u/Syriepha

These are from this project

Dwarves come from a domain, a place where magic has poured from the fae realm into reality, to create its own magically saturated pocket. The domain they come from was a vast subterranean system of caves and tunnels, once an ancient mine. Flooded with magic, all life trapped there was warped and molded. Those with beneficial changes survived and made a home out of the caves, and the rest perished.

Dwarven fairfolk originate from the humans who once mined precious minerals in the depths. Once trapped there, they did their best to make a home from their prison, until they forgot it was a prison at all. They live without sun, eating various forms of cultivated fungi and magically warped creatures like wyrms and rats.

In the modern era, the domain has "popped" breaking off their isolation and allowing some to venture out into the world. Dwarves have a hard time on the surface, prone to anxiety and a feeling of exposure, as well as an extreme sensitivity to the sun. Most who stay on the surface prefer to live nocturnally

As fairfolk, they're able to hybridize with humans. Half-dwarves are called Dwarvish people, and sometimes infertile, but not always.

These are from this world and magic system

Orcs were created by conflict. Rival groups of humans living on the open plains feared magically enhanced super-soldiers sent from the other side. This fear is what led to the creation of Orcen fae.

No one really knows what kind of hosts the fae spirits first took on to gain physical bodies. There were rumors that they rose from the battlefields of dead, Given new, terrible life.

Orcs live shorter lives than humans, but they are taller, stronger, faster, and keener. Once "enraged" (triggered by chemical stress signals from other orcs) they are driven by an uncontrollable rage to kill their opposition. They are devastating to face in combat, built to kill. And yet, Orcs do not particularly care for war. They know what humans think, many faced capture and enslavement because they were only seen as tools of violence, for conflict. But though the fae that birthed them were made from violence, physical bodies and minds change and adapt. Learn to appreciate life in the same way as any person.

They eventually organized and made it very clear that they wanted no part in the scuffles of humans. They wanted to be left alone, to live like any other people. They're especially keen on avoiding violent large-scale conflict because of the uncontrollable fury that they're afflicted by. Once activated, all of their energy will be spent wrecking carnage that they're completely unable to stop. It's something that leaves them vulnerable, shutting off their higher brain functions, collapsed from exhaustion in the end. Their society is built to avoid being triggered into this mode. This is why they communicate with other peoples primarily by proxy.

These are from this world and magic system

Goblins are small, crepuscular-nocturnal humanoid fairies with a wildly fast metabolism. During their active hours they are constantly seeking food. They forage for tubers, mushrooms, fallen fruits, berries, nuts, worms etc. they also hunt for small rodents, bugs, lizards, fish, and eggs. They are most known for their thievery from humans though. Stolen grain stores, meats, and pets can make for an abundant source of low effort calories, so once a goblin troop gets a taste, it often becomes a habit. That habit frequently extends to clothes, trinkets, and underutilized dwellings.

Goblins are widely regarded as non-fairfolk, meaning that their origin is considered inhuman and they're not biologically compatible with human hybridization, despite their humanoid stature. It would also be considered ethically condemnable regardless, because while goblins are sapient and capable of speech, it's thought not to the same degree as humans and other fairfolk. They are magically diverged from proto-elves, born from rumors of small humanoid menaces that would come out in the evening and cause chaos.

When trying to reason with goblins (when they are reasonable enough to talk to), it's most effective to consider that they have a rather child-like mentality. They have underdeveloped ideas of time, resource management, and priority. The effectiveness of reasoning and bribery depends on the group, but they can sometimes be enticed into a pattern of exchange, leading to a more benevolent relationship between the human and goblin populations in specific areas.

There are rumors that they eat children and rob people traveling, but these are generally not true. They can be vengeful if a person slights or cheats them though.

Unicorns did not always exist. Their origin was in a small, cold region close to the sea, where locals would occasionally hunt narwhals, which didn't exist in many other places in the world.

When showing the polished horns to foreigners who didn't know what they were, it was a local joke to speak of unicorns, strange horse-like creatures that grew a horn from the center of their forehead, and had a keen magical sense for purity.

There were a couple tales associated with unicorns. That they were elusive and walked with complete silence, that they would guide the young and innocent from the woods, protecting them from danger. That their horn could purify water and neutralize poison with a touch. That they would avoid or impale the unworthy with that horn. Since there was clear evidence, people came to believe in these creatures, and belief created fae spirits.

