Illusionism - Smoke and Mirrors

Illusionism has always been seen as a weaker form of magic, a school to be ridiculed rather than studied by most self-respecting mages. However, this tome shall reveal that illusionism is neither to be scoffed at nor to be trifled with. In fact, illusionism can be quite potent in the hands of those who delve into its deepest secrets. At its roots illusionism deals with the age-old conundrum of perception versus reality, and it is this mystery that an illusionist bends his mind towards understanding. Illusionism- Behind the Smoke and Mirrors will bring the enigma of illusion to the fore and perhaps provide a new perception of the magic that so many underestimate and ignore.

At its heart, illusionism is the art of deception, be it benign or malicious in nature. It alters another's perceptions and tricks their senses. Those affected by illusions see, hear, smell, taste, and feel things that are not there. Some illusionists also explore the realm of shadow magic, which allows them to create quasi-real things to be seen, heard, smelt, tasted, and felt. It is hoped that this tome shall enlighten its readers in both the art of orthodox illusionism- that of figments, glamers, patterns, and phantasms- and the secrets of shadow magic, also known as unorthodox illusionism.

Illusionism is perhaps the most artistic school of magic. To be a successful illusionist one must have an understanding of how to craft illusions into believable and engaging images. Over the course of their studies many illusionists make a point to examine their surroundings and to note how the world interacts. They note how the lighting of the room affects the appearance of others. They scrutinize how shadows dance upon the ground under a flickering light. They study the subtle hues of color that although rarely noticed add immensely to the believability of an illusion. Illusionists also analyze the structure and movement of everything from humanoids to insects to plants. They note the effects of sight, sound, aroma, taste, and touch on all these things.

One might ask why do they do this? And most illusionists would respond that it is done so that they might better mimic all these things with their magic, and rightly so.

Another difference between orthodox illusionism and many of the other forms of magic is the element of credence that is inherently necessary for most illusions to fulfill their purpose. Illusions are not just meant to be seen, heard, smelt, tasted, and felt by others, but must be also be believed. In fact, most illusions depend upon the belief of a witness in order to achieve their purpose. It is because of this fact that most illusionists do not simply create illusions, but instead craft them with an eye towards realism.

There are, however, untraditional ways of using illusionism in such a manner that it becomes possible to create quasi-real things and effects that can affect even disbelievers. This area of study is known as unorthodox illusionism, but more can be done with shadows than most mages know or care to admit, a fact that we will delve into later in this book.