Metamagic

Metamagic  METAMAGIC Metamagic is defined as the art of a mage who has not been bound to any specific element, but rather touches the magic in a much purer sense. He is able to manipulate the strength of spells, alter their nature, turn magic against its users, retune magical artifacts to serve new masters or destroy them utterly, and even force mages and elementals to bend to his whims. Metas are devioous, subtle, and manipulative, obsessed with control -- or of shattering all control.</P> </P>Controlling</EM> is the best way to describe a meta. They may not be commanding of others, they might not throw their weight around, but any chance they have of seizing control of a situation, they will take; they tend to be uncomfortable taking orders, and don't make very good team players, though they do well in leadership positions. Metas tend to reduce everything to either a resource or an obstacle, and while they treat their resources well, with all the conscientiousness that informs Kariman conservationism, they won't scruple to spend them at need.</P> </P>Metamagic is difficult to define. Unable to directly harm others with their magic, metas must often think outside of the box when their powers are called upon. They are at their greatest advantage when pitted against rogue mages or wild elementals; they are at their weakest when ordinary humans are arrayed against them. For this reason, metas often seek out the company of other mages and assist them in their endeavors.</P> </P>Metamages can manipulate push itself, the measure of the effort put behind a spell, and they can bolster the spell and make it more powerful, or sabotage it, forcing the mage to pour more and more to achieve the desired effect. They may also alleviate another's Push burden by taking it onto themselves, and can force Push on an unsuspecting Mage, an act that can cause them to backlash unexpectedly. Metas may use these same talents to mitigate or even eliminate backlash, making them either an elemental mage's best friend, or worst enemy.</P> </P>When in proximity to an elementally-attuned mage, a metamage can temporarily use that element as if it were his own, effectively borrowing the other mage's power. Doing this for too long, however, can make it difficult for him to use those abilities unique to him as a meta, and indeed, over time, may even change his affinity to match the mage he travels with. Such a thing is by no means sudden, and warning signs are plentiful.</P> </P>The most terrifying facet of metamagic is chaining</EM>, the ability to enslave an Elemental or mage. This is a long and arduous process, and while success grants you power, failure can easily spell your destruction. Through the act of chaining, a Metamage can gain access to another mage's or elemental's power, regardless of where they are relative to each other, and all ill effects suffered from the use of that power are forced onto the chained mage. It is a constant battle of wills to handle such stolen power, however, and tapping it leaves the metamage open to attempts to break the chains and win freedom.</P> </P>Metamages are not associated with any season or god.</P></P>