Daleans see magic as a dangerous but vital tool. They have seen just how devastating magic can be in the wrong hands, and so they always judge mages’ moral fiber more harshly than those without any magical talents. However, they also have a long tradition of using magic to help heal the land when it is afflicted by blight, to reshape the landscape to defend themselves, to strike down the undead, and much more. Those who use magic in defense and support of their people are seen as critical parts of their communities, while those who use magic for selfish or harmful ends are viewed with distrust and revulsion.
Many Dalean mages speak of magic as if it were alive, somehow, a tree or vine within each of them that must be tended to in order to grow strong and capable. This general philosophy is referred to amongst themselves as “cultivation,” and it’s not uncommon to hear a mage’s skill with magic complimented with something along the lines of “their cultivation is strong.” A number of Dalean euphemisms and saying surrounding magic are expressed with a botanical perspective, such as saying that an evil mage has twisted and rotted roots or that a student mage who attempted a ritual too complex for their skill had branches that were too fragile for the load.
For good or ill, it is much easier to learn necromancy in Aurendale than it is practically anywhere else on the Continent. It’s not noticeably easier or cheaper to practice, but the necrotic energies within the nation seem to almost whisper into the minds of those who seek to learn how to manipulate them, guiding would-be necromancers in their practice and making it much easier to absorb the knowledge of how to raise, speak with, and bind the dead. Daleans have a deep aversion towards and hatred of anything that would raise the dead or unleash the undead upon the world. However, there is an equally strong tradition of training state-certified (and very well-monitored) necromancers who focus on using magic to bind and pacify undead rather than creating or empowering them. Every Dalean mystic has their own version of the Exorcism ritual, and most choose to learn Turn Evil as their first offensive spell.
Many Dalean battle-mages use the magic of Osteomancy for their combat spells. Altorii and Deputies who utilize spells in combat tend to prefer to use heraldic symbols for such magics, while Outriders often use trophies from monsters and the fangs and bones of various beasts as foci for their spellcasting. The use of Osteomancy by Dalean mages in rituals is relatively limited, compared to its use in combat magic, though it is utilized more often in Dalean curses than in other types of ritual.
Many Dalean mages who aren’t regularly on the battlefield use Dendromancy as their primary magical tradition, using the classic Sylvan tree symbolism with few modifications. Almost all Springwalkers and Groentals use this tradition, for both spells and rituals, while many Friars weave Dendromantic symbols into the trappings of their rituals when they perform prayers.
Dalean Springwalkers and Groentals frequently use Seasonal Invocation as a secondary magical tradition, amplifying their spells with seasonal symbology in addition to whatever their primary tradition involves. Daleans who make use of Seasonal Invocation in their magic frequently make a “sacrifice” of bread, cheese, or beer during their rituals, offering it to the participants as sustenance and to the Spirits of the land and the seasons as a gesture of respect and welcome. Breads used as sacrifices frequently have decorations on them signifying the season they’re intended to call to, such as falling leaves for Autumn or a snow flake for Winter.
Sympathetic Magic is used heavily in Dalean blessings and healing spells. Because most Daleans carry Poppets with them, it’s common for healers to use their patient’s Poppet as an additional tool to perform delicate operations or safely infuse them with large amounts of magic, and Dalean ritualists who specialize in Personal Sorceries usually incorporate the target’s Poppet into their ritual performances. This is true even when the target isn’t Dalean, with many Dalean mages crafting a crude Poppet on the spot using the local soil, grass, and a few hairs or drops of blood from the target of their magic.
Spellsinging in Aurendale tends to be more physical and theatrical than most Spellsinging traditions. Troubadours often incorporate lyrics from the plays in their repertoires into their spells and rituals, and it’s not uncommon for a Theater Company to perform a short musical play as a ritual in itself. Many also include some form of dance in their rituals, as well, especially when multiple people are being targeted by a blessing. Daleans believe that the magic is more effective if those it’s being cast upon are caught up in dancing with each other and the those performing the ritual. For those who prefer something more purely musical, work songs and bawdy farm-worker humor are frequently heard from Troubadours who travel in the more rural parts of the nation, while classic ballads and more refined humor are preferred by those who perform within the Great Cities.