Classifications of Magic

Synopsis
For the most part, magic is categorized into three distinct classes by the magic-users of Materi: arcane magic, divine magic, and natural magic.

Arcane Magic
Arcane magic refers to the manipulation of the Weave, to tap into and utilize the power of Primordial Chaos. Primordial Chaos fuels arcane magic, while the Weave gives it structure and function. Arcanists manipulate the Weave, in order to channel and control Chaos.

Divine Magic
Divine magic refers to magic that is drawn from the powers of the prime deities of Materi. This power is drawn from the outer planes or other bastions of the gods, and channeled through the Divine Gate. Somewhat similar to how arcanists manipulate the Weave in order to access Primordial Chaos, divine sages draw power from the gods through the Divine Gate, to the limited extent to which the Divine Gate allows for such magic.

Natural Magic
Natural magic refers to the primal and elemental magic of druids, rangers, and the like. This type of magic is a subject of some debate among scholars. Arcanists insist that natural magic is really no different than arcane magic - Primordial Chaos manipulated using the Weave. Devout sages, on the other hand, believe that natural magic is a form of divine magic, drawn through the Divine Gate from the gods of nature, even if indirectly or unwittingly.

The truth lies somewhere in between, and is not well understood. Some practitioners of natural magic do, indeed, draw elements of their magic from divine sources. However, the majority of natural magic is powered by Primordial Chaos. Unlike arcane magic, however, natural magic does not utilize the Weave to shape Chaos - it instead bypasses the Weave entirely, directly utilizing pure, unbridled Chaos. In a sense, natural magic employs divine methodology - drawing magic through the Weave, rather than bending and shaping the Weave itself; much the same as divine casters draw magic from beyond the Divine Gate, rather than manipulating the Divine Gate itself.

The methodology that natural magic practitioners employ to bypass the Weave is ill-researched and generally steeped in mysticism and tradition moreso than academic study.