Overview

Origin of Magic

“The true nature and source of magical power is unknown”

Over ten years later, this statement still holds true. Magic in Pathfinder continues to evade a persistent or permanent definition. All things equal, there are some useful mechanics to aid in meaningful storytelling and conversation. A high level breakdown is included below and additional detail follows.

Takeaways

• Magic can be described as essence, traditions,types,and variants.
  • Essence: Four indescribable sources for all magic [Matter, Life, Spirit, Mind]
  • Traditions: Four categories of magic from which all types & variants arise [Arcane, Divine, Occult, Primal]. Each tradition utilises two of the essences of magic.
  • Types: Manifestations of magic traditions [Arcane, Divine, Psychic, and Ritual]
  • Variants: Unique, non-normal, or mutations of magic types
• While there is many types and variants of magic there is always only four traditions & essences of magic.

Essence

Matter, Life, Spirit, Mind. These are the four components that all traditions of magic stem from. These can be considered “vague” origins for the power of magic. Essence is quintessential to magic it is created and sustained by a multiplicity of sources (gods, events, people, planes etc).

Essences have polar opposite pairings:

• Mind <–> Life
• Matter <–> Essence

Each pair of these essences is naturally immutably polarized; Matter and Spirit do not directly intermingle with each other, nor do Mind and Life. However, each essence can indirectly or adjacently manifest in its pairing (such as the phenomena of ectoplasm and aether as spiritual manifestations in material forms), and some properties are spread or shared across multiple essences (such as emotions that can span mental and vital essences in different contexts or applications).

Matter

Description: Matter essence is one of the two fundamental essences that compose the material nature of reality. It represents the tangible, physical aspects of existence, forming the substance and structure of the world around us.

Manifestation in Magic: Magic rooted in Matter essence directly manipulates the physical realm. This includes:

• Transmutation: Changing the form, composition, or properties of physical substances.
• Conjuration (Creation): Bringing forth physical matter or elemental forces into being.
• Elemental Manipulation: Controlling the core elements of the material world, such as earth, air, fire, and water.
• Kinesis: Applying force and manipulating the movement of physical objects.

Manifestation in Items: Items imbued with Matter essence exhibit tangible effects or grant control over physical aspects:

• Weapons: Possessing enhanced physical properties or imbued with elemental power.
• Armor: Providing increased physical protection or elemental resistance.
• Tools: Capable of altering or shaping physical materials with magical ease.
• Containers: Like bags of holding, defying normal physical limitations of space.
• Potions & Elixirs: Physically consumed substances that alter the imbiber’s material form or grant physical resistances.

Lore: Matter essence is immutably polarized with Spirit essence, meaning they do not directly intermingle. However, Matter essence can indirectly manifest spiritual aspects, such as through phenomena like aether (if considered a spiritual manifestation in a material form within your setting). This essence is fundamental to the creation and composition of the Material Plane and is often associated with deities of creation, craftsmanship, and elemental forces.

Life

Description: Life essence is one of the two fundamental energies that give shape to reality. It is the instinctual vital force that animates beings, driving their biological functions, growth, and survival. It stands as the opposite of the rational Mind essence.

Manifestation in Magic: Magic drawing upon Life essence focuses on the vitality and biological processes of living organisms. This includes:

• Healing: Restoring health, vitality, and curing ailments.
• Resurrection & Restoration: Reviving the deceased and restoring lost biological functions.
• Growth & Decay: Manipulating the natural cycles of life, accelerating growth or causing decay.
• Biological Enhancement: Temporarily improving physical or instinctual abilities.
• Negative Energy Manipulation (as an adjacent manifestation): While polarized with Mind, Life essence can manifest adjacently as negative energy, harming and draining the vitality of living beings.

Manifestation in Items:Items imbued with Life essence often promote healing, enhance vitality, or manipulate living organisms:

• Potions of Healing: Consumables that restore life force.
• Rings of Regeneration: Items that slowly mend wounds and restore vitality.
• Amulets of Health: Enhancing the wearer’s biological resilience.
• Implements of Nature: Tools that can influence plants and animals.
• Biotech: Implants or modifications that enhance biological functions or grant healing capabilities.

