I. OF THEURGY

Theurgy is, essentially, the ability to absorb, manipulate, or/and transform energy into forms that vary depending on each type of theurgy. This ability begins to manifest generally during or around the start of puberty. Few individuals (late-bloomers) manifest at a later age, and even fewer still — known as early-bloomers — show signs of theurgy before puberty.

Each theurgist has a centre of power — his/her core — where all theurgic ability gathers. This could be in one's palm, one's abdomen, or any other part of the human body. In this core must energy then be focused and channelled correctly in order to produce the wanted outcome. Failure to do so may result in many consequences, including uncontrolled outward or even inward bursts of theurgy.

II. MEASURING THEURGY

The first signs of theurgy usually comes in small, short, weak, and uncontrolled bursts; although some rare occassions have been known to cause great damage and casualty. These first bursts are in no means an accurate prediction of the level of theurgy. The process of measuring theurgy is known as the blooding, or the testing. An individual of no theurgic ability is similarly known as an unblooded.

As theurgy is a growing and everchanging force, individuals showing first signs of it must be blooded once every six months. The only exception is for early-bloomers, who must be blooded once every four months.

After three consecutive tests that result in no significant increase/decrease of theurgic level, it is considered to have settled and no further testing is necessary. However, a theurgist may choose to undergo a blooding at any time as he/she sees fit. It is unlikely, though, that a theurgic rank would change after it settles at a stable level.

| Pictured: A raw bloodrune \

The blooding procedure itself requires — as its name suggest — blood from the tested individual. Fresh, unadulterated blood from the living theurgist is gathered in a specifically measured reflective bowl. A rune, known as a bloodrune, is to be immersed in its centre and left until it absorbs all the blood. Throughout this procedure, the rune will begin to take colour. The final shade and combination of colours it reflects once all the blood has been consumed determines the level of theurgy the individual possesses.

III. LEVELS OF THEURGY

Theurgy lies within a spectrum, represented in its physical form through a gradient of shades. A theurgist of first-rank results in a bloodrune so black, its original colour can no longer be determined. An unblooded, having no theurgy at all, results in a colourless bloodrune; unchanged from its original ashen white state.

It is said that were the deities to be tested, their bloodrune would crystallise and take on a coloured transparency. Such a deific ranking of theurgy, however, has never been seen amongst mankind.

Since the classification of theurgic strength relies on a tester's interpretation of where its colour lies within the gradient, there may be rare instances where a theurgist is erroneously ranked—for instance, a low-performing 3rd rank theurgist may be wrongly classified as a high-performing 4th rank (misdiagnosed down-ranking); or a high-performing 5th rank may be classified as a low-performing 4th rank (misdiagnosed over-ranking), etc.
However, in such cases one's theurgic capacity is so close in the spectrum to its neighbouring rank that it bears no significant difference in ability, and only effects matters of prestige.

Below is an extremely rough and simplified guide of the gradient chart:

Although theurgic capacity falls under a vast, limitless spectrum, scholars have been able to categorize it into six known human ranks.

• below sixth-rank • no theurgic capacity at all. Otherwise known as unblooded.

• sixth-rank • is the absolute minimal. Oftentimes, individuals of sixth-rank theurgy may seem to have no theurgic ability at all. Theurgy of this level usually comes with low ability to produce it at will and lack of control even with the greatest of training. Generally it will only appear upon instinct at the most direst of situations, or even not at all.

• fifth-rank • is considered the low range and consitutes about 30% of the theurgic population. At this level, most individuals given adequate training are able to produce theurgy at will, however are known to tire quickly and are not capable of the greater possibilities his/her theurgy may otherwise produce.

• fourth-rank • is considered the average range. This is the most common level of theurgy found across the realms and constitutes about 40% of the theurgic population. Fourth-rank theurgists are able to exert greater control over his/her ability. Theurgists of this level will tire less quickly, and given adequate training may even develop the stamina to last as long as third-rank theurgists. However, their power is still greatly limited compared to that of their superiors.

• third-rank • is above average and constitutes about 20% of the theurgic population. Individuals of this rank are able to last much longer and, given the proper training, demonstrate a wider possibility with his/her theurgy.

• second-rank • is considered high level and constitutes less than 1% of the theurgic population. Individuals of this rank possess great control and stamina, and with the right training are capable of far greater things with his/her theurgy.

• first-rank • is also known as the alpha level and constitutes less than 1% of the theurgic population. Theurgy at this rank may seem natural and effortless, with an unparalleled degree of control, stamina, and theurgic possibilities. With the right training, an individual of this rank may demonstrate limitless possibilities given to his/her particular theurgic ability.

• beyond first-rank • is considered deific. No human has ever been known to exceed to this level.

IV. TYPES OF THEURGY

Scholars have categorized theurgy into five divisions; each of them encompassing countless classes of theurgic ability known to man. Below are the five divisions and several examples within each division. It is by no means an exhaustive list.

• element-raisers • consists of those with the ability to manipulate and/or create one or more element of nature. eg. apsakin, pyrekin, terrakin, eyrkin, etc.

• mind-weavers / cognitists • consists of those with the ability to manipulate the mind and anything associated to it in any way. eg. telepaths, telekinetics, concealists.

• skin-shifters • consists of those with the ability to manipulate his/her own physical appearance. eg. faceshifters, sattwashifters, shadeshifters, etc.

• time-weavers / chronometrists • consists of those with the ability to manipulate and/or "read" time. eg. readers, chroniclers, augurs, etc.

• essence-shifters / transmutists  • consists of those with the ability to alter physical properties. eg. astyrpeuts, therapeuts, apsapeuts, ramnapeuts, etc.

Certain types of theurgy are much more rare and uncommon than others, and scholars are constantly finding new abilities to study.