Magic and Cosmology

Magic in the world has been present since its inception, tapped into by various cultures and peoples throughout history. Today, it is relatively rare, and certainly not refined enough to be considered safe or trusted by the average person. Most who practice magic are hedge wizards and witches, living on the fringe of villages and offering charms or enchantments for meagre offerings. Some manage to band together under a wealthy patron, honing their skills with practice and under the care of educated masters. The most notable of these establishments is the College of the Arcane in Caulois, where the finest magicians can practice their craft. For what good it can do, magic has also spawned a number of unruly and monstrous creatures into the world. They roam and wreak havoc wherever they can, destroying all in their path. There is a healthy market for adventurers to fight these beasts, and many make their living doing just that.

History of Creation

The history of magic is as old as the world itself. Common wisdom holds that it is the remnant of the Gods; their spirits that gave the world its life. Whatever the case, the winds and whispers of the arcane have been woven into the very fabric of the earth, there for any who have the talent to see. Elves were the first to tap into its potential, and have a natural affinity for using it. Their magicians used magic to propel their early society into a superpower, rapidly building up their own settlements and sailing abroad to colonize and explore. Magic and the religious interpretation of it was the cause of a great schism amongst them, resulting in the shattering of their society into the two cultures that exist today. Nonetheless, its secrets were guarded jealously, a powerful tool to keep humans and other settlers at bay.

The first humans to discover magic were the Noreya, an early culture of humans living in the far north of the continent. Their magic centred around their frozen home, and they used it to conquer a vast swathe of territory quite rapidly. With such an empire, and a grip on power, their elites became focused on maintaining and expanding their reign. Corruptible, they were touched by fel creatures who granted their desires, enthralling the Noreya to their own demented wishes. In their quest for power they drew ever more magical energy from the world, twisting and changing their bodies into mockeries of the human form. Horns and tails sprouted from them, while their skin changed colours and hundreds of other mutations took root. Eventually, they pulled too greedily, and their power came undone. A vast explosion, known as the Aetherbreach, destroyed their empire in magical fire, killing many and collapsing their civilization. The survivors were forced to flee, living as refugees in the southern human realms. Here, some brought their magical secrets, spreading rudimentary knowledge to the other humans.

Magicians

The finest magicians in the world reside among the Elves. In both the forests of Kochi and the shores of the Kodno, magic is treated as a religious rite. Seen as the gift of the spirits to the living, it is treated with immense respect. The Sea Elves have an entire class of academic dedicated to studying its effects and practicing its usage. These scholars are granted immense respect, considered ascetics of sorts, and sought out for their wisdom and great knowledge. The Wood Elves hold a similar view, though their interpretation differs. Among them, magic is seen as their given right, and all are taught some secrets of its use. The further study is given over to the cult of Oimoke, who use magic to power their rituals and other customs.

Among the humans, magic is mistrusted. The Noreya used it widely, but were punished greatly for it. As such, many would rather not have too much knowledge of its workings or usage. This is largely relegated to outcasts and other fringe individuals, living on the outskirts of society. Here, they are sought out to perform blessings and remove curses, given food and drink as offerings for their service. Their status is always uncertain, as they must cultivate both fear and respect from their customers lest they be targeted for attack. Their magic rarely extends beyond minor blessings or cantrips, with more elaborate spells and rituals requiring intense study to perfect.

Some human cities, or particularly interested noble households, host clusters of mages. Here, they are able to study and perfect their craft, under the patronage of the wealthy. Usually, they are bound by service to these individuals, used to bolster their renown and prestige for having such esoteric additions to court. Rarely, these situations are independent academic institutions, as in the College of the Arcane in Caulois, where the wizards are free to gather and learn under their own tutelage. The College in Caulois especially is the largest such establishment in the human realms, at the pinnacle of magical study. Some of its alumni are on par with their Elven counterparts, pushing the boundaries of magic beyond where even some ancient Noreya dared to tread.

Orcs practice unruly and wild tribal magic, borne out of their religious ceremonies. They see it firmly in the realm of women; the hags in service to Tabati perfecting and passing down their spells. It largely focuses on the interpretation of prophecy, guiding their reactions to the future. Blessings and boons are also used, helping warriors in battle and pushing their raids beyond physical limits.

Magical Artifacts

Magic was once far more powerful and widespread than it is today. Great empires of old wielded its might with ease, using it in their day to day lives. With such knowledge, many of these magicians crafted magical items, binding energy to it with spells and rituals. All types of items were imbued in this manner, from weapons and armour to more mundane goods like books or clothing. Many of them appear in legends, playing some sort of role in mythology or other stories. The vast majority of these artifacts have been lost to time, hidden away in long forgotten corners of the world. Some, however, are in use still to this day. Others are the subject of pilgrimages or other shrines, hosted as relics of the heroes they once served. All are extremely rare, only wielded by the most influential or notable figures across the world.