Subtractive Magic

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Subtractive Magic is one of two types of magic, along with Additive Magic, that can be used by gifted. Where Additive magic is the creation of things, or the positive, Subtractive magic is the destruction of things, or the negative. It comes from the Underworld.

[edit] History

Subtractive magic used to be common in those born with The Gift, but would eventually die out, so that the gifted would be born only with Additive magic. This happened when a team of one hundred wizards from the Old World used their magic to lock Subtractive magic away within the Temple of the Winds.

The leader of these spies was a very high ranking New World wizard named, Lothain. Lothain, as the high prosecutor who sentenced the team to death, volunteered to try and undo the damage done in the Temple, with no suspicion due to his high rank. However his true intention was to wipe away any evidence linking him to the treachery and to make the damage even worse.

Lothain allowed a certain kind of magic to seep out of the Temple; the magic of the Dream walker. This would allow a person from the future to continue the cause that the current Old World wizards had been unable to accomplish. The person that would be born with the magic released by Lothain would be; Emperor Jagang.

The First Wizard of the time, Baraccus, decided to enter the Temple to see if he could undo the damage done by Lothain and the Temple team, upon realizing that Lothain had betrayed the New World.

Baraccus was unable to prevent the magic of the dream walker from being released to find a host of sorts in the future. Instead, he created a balance of sorts; he made it so that Subtractive magic would, like the power of the dream walker, seep out and be born into another person far into the future, to counter the power of the dream walker. This person would be Richard Rahl. Richard Rahl would be the first wizard to be born since the initial sealing of the Temple with both Additive and Subtractive magic. He would be born a War Wizard.

[edit] Discrepancy from Additive Magic

Subtractive Magic differs greatly from Additive Magic. This kind of magic is devised to take away a part of any exterior and, or internal aspect of any matter, while Additive Magic is the enhancer. Destruction and cataclysmic devastation is the product of the use of the Subtractive side.

[edit] Innate with the Subtractive side

• Richard Rahl
• Kahlan Amnell (The opposing side of her Confessor's power; the Con Dar)

There are times that others with the gift may gain limited or temporary use of the Subtractive side. Those include the Sisters of the Dark, and those who pledged themselves to the Keeper, receiving the use of the side.