The tales changed as they spread, so the fae spirits took on different sorts of hosts in different parts of the world. A suitable sort of host were horses, especially foals afflicted with lethal white syndrome, which wouldn't survive otherwise, these would turn out most horse-like. In other places, unicorns were much more goat, antelope, or even fish-like.

People would use children to lure them from the woods so they could be trapped or hunted. The ivory horns became coveted pieces in mage regalia, even more so when unicorns became functionally extinct from the hunting.

If any remain, then they likely dwell in the domain between the fae realm and reality

Harpyfolk are a sort of fairfolk, meaning their origin was a result of magical influence rather than natural selection. Harpies don't know whether their ancestor was human or perhaps a bird before she was magically altered, but they don't consider themselves part of humanity and prefer to remain in isolated communities of their own kind.

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Harpyfolk are generally all female, reproducing asexually when exposed to specific and intentional conditions (a certain diet and frequent exposure to warm+dark environments. Usually nest helpers are the ones wanting to have eggs)

Because of that, they're always genetic clones of their mother, though there's the occasional case of a mutation resulting in a male hatching (smaller and more colorful).

Even though there isn't a lot of genetic diversity amongst harpies, there is plenty of variation in appearance and behavior. During their developmental years, harpies are strongly influenced by various environmental factors, which trigger the expressions of different traits. Once that developmental phase is past and a harpy's appearance settles, they're considered an adult.

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Without hands practical for writing, harpies are very reliant on oral culture. They spend a lot of time singing and telling stories. They do have a simple landmark scratching writing system to help warn and guide around resources and dangers.

Mate pairs aren't really a thing, but it's not uncommon for them to take on life partners. Different social roles are taken in the absence of distinct sexes which sometimes influence language (pronouns for social role/job as opposed to gender)

Their limited interactions with humans were variable but ended very sourly. They have a habit of attacking human trespassers which gives them a reputation for being violent and feral.

I'm trying to make some more or less comprehensive diagrams for my magic system. I want to capture the information I deem important without making it too wordy or boring to look at. I'm not sure I'm succeeding, or that the information is captured in an understandable way

For context, the diagrams are for this magic system, that post might explain it better but I'm not sure

The next ones I'm working on will be a diagram of souls and how mundane souls are different from magic users. Depicting how magic usage works will most likely be the most difficult part

The spells that mages use are magical networks made of bonded magic which extend from the soul and tell a mage's stored aetheric magic what to do (where to go and what form of matter/energy to convert into). In practice, this usually manifests as exerting kinetic force on an object, heating it up, or turning it into some other form of matter. The more complex the spell network the more complex expressions of spells (it can be compared to coding reality.)

​

Mimics are a category of fae spirit born from the fear of deception. They're not evil, but they tend towards malicious behavior as most fear-born spirits are. It's what they're made from, it's their nature.

Here is some more information on the Magic system they stem from for context

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Doppelgangers are a sort of mimic which can take on the appearance and mind of a person or creature when exposed to a piece of them (such as teeth, a lock of hair, or nail clippings) the more substantial that piece, the more complete/accurate the mimic's form is, and the longer it will last (if the piece is something perishable like blood, it will lose its form unless it encounters more material)

When incomplete, there might be some inaccuracies, off features or gaps in personality/memory, usually enough that someone who knows the donor would be able to tell something is off. They are also mostly hollow and instead of bleeding when damaged, they crack, revealing a void inside.

The main difference between the donor and a mostly complete Doppelganger is that the mimic never has any memories from the donor of encountering it, and it has an innate animosity towards the donor, believing that it's the original and that the donor is the one who stole its visage. If it manages to kill the donor, then it completes its transformation from spirit into mortal life, and believes fully that it is the donor for the rest of its lifespan (probably becomes a Doppelganger after death).

Shadows are usually small, not the most powerful of spirits, but they are insidious. They recreate the sounds and silhouettes of distressed animals and lost children, sobbing and calling for help. To touch one is to grant permission for it to possess. It latches onto the host's soul, continuously sapping magic to grow in power and size. It is not usually deadly, but a shadow's influence manifests as long-term fatigue, brain fog, susceptibility to illness. It can alter a host's personality, making them seem different, or off. It appears in the host's shadow, so it doesn't match.

Echoes, like shadows, mimic voices, but they specifically recreate the voices of loved ones, calling the victim deeper and deeper into the woods, into danger or towards more dangerous spirits, acting as a lure. They can sometimes latch onto hosts like shadows do, but they typically don't because they're more elusive and perpetually out of reach.

