Magic

Rules of Magic
Magic cannot be used to revive a being, i.e. when that being comes back to life it is as if nothing ever happened. The limits to magical power is the person that wields it.

For someone to use magic, little practice and study is needed. The effects will be uncontrollable however. To learn to control magic and bend it to your will, years of study is required. The masters of magic had spent a lifetime studying before they considered themselves 'master'.

There is a difference between miracles and magic. Miracles can only be performed by the gods. Not all believe this. Magic can be used by anyone that has the gift.

Source
All magic in the world gets fueled by ones own willpower or life force. The effects of the wielder are completely dependent on which kind of spells and magic are used. One proficient in illusions might find himself getting a nose-bleed from holding up an illusion for a longer period of time, where one that wields fire magic might find himself feinting after casting one too many spells.

Becoming a magician happens as you grow up, just like how men will start growing beards so will the innate power of mages get unlocked. A mages magical ability grows over time steadying out when they first hit adulthood. Then it can only grow further by learning and practicing. The human body protects the wielder from killing themselves from using too much strength by feinting, ceasing all spellcasting.

Casting Spells
There are different ways spells can be cast, but all spells are founded upon the magic words that make the language called: Viponi. The more powerful spell will require an elaborate ritual to be completed before it has any effect. The smaller and weaker spells only require a quick chant in the language of magic. Once a wielder of magic thoroughly understands a spell and its chant, the spell can be cast by just a quick thought instead of chanting the magic words. Getting to fully understanding a spell can be done through a few different methods. One of these methods requires years of meditation on the spell's magic words. Another way is using the spell enough times to get an understanding of it. This can also take years of usage before one fully gets it.

Some spells need to be channeled, some are "point and shoot", some spells can be stored for later and others require a ritual. There are many different ways spells can be cast and used. All of which can be manipulated through the language of magic.

Magic is very versatile and can be used for both hand-to-hand combat and slow, long range combat. There have been magical artifacts in the form of weapons, i.e. swords, axes etc. Most are lost but some have been found and are being kept at one of the museums in the capitals.

Healing and curing is generally a magical process. It usually speeds up the normal, unconscious healing process of the patient. Since magic is now banned most of the healing gets done through herbs, potions and scientific doctors.

Multiple mages can combine their power to increase the magnitude of spells. Knowledge of magic, willpower and bodystrength all have influence over the overall power of a mage.

Generally speaking, the abiltity to work magic cannot be taken away. There are, however, some rituals that require specific things from the caster, the ability to perform those rituals can be taken away. These rituals are normally not part of the common magic schools. They are (almost) all part of the dark arts.

Magi Council
The Magi Council is a council consisting of the master mages of every school. In total that makes for 8 mages. They are the main advisers to the emperor.

Schools of Magic

 * Elemental Magic
 * Fire Magic
 * Frost Magic
 * Lightning Magic
 * Wind Magic
 * Arcane Arts
 * Illusion Magic
 * Conjuration Magic
 * Nature Magic
 * Druidism
 * Shamanism
 * Voodoo Magic
 * Dark Arts
 * Necromancy
 * Blood Magic