>I was wondering what determines the Otherworldly (or Worldly) source
>of Common magical abilities?
All common magic is from this world. You would be better off asking what determines the nature of given common magic.
Charms are primarily things that give you a bonus
Talents are innate magic, either from yourself or as an aspect of your humanity. Donandar teaches talents because he is an embodiment of humanty's theiving instincts. Bentus teaches pleasure and Donandar music.
Unfortunately I don't know what distinguishes a feat and a spell. A feat is something that you sacrificed for while a spell is magical knowledge but there seems to be no apparent difference in effect*.
Compounding this is the statement in ILH-1 in which the Darjiinians use Common Magic as charms regardless of what they actually are. So it is possible to change the form of a common magic.
>For example: the Heortling ancestor Flesh Man offers talents, but the
>Esvulari Unknown God Church offers identically named powers that are
>feats, charms, or spells.
Different philosophies. Flesh Man is your magical humanity while the Unknown God church is seeking God in the world.
*digesty moment - one could argue that a common magic spell requires a runestick or a talisman. I however believe that the talisman is derived from Kadeniti magics and that modern sorcery is a fusion of the six Malkioni modes of magic (spoken, water, runic, talismanic, exploration and theory). Thus talismans are not necessary for sorcery.
--Peter Metcalfe
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