Lore: Life essence is immutably polarized with Mind essence, meaning they do not directly intermingle. However, Life essence can share properties with other essences, such as emotions that can have vital components and applications. This essence is often associated with deities of nature, healing, and the cycle of life and death.

Spirit

Description: Spirit essence is one of the two fundamental essences that compose the immaterial nature of reality. It represents the intangible aspects of existence, including souls, emotions, and the connection to otherworldly realms.

Manifestation in Magic: Magic drawing upon Spirit essence interacts with the non-physical aspects of reality. This includes:

• Necromancy: Manipulating souls and the energies of the dead.
• Divination: Gaining knowledge and insight through spiritual means.
• Enchantment (Emotional Influence): Affecting the feelings and morale of others.
• Conjuration (Spirits & Outsiders): Summoning entities from other planes.
• Aura Manipulation: Perceiving and influencing the spiritual energies surrounding beings and objects.

Manifestation in Items: Items imbued with Spirit essence often interact with the intangible or otherworldly:

• Weapons of Spirit: Blades that harm the soul or deal negative energy damage.
• Amulets of Spiritual Protection: Warding against negative spiritual influences or undead.
• Divinatory Tools: Objects used to perceive the past, present, or future.
• Haunted or Blessed Objects: Items imbued with lingering spiritual energies.
• Relics: Possessing significant spiritual or historical resonance.

Lore: Spirit essence is immutably polarized with Matter essence, meaning they do not directly intermingle. However, Spirit essence can indirectly manifest in material forms, such as through the phenomena of ectoplasm. This essence is central to understanding the afterlife, the nature of souls, and the influence of other planes on the Material Plane. It is often associated with deities of death, the afterlife, fate, and the cosmos.

Mind

Description: Mental essence, also called Mind, thought, or astral essence, is the academic definition of the fundamental energies that allow beings to think about, rationalize, and remember reality. It is one of the two energies of metaphysical study that give shape to the former material and spiritual essences, standing as the opposite of the instinctual vital essence.

Manifestation in Magic: Magic drawing upon Mind essence empowers and facilitates rational thought, logic, language, learning, and consciousness. This includes:

• Telepathy: Communicating directly with the minds of others.
• Telekinesis: Manipulating physical objects through mental force.
• Illusion: Creating false sensory perceptions within the minds of others.
• Enchantment (Mental Influence): Directly affecting the thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors of sentient beings.
• Divination (Mental Perception): Gaining information through mental insight, such as reading thoughts or sensing presences.
• Dream Manipulation: Interacting with the unconscious thoughts and experiences of sleeping beings.

Manifestation in Items:Items imbued with Mind essence often enhance mental faculties, grant mental abilities, or protect the mind:

• Headbands of Intellect/Wisdom/Charisma: Enhancing the wearer’s cognitive abilities and mental resilience.
• Amulets of Mental Protection: Warding against mind-affecting spells and abilities.
• Telepathic Communication Devices: Allowing for mental communication over distances.
• Objects of Illusion: Capable of projecting realistic sensory illusions.
• Technological Innovations: Neural implants or other technologies that directly enhance mental capabilities or grant new cognitive functions.

Lore: Mind essence is immutably polarized with Life essence, meaning they do not directly intermingle. However, Mind essence can indirectly manifest in its pairing and share properties with other essences. For example, unconscious dreams conjoin mental and spiritual essences. Emotions can also span mental and vital essences in different contexts. This essence is fundamental to sapience and the ability to understand and interact with reality on an intellectual level. It is often associated with deities of knowledge, wisdom, magic, and secrets.

Traditions

Arcane, Divine, Occult, Primal. Each tradition pulls from two of the essences.

Arcane

Description: The arcane magical tradition primarily manipulates the Matter and Mind essences, approached through logic and rationality. It allows for shaping the physical world through intellect and understanding of its fundamental principles, as well as the manipulation of thought and perception.

Manifestation:Fireballs, lightning bolts, ice storms, illusions (visual, auditory, etc.), teleportation and other forms of planar travel, transmutation of objects and creatures, mind-affecting spells like charm, dominate, and sleep.

