The Haan Study, What is Dast Casting?

Latest edit done: 2024-02-16

The Fourth Scroll: What is Dast Casting? And the Basic Ideas Behind Spell Composition

Dast Casting is the primary term used by Haan practitioners for referring to the ability of casting controllable spells comprised of Haan elements. ‘’Controllable’’ in this context refers to the spell only being comprised of elemental components whose nature aren’t known to be unstable or conflicting with what the person wants the spell to do. So, by definition, spells containing Cambriny elements (refer to the ‘’What is Cambriny?’’ scroll for more information on the topic) are technically not in this category. Though they generally are still referred to be by most educated characters in the subject regardless.

Due to the size of the continent and the vast pool of Haan practitioners of all kinds, there are multiple variations of terms and words used by different people. The largest term used for uncontrollable spells are known as Evel Teil spells. The word ‘’Evel’’ means wild and the word ‘’Teil’’ has the meaning of describing the sense of instability within either a person or an object.

To practice Dast Casting, the person or being needs to be able to pull Haan elements into a singular location. The primary way to do this is to use an element known as the Minbry-Point (for more information on the subject, refer to ‘’What is the Minbry-Point?’’ scroll). With the ability to drag and hold elements into a singular location, the Caster is then able of mix elements with each other. This causes them to react to one and another which gives the spell composition its unique abilities.

Haan spells only need to be comprised of Haan elements to be referred to as Dast Casting. Dast Casting spells do not need to be destructive nor have a damaging effect against the person or object to be counted as Dast Casting. There are many different variations of Dast Casting spells. One of the Haan spell types are what is known as Evaporation spells. These types of Haan spells are formed to evade other Haan spells by either disrupting the projectile force or breaking the spell structures’ stability. Evaporation spells are mainly comprised of Dhemsen elements (refer to the ‘’What is Dhemsen?’’ scroll for more information on the topic) and works, to put it simply, by pulling on the affected spell’s elemental movements to cause it to break the composition or alter its projectile force making it more inaccurate.

For the spell to be able to inflict damage on a person or object, the composition needs to contain elements whose nature are either conflictive with each other in their reactions towards each other. Or, as more commonly used by Haan spellcasters, have complimentary reactions.

The primary differences of elements whose reactions are either conflictive or complimentary is conflictive reactions have a much greater risk of becoming unstable or inaccurate. This is due to the fighting natures of elements who have noncompliant reactions to each other. Complimentary reactions can happen without the need of a Minbry-Point-like component to be there. But conflictive reactions won’t happen unless there is something which pulls these elements together. On their own, Haan elements don’t naturally form spells within the air. As they rain over the continent, the elements have it in their nature to avoid reactions among each other which are conflictive of their natural state.

Two examples of one complimentary reaction event and one conflictive reaction event where Haan elements combine within the air by themselves are Millo Mists and Gellens storms.

Gellens storms is a sandstorm-like weather which happens when sets of Haan elements known as Gellens elements (hence the name of the weather event) form in smaller compositions. A Gellens storm cumulate in bundles of two to four elements each. To compare sizes, a Dast Casting spell can have dozens upon dozens of Haan elements linked together making the reactions of Gellens storm quite weak in comparison. After the storm have settled, it leaves behind piles of this sand-like substance that when struck with an object gives of a short-lived spark of glister. This is because of the Haan elements entrapped within the substance being released as the grains are shattered open.

Milo Mists, on the other hand, is a weather event which happen due to build-up of Haan elements from the Cambriny family. This type of elemental family can drag other Haan elements around them much like the Minbry-Point. As the build-up occurs, the Cambriny elements drag the surrounding Haan elements into a singular location causing spell-like clouds of reactions. These clouds sit much lower than a raincloud and look closer to a mist (hence the name).

Though the spell-like clouds are ‘’charged’’ with Haan reactions, many times Millo Mists are not seen as a dangerous weather event like a thunderstorm. This is due to the unstable nature of Millo Mists themselves as for many if not most of the times it occurs the storm doesn’t cause damage to its surroundings. But does cause major complications for any spellcasting abilities within the build-up storm area.

For Dast Casting, the practice of spellcasting is centred around the idea of the person having their own Minbry-Point to drag elements with. The ability of Dast Casting can be given to any living being who possess the power to hold their own Minbry-Point.

But, once the person or being have been given the ability to cast spells, said ability cannot be taken away from that person. It is not possible for the Yulis nor any higher Haan practitioners to withdraw another person’s spellcasting capabilities. This means that there are more people with Dast Casting abilities then people who use spells.