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[takeyouapart]

Who else here comes from a world where people can use magic? Or - not just that, but people able to do things that most other people can't, things most people would think of as...supernatural.

[A pause.]

I suppose what I'm actually asking is, how do your worlds treat those kinds of people? Do they have to live in secret, or does everyone else know

Comments

Private

[greatlightother]

Where I'm from, it's hidden. And there's a secret war brewing that humans have absolutely no idea about, but they still feel the effects.

If a human finds out, they're usually made to forget.

Private

[takeyouapart]

A war between who?

Private

[greatlightother]

The Light and the Dark. Night Watch and Day Watch.

Private

[takeyouapart]

Why is it hidden? I mean - was that a decision that was made, to hide it from them, or do they just not see it for some reason?

Private

[emptyyourself]

I see.

Private

[takeyouapart]

Good.

We're still friends.

By the way.

Private

[emptyyourself]

...I have little choice in the matter. Clearly.

Private

[takeyouapart]

I'd apologise if I was sorry.

[deepdowndark]

Everyone knows about the wizards on the Disc. The entire atmosphere is thick with magic, due to ancient magical wars, and the University in Ankh-Morpork is world famous rather than hidden. Unseen is rather a misnomer in that respect, I suspect.

From what I know of city politics, they have a sort of... hands off policy. The wizards, by the nature of modern magic on the Disc, conserve their magic, and use it for research within the confines of the University. It's hardly ever used outside of the University on a particularly large scale. The city occasionally calls upon the University to save it from some great danger the Watch can't handle [someone is a little smug and now includes himself in this.] on their own, and the wizards sometimes have to ask the city's permission to do certain levels of magic

[takeyouapart]

I don't know. I think that might make it easier to describe things to someone else without being biased either way.

So they...everyone knows they're there, and sometimes they're asked to help, but usually they just sort of keep themselves to themselves. Do you know if anyone thinks they're too powerful, if anyone's ever tried to get rid of them?

[deepdowndark]

Well, everyone knows they're too powerful. Including the wizards themselves.

From what I know of human history - the wizards themselves have judged that some wizard is breaking their policy of minimal use of magic, and stopped him. They've generally been very responsible about that, because they know that the misuse of their magic could potentially destroy the whole Disc in an instant. It's in their interest, as well as everyone else's, to watch themselves closely.

Because if a watchman ever tried to take on a wizard who didn't care if he was using his powers or not? He'd be dust in seconds. Only another wizard could stop him. Which is what happened when one wizard tried to have the Octavo read. He was stopped by other wizards. The Watch and city were powerless to act

[takeyouapart]

Oh. It's something you learn by studying there? My world isn't like that. It's...you're born with magic, or you aren't. I suppose the situation would have to be different if being a wizard is something you choose to do.

What do you believe?

[takeyouapart]

But nobody else can? No...people?

[takeyouapart]

I'm not being silly. They might not be able to on your world, but...it's not the same everywhere.

[damesuccubus]

Magic is common - demons, ghosts, relics that heal the sick and bless the meek - it's all real. People are gifted, of course, but if you show off too much the Church will burn you for it. My sister-in-law glows pinkish-orange and used to heal lepers and dying women in London, that is until the Church threatened her with the stake. Stupid she-ass, she still glows sometimes.

[takeyouapart]

...

[Well, he can at least sympathise with being threatened with burning at the stake.]

She, er, might not be able to stop it happening?

[damesuccubus]

She can control it, I've seen her do it. That little light of hers never shines around a member of the clergy. She thinks I don't see it, but I do.

[takeyouapart]

Maybe it's coincidence. Because, er, why would she glow at all if there was a risk of getting burnt at the stake?