Magical Responsibility

This lesson was requested by Archmage Yusmena Jiermalu Namkor of the Arcane Tower. It has been transcribed to text for easier consumption.

This lesson will unpack the ethical duties all magic users have, especially arcanists, toward magic and the use of magic. For the sake of clarity, I will be dividing the text into chapters.

Chapter One: Definition

Before we can begin, we must come to a standard definition of Magical Responsibility. Too often the general public, and even mages, believe that when we speak about responsibility or duty that we are directly referring to Goodness.

Those among us devout to the deities of Knowledge and Magic like Mystra, Azuth, and Oghma will understand that this is not the case. This is not a discussion about what is considered good or evil. It is not a debate about various spells or specific schools of magic. Magical Responsibility is about intent versus results.

When we talk about responsibility in magic we speak about intended and unintended consequences. A responsible magic user will ensure that all unintended consequences are mitigated or prepared for. A responsible magic user will will pick the best tools for the job instead of picking magic flippantly without consideration for the consequences.

Ego, emotion and recklessness have no place in the responsible use of magic.

Chapter Two: Trinity of Responsibility

Magical Responsibility breaks down into three parts: personal, social and reality. These three are often interconnected.

Personal responsibility is the onus put on magic users to ensure that their minds maintain clarity and sanity. This is difficult for hermit mages or mages in obscure fields because they will often feel that there is no other way to continue their study other than putting themselves at risk. On its face, this may not seem all that bad; the mage is only hurting him or herself but that is not the full picture.

By putting their own body, mind or soul through trials they can break down their faculties and impair their judgment. It is extremely important for a mage to retain use of their faculties. Some magics can warp or corrupt thinking which can result in future dangerous and reckless action. Or such magic can deform the body which exasperates desperation and pushes the mage further down a path of reckless need.

The solution for this is community. A community can be a guild, a settlement, a church, even a dedicated adventuring party. Lonesome mages are more likely to behave with a wanton disregard for themselves and others.

I know that this is a difficult aspect since many of us see being social as 'taking time out of our day' but it is important to have a stake in the community; without it our judgment will be skewed.

This brings us to the social responsibility. I know that this aspect is often considered the bane of good research but it is one that must be considered. Magic is not as simple as a sword. The damage it can cause can be catastrophic and frightening to those that do not recognize it.

Mages that take their community into consideration will not cast dangerous magic in populated areas, let experiments run awry or use magic frivolously. This is a common problem on the island which everyone has examples of. Like when magic users cast a Hellball to prevent a criminal from fleeing in a crowded street or wild mages have the gall to cast anything while in a settlement.

These can also be benign like someone turning into a dragon or fire elemental for kicks. Or playing with a skull meant for study in plain view of others. There is no need to frighten the public just because you are bored.

Especially on this island, magic users believe that everyone is as comfortable with their magic as their are. I recommend that you tailor your magic for the situation. The frivolous use of magic can be as disconcerting as overwhelming powerful magic.

Arcanists are not the only ones responsible for this; all casters are. I understand there there is a lot of magic on this island but it need not be treated with disregard. Use your magic carefully; even magic that you might consider harmless.

Finally we come to the last category that makes up the trinity of responsibility; our responsibility to reality. It is important to push the bounds of known magic. This is how new spells are created and how new fields of study are developed however this cannot be done with naked ambition. There needs to be great consideration on how the magic will effect the region and reality as a whole.

Mages should consider all aspects of their proposed magic before use lest it cause damage to the foundations of the world which we live in. This might seem basic and that it should go without saying but too often do magic users let their needs or emotions overcome their judgment which results in danger to us all.

[Example: Karsus' Folly; A Netheril mage, Karsus, sought to win a conflict for his people by taking the mantle of divinity from the Goddess of Magic. The spell that he used generated a link between himself and the Goddess. In an attempt to save the Weave, the Goddess sacrificed herself which caused all magic to cease briefly. Without magic, the Netheril flying cities crashed to the Toril which ended up effectively destroying that empire and its people.

Regardless of his intentions, Karsus did not consider reality and his responsibility as a magic user when plotting his course.]

Chapter Three: Conclusion

I understand that to follow the trinity of responsibility a mage might have to modify their work which many of us are utterly appalled to do. There will always be some unforeseen consequences or errors when working with complicated magics that involve dozens of changing variables. You cannot hope to account for everything but that fact does not mean that you should not try.

This is why I encourage mages to have a stake in a community; even if the community is just a mage guild because when others work with you on a project they can offer different approaches or see potential errors that you might have missed.

However the need for community is not without problems. There are instances where a field of study is unwelcome in a community or lacks any guild brave enough to endure the social backlash that comes with certain magic. The mages that study these fields often feel that they are forsaken.

They either must modify their research and study or abandon categories one and two of the trinity. There should be a better way; this is why the Arcane Tower allows almost all study within its walls. However the attitudes of many in the Tower and on the island do not match with these rules.

I truly do understand the perspective of those that are opposed to allowing the study of any and all magic however we only do ourselves a disservice by pushing mages out and hampering their ability to follow these categories. Just about every field of magic can be taught and studied responsibly.

It is through nurturing their sense of self and community that we make better mages. I encourage all mages to gather and learn together. Even those that do not have the stomach for guilds can organize mage groups that are project specific. It can be as simple as putting out a notice that you wish to study flumphs and gathering like minded mages that will work on it with you for as long as the project runs.

For those that feel that their magic and study would be irreparably damaged by following these categories, you need to reflect on what you hope to achieve. There is surely another way to go about it that your warped judgment is missing.

Magic is wonderful and interesting but it is also dangerous and potentially world altering. It should be handled with reverence and care. All mages benefit from following these categories, regardless of intention.

[Signed: Loomwarden of Azuth and High Magus Datura Willowgrave of the Earthkin Arcanum]