Lore: The origins of arcane magic are often traced back to the earliest discoveries of the fundamental laws governing magic itself. Some believe it stems from the careful study of the cosmos and the underlying structure of reality, while others attribute it to the manipulation of a universal magical energy known as the Weave (or a similar concept in different settings). Ancient civilizations and powerful early mages who codified magical theory and developed intricate formulas are often credited with establishing the foundations of arcane magic.

Famous Pathfinder Figures:

• Arazni: A powerful undead queen and former Herald of Aroden, known for her potent and often destructive arcane magic.
• Ezren: The iconic human wizard, a studious and versatile practitioner of the arcane arts.
• Merisiel: The iconic elf rogue who often utilizes arcane magic through the Rogue (Arcane Trickster) archetype, focusing on illusions and subtle enchantments.

Divine

Description: The divine magical tradition draws its power from the Life and Spirit essences, often granted by deities, celestial beings, or powerful spiritual forces in response to faith and devotion. It focuses on healing, protection, and the manipulation of life force and spiritual energies.

Manifestation: Healing wounds and curing diseases, resurrecting the dead, divine smites and blessings, summoning celestial or fiendish allies (depending on the deity), spells that ward against evil or specific alignments, granting divine favor and protection.

Lore: Divine magic originates from a connection to higher powers and the fundamental forces of good, evil, law, chaos, or nature, depending on the deity or entity granting the magic. It is typically bestowed upon those who demonstrate unwavering faith, adhere to specific tenets, and act as conduits for their chosen power. The first instances of divine magic are often attributed to direct intervention by the gods in the mortal realm.

Famous Pathfinder Figures:

• Kyra: The iconic human cleric of Sarenrae, known for her healing abilities and radiant divine power.
• Seelah: The iconic human paladin of Iomedae, a righteous warrior imbued with divine strength and protective magic.
• Alahazra: A powerful half-elf oracle, whose divine magic stems from a mysterious connection to the celestial realms or a specific divine entity.

Occult

Description: The occult magical tradition delves into the mysteries of the Spirit and Mind essences, exploring the subconscious, the nature of souls, and esoteric knowledge. It involves the manipulation of spiritual energies, mental influence, and the connection to hidden realms.

Manifestation: Mental manipulation and control, telekinesis, illusions that affect the senses and emotions, communication with the dead and other spirits, summoning and binding of otherworldly entities, psychic healing and protection, exploration of the subconscious.

Lore: Occult magic often arises from the exploration of the hidden corners of the mind and the spiritual world. It can stem from innate psychic abilities, the study of ancient and forbidden texts, or a connection to spirits, the Astral Plane, or other mysterious sources. Early practitioners were often seen as enigmatic figures, delving into secrets others feared to touch.

• Famous Pathfinder Figures:
  • Lem: The iconic halfling mesmerist, a master of mental manipulation and illusion.
  • Shiver: The iconic human spiritualist, who channels the power of spirits and the energies of the afterlife.
  • Seltyiel: The iconic elf occultist, who blends psychic and spiritual disciplines to manipulate the unseen forces of the world.

Primal

Description: The primal magical tradition is deeply connected to the Matter and Life essences, drawing power from the raw, untamed forces of nature and the vital energies of the living world. It focuses on elemental manipulation, the growth and decay of living organisms, and the fundamental forces that govern the natural order.

Manifestation: Control over weather patterns, manipulation of plants and fungi, shapeshifting into animal forms, summoning animals and elementals, spells that enhance natural abilities (like barkskin or beast shape), healing through natural remedies and connection to the earth.

Lore: Primal magic is as old as the natural world itself, originating from a deep connection and understanding of the wilderness, the elements, and the cycle of life. Early practitioners were often shamans, hermits, or those who lived in close harmony with nature, learning to channel its inherent power. It is often seen as an intuitive and instinctual form of magic.

• Famous Pathfinder Figures:
  • Lini: The iconic gnome druid, a fierce protector of the natural world with the ability to shapeshift and command the elements.
  • Valeros: The iconic human fighter, while primarily martial, often has connections to the natural world and might utilize some primal magic through archetypes or background.
  • Harsk: The iconic dwarf ranger, skilled in tracking and wilderness survival, often wielding primal magic to enhance his abilities and protect the wilds.

