From Humanists to Ink Blotters and Powder Mages - how do the people of Powderborn interact with its magic?
Preface
In my first post, I briefly touched upon some 'truths' about the magic in Powderborn. Today, I want to delve deeper into the dark depths of humanity trying to control a supernatural force they do not fully understand.
The Broad Strokes
- Magic is relatively new to this world (~80 years)
- Many different interpretations, perspectives, and approaches to magic
- Magic is dangerous and everything has a price
- Life Essence is the only valid energy source
- Everything that lives has Life Essence (including flora & fauna)
- Energy and matter can't be created from nothing
- Energy output requires equivalent energy (Life Essence) input
- Magic affects everything in the setting
- Every part of society was shaped by the sudden appearance of magic
- No true resurrections
- Death is still a very real and final consequence
The Perspectives
Ink Blotting
Blotters typically use a personalized ink blotter and infused ink to channel their magical powers. Their main focus is divination and they are a familiar mainstay at many high society gatherings.
Patrons write their questions, worries, desires, or regrets on a piece of parchment that barely absorbs the ink. The Blotter then uses their focus to absorb the excess ink and transfers it onto another piece of parchment. This process is repeated several times until a pattern emerges on the second piece of parchment.
For simple spells, this seemingly undecipherable gibberish is then interpreted by the Blotter. They channel the magic through the ink on the parchment, often in a very ritualistic environment and manner. The answers aren't guaranteed to be easily comprehensible and many customers have left with more questions than answers.
Greater feats of magic require a lot more preparation and participants. These heavily ritualized gatherings are a rare occasion for anyone but the most wealthy and influential individuals.
The required Life Essence to 'pay' for these spells is typically provided by the patron. Most spells range from small flowers to large trees or animals but there have been rumors of human sacrifice to fuel the larger rituals. Most parts of the world prohibit the use of human Life Essence.
Reputation is everything to Blotters. There are many charlatans that claim to have magical powers which leads to an overall mixed reputation of their profession. Individual Blotters work very hard to maintain a steady list of trusted customers that can verify their magical prowess.
Humanism
Humanists do whatever it takes to serve humanity and further the development of all mankind. They firmly believe that humans have proven their dominance over any god and religion as a whole.
They do not discriminate with their ruthless logic. If Humanists deem it necessary, they would willingly use the Life Essence of one hundred people in order to cast a spell that would save one thousand people.
There are many factions within the Humanism Perspective but most of them tend to flock to large cities and places of learning. More practically oriented Humanists like to travel the world in an effort to better understand humanity as a whole.
They live a life of constant comparisons and life-altering calculations. People may perceive them to be cold-hearted pragmatists but Humanists see themselves as a positive force for humanity. They accept that sacrifice is necessary for civilizations to blossom, which leads them to do whatever it takes to further that goal.
Humanists are spread all over the globe, working on their long term goal of a united humanity that lives in peace. Most rulers and governments allow their presence because Humanists are known as courteous diplomats and scholars that prefer to debate among themselves.
Powder Magic
Ingesting black powder in order to cast spells and enhance physical abilities.
Powder Mages are people that can metabolize black powder. They ingest the gunpowder and use it to channel magic. During the process, their physical abilities are enhanced and their senses are heightened.
Their magic is comparatively weak so they rely on their physical prowess and heightened senses to achieve victory in battle. Powder Mages are highly sought after in every organized army, as their ability to remotely detonate gunpowder makes them extremely dangerous to massed infantry.
Armies that regularly have to fight against Powder Mages have adjusted their battle tactics to be less vulnerable to these attacks. Additionally, they have created dedicated Mage Hunter squads that are specifically trained to kill Powder Mages.
Outside of the military, Powder Mages make excellent scouts, pioneers, and expedition members. They are self-reliant, capable, and have a supernatural resilience that allows them to thrive in most environments.
That being said, they have to be careful with the amount of black powder they consume. The heightened state a Powder Mage experiences can quickly become addicting. Most Powder Mages succumb to this addiction and, sooner or later, lose their life because of it.
Scholastic Magic
Mages see themselves as the only 'respectable' practitioners of magic. They believe that magic is simply another tool to master and that it is dangerous to the untrained mind.
