The Five Forms of Magic (Read Second)

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Though the world is filled with an incredible amount of spells and uses of magic, almost every kind of magic can be narrowed down to five distinct categories. While young mages usually favor one form or another to the disregard of others, the more advanced the mage, the more likely that mage will employ more kinds - like a youth that learns a second or third language as they grow up. These Five Forms of Magic may as well be different 'languages,' for each one has its own strengths and weaknesses.

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Spoken Magic -
  Adv: Strong, Flexible
  Dis: Requires verbalization

How it Works - 
When one thinks of a magic user, this is usually their first thought: casters, weaving spells with their words, giving their internal magical energies shape and direction to alter the world around them just by speaking. Spoken magic is extremely flexible, allowing a mage to create new spells on the fly, much faster than Written magic, without sacrificing power like Mental magic. While not on par with Written magic, Spoken spells can also last much longer then the ephemeral magic of Physical and Mental mages. 

Ways it Works - 
There is no single "right" way to use Spoken magic. Some mages favor a single language - especially a second language, possibly archaic, different from the one they naturally speak in everyday life - while others speak in rhyme, chant, or even shout. Clarity and completion are as vital as the mage's intent, with most spells requiring a several-word phrase at least, or more likely a full sentence, to work. 

Powerful Spoken mages are able to perform some spells with but a single word, but anyone should beware of a Spoken mage who has the time to utter a paragraph's worth of speech. Such a long spell is sure to be devastating - provided it is not interrupted. A muddled or incomplete sentence has been the bane of many a young Spoken mage, and no matter how powerful a person is, if a person can't speak, they can't use this form of magic at all.

Naturals -
Natural-born Spoken mages show up infrequently, but no more so than other such natural mages. Many of them accidentally scream their first spell in anger, despair or other high emotion, before better learning how to control it. Like with other naturals, such incidents are dangerous, with perhaps fatal consequences.

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Written Magic -
  Adv: Persistent, Strong, Flexible
  Dis: Requires time to write

How it Works - 
"Making the most of your time" is the rule of Written magic: the most time-consuming form of magic, Written magic is also the most long-lasting of all the forms. This is because Written mages imbue their magic into the marks they make, and the marks retain them for as long as they are able. In many ways, Written magic is like Spoken magic: it's flexible, powerful, and less draining than other forms. 

Ways it Works -
Like Spoken magic, there is no single "right" way to be a Written mage. The choice of language, writing style - it makes no difference. It does not necessarily even have to be word. Many Written mages use symbols instead, overlapping magical talent with artistic ones. All one needs is a surface and something to write with. Soft ground and a finger would suffice, but spells carved into stone have the potential to last for centuries - maybe even millennia. 

Though the effects are admittedly ephemeral, powerful Written mages are even able to write on the air, yet even inexperienced Written mages can create especially powerful spells if they spend long enough working on it. The larger the surface area covered, the stronger it is, but just like with Spoken magic, clarity and completeness are vital. A Written spell that is disturbed - even if it's only one letter - loses its meaning, and loses its magic.

Naturals -
Natural-born Written mages are the rarest of natural mages, and they are almost always those with artistic or symbolic inclinations. In the same way that one must be taught the meaning of letters, almost everyone must be taught how to use this form when it comes to using written languages.

Magic Items -
Written magic can create four major kinds of enchanted items, depending on how powerful the mage is. The stronger the mage is, the greater the enchantment. 

Perpetual magic items are the weakest, but they are always on and practically permanent, so long as the Written mark lasts. Perpetual magic items can be used by anyone.

Activated magic items are slightly stronger, but they need time to recharge themselves. They can usually be turned on or off by anyone, even nonmagicals, provided they know how to do so - according to the enchanter's design. 

Charged magic items are stronger, but they cannot recharge themselves like Activated magic items. A Written mage must recharge them personally, imbuing such items with their magic as if refilling an empty battery. Also like Activated magic items, they can usually be used by anyone, even nonmagicals, provided they know how to do so - according to the enchanter's design. 

Consumed magic items are the strongest, but destroy themselves in the process of being used. They can obviously only be used once. That said, they are disproportionately powerful. Consumed enchantments can turn ordinary pieces of paper into small bombs. They can usually be used by anyone, even nonmagicals, provided they know how to do so, but some effects require a Written mage to imbue them with a little power first as a catalyst.

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Physical Magic -
   Adv: Strong, Fast, Undemanding
   Dis: Requires movement

How it Works -
The magic most suited for battle, Physical magic is quicker - and simpler - than Written or Spoken magic, while at the same time being stronger and less taxing than Mental magic. One doesn't need to memorize a long incantation to throw a fireball - just a punch. Being bodily strong or fast isn't necessary to be a good Physical mage though. It just makes it easier, since the speed of a Physical mage's limbs directly determines how fast they are able to respond to a threat.

Ways it Works -
A Physical mage uses their body as a guide for their magical energies, linking motion to magic such that the latter follows the former. In some cases, there is a direct, strict system that the Physical mage employs. Entire martial arts have developed around and with styles of Physical magic, with rote instruction on the "best" way to channel each magic with the whole body. Others focus solely upon the use of the hands, whether through simple gestures or through complex formulas of specific hand signs.

