Ritual magic is essentially formulaic, with the magic being derived largely from the ingredients and the rituals of preparation. It is very similar to following a recipe and generally unaffected by the temperament of the practitioner at the time, although it may be affected by the quality of the ingredients and the precision of the ritual. Short rituals are relatively easy to perform, simply requiring a ritual circle, few components, and easy to memorize. longer rituals are more complex, requiring hours of chanting or movement, and more ingredients. These steps are meant to control the flow of magic into the real world, and coax the energy into a specific form, similiar to cooking.This allows for longer lasting, permanent, and intricate effects that arcane magic cannot achieve, such as splitting a river in half or creating floating islands.
Arcane magic derives from the control of personal power and is fueled by the life force of the individual. It requires a spiritual discipline to properly control it and this can be influenced by many different factors, including the amount of life force a person has and level of concentration. In particular, typically, it is used for purposes of defence and attack where the practitioner is most likely to be unsettled by the circumstances, even though discipline is most important to wield this magic most effectively. It requires aptitude and much training to become proficient. Although powerful, it is dangerous to perform and the effect is brief, such as creating a firestorm. An arcane caster who foolishly attempts to create an especially large or strong effect, or to sustain it for too long, risks getting enveloped in their own spell, or possibly releasing some unshaped wild magic. Both are usually deadly.
Arcane magic derives from the control of personal power and is fueled by the life force of the individual. It requires a spiritual discipline to properly control it and this can be influenced by many different factors, including the amount of life force a person has and level of concentration. In particular, typically, it is used for purposes of defence and attack where the practitioner is most likely to be unsettled by the circumstances, even though discipline is most important to wield this magic most effectively. It requires aptitude and much training to become proficient. Although powerful, it is dangerous to perform and the effect is brief, such as creating a firestorm. An arcane caster who foolishly attempts to create an especially large or strong effect, or to sustain it for too long, risks getting enveloped in their own spell, or possibly releasing some unshaped wild magic. Both are usually deadly.
