–Dave, silent Indian-commercial tear

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Arcane spellcasting is based on metamathematical/metascientific/metanormal manipulation of the world around us by way of formula/recipe/ritual. That’s why E-Merl’s items work based on gestures and interactive cues, and HR speaks in tongues.

Divine spellcasting is based on your personal connection to the energies you worship. And as such, “it’s not the song, it’s the singer.” So the procedure for activating that variety of magick is open to interpretation, based especially on what school you belong to (Druidism, Holy Devotion, Mystic, Cultist, etc). As long as the right feeling is there, it doesn’t matter what you say.

By contrast, feeling is completely meaningless in Arcane spellcasting, as long as what you say/do is exactly correct. Cultism requires a little of both, and that’s probably a big part of why it’s seen as abomination from either camp. That and all the sacrifices of the innocent.

E-Merl, in particular, only has a few spells committed to memory, most of which are more useful in street performing than combat. And as such, he relies on his magick items for fighting.

Anyway, the difference between the two schools is largely the same as the difference between math and philosophy.