Healing Magic

'Healing magic' is a form of miraculous magic in the world. Mercalan is the domain used to classify most healing magic. Healing magic is primarily sourced by the Goddess of Life, Mercala. It should be noted that although Mercala is the most major and popular source of healing magic, she is not the only one. Furthermore, not all healing magic is strictly Mercana.

The overwhelming majority of healing magic is claimed by The Church of Mercala and moderated by the Tenets of Mercana.

IMPORTANT NOTE: While the vast majority of the fundamentals remain the same between Korvara and Sigrogana, healing magic functions a bit differently in Korvara. Healing magic is not fueled by Mercala nor cosigned by her in Korvara, and it is drawn upon by the island's natural energies and the caster's own Focus. This makes healing magic in Korvara more taxing to use Focus-wise, and weaker.

Forms

Mercana

The most common form of healing magic is known strictly as Mercana, which is a set of spells and rituals derived directly from Mercala. Mercana in its truest sense is near-absolute, miraculous healing. Because of this potency, the Church of Mercala moderates it heavily and keeps such knowledge under severe scrutiny. Mercana benefits greatly from holding faith in Mercala. This is also true for other forms of healing that are classified as Mercalan, but are not true Mercana, such as healing sourced by pseudo-elementals.

Ki

Ki is sourced by one's own spiritual prowess and discipline. The Church of Mercala does not recognize Ki as Mercana or true healing magic, especially due to its lack of potency being negligible by comparison.

Nature

Nature healing magic is magic derived from plants by siphoning Focus from them and using them to mend wounds. The Church of Mercala claims this form of healing magic, but does not claim it as strictly Mercana. This form of healing is not comparable to the potency of Mercana. Most forms of nature healing magic are not classified as Mercana.

Aquamancy

Aquamancy on its own is not a viable form of healing due to water not being able to mend wounds. Water may cleanse wounds and is generally used for its regenerative properties, when coupled with magic. Despite this, Aquamancy can be powerful healing when paired with Mercana, and because of this the Church of Mercala claims it. Due to this, most forms of Aquamancy healing are classified as Mercana.

Vampiric

Vampiric healing magic is a more esoteric, less understood form of healing magic with varying degrees of potency wholly dependent on Focus: whether Focus fueled by the one benefitting from Vampiric healing, or the one being targeted by it.

Vampires are the most common users of such a form of magic. The more essence (Focus) a Vampire has stored and can release, the greater the healing. This form of healing is not claimed or classified as Mercana.

Pseudo-elemental

Pseudo-elemental healing is a rare form of healing that is potent enough to be claimed and classified as Mercana, despite spawning from actual elementals and their fragments, and not Mercala herself. Due to its potency and the fact that it benefits greatly from having faith, pseudo-elemental healing is capable of performing similar miracles to true Mercana. Therefore, it is also heavily scrutinized and moderated by The Church of Mercala.

Dimensional

A certain form of healing exists that is primarily used by Summoners, who channel dimensional and spiritual energies to call forth Yokai. This form of healing does much of the same, specifically targeting Yokai under their contract.

Void

A taboo form of healing used by Void Assassins which employs Void energy to accelerate healing. Generally this form of healing relies more on regeneration than absolute, near-instantaneous healing.

Functions (Abilities)

Healing magic is able to perform miraculous feats on the injured, though healing magic functions somewhat uniquely compared to other forms of magic. Faith is an important factor in this: without faith, especially if using true Mercana, healing magic will not have the adequate output. Without enough Focus, the healer may not be able to heal wounds they intend to heal – at least not fully. Healing magic is very Focus intensive: the bigger the project, the more Focus the healer will drain. How much a healer can heal depends entirely on the healer's Focus reserves: if a healing target has multiple injuries, such as broken bones and multiple deep stab wounds littering their body, then that may be enough to tap out an average healer. Otherwise, an average healer can heal multiple mildly injured individuals. Reattaching limbs is also extremely taxing, and may be enough to tap out an average healer as well.

It is also important to note that a healer can choose which wound(s) to heal at any given moment, and does not need to heal an entire body just because they use healing magic.

The overwhelming majority of healing magic cosigned and claimed by Mercala is able to accomplish various feats. Virtually all forms of disease, wounds, and afflictions (whether natural, physical, or magical) may be healed through by powerful enough Mercana or Mercalan rituals. Reattaching limbs, if you have the limb available, it has not been sufficiently damaged, has not started to go through complete necrosis, and you are quick enough, is also possible – yet can be very Focus intensive.

Regenerating teeth and missing digits (fingers) is also within the realm of healing magic. Clearing scars, depending on how long the scars have existed on the afflicted, is also possible.

Mercana can also heal congenital defects at times, though it has always been fickle and unclear when such a miracle would occur. Generally, it is uncertain which congenital effects may heal, and if they will heal at all.

Certain Mercalan rituals are also able to tackle curses and hexes.

Curing Void Poisoning Stage one is also a possible feat for powerful enough healing magic, although it should be noted that only proper Mercalan treatments are cited as a true method to this when it comes to healing magic. Furthermore, Void Poison Stage two is not curable, yet treatable to an extent.

Functions (Restrictions)

Despite healing magic's miraculous abilities, there are restrictions that exist. As mentioned, healing magic is very Focus intensive and relies heavily on the healer's output and faith. Healing magic may restore the afflicted back to their original state, but this does not mean they will suddenly be energized – healing magic restores the physical body, but it does not restore a target's energy (Focus). Because of this, a healed target may still need adequate rest to become valid again – whether in combat or day to day life. Also, not all healing magic is equal: the most potent healing magic is Mercana, while all others seem to pale in comparison.

Healing magic restores a target's state to its original state. Because of this, Mercana is not a prime tool for manual surgeries – for manual wounds and suturing would be restored to how it was originally.

Healing magic cannot resurrect the dead, but some forms of healing magic (mainly Mercana and healing magic fueled by pseudo-elementals) can heal the injured from critical and fatal states.

Healing magic is incapable of curing a Corrupted's various afflictions caused by Dark Zones, congenital defects, or Iahsus' erratic moods. Healing magic may be able to allay symptoms, however, such as with a Shaitan's scorched mind or generally a Corrupted's mood swings. It cannot allay the symptoms for an Oracle's visions or sight, however.

Healing magic cannot miraculously regenerate entire limbs (big or small, unless they are digits) from out of nowhere. Not because it is impossible, but because the level of Focus needed for this feat is unavailable to the vast majority of mortals.

Healing magic cannot regenerate eyes, and it is uncertain why. However, they can heal eyes if the eye is still present in its original place.

Healing magic also only works best on organic entities or entities that are sufficiently 'alive'. Because of this, healing magic does not work as well on Vampires, Liches, Dullahans, and Homunculi. An exception is clear for Mechanation, due to their origins.

This page is still a work in progress.