There has been much discussion and debate amongst bards regarding just what an enchante is. Is it like a spell, and composed of patterns and matrices? Or is it composed of music that is given life by magic?
Both of these are true.
A little background on magic: Spells are composed of patterns and matrices.
Pattern spells have a single effect that manifests, though the impact of that single effect is dependant upon the amount of mana that the mage is able to channel into the creation of the pattern itself. Stronger patterns could create more pronounced effects or longer durations of the effects involved.
Matrices are composed a pattern that serves as a template for a cascading sequence of ever more complex patterns, ones that manifest themselves as the mage is able to channel more mana through it. As the initial pattern grows stronger, it will spontaneously grow more complex, causing the effects of the spell itself to vary and grow.
This is, of course, a greatly simplified explanation. Still follow me, though?
Enchantes are examples of elementally-powered magical patterns and matrices created from the music that the bard performs. Music is often said to be mathematical in nature, and so it is. It can form patterns, whether simple or complex in nature, and so long as the bard has the necessary tools and skill, he or she should be able to sustain the pattern.
Due to the inherent nature of music, enchantes will often have the power to eventually form matrices, or cascading patterns, as the music forming the matter for each one becomes increasingly more complex and colorful. Thus, as more skill is gained in the areas of both music and magic, additional effects from enchantes may become apparent to the performer utilizing them.
Enchantes have the potential to reach as far as the voice or song of a performing bard can be heard, or so quietly reiterated that they only affect the singer themself. Very often enchantes themselves merely amplify the music that conveys them, allowing the most powerful and subtle effects: Stirring one's blood to bring them prowess in combat, calming them into a peaceful sleep, or amplifying the skill they already possess by focusing their mind on a specific area of knowledge.
It is on the strength of music that the bard performs, and their control of elemental that they channel through these patterns that the special effects of an enchante are created. However, the effects of enchantes, in and of themselves, need not be musical -- music is merely the medium through which they are brought into being.
Music itself, in the form of skillfully manipulated sound, has a strong hold over the elements. It may be of a frequency to cause sympathetic vibrations in the elements surrounding you. An example would be a deep bass note that rattles tin cans, or a high C note that shatters glass. The entire world around is subject to the vibrations coursing constantly through them, from the simplicity of speech to the glaring ferocity of a horn piercing the air, causing physical pain.
It is because of these things that some enchantes you will see (or hear) may also have spectacular elemental effects that reach throughout the room: The power to summon the fury of a storm, send objects into flame, or bring forth the earth itself to temple and rage. This combined with the subtle nature of enhanced music upon living beings gives bards both strength and power over any area of magic that they wish to become proficient in, and enough variety to aid them in whatever path in life they pursue.
That said -- I think it's plain that enchantes are a unique form of pattern manipulation, and in and of themselves are very different from what is commonly referred to as 'spells'. Just because the two are similar is no need to lower our standards. <scoffs and looks huffily at the mage guilds>
<winks> This satisfy some questions?
Deryka
