Concerning Shapeshifting

Many creatures have limited shapeshifting abilities (most famously notable are were- creatures, specifically werewolves, though many other crosses exist) but nearly all are restricted to a single alternate form. Many shapes can be achieved through exceedingly complicated spells, but in the case of spur of the moment, instantaneous transformations, a very limited number of beings have ever managed more than one alternative shape.

Elves are one of these exceptions, though this is possibly as related to their native land as their magical makeup. Because of the intense magical saturation of Underhill, while in its confines elves have been known to take any number of forms. While outside of Underhill, they retain this ability to disguise themselves, but it is heavily limited, and only the well-practiced are often able to attain more than minor changes to their appearance, much less a different form. Older elves, due to experience and lengthened exposure to Underhill's magic, have far greater abilities in this area.

The true difficulty in shapeshifting, it seems, lies in the fundamental nature of the change. In order to truly take another form, uncountable cells must be rearranged and modified. In many cases, mass must be removed or added. It takes decades and a great deal of energy for an infant to become an adult, or a sapling to become a tree, and for a shapeshifter transformations of this magnitude must occur and reverse in seconds.

It is therefore suspected that those rare beings who can change shape at will have what have been described as magically unstable molecules. Although they are almost consistently sentient, their "self" is not held in any particular pattern or collection of particles. Instead, they "reside" in their magic, such that the molecules that, at that moment, comprise them need not take any specific shape. If necessary, these particles may be left behind, or new particles may be appropriated for the purpose of taking a new form. Because of this instability, however, many of those who are true shapeshifters have no true solid form, and may have difficulty taking a solid shape. Those who do naturally adhere to a natural, solid shape are indeed few and far between.

It must also be noted that much of the theory regarding true shapeshifting is mere speculation, for, due to the impressive rareness of such individuals, modern magical researchers have had no opportunity to study the phenomenon directly, and ancient sources have little useful to say on the subject. Because of this, true shapeshifters generally take to hiding to avoid being appropriated for such research.

Concerning Bardic Magic

Bardic magic is unique in that its applications are very specific, but highly effective in that category. Unlike most magics, which have easy applications to the physical world, Bardic magic is entirely mentally oriented. (Only in heavily magic-laden locales, such as Underhill, can music magic affect the apparently physical.) Furthering the already considerable effect music can have on emotions and the mind, Bardic magic affects the mental processes of those to whom it is directed. Due to this, it is extremely useful for illusion magic, but also for levels of thought manipulation many have insisted is mind control. Therefore, Bardic practitioners have been very closely monitored for abuse of magic.

Famous Bards of lore seem to hold far more abilities than the study of Bardic magic actually allows. Taliesin, of the Druidic tradition, for example, was a known shapeshifter, as were many shaman druids of his era. These abilities are likely the result of other studies of the time and perhaps, in the case of Taliesin most specifically, the result of the then-more common mixing of human and elven genetics. (More on this rare breed combination shall come in Concerning Elves.)

Where it is limited in scope, music magic makes up for with power. A fully-trained Bard is, through music, capable of affecting hundreds, possibly thousands of individuals with a blanket tune. For the beginning mage, however, the audibility of his/her music is vital, and if the target cannot physically hear the spell, it may have no effect. Advanced practitioners, however, are said to be able to perform such feats without even the aid of audible music; simply by imagining the sound in both their and their targets' minds they can achieve the same effects. A more individualized spell can, in theory, bring the subject to any number of levels of manipulation, even complete control via the musician. It is these cases that have caused Bardic magic to be marked as particularily dangerous by the governing entities of the magical community. There are, of course, numerous helpful applications, including exorcism and therapy.

In the advent of audio/visual broadcasts, the Bardic tradition has greatly diminished in industrialized countries. With the removal of playing/ listening to live music as a pastime for all ranges of individuals, those with talents are rarely recognized, and their abilities therefore are rarely honed to a useable level. Due to the highly controversial nature of Bardic magic, E.I.D.O.L.O.N. seems to be content to let the tradition die out.

Still, a fair number of Bardic mages still practice in less developed countries, and those in industrialized locales have made it a goal to seek out those to continue the study. The elves, as well, have traditionally offered training and succor for those of the Bardic tradition. Like many non-human members of the magical community, the elves generally hold different standards regarding the morality of mind control, and have rarely found wrong in Bardic abilities.