A powerful Physical mage is not only a walking weapon of mass destruction, but even their slightest movements can affect the world around them. Because of this, the stronger a Physical mage becomes, the more one has to learn how to hold back their internal energies, and the harder it is for someone else to restrain them. If someone does, however, then all their power is moot. A pure Physical mage that cannot move, cannot perform magic - inexperienced Physical mages are especially vulnerable to this, as are those mages who rely solely on their hands.

Naturals -
Natural-born Physical mages show up infrequently, but no more so than other such natural mages. Physical mages usually begin as gesturers, performing their first act of magic accidentally, with little finesse or control. Like with other naturals, such incidents are dangerous, with perhaps fatal consequences if the first casting was a punch to someone's jaw.

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Mental Magic -
  Adv: Fast, Flexible
  Dis: Requires concentration, energy

How it Works -
There are some people who consider the users of this form of magic to be the most powerful of the five. It's not, but it gives them good reason to think so. It doesn't need words, Written or Spoken, and it doesn't need resources either. All a Mental mage needs is their will: to think it, to concentrate on it, and the magic happens. Mental mages have the most flexibility when it comes to performing their magic, and even inexperienced ones can perform complicated maneuvers with such speed and finesse that would have other kinds of mages reeling.

Ways it Works -
When it comes to the "cause," all Mental magic is fundamentally the same. All such spells are a result of personal will and concentration. It's only the "effect" that's different - and due to Mental magic's extreme flexibility, one Mental mage's use of magic could look vastly different from another's, even if they're using the same style. Such a fine level of control takes its toll, however and using Mental magic is a double-edged sword.

Not only is it the most draining of all the forms of magic, but it's also the most dangerous. Whereas other kinds of mages channel their energies through their voice like Spoken magic, or through their movements like Physical magic, for Mental mages, all the strain of performing it is directly upon their mind. Because of this, Mental mages - especially inexperienced ones - have little stamina for long encounters, and many of their uses of magic tend to be weaker and as ephemeral as their concentration and control. Lacking in either could lead to magical impotence when one most needs it, or fatally lashing out when one is simply annoyed.

There are no shortcuts to power when it comes to Mental magic: just lots of training and hard work. Many Mental mages have been their own undoing by trying to push themselves too far beyond their limitations. A nosebleed is a frequent concern for the inexperienced, as is fainting. In worst case scenarios, brain damage or even death could result from trying to do too much, too soon. Yet at the same time, the more advanced a Mental mage becomes, the more easily they are able to perform feats of magic. Powerful Mental mages can perform some uses of magic - especially small or familiar ones - as easily and as automatically as breathing.

Naturals -
Natural-born Mental mages will usually display their powers much earlier in life than other natural mages. There is, however, a much greater likelihood that this kind of natural will favor psychic styles of magic, or a single element. A natural-born Mental mage's first uses of magic also have a greater chance of not even being noticed by others, and in undeveloped nations, some have gone under the radar for years. Fatal outbursts, of course, are not just a problem for naturals, but for Mental mages in general.

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Material Magic -
  Adv: Undemanding, Flexible
  Dis: Requires a source

How it Works -
Unlike the other forms of magic, Material magic is not about drawing on one's own energy; it's about gathering, identifying, and using the energies - magical or otherwise - in the rest of the world. Many even learn how to empower themselves from natural sources. Because of these things, Material mages live a complicated existence: they have to be one part mystic, one part scientist, and one part collector. Yet at the same time, this form of magic is vastly less draining than all others.

Ways it Works -
Material mages rely entirely on what they have available to them. Whether this means a mage is something of a potion maker, or just a user of items that naturally have their own magic - that's up to the mage. A true Material mage must either do a lot of research, or be willing to do a lot of experimentation with different things, and having the right items makes a big difference in their effectiveness.

The most advanced Material mages are able to draw more magical energy out of their resources, making even better use of them, and provided they have the materials and skill, create even stronger magical items. Not everything in nature is created equally however, and just being able to get a certain item could be incredibly difficult. Herbs with special properties could be grown in one's backyard. The horn of a unicorn is a vastly different story...

Naturals -
Natural-born Material mages show up infrequently, but no more so than other such natural mages. Such Material mages are usually sensitive to the world around them from the start and able to connect with external magical sources easily. Indeed, there are many stories of people being naturally attuned to certain aspects of nature, like the sun or moon. Unlike with other naturals, a natural-born Material mage is almost never responsible for hurting someone when they come into their power.

Magic Items -
Material magic users can craft three major kinds of magic items, depending on how powerful the mage is. The more skillful the mage is and the more powerful the resources are, the greater the magical effect. 

Perpetual magic items are the weakest, but they are always on and practically permanent. Perpetual magic items can be used by anyone, and almost always come straight from nature, such as leather made from a magical beast.

Activated magic items are slightly stronger, but they need a Material magic user to be employed. They can usually be activated by any Material mage, provided one knows how to do so - according to the crafter's design. This kind of effect partially draws on the mage's energy as a sort of supplementary or catalyzing fuel source.

Consumed magic items are the strongest, but destroy themselves in the process of being used. These items represent most of what Material mages use, like potions, and can obviously only be used once. That said, they are disproportionately powerful. Consumed effects can turn handfuls of dust into small bombs. They can usually be used by anyone, even nonmagicals, provided they know how to do so, but some effects require a Material mage to imbue them with a little power first as a catalyst.