Mages dedicate their entire life to the pursuit of magical knowledge. They learn through highly structured universities that follow a strict hierarchy to determine who has access to the more dangerous parts of magic. Most universities are separated into the individual 'schools of magic' (illusion, abjuration, evocation, etc.)
Spiritualism
Spiritualists believe that the spirits of their ancestors have given them the powers of magic.
According to their beliefs, the Life Essence needed for casting spells is directly transferred to these spirits. In return, these spirits empower the Spiritualists so they can continue to honor their ancestors.
The rituals and spells are directly tied to the family of the individual Spiritualist. Personal belongings, familiar surroundings, and living descendants of the spirit are typically needed in order to successfully channel magic.
Because of the individual nature of Spiritualism, there is no overall faction or organization that binds them. Spiritualists and their intentions are as varied as the humans they are.
Chaos Magic
Chaos Mages are the personification of unpredictability. They
have never learned to control their magical abilities and they never
know exactly what will happen when they unleash them.
Most of the Chaos Mages never knew that they had any magical abilities. Only in a moment of true desperation did the chaotic swirl of the universe unlock that door in the back of their mind.
Due to the unpredictable nature of their magic, Chaos Mages tend to avoid casting anything at all. They can't control where the Life Essence for their spells comes from.
Many of the larger accidents and disasters in recent history have been attributed to Chaos Mages who lost control of their powers.
Druidism
Druids are fanatical proponents of an eternal balance between life and death. Humanity should not interfere in either.
They have a seemingly endless list of natural remedies in their head but they refuse to use any of their knowledge and skill to heal naturally occurring diseases. Only man-made injuries and afflictions get treated because they would otherwise break the cycle.
Druidic magic revolves around the transfer of Life Essence. Everything that lives has to die. Everything that dies has to live.
Large cities are an affront to the balance in the same way as wars are. Druids exclusively live in sparsely populated areas, where they tend to their surroundings as if it were their eternal duty.
Most people see them as fanatics at best and enemies to humanity at their worst.
Terminally sick people tend to flock to them to receive respectful care until their end finally comes. Druids are said to have a soothing presence that can calm the most distraught souls.
Historical Magic
Historian Mages believe that the Outsiders weren't the first civilizations to bring magic into this world. They are on an eternal expedition to find the lost civilization that buried all their magical secrets with them. Their magic is channeled through ancient artifacts and lost treasures.
During the Rheokrene, the entire world was infused with magic and that included historical digsites, dungeons, catacombs, ruins, etc. A lot of them assumed some sort of magical property but the Historian Mages believe them to be signs of a magically capable lost civilization.
Occultism
Now, these efforts finally bear fruit.
Occultists are individuals that long for the supernatural. They mostly work in secrecy and alone or in small covens - all of them filled with the desire for power.
Occult teachings are rarely taught face to face. Due to its illegality, knowledge has to be passed through other means. Tomes, especially magically sealed ones, are the preferred method for the fashionable Occultist but there have been developments in other directions. For example, there have been independent reports of occult knowledge being unwillingly planted in the audience of a specific theater play.
Divine Magic
During the Rheokrene, some of the Outsiders Gods were unwillingly transported to this world. They are weakened without all their followers and their powers are but a shadow of their former selves.
In order to return to their home, they need to amass new followers. They are currently targeting the weak, dying, and desperate, whispering to them in their darkest and loneliest of moments. Magical powers are certainly an alluring prospect. I mean, how bad can eternal service be?
Sidenote: this isn't meant as the traditional divine magic you'd see in other fantasy settings. These are desperate, arrogant, and selfish beings looking for a way home.
Closing Thoughts
In terms of 'soft vs hard' magic system, I'd say Powderborn is firmly in the middle. There are some basic rules that are known to the magic users but there are still a lot of mysteries to uncover. I'm personally not a fan of magic systems that don't explain anything and more or less do whatever the plot demands, so expect that any further worldbuilding (in terms of magic) will go in the other direction.
I hope you enjoyed this first deeper look into the world of Powderborn and I would be honored if you continue to keep up with this project. Until next time!
Comments
Post a Comment