Was wondering if there are any references in FR lore of divine casters joining their spellcasting reserves together for greater effect to their rituals and spells. The one instance I recall is the call for deliverance the elves used at the end of the crown wars which cursed the traitor elves to drow.
It seems this is a strictly arcane or psionic feat in 3.5. Its a omission in the rules that is bugging me, but there might be a reason to omit it that I overlooked.
Witches of Rashemen use both types of magic.
I don't know about any other specific elven magic ritual other than the Descent, there are divine Circle Singers of Angharradh (check Prestige in the Realms by Thomas Costa).
Thanks for the heads up. Those circlesingers make circle magic easier. Still strange that this form of casting is contained to the eastern lands.
Could it be that the secret to circle magic have an origin in the spirit world? The telthor spirits of the steppes of Rashemen and the mountainplateaus of Thay and could have shown the casters the means to join magic energies.
So primal spirits in Rashemen enabled the circles of Hathrans.
The primordial entities in mount Thay unlocked the secret of red wizard circle casting.
Fey of the seelie court learned and perfected the elves their high elven magic and the divine power of the circle singers.
yea, it seems that the circle magic rituals indeed originate from fey and other similar spirit-entities
Found these excellent pics. If you would classify these pics which would fit the three circle magic types I defined earlier?
These all depict the order in which the circle members must stand and show magic circles using 5 aides and a leader. The magic numbers 3, 6, and 9 hold some power in Fearun for spirits it seems.
Found these excellent pics. If you would classify these pics which would fit the three circle magic types I defined earlier?
Are you trying to summon something? Because that middle one would be a right good summoning circle. If only I had that Greek translator around somewhere, I could tell what the intention of it really is. The first one looks to be a fantasy interpretation of magical circles, and the last one might or might not have anything to do with magic (I feel ashamed that I'd have to look that one up).
But really, any of them would do for the uses of a fantasy magic idea. Though that top one breaks so many circles that it would be unconscionable to suggest it as a summoning circle. The whole point of the circle is that it encloses, trapping whatever you try to summon inside the circle.
Aye, these images can really make great templates for a battle on a summoning circle, but I was thinking more on the line of using such symbols as the way how the circle magics participants align themselves for casting inconcert.
Summoning and circle magic work great when combined too, as the effective wards of containment can lend power from the combined magic power.
Found these excellent pics. If you would classify these pics which would fit the three circle magic types I defined earlier?
These all depict the order in which the circle members must stand and show magic circles using 5 aides and a leader. The magic numbers 3, 6, and 9 hold some power in Fearun for spirits it seems.
Hmm, don't know about real world ''magic(k)'' Kalnaur mentions, but I did use in my homebrew, in the cosmology and the arcana of fey, serpents and humans, a lot of mystical symbolism.
The first picture would be ideal for the Imaskari, the second could work for Thayans, and the third would be of Mulhorandi arcana, not mainstream but Sethian. I forgot to mention them, basically in Egypt there was no difference between magic and religion.
Three magic types? I'd say there's a lot of similarity between Rashemi, Thayan, Mulhorandi and elven arcana, in the basic patterns, there was of course some deviation over time.
Witches of Rashemen are of Raumviran descent, who were known for their summoning skills, and they originated during their servitude to the Imaskari. Imaskari had the most superior skill with these circles (the first picture is most complex, yet a bit chaotic). Their arcana had batrachi (Bukhara Spires, Demogorgon) and leshay-fey influences.
Thayans, their arcane lore is derived from the Imaskari adept Thayd, and his follower Ythazz Buvaar. There's the connection with the witches. Also from Mulhorandi, whos magic doesn't deal much with spirits, it's all about gods, but the origins of their gods are in animistic archetypes.
Now about the numbers, in short 3 is the basic number of magic, 5 symbolizes man, the fifth element, the race of destiny
Quale, why not start a thread about it in Running the Realms? Just make a reference here to it adding a link for all those interested in the topic. 
For a change, I'll try the blog thing, it seems appropriate for homebrew stuff, then I'll post the link.