Original Text

Original text of the Laws of Magic, as written by the First Congregration of the High Council of the Universal Academy of the Arcane, 1680 A.D.:

''We hold these Laws to be self-evident in Nature, for the Universe is Created in like parts Good and Evil, and insoforth Magicks might be either of Good or of Evil, and in Their working Man will likewise be drawn to Good or Evil, and therefore, no Man may work magicks of Evil without becoming an Agent of that Evil, and thus it is proscribed that for all Mankind:

• He shall invoke no Magicks to kill any Man
• He shall invoke no Magicks to bind the will of any Man
• He shall consort with no being born not of This Earth of mortal flesh
• He shall invoke no Magicks to violate the sanctity of Natural Death
• He shall keep the confidence of the True Art

Modern Interpretations

The Laws of Magic, or the Five Laws are they are sometimes known, are written in an incomplete and archaic tone, and as such have required interpretation over the years.

They are generally interpreted (and executed) as such:

• The First Law: don't kill with magic.
  • This law is strictly and simply enforced. The Eldritch Knights themselves do not execute with magic, but with swords.
• The Second Law: do not charm or compel any sentient being.
  • This law is also quite strict; any sort of enchantment on a human is grounds for execution or Quietude. There is a lot of argument as to whether or not this applies to outsiders, as the original wording only mentioned "any Man"; this might not matter, given the wording of the Third Law, except as noted below.
• The Third Law: do not summon or contact outsiders; if you know a being is an outsider, or a possessed mortal, you shall not do any business with them, or do deeds for them, or make any exchange, equal or otherwise.
  • In practice, this is usually limited to demons and other inherently evil beings. The close ties between certain Faerie Lords and various European orders make it impossible to discriminate against their kind. Still others hold that the Angelic Host are inherently good, and it would be imperil their souls to deny the will of God and his angels. However, the High Council is concerned that such exceptions would lead the way to unbridled use of Pact Magic with faerie folk, angels, and any being that didn't seem too much like a demon--this law is hotly debated, and its execution varies greatly as the High Council's membership changes over time.
• The Fourth Law: No Necromancy.
  • Generally, Necromancy is defined is any magic which can animate the dead (in part or in whole), contact the spirits of the dead, or stave off natural death. However, this has caused much confusion where it intersects with healing magic, particularly in the modern age, where the combination of "necromantic" magic and modern technology can cure many fatal ailments that technology can't handle alone. Currently, this is a subject of great debate, as there is little difference between magicks that heal and magicks that kill (or animate); thus, their general policy has been only to allow specific, ancient healing traditions to skirt the edges of this law. This "grandfather clause" has angered many young wizards, who might otherwise practice healing magicks well beyond the capacity of outdated, pre-scientific traditions.
• The Fifth Law: keep magic, wizardry, and the Academy a secret from mortal eyes.
  • This law is as vital today as it ever was. While the risk of inquisition is somewhat lower in the 21st century (only somewhat), undue public attention would make it impossible to practice magic. It is impossible merely to "share" magic with the world, as it requires an exceedingly rare natural talent, and wizards do not want to be dissected and analyzed in the name of the "greater good". Any wizard who betrays the existence of the Academy risks excommunication, Quietude, or worse. Generally speaking, the Academy has mastered the art of Plausible Deniability, and will sooner make an entire cell of wizards disappear than allow their secrecy to be compromised.