Hello, I'm new here. I like to write some mage stories and participate in RP's with a mage character, but I'm having a hard time finding a source for how magic works lore wise. Can anyone help me out a bit? I'm currently searching UESPWiki and The Imperial Library.

The only thing I can think of is Mechanics of Magicka by FC her eon the forums, but I can't find it and I'm not sure if he'd like me advertising it. Unfortunately, like most Elder Scrolls lore, I don't think it has a set of established writings but I'm sure you could find countless writings by many "lore-buffs" who test out their own theories in light of Besthesda giving us... not much to go on.

I know in RP's many people view certain spells different ways. I always viewed a shield spell like a Dungeons and Dragons stone-skin spell, while others lean more towards it creating a field around the body that slows anything coming in to reduce the harm it does to the body.

Be creative I say!

Thanks for the response and advice! I have found how magicka came to be and how it generally works on UESPWiki, so that should suffice for me. I'll be on the lookout for things to join in and might start writing soon.

Definitely do what feels right for you, and don't lean too heavily on lore--especially for the things that aren't specified.

When I think of using magic, I think of it this way:

You need intelligence and willpower to be a successful mage, because it takes power of the mind to make magic happen. You have to summon the magical energy from its source, which exists deep within you, and you draw it out like water from a fountain, letting it flow through you and directing it to your fingertips to make it do whatever it is you are trying to do. It takes great concentration to focus the energy into power, thus creating the spell.

Spells also rely on certain words and chants. Many mages, especially those who are still learning, need to speak the magical words aloud (don't try to find the magic words in lore, because as far as I know they don't exist), and that's how spell tomes and scrolls come into play. But the more learned mage can speak the words in his or her mind, only speaking them aloud when they need the added concentration of talking rather than thinking.

Anyway, that's generally how I look at magic. But again, it's your story--your creation. Go with what feels best for you.

I was under the impression that people on Nirn drew magicka from Magnus (the sun) which is basically a large hole in the sky from... I want to say the Aether but I'm thinking Minecraft. Atherius?

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Aetherius That's it. Read the link. And this one: http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Lore:Magnus_(god)#Magnus. Those sum up where magicka comes from I suppose.

Yeah, that's what I was looking at. It's a nice explanation because it allows room for versatile spell use. I am also interested in how mages often debate the schools, like complaining that destruction is just another form of alteration. I'm going to go with a bit of a feel good mage, though. A bit of jest and combat, all that jazz.

Well I think the schools were simply put in place by Galerion when he founded the Mages Guild to simplify things for the teaching of new mages.

You are likely referring to the Response to Baro's Speech with that statement if I recall correctly, and that is mentioned in the Response as utter bull. Take it as utter bull.

However, the Response does stress that the schools are interconnected; utilize this to your advantage to create magic that doesn't exist in the game alone.

And yes, Magnus is the source of magicka on Mundus, the major 'hole' in the Aetherius that allows it to pour through. But people do still have an innate magical pool, if you will, within themselves, coming from their own spirit or some other source. Either way, Magnus cannot be the only source of mortal magic because magic can be used on the planes of Oblivion by mortals, who are no longer manipulating the Aetherius (since Oblivion and the Aetherius are separate planes) when the seek to manipulate the magicka around them.

The great thing about writing about magic is that there is little clear cut information, so you have a vast imaginative scope to work with.