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ABRAXAS MODS ([personal profile] abraxasmods) wrote2021-04-05 12:17 pm
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ARCANA ◎

Arcana
All sapient inhabitants of Abraxas have a major arcanum under which they fall, commonly referred to as a "sign". These signs are not readily apparent: a magician can divine an individual’s arcanum if they are given enough time, with a novice requiring a few hours and a master able to tell within seconds. They are not fixed at birth and divining the arcanum of children is difficult and unreliable, with readings just a few days apart producing different signs. A professional reading is a common birthday gift upon reaching adulthood. Newly summoned characters are the exception and all of them, even children, have a fixed sign.

The sign generally suits one’s personality, ambitions, or desires in some way. Signs do not determine one’s job or future standing (not all magicians are under the sign of The Magician, for example), nor do they have any correlation with morality. A diverse umbrella of individuals - good and evil and everywhere in between - exists under every sign. Most individuals could fit multiple signs, and the reason why they reside under one and not the others is not understood even by the most knowledgeable scholars of magic.

The magic users and nobles of Abraxas place a lot of importance on signs, while the common folk (who only rarely encounter complex magic) think they're fun to know and have certain superstitions around them, but overall don't take them too seriously. Magic (both beneficial and harmful) is more effective when a tarot card matching the target’s sign is incorporated. For certain spells - such as the summoning ritual and necromancy - it is absolutely essential.
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