATLAS
Also known as The Giant’s Pit, Atlas is an alchemy-centered group based in Egypt. They study not the transmutation of object, but rather the transmutation of phenomena. Most magi under Atlas are versed in the art of prediction using the formula derived from Laplace’s Demon. Their research is centered on avoiding the end of the world predicted by its first director – however, their own prototypes might cause a terrible series of butterfly effects, which is why all products of research must stay within the walls of Atlas unless verified. Of all three branches, Atlas has the best relationship towards the Holy Church, going as far as providing them alchemists in their missions against the supernatural. It is their tradition for the directors of Atlas to adopt the name of Atlasia.

SEA OF ESTRAY
Once the first headquarters of the Mage’s Association is the Sea of Estray, located in Northern Europe. It is a conglomerate of minor organizations that have been integrated into the association. Their base is The Moving Stone Coffin, a mobile mountain range at sea, although it is capable of appearing on dry land –this has earned the Sea of Estray the nickname “The Wandering Tomb”.[/ul][/justify]
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[PHANTASMOON]

SORCERERS are true magicians capable of performing magic. While magecraft is capable of re-enacting scientific miracles with prana, true magic often defies the rule of Equivalent Exchange, creating miracles that cannot be achieved through any other means, such as resurrection or the control of time and space. Currently there are five known sorcerers – one of them is Justica von Einzbern, the creator of the Third Magic, Heaven’s Feel.

HOMMUNCULI are artificially created humans with the use of alchemy. They receive all necessary information at birth, and their growth span is shorter than that of a human’s – they may reach maturity in about two years. They also possess an enormous amount of of Magic Circuits, rendering them capable of performing outstanding feats of magecraft. On the other hand, their physical bodies are usually frail, possessing shorter statures, less endurance, and shorter lifespans. In fact, some homunculi stop aging even when their physical stature is still of a child, halting their development of reproductive organs.

[PHANTASMOON]

The seven magi selected to participate in the Holy Grail War are called Masters. They are the ones who summon the Servants – in exchange of fighting for them, the Masters shall supply them mana.

A Master is notified of his or her candidacy with the appearance of three COMMAND SPELLS, symbolized by a red mark on their bodies. These command spells may be used to give direct orders to their Servants – an order they cannot disobey, unless the Servant’s willpower is strong enough. The more specific the command, the stronger its effects are. However, they cannot use all spells before the end of the war, for the lack of the command spells shall have the Master lose control of his or her Servant, allowing the Servant to kill the very Master that summoned him or her.

In order to summon a Servant, the Master must complete a simple ritual with a magic circle. A Heroic Spirit may be chosen by using a relic related to him or her in the ritual. Otherwise, without a relic, a Heroic Spirit similar to the Master's personality is summoned.

Only the Holy Grail knows how are the Masters chosen, but a representative from the Tohsaka, Matou and Einzbern families are always present in the war. It is not required for all Masters to die in Heaven’s Feel, but it is the fastest way to kill their Servants.