Infusion, Desire, Self-determination, Prayer–The concept is called many things, but today it will be called Willpower. Willpower is a new curiosity to the Abrendese but a commonly accepted occurrence for the Shéar and Erré, both presently and historically. At its core, it is the power of thought, words, or desire to manifest in reality. There are many ways this can be done.
- First, a person actively trains to become more skilled. Through training and purposeful Willpower, a person becomes stronger. While training is sometimes seen as a physical concept, it has a mental component to it. Self-validation exercises can be stronger than any weight lifting when applied appropriately. In this way, a living individual’s Willpower results in tangible results. This is the most common form of Willpower and heavily linked with learning magic.
- Second, common thoughts and stories about objects, persons, or people will imbue them with power. In some cases, they can gain tremendous power. This is the current accepted theory on the creation of gods.
- Third, lingering in an area can create lingering Willpower. This stray energy can create echoes of what left it behind. The strength of the abandoned Will varies, leading to various levels of awareness. Commonly, ‘ghosts’ will appear that mimic the will of a person, fulfilling their routine without otherwise interacting with the world. On occasion, enough stories or memories gather to create something close to a sentient ghost. Those who have a strong belief in the afterlife are more likely to leave these echoes.
- Fourth, Willpower is considered the base nature of the world. That means on some level all of existence has willpower. When given enough time, objects can gain life. This is the common reason for living objects, and believe to be the reason life itself was born and then able to evolve. Combining active Willpower (sharing ghost stories, memories, and so on) can expedite this passive form of Willpower.
The nature of Willpower and its existence is a niche area of study for magicians, historians, philosophers, and (more recently) practical research. Its mechanics and function vary from culture to culture, but at least one of the above principals will always appear in their tales.