Spellcasting

From Crossroads Wiki

All magic is implemented through various means of spellcasting. Spells can be accomplished by verbal (spoken), semantic (written or formed by hand gestures), or component (mixing magical ingredients) means. There is some debate whether any individual means can be used to accomplish any spell; while a theoretical possibility, most mages are more intent on learning additional spells than learning how to do the same spell different ways.

In practice, most mages use a combination of two, or all three, methods, a favorite being reciting an incantation while making a hand gesture over a potion one has just mixed or obtained. This combination is especially useful when "performing" for non-mages or lesser experienced mages, as a means of obfuscating the simplicity of a spell and convincing onlookers that they are not capable of doing it themselves.

Transportation mages rely heavily on spellcasting: so much, sometimes, that it is frequently said that Spellcasting is the third sphere.