Magic.....the Power?

Anyone that reads this might wonder why I have chosen to include magic in a blog about super powers. Well the reason is simple, there are "super heroes" that use magic. Dr. Strange is a prime example of this. But I also include it because magic can be used to emulate super powers. One could even argue that super powers and magic powers are interchangeable if you argue it right. All you really need be concerned with is that I am including it. Magic, in my opinion can be broken into three very broad types; internal, external, and artificial.

Internal Magic - can also be referred to as innate or natural magic. This comprises all the types of magic that a living being can produce on command. Generally these kinds of abilities manifest themselves as super power like abilities such as; Aura vision, Telekinesis, Telepathy, Empathic abilities, Appearance altering, Speak languages etc... These spell-like abilities are basically free or lesser castings of regular spells. These can have varying limitations or consequenses, such as limited range, only useable on others, limited number of uses etc...

External Magic - more commonly referred to as spells, enchantments, incantations, or invocations. Much like internal magic, it mimics super powers, but generally has a broader range and can be offensive and defensive, affecting people, objects, and terrain. It also allows denizens of other planes to be called upon and bound into service. While external magic tends to be more versatile, it also carries the down side of requiring some physical component(s). Generally there are words and/or gestures and some sort of physical "focus". Each spell and such that is cast will differ in the amount of each part that is needed. Summoning denizens of another plan would generally require more words and to be safe, some sort of physical circle to bind the summoned thing to your service. A spell that affects the terrain would most likely require some sort of powder or dust as the "focus" since it would spread out and touch a wider area.

Artificial Magic - this magic is activated through a third party of sorts. The general method is to use some sort of jewelery ,a wand or rod, or a potion. Unlike the name suggests this is real magic, the artificial part just refers to the mode in which the magic is activated. These items have been imbued with one or more types of external magic, which then allows anyone to use magic abilities. The plus side is that these are prepared ahead of time, thus activating them is simple and almost any object can be imbued with a spell, but certain objects will retain spells better than others. The downside is that they usually have limited number of uses before they become inert, and since they are portable, they can be stolen and used by others.