Ambient Magic is a form of magic known only in the Emelan Universe. It is not as well known as the traditional Academic Magic, and in fact is only one fourth times as common as Academic magic. Ambient Magic takes different forms depending on the mage and the craft he or she performs––common ones include stone, carpentry, healing, cooking, thread and needlework, pottery, fire, and weather.[1] Ambient glass magic is described as "middling rare." Ambient stone magic is common, as stones are said to make the containers for power. Ambient Magic doesn't draw on the mage's self-created power like Academic Magic, but from the surroundings and craft items of the mage (e.g. a thread mage will get power from clothing and other woven things).Because of this, Ambient mages have difficulty controlling a great deal of power constantly flowing into them, whereas Academic mages struggle with building up their power.
Because their power is naturally tied into a craft or aspect of nature, the physical aspects of their craft, such as thread, stones, or even lightning, feel as if they are "alive" to the Ambient mage. These physical components are attracted to the Ambient mage, and from the descriptions in the books, seem to "talk" to the mage.
Forms of magic
- Thread
- Abilities - manipulation of thread, cloth, etc
- Users - Sandrilene fa Toren, Lark
- Dedication - Earth
- Green
- Abilities - manipulation of plants, some healer abilities (cures, bacterial prevention)
- Users - Briar Moss, Rosethorn, Crane
- Dedication - Earth(although Crane is an Air Initiate)
- Smith
- Abilities - manipulation of metal, ores, etc, can withstand fire (as it is used for the metal manipulation)
- Users - Daja Kisubo, Frostpine, Pawel Godsforge
- Dedication - Fire
- Weather
- Abilities - stopping or forcing weather (rain, earthquakes, lightning etc), tidal manipulation
- Users - Trisana Chandler
- Dance
- Abilities - using dancing steps, e.g. to create a trap/net
- Users - Pasco Acalon
- Stone
- Abilities - feeling stone, being able to communicate with it and move it
- Users - Evumeimei Dingzai
- Glass
- Abilities - create unique glass objects with magical abilities (eg. for scrying)
- Users - Kethlun Warder
- Carpentry
- Abilities - working with wood
- Users - Niamara Bancanor
- Cooking
- Abilities - cooking
- Users - Jorality Bancanor
- Painting
- Healing
- Pottery
- Horses
- Birds
- Fire
- Air
- Water
- Earth
Combination with Academic Magic
A ambient mage can also use Academic Magic. However it is possible that undiscovered and uncontrolled Ambient Magic blocks Academic Magic.[2] According to Niko and Tris, for every ambient mage, there are four academic mages.[1]However, some mages are able to combine the two to a certain extent, though they are more inclined to one over the other. Tris is one of these mages.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Shatterglass, Cp. 2 (p. 38; Scholastic paperback)
- ↑ Random Buzz; "Tris - *spoilers*"; April 19, 2009