(2) Magic Forms and Types

So what is the difference between a "form" of magic, and a "type" of magic?
A form is a group of characteristics for magic, and a type is a subset of characteristics beneath that. Together, they explain what magic of a certain kind is like, how powerful it is, how it behaves and so on.
There are presently 2 forms of magic and as many as 13 known types of magic.
All magic in existence has one form and one type attributed to it, and any form can fit with any type.
It is not possible to have magic that has no form or no type unless you are referring to magic-potential which never has a form or type.

Some examples of how magic is described:
Free Fire Magic,
Controlled Blood Magic,
Controlled Ice Magic,
Free Ice Magic,

Free Magic Free magic is a form of magic that originates innately from the island. It is the makeup of the Avatar Dragon of Dragons' Cove. It is also the reason for the existence of all dragons and the great majority of other magical creatures on the island. Free magic is "raw magic"; it is undiluted, unmodified and will show the purest expression of any given magic type. About the form "free magic": - It has greater power than controlled magic - It is significantly harder to master than controlled magic - Free magic has a "Leaking" effect; when it is in an open area, it will keep moving and will not stay there - When free magic is very built up in one area, a vaguely dark blue mist can be seen - High arcane dragons prefer living in a free magic area Controlled Magic Controlled magic is a form of magic that is created when free magic finds its way into the area of influence of a balancing stone. It is not as strong as free magic, and innately magical creatures are never "Innately controlled magic" creatures, except golems. It is in essence, "tamed" magic that is easier to use and a great deal safer. About the form "controlled magic": - It is significantly easier to learn and master than free magic - There is a lot less potential for truly powerful spells under controlled magic - It exists exclusively because of the balancing stones; all naturally occurring magic is free, but under the stones area of influence it becomes controlled. - Low arcane dragons prefer living in a controlled magic area - Controlled magic is static; it has a set area that it effects as it is directed to, and will not stray from it.

Basic magic types are the easiest kinds to learn and use. They form the basis for Complex magics and are by far the most widely used magics, most often for domestic or working practicalities. While they are used for these things however, it should be noted that most folk are not able to continuously use their magic to make it a better option over "naturally" obtaining/doing things.
So if you're going to plant the fields...best save your earth magic for something more worthwhile of the high cost on your energy for a small outcome.

Neutral The neutral type is the foundation of all magic. All other types are neutral magic influenced by energies that sway them to one form or another. When neutral magic is released, it varies in appearance from bright and silvery to completely transparent. It can act as a pure force and move objects. It also has the curious ability to re-complete things. Nothing new can be created with neutral magic, but with focus and effort, many things can be restored. It is able to chameleon into any non-magically influenced substances and make whole what was broken from the "memory" of an object. Owing to this ability, it is the primary magic used in healing. Neutral magic is the only type to have the same behaviour in both free and controlled forms.
Fire Fire type magic is a very versatile and widely used magic. How it behaves is very much influenced by the form it is in. In Controlled form: Unlike a natural fire, controlled fire magic burns exactly where you send it to, and it will not do anything more. Even if you put it on a thatched roof with extra kindling, it will only burn the place you point it to. In Free form: This form of fire magic will move about, though not often logically. One moment it might be snaking along burning shapes in the walls, and the next it will be crackling through the air in front of you.
Water Water type magic is considered the most useful magic there is alongside earth magic. In controlled form: Water will retain any shape you tell it to; it will not flow away or be absorbed into any surface unless you push it to do so. Some beautiful sculptures of water can be found in Yarrowitz. In Free form: The water can seem to disappear as it can be absorbed into surfaces, but you can also see visible clumps of it moving about in the air rapidly clustering, splitting and swirling.

	Wind Wind type magic is not the most useful magic there is, however, it can be very significant to airborne creatures. In controlled form: This is probably the more useful form, it is the kind used by those that are able to fly to allow for smoother and quicker journeys by manipulating air currents about them. In free form: One of the least useful magics, it has no particular direction unless strongly instructed to go a certain way by the user (and even then it begins to dissipate very quickly). By the talented, it can be whipped into a frenzy to create gales and sabotage flying creatures.
	Lightning Lightning type magic tends to be a harder type of the basic magics to use effectively, and it is not terribly common to see in species beyond dragons. When it is used by the skilled, it is most often for complementing fighting styles due to its speed and unpredictability. In controlled form: A lance of the magical energy is sent out. It will have a fixed length and path, depending on how it is directed and how powerful the user is. It can still be quite difficult to direct compared to other basic types. In free form: Very dangerous. It can move extremely unpredictably and is faster than the controlled form. A hazard to use in any situation other than when the user is forced to fight. Like with free fire magic, it is quite common for the user to incur injuries with this magic.
	Earth Earth magic has the potential to mimic all kinds of plant life, but also rock, soil, sand and even gems. In controlled form: Any growing things set in place by controlled earth magic will not spread; planting a flower will not allow for more of its kind to grow, as they do not seed and the magic remains in one place. In free form: Earth magic in this form can create sudden growth in unusual patterns as the magic moves, it works faster than controlled magic too. However, it takes a very large toll on the user's energy.

Complex magic types are harder to master than basic types as they are a balancing act of blending two basic magics inside the user to then make a hybrid result. They are however, easier to use than the triad types by far.
It should be noted that while they are created by merging two magic types together, not all complex magic users are able to use the basic types that make them. For example, an ice dragon is not born knowing how to use pure water magic or pure wind magic, even though these are constituents of ice magic.
For information on how magic works with particular races click here.