Snares possess lost and abandoned items, especially valuable ones, hoping that someone will come along and pick them up. Once touched, put on (in the case of accessories), or opened (in the case of things like doors, boxes, or lockets) they are granted the ability to stun or render their victim unconscious so that they can feed on their energy. Small ones might just take a bite, causing disorientation (the victim might not have even noticed it happen). More powerful ones can render a victim completely unconscious and drain their energy until someone either finds and saves them, or they die.

This is my mascot, she's not really a dragon exactly, but she looks close enough to be called one. She's a construct, an ember given life which feeds on heat and light, and rebirths from flame when destroyed. I call her the wingy-thing because the wings grow from anywhere on her body, appearing in place of scars.

This is pretty much self indulgent, there's been a lot of talk (and fighting) about new flags and stuff which inspired rumination.

While I don't think the proposed "new flag" is ugly, and a lot of the responses to it have been needlessly horrible, I don't think it's recognizable enough as an ace flag. I don't think we need a design change, I do think a meaning tweak could be beneficial though

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I've made a slightly altered version of the original flag (I made the colors more appealing to myself) and meanings that I'm adopting for myself, because I can. I think it's still recognizable enough that people can still recognize what it means if I incorporate it into art and whatnot

Black: Strength and support as a community, our effort to spread awareness.

Grey: The spectrum of experience, including gray, demi, apothi, cupio, completely devoid of attraction, etc.

White: In some way, whether it be partial or complete, what unifies us is a lack of sexual attraction.

Purple: There's no one correct way to be ace, no specific type of person or expression. You can be any ethnicity, any gender, disabled or neurodiverse, be sex positive or averse, and still completely ace.

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If I were to add an extra stripe, it would be a lighter purple (similar to the aro flag) and I would dedicate it more solely to intersectionality while the darker purple would be specifically for diversity of expression (Sex positive, sex negative, etc) since it can sometimes be a point of contention within the community

These are Ren and Sol. I have a lot more queer OCs but I can't post everyone at once, lol. You can introduce your characters reacting to them and I might draw the reactions in return

Ren is transmasc and demi-gay and Sol is AroAce (and probably agender). They're basically married and nothing bad ever happens to them ✨

Is there anything I should change about it to make it more readable and appealing? References are sort of a struggle for me, I never know how much detail I should put on them

https://artfight.net/character/4639320.sol

This is a revised version of the first post, stuff is added and reworded, so it hopefully makes more sense and includes information that got asked about (such as how magic usage works in practice)

(Re)The basics of my magic system are fairly well fleshed out in my head I think? The troubles come in trying to explain it in a concise way, and there are definitely some gaps that I've probably overlooked. This is an attempt to break down the basics into something comprehensible, and I'm curious to know if it makes any sense or if there are any obvious problems I'm missing. Is it compelling or intriguing? Are there any changes that might benefit it?

It might be notable that this is a sort of meta version of the explanation, inhabitants of the world (Gaia) do not have the full picture, so it looks softer and more mystical from the inside. I'm very torn between a fairytale high fantasy vibe and a more political low fantasy vibe, and I try to get both of those out of it by having the availability of magic wax and wane through periods of time

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Magic basics

Magic is an intangible substance, it cannot be observed or interacted with in any meaningful way via the physical body or senses. It can only be observed or sensed via magical senses. If you are seeing "magic", then what you are seeing is not the magic itself, but the percentage of it that converts into matter/energy (including visible light) upon introduction to reality.

The most important functions of magic are its ability to bind to itself and create chains encoding information, and the ability to convert into matter/energy (and vise versa) or convert one form of matter into another form of matter/energy. This ability is the basis for magic usage such as spells, and for the construction of souls, spirits, and the veil.

In the context of this worldbuilding the word "fae" is synonymous with magic. The fae realm is the primary body of magic in existence, overlapping with reality(the physical world), but separated from it by a layer of bonded magic, known as the veil. The fae realm is not a physical place, or accessible in a physical sense. It's easiest to comprehend as similar to the Internet. Not a physical space, but a collection of information. Anything that enters the fae realm converts into magic (data), and when magic enters reality it begins converting into matter/energy.

Fae spirits, the inhabitants of the fae realm, are beings made of magic. They could be compared to programs(coded from magical networks) and may gain physical forms via possession of a material host, but naturally occur as intangible autonomous networks of magic.

All living things (even plants and microscopic organisms) have souls. A soul is primarily a conduit(with associated neural networks) that connects an organism to the fae realm. The conduit of the soul allows the exchange of information between the experiencing mind (stored in the fae realm) and the body/brain in reality.