Types & Variants

Magic Types Overview

Arcana

Arcana is one of three types, or four traditions, of magic, along with divine, occult/psychic magic, and primal magic,that manifests in the form of spells and spell-like effects. Arcane spellcasters use logic and rationality to categorize the magic inherent in the world around them. Because of its far-reaching approach, the arcane tradition has the broadest spell list, though it is generally poor at affecting the spirit or the soul. Arcane spells are known to create more dramatic and destructive effects.

Divine Magic

Occult Magic

Akasha

Akasha is an ancient form of magic whose use predates most forms of spellcasting known to the mortal world. Long before wizards began unraveling the secrets of the cosmos and codifying them into arcane formulae, and even before dragons, demons and other beings of magic began mingling their blood with lesser species, wise mystics and abstruse visionaries bound the raw magical essence known as akasha into crude physical forms and bent its might to their enigmatic purposes.

Akasha is a somewhat simplistic form of magic, generated by mixing life energy, called essence, with the small amounts of arcane magic that suffuse all things and shaping them into rough physical forms. These crude magical constructs are sustained by attaching them to points in the body that naturally conduct energy, called chakra. While modern spellcasters scoff at wielders of akasha as crude and unrefined amateurs, non-traditionalists still practice the ancient arts of shaping akasha – known as veilweaving – and trust implicitly in its power and reliability.

Veilweaving

Akasha is the power of creation itself, the very essence of magic. Akasha resonates with arcane, divine, and psionic energy, often acting as a natural amplifier for those power sources, though it is potent in its own right. Sages and scholars have debated whether akasha is the result of those power sources mixing and meshing with the life energy of mortal beings, or if perhaps it is the undiluted source from which those diverse powers sprang. What is known is that all creatures have some facility to access this power or be accessed by it.

Veils are the most common tools by which akashic magic is utilized. These veils are created when a creature channels akashic energy through natural conduits in the body known as chakra. This energy is then molded by the willpower of the creature from which it sprang into a semi-tangible construct capable of converting the wielder’s life energy, known as essence, into a near infinite variety of effects.

Every creature has a finite amount of essence in their being, referred to as an essence pool. While essence is not typically expended when veils or other akashic effects are activated, a given creature can only devote a certain amount of their essence to any particular function. This is done by investing the essence into the chosen receptacle, which could be a veil, akashic feat, or other ability.

Veils are limited only by the wearer’s focus and imagination. When a character first gains access to a veilweaving class, he has the potential to manifest and utilize any veil available to that class. The character’s facility with any particular veil may vary depending on the size of his essence pool and whether or not he has unlocked the associated chakra, which enables him to bind a veil or effect.

Binding is a process veilweavers and other wielders of akashic magic learn through experience and growth. When they’ve utilized a particular chakra long enough that it has become imbued with a surplus of akashic power, akashic characters learn how to build even more complex and powerful constructs by utilizing the reinforced channels of energy in their bodies. This is the process known as binding, and it is possibly one of the most potent abilities any veilweaver can learn.

Chakras and Veils

Every veil is associated with a chakra, even if it is not bound to it. Chakras are points on the body that conduct magical energy. Veils do not interfere with magic items that occupy the same slot. The veil appears as a translucent eldritch construct surrounding that part of the body. You cannot shape two veils that occupy the same chakra. Each chakra corresponds directly to the matching equipment slot. Some veils can occupy one of two or more different equipment slots; you choose when you manifest your veil which of these slots you want it to occupy. Even if the veil can occupy more than one slot, you cannot have more than one instance of a given veil shaped at the same time.

The available slots are: hands, feet, head, wrist, shoulders, headband, neck, belt, chest, body.

Some classes may gain access to specific and unique veils and chakra slots not normally available. veils can be bound to a slot to increase their power once a character has reached a certain level of experience in manipulating akasha. By binding a veil to that slot you gain the most potent abilities from the veil by flooding it with even more of your inherent akashic energy. Once a character has gained the ability to bind veils to a particular slot, they can automatically bind a veil there as part of the process of shaping their veils for the day.

