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Today I’m going to talk about the various casters that are found within Windemere. A basic caster uses incantations, gestures, and a lot of studying to utilize their aura for spells.  There are other methods though, but the common connection is that they are all use aura in some fashion.

Necrocasters

These are the people who use their power to alter and infect the aura of their enemies. It differs from regular casters because they are not accessing their own energy for the bulk of the spell. In reality, they are sending a sliver that gives them control over their target and creates the desired effect. Undead creation and life draining fall under this school, which is why it is seen as the evil path.  Yet there are some practitioners who were born with very little aura and use this path to be unorthodox healers.

Channelers

They’ve been mentioned a few times in the later books and get their full explanation in Sleeper of the Wildwood Fugue.  Their power is very simple, yet powerful. They absorb the magic of Windemere like it is air and use it for their spells.  No gestures, incantations, or rituals are needed.  A true channeler can stand in the middle of a battlefield and unleash magic without moving.  Nobody is sure where they came from, but the theory is that they are related to Gola the Magic Goddess.  Much of their history has been lost since they were nearly wiped out at the beginning of the ancient Race War.  The old dragons that pitted the ‘lesser’ species against each other feared the channelers. So they killed their protector and destroyed all but one.  This is why the ability is so weak and can be found in multiple species.  That lone survivor set out to continue her lineage and make it even more difficult for it to be lost.

Chronos

 Another rare type, these are people born with the natural ability to alter time.  This area of magic is not practiced by many because it shrinks the lifespan of the caster.  It’s why there are so few stories about them. Many still consider them a rumor or an extinct species that burnt out quicker than the gods intended.  Stephen is only able to last so long before he’s immortal, which gives him unlimited power.  As seen by his actions, a Chronos can erase injuries, increase physical abilities to god-like levels, steal or reverse magic, learn things quickly, and teleport.  One thing that has not been seen is a Chronos changing the time of someone else, so there may be limits.

Priests and Priestesses

They are the caster equivalent of Paladins since they get their magic from the gods and goddesses they pray to.  Their strength depends on three things: training, experience, and adhering to their deity’s path.  Levels vary for all three to allow for an interesting array of prodigies. For example, Aedyn Karwyn in a priest of Durag the Sun God.  He trained very hard and did whatever he could to bring more light to the world.  These two factors helped him increase in power swiftly as he gained more experience.  Continuing the example, you can see that the magic ‘flavor’ relates to their deity.  Aedyn uses light magic.  Still, nearly every priest and priestess knows some level of healing as long as they don’t follow a path of destruction.

Song Caster

Another rarity, but most non-standard casters are.  They have the power to alter reality and cast spells with their singing voice.  Even a hum has the power to bring a small army to its knees.  The original Song Caster was Gabriel, so an alternate name is ‘Children of Destiny’.  Nobody is sure how his lineage has continued since he claims to never have had any children.  Popular belief is that it’s ‘none he is aware of’ and they continued to pass his power through the centuries.  Due to his infamous rise to power, the Song Casters are hunted by various groups and many are killed if they show their magic in public.  Sadly, their progenitor is bound by the Law of Influence, so he can only watch them die or hide their true nature.

Others

A strange category, but there will be more caster types that appear as other Windemere series crop up.  Wand specialists, witches, demon summoners, zombie lords, and many, many more flavors of magic are hidden in this world.