Energy from the body is pulled into the fae realm through the soul and converted into atmospheric (unbonded) magic containing information encoded with the emotions and experiences of the individual. A portion of magic produced will bond to the network of the soul and the rest is released into the fae realm. More complex souls, especially those connected to a true nervous system and sapience will produce far more magic than simple souls. (it works differently between different sorts of organisms, such as colonial organisms sharing collective souls).

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Magic usage in practice

In order to interact with magic, a physical organism must be magically awakened (becoming a mage), a process which alters the soul and gives an individual more control and awareness of it. Since the soul is made of magic, it can be used to perceive and influence magic. The mind is just normally blocked from awareness of the soul (because it's not really safe). Awakenings can happen a couple different ways, most typically when the soul is used as a catalyst for a veil tear (When magic pools in the fae realm until it tears through and pours into reality), or via a deal with a fae spirit.

Only magically awakened organisms are able to perceive and utilize magic, and only a very small percentage of the population gets magically awakened at all (something around 1% for a placeholder, and an even smaller percentage of that number for more formidable mages)

The basic forms of magic usage can be understood as an extension of magic's basic capabilities: Magic can encode information. Magic can communicate with or direct other magic. And magic can convert into matter/energy or convert one form of matter into another.

Those capabilities are a natural feature that occur regardless of magic users directing it. Units of magic chain together, and those bonded networks can tell atmospheric magic(unbonded magic) what to become and where to place itself (similarly to coding).

A magically awakened soul will develop a sense of their own magic(tied to a focus point, the point at which magic exits the soul into reality, usually linked to a body part, such as a fingertip or a piece of regalia such as a wand), which is a magic user's awareness of their own magic. It varies from person to person, but most would describe It as similar to the awareness of a limb that they can move at will.

A mage's potential/power is usually measured in the combination of a few different factors: Force Output(amount of magic that can be output at once, think of it as the size of a hole limiting the amount of water that can pass through), Attention Capacity(Control over and comprehension of magical output), and Magical Reservoir(Amount of magic able to be stored and utilized before the user must wait for it to regenerate/sacrifice in order to refill it).

The most basic/common magic utilization is direct will enforcement, or magical kinetics. Magic converts into energy that is applied to a target. Some types are: object kinetics (moving objects), fluid kinetics (manipulating groups of particles), thermokinetics(manipulating particle excitement), etc. These usually come to a magically awakened individual naturally, some more than others (resulting in specializations).

Network development is the more complicated/advanced stuff that can't be done at a moment's notice. Since it's a lot like coding, it requires a mage to study and plan, and then practice until the network sticks (as an extension of the soul). This can result in simple effects like the production of fire or light in a particular shape, or more complex sequences, such as animating a puppet that carries out encoded tasks as long as it's in the vicinity of the mage. Mages will usually develop their networks over a lifetime and cut down on unnecessary ones since a network requires constant maintenance and upkeep (similarly to the brain pruning unnecessary information and holding onto what it deems important).

---

An important aspect of magic is the theory of perceptive influence: People's beliefs shape the behavior of magic, and collectively this creates magical laws. (That I can go over in more detail in a future post hopefully, but here are some crucial ones)

One of the core laws within the system is the law of domain: The amount of influence an individual has over something is determined by their claim over it/their generally accepted possession of it(can be contested). Branching from the law of domain is the law of Autonomy: The body, mind, and soul are an individual's most rigidly claimed domain. Essentially, magic cannot be used directly on another person without consent. This doesn't stop mages from obliterating individuals by throwing things at them with magic, but it rules out things like bloodbending, mind control, or syphoning magic from them non-consensually.

---

Some extra stuff that gives a picture of the world and inhabitants:

Fairfolk are human lineages descending from the host of a fae spirit who was altered by it in a way that allowed the magically altered traits to be passed on to offspring. Fairfolk are not inherently magical, they are still physical creatures so they must be magically awakened like any other organism: Elven fair, Eden Fair, Orcs, Dwarves, etc

Fairies (name pending) are lineages like fairfolk, but they do not originate from humans and cannot hybridize with them under normal circumstances: Goblins, Harpies, Pixies, Unicorns, Dragons, etc

Fae beasts are not species but individual occurrences, the result of a fae spirit taking on a physical host and altering it so it is genetically distinct. They may or may not retain the ability to reproduce, and those who can may start their own fair lineage. Because they are the host of a fae spirit, they are inherently magical: Proto Elves, Trolls, Changelings, the Sphinx, etc

Cardinal fae (or greater fae) are fae spirits which are born from the mass perception of a concept. Human perception creates magic, similar magic likes to clump together. It bonds and grows in complexity until it forms a fae spirit, and eventually perhaps a Deity: The Solarian (the sun), Nox (the night sky), Luna(the moon), Terran bodies, death, the Ocean, etc.

