Gifts

Every spellcaster has certain affinities, or types of magic which come more easily to them. However, some have unique abilities, ones which allow them to use normally complex spells on a whim or passively possess supernatural faculties. These sort of effects are classified as “gifts” by scholars of magic.

A gift is defined as an ability, permanently granted by an initial spell, that has one of two characteristics:

• Allowing the gifted to cast complicated, high-level, or taxing spells with greatly reduced effort, or
• Granting a constant magical effect to the gifted.

For example, Van’s gift allows him to cast large-scale illusions without the need for additional foci, and Varis’ gift allows her to passively sense the emotions of those around her.

In most cases, a gift is bestowed by another spellcaster or by a magical item. It is widely regarded as impossible for a spellcaster to bestow a gift on themselves. Gifts are complicated to grant and very difficult to remove, though they can be limited by normal magic suppression means.

Examples of gifts granted by another person include those granted to Hanna and Chelsea Wilder. Since the source of such gifts’ power becomes the gifted themselves, attempting to remove them is extremely dangerous and often deadly.

Gifts bestowed by a magical item include Varis’ gift, granted by the Polaris Stone. Since the source of power rests outside the gifted, these gifts can sometimes be removed (with no harm to the bearer) by simply removing or destroying the item. However, as with the Polaris Stone, these items may have other enchantments that make them difficult or impossible to remove or destroy.

Very rarely, a gift may be passed through a bloodline. For example, Van inherited his gift from his father. There are no records of anyone attempting to remove a bloodborne gift, with most historical mentions ending in just putting a sword to the gifted and being done with it.

It is certainly possible for “gifts” to have generally “negative” effects, or a mixture of positive and negative. While the academic term applies across the board, those gifts that are less desirable are typically called “curses” in everyday use. In contrast, more beneficial gifts may also be called “blessings”.