About the Author: Sandrhir Leonas, Master of the Wards and Former Archmage of the Arcane Tower, was among the Tower's finest Abjurers and the Island's greatest stavecrafter. It was he who built the Warding Array around the Arcane Tower, and his legacy across the Island yet persists to this day.
About the Editor: Terrinus Aleph, Magi Rank at time of writing. Scholar, Arcanist, Scientist. The following is a compilation of essays originally written by Master Leonas.
"1.21 Gigawatts! Studies on Electricity and its use in Magic" By Sandrhir Leonas
Electricity has many benefits to an Arcane Spellcaster. Its wide variety of uses make it a versatile element, yet spells which utilise it do share a number of properties. Foremost amongst these is the ability to cause damage to multiple targets.
While dangerous in its extreme, it is not as fickle a servant as fire, which can be considered unreliable in, for example, wet weather, and uncontrollable in highly flammable environments.
If the use of electricity has one drawback, it is that it can rarely be directed at one target - that is, electrical invocations exist which can be directed at a single target, but those who get in the way will also be affected - and there is usually little a caster may do to rectify or avoid that.
"Chapter 1: Electric Jolt"
Among the most basic of Arcane spells, the Electric Jolt is all but worthless as an offensive spell in any situation. Even other Cantrips such as Ray of Frost outstrip it in usefulness.
That being said, it can be most valuable if someone needs a warning of your superiourity or capability - many times has a subtle electric jolt concealed in a pat on the shoulder meant that a Lightning Bolt to the stomach - and the ensuing Legal bother - has been rendered uneccessary
"Chapter 2: Electric Loop"
The "Electric Loop" spell, often known as "Gedlee's Electric Loop" after its creator, is perhaps the most basic of Electrical invocations which can actually be applied to any practical combat use.
It must be cast from a short range, and thus care need be taken in not catching oneself in the circle, however, it is potent in its ability to cause damage and also to disorient and daze those it strikes - the effect of such a powerful, albeit brief, surge of electricity at such a short range can be most devastating to those unprepared.
Nonetheless, those capable of mastering the third circle or above will find this spell quickly outclassed by its more potent peers.
"Chapter 3: Lightning Bolt"
Perhaps the most obvious of electrical invocations, the "Lightning Bolt" spell is nonetheless an incredibly potent tool in any Arcanist's arsenal.
The sheer power of a bolt of pure electricity thrown at not just one, but a line of targets is immense, and while far from subtle, this spell is one of a mages' most dangerous in battle, being both moderately easy to direct safely and capable, with good control, of causing vast amounts of damage to foes in almost any formation.