Akasha and Magic Interactions

While veilweaving is quite different from standard spellcasting, the basic rule for the interactions of veils and magic is very straightforward: veils interact with spells and vice versa in the same way that spells normally interact with other spells or spell-like abilities.

Spell resistance is effective against most veils that directly target a creature or emulate an enchantment effect, but unless otherwise specified does not apply against area of effect abilities or auras. Veils that grant or enhance natural attacks or weapons, such as the Horns of the Minotaur, are never subject to spell resistance. A veilweaver’s veil effects always overcome their own spell resistance.

Veils are mostly physical constructs of akasha, and as such can be targeted by effects like a sunder attempt; a veil that takes more than twice the veilweaver’s level in damage in a single attack is suppressed and does not function for 1d4 rounds. Veils have a hardness score equal to the veilweaver’s level and gain a bonus to saves vs. targeted effects equal to the amount of essence currently invested. Veils can also be targeted by dispel magic, mage’s disjunction, or similar spells effects, and are treated as magic items when determining the effects. A veil successfully affected by a mage’s disjunction is suppressed for the duration of the spell and any essence invested in a suppressed veil becomes unavailable until the effect ends. Veils are nearly invisible until invested with at least one point of essence; a veilweaver gains a +5 circumstance bonus to Disguise checks to hide the fact that he has an uninvested veil shaped, though detect magic, true seeing, or similar effects automatically reveal their presence. As soon as a point of essence is invested in a veil they flare into tangibility and are easily noticeable.

Bonuses from shaped veils: Note that the general rules for stacking still apply; two bonuses of the same type do not stack, even if they come from two different veils or a veil and a spell or spell-like effect.

Identifying veils and effects: Information about a veil’s properties or effects can be determined using the Knowledge (arcana) skill according to the following table:

Task	DC
Identify a magical manifestation as akasha or veilweaving	DC 10
Identify a specific veil’s basic properties	DC 15
Identify a specific veil’s bind effects	DC 20

In areas where akashic magic is uncommon or otherwise unheard of, increase the DC of these checks by 5.

Descriptors Veils use many of the same descriptors as spells. Whenever a veil contains a descriptor, it carries all the same connotations as the spell descriptor of the same name. Since veils do not have schools, subschools, domains, or disciplines, these descriptors are the primary way to categorize and identify a veil and its effects.

Ongoing effects and unconsciousness: Veils do not require conscious action to maintain, but if a veilweaver is rendered unconscious while he has active veils shaped a number of things may occur. Any active aura powers granted by shaped veils are suppressed until the veilweaver regains consciousness, at which point the veilweaver must spend a move action to reactivate them. Any effects that occur automatically over time, such as the temporary hit point generation of the Stone Giant’s Girdle, continue to accrue as normal. Veils that are sundered while the veilweaver is unconsciousness are not just suppressed, but destroyed completely and cannot be used again until the veilweaver reshapes his veils.

Essence Capacity: However large your essence pool is, you can only invest a certain amount of essence into any one veil, feat, class feature, magic item, or other akashic receptacle. Your character level determines this essence capacity as shown below, though some feats, class features, magic items, or other abilities or effects may modify your base capacity:

Character Level	Essence Capacity
1st–5th	1
6th-11th	2
12th-17th	3
18th-20th	4

Veilweaving Classes

Characters of any class can learn to use akasha through feats or other means, but the true masters are those who dedicate themselves to wielding this ancient power by advancing in a veilweaving class.

Daevic

The daevic creates a symbiotic bond to a powerful outsider, harnessing its power. This bond makes the daevic tougher, stronger, and more charismatic, making her a powerful front line fighter and capable leader.

Guru

The guru train in mystic monasteries learning to harness their life energy and focus their spirit to subdue their enemies without taking their lives. The guru can forge his essence into a weapon capable of disrupting an enemy’s essence, causing non-lethal damage and even disturbing their inner flow of energy so severely that they succumb to debilitating effects like blindness or exhaustion. All gurus inevitably head out into the world to test their learning and gain new experiences, shaping and defining their Philosophy.

Vizier

The vizier uses his keen wits to channel and focus akashic energy to serve his purposes, developing new and powerful veils. The vizier is the undisputed master of veils; no other class can match his expertise or versatility with their powers.