• Image 1 is the Solarian, visage projected on the walls of its temple via a crystalline artifact.

• Images 2-8 are diagrams attempting to depict some magic system basics (I'm working on revising all of them since they are a bit outdated, any advice on parts that need clarification would be great)

• Image 9 depicts a person caught in a moderately large veil tear

• Image 10 depicts some types of wisps (the most common/simple form of fae spirit)

This is a revised version of the first post, stuff is added and reworded, so it hopefully makes more sense and includes information that got asked about (such as how magic usage works in practice)

(Re)The basics of my magic system are fairly well fleshed out in my head I think? The troubles come in trying to explain it in a concise way, and there are definitely some gaps that I've probably overlooked. This is an attempt to break down the basics into something comprehensible, and I'm curious to know if it makes any sense or if there are any obvious problems I'm missing. Is it compelling or intriguing? Are there any changes that might benefit it?

It might be notable that this is a sort of meta version of the explanation, inhabitants of the world (Gaia) do not have the full picture, so it looks softer and more mystical from the inside. I'm very torn between a fairytale high fantasy vibe and a more political low fantasy vibe, and I try to get both of those out of it by having the availability of magic wax and wane through periods of time

---

Magic basics

Magic is an intangible substance, it cannot be observed or interacted with in any meaningful way via the physical body or senses. It can only be observed or sensed via magical senses. If you are seeing "magic", then what you are seeing is not the magic itself, but the percentage of it that converts into matter/energy (including visible light) upon introduction to reality.

The most important functions of magic are its ability to bind to itself and create chains encoding information, and the ability to convert into matter/energy (and vise versa) or convert one form of matter into another form of matter/energy. This ability is the basis for magic usage such as spells, and for the construction of souls, spirits, and the veil.

In the context of this worldbuilding the word "fae" is synonymous with magic. The fae realm is the primary body of magic in existence, overlapping with reality(the physical world), but separated from it by a layer of bonded magic, known as the veil. The fae realm is not a physical place, or accessible in a physical sense. It's easiest to comprehend as similar to the Internet. Not a physical space, but a collection of information. Anything that enters the fae realm converts into magic (data), and when magic enters reality it begins converting into matter/energy.

Fae spirits, the inhabitants of the fae realm, are beings made of magic. They could be compared to programs(coded from magical networks) and may gain physical forms via possession of a material host, but naturally occur as intangible autonomous networks of magic.

All living things (even plants and microscopic organisms) have souls. A soul is primarily a conduit(with associated neural networks) that connects an organism to the fae realm. The conduit of the soul allows the exchange of information between the experiencing mind (stored in the fae realm) and the body/brain in reality.

Energy from the body is pulled into the fae realm through the soul and converted into atmospheric (unbonded) magic containing information encoded with the emotions and experiences of the individual. A portion of magic produced will bond to the network of the soul and the rest is released into the fae realm. More complex souls, especially those connected to a true nervous system and sapience will produce far more magic than simple souls. (it works differently between different sorts of organisms, such as colonial organisms sharing collective souls).

---

Magic usage in practice

In order to interact with magic, a physical organism must be magically awakened (becoming a mage), a process which alters the soul and gives an individual more control and awareness of it. Since the soul is made of magic, it can be used to perceive and influence magic. The mind is just normally blocked from awareness of the soul (because it's not really safe). Awakenings can happen a couple different ways, most typically when the soul is used as a catalyst for a veil tear (When magic pools in the fae realm until it tears through and pours into reality), or via a deal with a fae spirit.

Only magically awakened organisms are able to perceive and utilize magic, and only a very small percentage of the population gets magically awakened at all (something around 1% for a placeholder, and an even smaller percentage of that number for more formidable mages)

The basic forms of magic usage can be understood as an extension of magic's basic capabilities: Magic can encode information. Magic can communicate with or direct other magic. And magic can convert into matter/energy or convert one form of matter into another.

Those capabilities are a natural feature that occur regardless of magic users directing it. Units of magic chain together, and those bonded networks can tell atmospheric magic(unbonded magic) what to become and where to place itself (similarly to coding).

