Nulls

            On Trismegistus, every sapient being can use spirit invocations—magic—to accomplish minor but useful effects.  With practice and advanced techniques, anyone can learn more complicated magic such as channeling together multiple invocations, alchemy to alter the chemical properties of liquids, and enchantment to alter the properties of solids.  This is the basis of magic in the world.

            However, about one in a thousand humans never learn traditional spirit invocations.  Instead they have an aura that dampens or stops invocations and other magical effects, and can even use invocations to dispel or suppress ongoing magical effects.  With training, they can increase the strength of their auras and dispel or suppress more complex or powerful effects with their invocations.  Many can also learn to create enchantments or alchemicals that can dispel magic.  These people are called nulls.

            Being rare, Nulls are generally feared and disliked.  To begin with, most people are so used to magic, that being deprived of it makes them nervous.  Further, the presence of nulls causes discomfort.  It might manifest as minor aches or a sense of unease, but highly trained practitioners experience splitting headaches and panic attacks.  While nulls can suppress this aura, it requires and great deal of concentration.  Nulls also report similar discomfort when dealing with practitioners and magical effects, reporting foul odors, blinding glares, itchiness, or unpleasant sounds.

            Until the growth of cities, nulls lived in isolation.  Even with larger population centers they tend to form their own enclaves and ghettoes.  Most seek employment in fields where magic is not necessary, limiting them to labor.  However, certain industries soon found use for nulls’ talents.  In education and industry, a null could prevent magical accidents.  In investigation and law enforcement, nulls could pierce magical occultation and had natural protection from criminal practitioners.

            On the continent of Amestria the most famous organization using Nulls is the Witch Hunters, an investigative sect of the Church of Nerroth, particularly active in more orthodox communities.  They specialize in dealing with three of the most dangerous forms of magic: biomancy, necromancy, and animamancy.  Similar organizations exist in the civilizations of the other continents.