Ice Ice type magic is a blend of water and wind magics. When pointed in a direction, "paths" of ice can be made. This is easier in the controlled form. It also makes for an effective way of cooling areas down. It can be a gradual cooling down, or a quick freeze that can even make some objects become brittle. In controlled form: Ice magic is quite what you would expect, ice will appear where directed and stay there. In free form: Ice magic is prone to also creating hail-like shards of ice and moving erratically. The ice will not hold in position.
Toxic Toxic type magic is said to be a blend of lightning and earth magics. Toxic magic is the magical creation of poisons and their application. While a user cannot automatically poison a foe, they are able to send it toward them or apply it on all manner of surfaces for intended effect. This magic isn't purely offensive however, as it can also allow for the removal of poisons through magical manipulation. Toxic magic will take the appearance of whichever substance it is made to be. The more skillful a user, the more varied the creations and the more exact their effect. In controlled form: Probably the more useful form, exacting amounts can be applied or extracted from a location. In free form: The most potent toxins can be made, it is however more difficult to apply them precisely or remove/neutralise poisons in general than in the controlled form.
Magma Magma type magic is said to be a blend of earth and fire magics. Magma magic is useful when it comes to any molten substance. It can be used to melt any objects that are rocky or metallic, and from there these substances can be manipulated. It can also form magma from the magic alone. As such, it is a magic that has found popularity with smiths, volcano dwellers and craftsmen alike. In controlled form: The favourite of anyone needing precision over how they manipulate their magic, it is direct and simple in its use. Only the place that the magic is directly pointed at will become molten/have molten substance formed over it. In free form: Larger swathes of material can be melted or created, however the effect is patchy as the magic moves about. The temperatures reached are much higher.

Triad magic types are the most influential of all magic types on Dragons' Cove. The balance between the influence of each type on the island affects the status of the Avatar Dragon. Each of these has a focused area on the island which temples have then been built around in the past. Present-day Dragons' Cove inhabitants do not know of these ancient temples, nor of the Avatar dragon or the role triad magics play with them. They do however, still use these magics and are aware of their other uses.

These types are particularly important as each part is said to be a piece in creating "full" life. When all three are used together, complete resurrection of the dead can be done. They also play a crucial role in creating summons.
The triad type magics are extremely difficult to master, and potentially very dangerous.
Finally, they have no link to basic or complex magics.

	Light Light type magic defines knowledge, awareness and logical thoughts of any kind. It works within the minds of any living beings, and can be used by the most skillful to transfer knowledge to others. Using light magic on another means you can give or take away their memories and knowledge, are able to raise or lower their sentience/self-awareness, create an open mind or a closed one and even attune them to prefer their thoughts or their feelings. On a more mundane level, it allows for the manipulation of the lightness/darkness in an area. In controlled form: Light magic becomes a fine blade that can gently pull thoughts from a mind or place them there. All effects apply, though the they are smaller and there is less potential for drastic change. The effects tend to permanence. In free form:  Light magic becomes extremely unpredictable in its effects. It can create sudden and great flashes of clarity, and just as readily erase these "moments of brilliance" or memories. The effects tend to non-permanence.
	Dark Dark type magic is the hardest magic of all types to define. It works on several layers: A purely instinctual and subconscious layer, a personal and emotional layer, and by extension, a moral layer too.It can be used to give/remove/change feelings of any kind in any creatures. It also allows for these to be transferred to others. Dark type magics can be used to adjust an individual's moral values, how they view other values, and a whole myriad of other possibilities. Light magic may define what one knows, but dark magic is often seen as the magic that tells you who you are. Dark magic can be used to create intuitive understanding (ie. "just knowing"), whereas light creates understanding through thought processes and logic. It is no surprise that the two magics frequently appear to overlap in their end results. In controlled form: Dark magic works, like light, at a smaller level and can be easier for fine-tuning the effects above. It is more likely for specific characteristics to change. The effects tend to permanence. In free form: Dark magic in free form causes large changes in personality and can potentially overturn entire outlooks of a person and point their instincts to any given place. The effects tend to non-permanence.
	Blood Unlike the previous magics, blood magic works exclusively physically. Wherever there is blood, blood magic users are able to manipulate it. Blood magic allows for the rapid growth of new tissues on a given creature/person, and the effects are varied. While in theory it can be a healing magic, it does not "restore" so much "create", and this means possibly creating excess tissues. For a neater and easier job with healing, one should definitely stick to neutral magic. Blood magic is the bare minimum triad magic needed to resurrect the dead, whereas light and dark type magics are just icing on the cake. The offensive capabilities of this magic are numerous, but very difficult to use. Even in controlled form, blood magic effects are notoriously unpredictable, and it is easy to exert their influence on the "wrong" body. (You should not be surprised to find blood magic users with bizarre skin afflictions.) In controlled form: Blood magic becomes most useful for creation of details and delicate creatures. Can resurrect creatures in a more stable way, though the life force may not be especially strong. In free form: Far larger creatures, with skill, can be resurrected. Large flesh and bone features can be made, and the influence of the magic will be apparent - those resurrected by free blood magic have a stronger life force. It is extremely difficult to focus the magic in one place.