The different magic systems in the stories
Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2020 3:03 am
Although not as technically detailed as those in The Wheel of Time or in Brandon Sanderson's major works, there are magic systems in the Covenant novels. One very solid example is the complex of the Sunbane, from the blood ritual magic to its interactions with other manifestations of magic (including health-sense). But usually the "spells" the characters "cast" make poetic or lyrical sense, are poetically just, we might say. Sometimes they are weird: why did laughing at the Despiser transform him so dramatically?
But anyway, I want to make some hypothetical proposals. The general rule is that a given "spell" can be traced to either one of the four "eternal" forms (Creation, Despite, Love, and Indifference---personified or not) or some combination of those. Depending on the relationship between the magics a given agent has, they will have the power they seem comparatively ascribed: Viles can fight a Forestal, the Despiser is rebuffed by the Guardian of the One Tree, etc. So, here are my particular proposals (very speculative and incomplete):
The Elohim are expressions of Creation alone (or else maybe Kastenessen violated this and drew on Love, maybe even Despite?). They are basically the Elves of the Covenant novels, if you think about it.
The Insequent do not draw on Love, since they tend to avoid SWMNBN. (This suggests that the Auriference might have violated a deep tendency of her people, to refrain from studying the kinds of magic that can be derived from Love's power?) The Theomach's studies must have included the lore of Earthpower such as in the Seven Words, so that indicates that the Insequent do more readily draw on Creation. They do not desire the destruction of the Earth, so doubtless many (if any) draw on Despite (maybe the Vizard being a rare counterexample?). There does seem to be reason to suppose they might draw on Indifference, at least as a catch-all for the anomalous power level of the Insequent.
The Viles might have been competent with the Earthpower, but if their alien capacities fit the scheme, I suspect they do mostly with reference to Love and Indifference.
Emereau Vrai and the merewives draw on Love only, maybe.
Esmer draws on all four (which makes it harder for him to do some things, as it turns out!).
The Haruchai draw on Indifference for some of their special abilities.
The croyel draw on Despite and Indifference, possibly.
The demimages of Vidik Amar, and later the quellvisks, might have used any of them.
The Worm also uses Creation alone, but for the purpose of destruction (without Despite, yet not out of Love or Indifferently).
But anyway, I want to make some hypothetical proposals. The general rule is that a given "spell" can be traced to either one of the four "eternal" forms (Creation, Despite, Love, and Indifference---personified or not) or some combination of those. Depending on the relationship between the magics a given agent has, they will have the power they seem comparatively ascribed: Viles can fight a Forestal, the Despiser is rebuffed by the Guardian of the One Tree, etc. So, here are my particular proposals (very speculative and incomplete):
The Elohim are expressions of Creation alone (or else maybe Kastenessen violated this and drew on Love, maybe even Despite?). They are basically the Elves of the Covenant novels, if you think about it.
The Insequent do not draw on Love, since they tend to avoid SWMNBN. (This suggests that the Auriference might have violated a deep tendency of her people, to refrain from studying the kinds of magic that can be derived from Love's power?) The Theomach's studies must have included the lore of Earthpower such as in the Seven Words, so that indicates that the Insequent do more readily draw on Creation. They do not desire the destruction of the Earth, so doubtless many (if any) draw on Despite (maybe the Vizard being a rare counterexample?). There does seem to be reason to suppose they might draw on Indifference, at least as a catch-all for the anomalous power level of the Insequent.
The Viles might have been competent with the Earthpower, but if their alien capacities fit the scheme, I suspect they do mostly with reference to Love and Indifference.
Emereau Vrai and the merewives draw on Love only, maybe.
Esmer draws on all four (which makes it harder for him to do some things, as it turns out!).
The Haruchai draw on Indifference for some of their special abilities.
The croyel draw on Despite and Indifference, possibly.
The demimages of Vidik Amar, and later the quellvisks, might have used any of them.
The Worm also uses Creation alone, but for the purpose of destruction (without Despite, yet not out of Love or Indifferently).