Defiling Magic

Introduced to and spread by Rajaat, Defiling Magic is characterized by the magic-wielder draining the mana in their surroundings to fuel their spell, in essence using outside energy in lieu of their own. The result was powerful, devastating magic that literally sucked the life out of the area.

The Balance of Mana

In normal spellcasting, there is an equilibrium of sorts. The spellcaster uses his own mana to draw upon the strands of mana around him to acchieve a desired effect. The energy is the caster's, and yet not the caster's. The energy is of the world, and yet of the caster's mind and spirit. There is a give and a take, a balance.

This balance is destroyed when a spellcaster has turned down the dark path of Defiling. When a Defiler casts his spells, he takes more than he gives, to the point where he is actually drawing the life out of his surroundings to fuel his spell. Plants wither and die, the earth around the caster loses its fertility, the air itself seems to grow stale and the temperature drops by degrees -- and if the spell is powerful enough, animals and even sapients can experience some drain, becoming sick or even dying.

Defiling magic is inherently an evil practice. Defilers tend to grow in power much more quickly than traditional mages who respect mana's balance, but they sacrifice a little of their humanity in the process.