Fel Magic

[byzantine 12]

Warlock roleplay can be difficult, thanks to the often confusing and expansive lore surrounding the fel magic they employ.

The purpose of this post is to break down the fundamentals on the utility and nature of fel magic in the Warcraft universe, both for informative and referential usage.

This post will not contain any RPG material. Some speculation will be provided.

 

 

Summary

• Fel is a destructive form of magic by nature. Whereas arcane magic is governed by mana, fel magic relies entirely on entropy and conversion of life into fuel.
• Addiction is an unfortunate effect of prolonged exposure to fel magic.
• It has powerful corrupting properties. Regular exposure to raw fel magic corrupts the wielder or subject, often twisting them into a monstrous parody of their former self.
• Excessive usage of fel magic can transform the user into a demon, willing or otherwise.
• Usage of fel magic "dims" a mage's access to the arcane, leaving fel as an attractive alternative. This effect is reversible, though the process by which reversion is achieved isn't yet known.
• Overabundant usage of fel magic will completely sever one's ability to use the arcane.
• Fel magic is usually a livid green in colour, making it very easy to identify by even the most uninformed of laymen.

Origins

• If arcane is the language of order, then fel is the language of disorder.
• It originated on a cosmic scale when the opposing forces of Light and Void collided in the Great Dark, leading to the inception of the Twisting Nether.
The resulting marriage of Light and Void energies bleeding through into the Nether led to the creation of the first demons, likely due to fel corruption.

Corruption

• A constant concern for the aspiring warlock is fel corruption.
• This is the process by which an area saturated by fel magic, or any subject of fel magic, takes on certain unsavoury traits depending on the volume of fel magic involved and the time exposed.
• A body of land or water corrupted by fel will spread the corruption to surrounding areas. This can lead to inhospitable conditions and volatility in areas severely afflicted by fel.
• A person or creature that has been using fel in moderation for several years can expect to be transformed to some degree: a change in eye or skin color, like the blood elves and orcs.
However, an overambitious subject with an abundance of exposure to fel energy will undergo drastic changes to their physiology: abnormal growths, including but not limited to that of wings,
horns, spikes, and glowing cracks/scaly patches on the skin. This does not appear to be a factor the subject can effectively control, if at all.
• Fel corruption does not appear to be conventionally reversible. Lady Liadrin, a blood elf, is depicted as having golden eyes in one official source. This may be due to her casting a Holy spell, or it may be due to her usage of the Sunwell. The latter explanation is unlikely, given the availability of the Sunwell and the notable presence of corruption in blood elves since the Sunwell's restoration. Until further clarification is provided, however, it's safe to assume a person's corruption is incorrigible.

Demonhood

• Demons are not natural creatures. Unique races of demon, such as the doomguard, are not born, but created. The creation of a demon begins when a living being is infused with a great amount of fel. The stage at which a living being forfeits their mortality to become a demon is unknown, though it can be presumed that a level of corruption analogous to that of Illidan Stormrage - who is considered a demon - is sufficient.
• Any living being can become a demon, willing or not. A warlock that uses fel magic to an extraordinary level will become one.
• Demons cannot die in the traditional sense. Their souls are innately tied to the Twisting Nether, from which all fel magic is derived. Though a "slain" demon may appear dead, this is only a temporary affair. The only way to truly kill a demon is to destroy their corporeal form while it resides in the Twisting Nether, or in a place greatly saturated with fel. Until then, the demon will recover to a point when it is capable of manifesting itself in the material plane once more.
• The state of demonhood can be reversed, as seen with Kanrethad Ebonlocke.

Casting Spells

• Fel magic is typically drawn upon through sacrifice. Living creatures serve as ample catalysts for these sacrifices, though plant life can be used in a similar fashion.
With that in mind, it is helpful to know that fel magic will always need this sacrifice to take place. Whether it be creating a portal, conjuring a fireball or healing a wound, entropy must always take place. Larger sacrifices must be made to carry out greater tasks - one will not be able to summon a Doomguard by zapping away a sheep.
• It is obviously possible to use fel magic without the death of the subject. The wielder can tap into residual life essence to cast a spell, be it theirs or another's - however, it can be assumed that this method of spellcasting will leave the wielder weak and potentially accelerate fel corruption. A speculative approach would be that a less trained warlock would be unable to summon greater demons or cast demanding spells via this method, leaving ritual sacrifice as a more than viable alternative.

