Magic (Sword of Truth)
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This article is about magic in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind.
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[edit] General Description
Magic in the Sword of Truth series, just like everything else, follows certain laws. However, just as a builder can build bigger and greater buildings, a wizard can create new and more powerful magic. There are dangers to using magic, as well as potential pain, in various forms. Wizards and sorceresses who can manipulate magic are said to either have the gift (they can use magic naturally and learn powerful magic quickly), or the calling (they must learn to use even weak magic). There are many types of magic in the Sword of Truth series. Some are listed below.
[edit] Additive Magic
Additive magic is the most common form of magic in the Sword of Truth series during the time period which series takes place. It is the magic of the world of life.
Additive magic can only do things that use what is already there. It cannot undo things that have happened. Additive magic uses what is there and adds to it, or uses it somehow. It can change a bug to a flower, it can change a fear into a monster, it can make a broken bone knit, it can take the heat from the air around and add to it, multiply it, into wizard's fire. Additive magic can lift things and change it, but it can't make things ungrow or vanish.
[edit] Subtractive Magic
Subtractive magic is the undoing of things. Subtractive magic is from the underworld. Subtractive magic is the counter to additive, as night is to day. Most people cannot use Subtractive magic anymore, as it was lost long ago among a great war against the wizards. Richard Rahl is the first person to be born with the subtractive side of magic for thousands of years.
[edit] Art Magic
Drawing a spell around a person is a rare form of magic and not much has been revealed about it. According to Zedd, to be "spelled" you must be able to understand the language the spell is in and if you can't speak someone's language you can't put a spell on them. However, everyone can understand a drawing and an artist can draw a spell on almost anyone. James, the now deceased court artist of Queen Milena, is the only known artist with these abilities. ( note it is later found that James was a distant cousin of the Queen, and that her daughter Princess Violet also had these same powers.)
