Witchcraft
| Witchcraft | |
|---|---|
| Type | Categorical Umbrella Term |
| Primary Source | Spirits, Nature, Life Force (Non-Lumite) |
| Sanctioned Status | Largely Heretical / Stigmatized |
| Major Traditions | Spirit Blessings, Shamanism, Druidry |
| Notable Practitioners | Elves, Renjiran Tribe, Northern Shamans, Asep Muhammad Ridwan (Misclassified) |
Witchcraft is a broad umbrella term utilized by the Grand Sanctuary and the Holy Empire of Rodinia to classify any supernatural phenomenon that is fundamentally unrelated to the Arcane Arts or the manipulation of Lumite.
Because the Radiant Faith and modern magical academia base their entire understanding of the world’s physics on Lumite resonance, abilities that draw power from alternative sources such as nature, spirits, or biological life force, are poorly understood. Consequently, they are frequently marginalized as primitive, or outright persecuted as heresy.
Traditional Practices
[edit]Elven Spirit Blessings
[edit]The most widely tolerated (though still misunderstood) form of Witchcraft is the Spirit Blessings practiced by the Elven race. Because Elves possess a biological hypersensitivity to Lumite, actively resonating with it to cast standard Arcane Arts can be physically agonizing or even toxic for them. As an alternative, Elven society relies entirely on communion with elemental and nature spirits. Through these blessings, they can achieve effects similar to high-tier Arcane magic, such as manipulating weather or accelerating natural healing, without ever drawing upon Lumite.
Northern Shamanism and Druidry
[edit]In the frozen north, among the scattered tribes of the Samifjord Tribal Confederation and the traditionalists within the Kingdom of Varyag, deep-rooted shamanic and druidic traditions persist. These practitioners draw power from ancestral spirits and the harsh natural world to protect their people and bless their warriors. The Radiant Faith strictly views these practices as blasphemous heresy. While the "civilized" Varyag factions (like the Iron Cross Brigade) have converted to the Radiant Faith and abandoned these ways, the tribal shamans continue to practice in the deep wilderness, fiercely resisting Papal inquisitors.
Beastkin Traditions
[edit]Various beastkin tribes maintain their own ancestral forms of Witchcraft, deeply tied to their specific lineages and environments.
- The Renjiran Tribes: The fox, wolf, and feline beastkin of the Renjiran Mountains utilize ancient chants, dances, and herbalism. Their shamans can brew powerful concoctions and perform rituals that the Grand Sanctuary dismisses as mere superstition, despite their tangible effects on morale and the mind.
- The Ancient Caprines: Historically, the Caprine races were renowned masters of a highly sophisticated form of Witchcraft. However, following their subjugation and assimilation by the Holy Empire in the Saxonia region, their traditions were violently suppressed. Today, Caprine Witchcraft is considered a lost art, though rumors persist of secret covens preserving the old ways in the shadows of the Empire.
Anomalies and Misclassifications
[edit]Because "Witchcraft" is the academic dumping ground for anything that defies Lumite-based logic, entirely non-magical phenomena are sometimes misclassified under this banner by baffled scholars.
The most prominent example of this misclassification is the fighting style of the Asep Muhammad Ridwan. Asep practices a martial arts breathing technique from his home world known as Tenaga Dalam. By compressing air in his diaphragm and focusing extreme kinetic vibration through his strikes, Asep can liquefy internal organs without breaking the exterior surface.
Because Asep has absolutely zero Lumite traces in his blood, local mages and scholars are completely incapable of sensing any mana when he performs these devastating feats. Unable to explain how a "Lumite-null" human can do that, the Grand Sanctuary tentatively classifies his technique as a highly obscure form of physical Witchcraft.
Asep's technique is often superficially compared to the martial arts of the distant eastern nation of Great Yan. However, the two are fundamentally different. The warriors of Great Yan practice "Qi Cultivation," which is actually a highly refined internal application of the Arcane Arts that blends bodily movement with Lumite resonance. Asep's Tenaga Dalam relies purely on physics, biology, and breathing, possessing zero magical properties whatsoever.