Utilities of Fel Magic

• Fel, despite its volatility, is a very versatile school of magic. It is the polar opposite of arcane and can be expected to exhibit similar properties.
• Being the antithesis of arcane, fel magic is capable of suppressing arcane magic, and arcane is capable of suppressing fel magic.
• Perhaps obviously, fel magic may be used offensively. Fel fire is the most common application of offensive fel magic. It burns hotter and quicker than a conventional blaze and, most dangerously, cannot be put out by regular means. This is important to keep in mind as a warlock, as felfire left unchecked can prove disastrous for the careless practitioner. Water from conjured elementals is a sound method of extinguishing fel fire.
• Fel has been demonstrated to propel objects, demonstrably a boat. The implication of this particular usage, that being the manipulation of either an object or the space surrounding it, opens many opportunities for a user of fel magic. As with all fel magic, however, keep in mind that the more demanding a spell is, the more demanding the sacrifice must be.
• It can be used to heal wounds. Healing with fel will leave a mark on the subject, however, and is best left as a last resort. This "mark" is likely the beginning of fel infusion and, eventually, fel corruption.
• Portals are a possibility. As with all spells fuelled by fel, however, the creation of a portal involves entropy. Speculatively speaking, a portal leading to a far-away destination may require a greater sacrifice.
• Fel can be animated in the form of creatures similar in appearance to elementals known as "entropic horrors". The essence of these beings is poisonous, draining the life of anything it contacts. This would make fighting an entropic horror very dangerous for the uninitiated combatant.
• Fel can also be used to scry, and resurrect the fallen bodies of demons as undead. Whether or not this variation of necromancy can be used on non-demonic corpses is unknown.

Extra-physical Effects

• Fel magic is capable of influencing more than a recipient's body on an ostensible level. It can enhance strength, speed, and magical potential. To the contrary, it may cloud judgement, inhibit positive emotion and enhance negative emotion. The absence of positive emotion may lead to irregularities in behaviour, allowing for decisions uninhibited by morality or willpower.

Edited July 24, 2017 by byzantine

[Traius 41]

Very useful information for anyone playing a character using fel magic. +1

Edited July 23, 2017 by Traius

[Romeo 320]

Perfect. Exactly what I needed to get my warlock up and running. Thank! <3

[Mordred 183]

The Fel has always been a topic of interest for me, and seeing it elaborated upon is very refreshing. Thanks for this.

[Hardcandy 8]

Short, easy to read and useful.. What else do you need in a post like this one?

Good work Byzantine, thanks.

[Destruin 18]

Solid read, despite a few things you left out. (Water statement retracted)

If youre too fel corrupted you can not use arcane entirely as said by jace darkweaver. Your comments only went as far as 'dimming'

and arcane being the opposite can be used to keep in check fel along with assumingly vice versa. The dhs use runes to keep that in check

And on your comment of how demons are not born but created, some are. Nathrezim, and well doomguard are also the original police of magic from the titans(original green fire questline), but you can also be turned into them.

Process of being turned into a demon can also be reversed. As seen by Kanrethad and some succubutt in Felwood

Edited July 23, 2017 by Destruin

[Malax 8]

I haven't read the Tomb of Sargeras book, yet you control a Water Elemental in one of the world quests on the Broken Shore and you put out fel fire with his water abilities, no?

[Apoapsis 6]

It is correct that enchanted water puts out felfire, or you could just #dispell since it's magic anyway.

 

A little quote from gamepedia:

" Felfire is flame born of fel magic.^[13][14] It is deadly to the touch,^[15] burns much hotter than normal fire,^[16] and cannot be put out by regular means,^[17]though the water of enchanted water elementals seems to be able to do the trick.^[18] "

 

http://wow.gamepedia.com/Fel

Edited July 23, 2017 by Apoapsis
Added Source.

[byzantine 12]

5 hours ago, Destruin said:

Solid read, despite a few things you left out. (Water statement retracted)

If youre too fel corrupted you can not use arcane entirely as said by jace darkweaver. Your comments only went as far as 'dimming'

and arcane being the opposite can be used to keep in check fel along with assumingly vice versa. The dhs use runes to keep that in check

And on your comment of how demons are not born but created, some are. Nathrezim, and well doomguard are also the original police of magic from the titans(original green fire questline), but you can also be turned into them.

Process of being turned into a demon can also be reversed. As seen by Kanrethad and some succubutt in Felwood

Errors rectified, thanks for clarification

[TheDemon 109]

Well I must say, there is not that many mistakes I thought there would be. You did your homework and you scored quite nicely.

There are some mistakes and errors here and there, obviously, you can't know everything and I won't blame you for that. The core basics are almost 100% correct.