A magically awakened soul will develop a sense of their own magic(tied to a focus point, the point at which magic exits the soul into reality, usually linked to a body part, such as a fingertip or a piece of regalia such as a wand), which is a magic user's awareness of their own magic. It varies from person to person, but most would describe It as similar to the awareness of a limb that they can move at will.

A mage's potential/power is usually measured in the combination of a few different factors: Force Output(amount of magic that can be output at once, think of it as the size of a hole limiting the amount of water that can pass through), Attention Capacity(Control over and comprehension of magical output), and Magical Reservoir(Amount of magic able to be stored and utilized before the user must wait for it to regenerate/sacrifice in order to refill it).

The most basic/common magic utilization is direct will enforcement, or magical kinetics. Magic converts into energy that is applied to a target. Some types are: object kinetics (moving objects), fluid kinetics (manipulating groups of particles), thermokinetics(manipulating particle excitement), etc. These usually come to a magically awakened individual naturally, some more than others (resulting in specializations).

Network development is the more complicated/advanced stuff that can't be done at a moment's notice. Since it's a lot like coding, it requires a mage to study and plan, and then practice until the network sticks (as an extension of the soul). This can result in simple effects like the production of fire or light in a particular shape, or more complex sequences, such as animating a puppet that carries out encoded tasks as long as it's in the vicinity of the mage. Mages will usually develop their networks over a lifetime and cut down on unnecessary ones since a network requires constant maintenance and upkeep (similarly to the brain pruning unnecessary information and holding onto what it deems important).

---

An important aspect of magic is the theory of perceptive influence: People's beliefs shape the behavior of magic, and collectively this creates magical laws. (That I can go over in more detail in a future post hopefully, but here are some crucial ones)

One of the core laws within the system is the law of domain: The amount of influence an individual has over something is determined by their claim over it/their generally accepted possession of it(can be contested). Branching from the law of domain is the law of Autonomy: The body, mind, and soul are an individual's most rigidly claimed domain. Essentially, magic cannot be used directly on another person without consent. This doesn't stop mages from obliterating individuals by throwing things at them with magic, but it rules out things like bloodbending, mind control, or syphoning magic from them non-consensually.

---

Some extra stuff that gives a picture of the world and inhabitants:

Fairfolk are human lineages descending from the host of a fae spirit who was altered by it in a way that allowed the magically altered traits to be passed on to offspring. Fairfolk are not inherently magical, they are still physical creatures so they must be magically awakened like any other organism: Elven fair, Eden Fair, Orcs, Dwarves, etc

Fairies (name pending) are lineages like fairfolk, but they do not originate from humans and cannot hybridize with them under normal circumstances: Goblins, Harpies, Pixies, Unicorns, Dragons, etc

Fae beasts are not species but individual occurrences, the result of a fae spirit taking on a physical host and altering it so it is genetically distinct. They may or may not retain the ability to reproduce, and those who can may start their own fair lineage. Because they are the host of a fae spirit, they are inherently magical: Proto Elves, Trolls, Changelings, the Sphinx, etc

Cardinal fae (or greater fae) are fae spirits which are born from the mass perception of a concept. Human perception creates magic, similar magic likes to clump together. It bonds and grows in complexity until it forms a fae spirit, and eventually perhaps a Deity: The Solarian (the sun), Nox (the night sky), Luna(the moon), Terran bodies, death, the Ocean, etc.

• Image 1 is the Solarian, visage projected on the walls of its temple via a crystalline artifact.

• Images 2-4 are diagrams attempting to depict some magic system basics (I'm working on revising all of them since they are a bit outdated, any advice on parts that need clarification would be great)

• Image 5 depicts some common types of wisps (the most common/simple form of fae spirit)

• Image 6 depicts a person caught in a moderately large veil tear

• Image 7 depicts the moon deity, luna

• Image 8 depicts the sun deity, The Solarian

• Image 9 depicts the deity embodying the night Sky, Nox

• Image 10 depicts Orcs (also known as Orcen fairfolk or plainsfolk)

(this version has an extra section about magic usage in practice since it's the thing that gets the most questions)

The basics of my magic system are fairly well fleshed out in my head I think? The troubles come in trying to explain it in a concise way, and there are definitely some gaps that I've probably overlooked. This is an attempt to break down the basics into something comprehensible, and I'm curious to know if it makes any sense or if there are any obvious problems I'm missing. Is it compelling or intriguing? Are there any changes that might benefit it?

It might be notable that this is a sort of meta version of the explanation, inhabitants of the world (Gaia) do not have the full picture, so it looks softer and more mystical from the inside. I'm very torn between a fairytale high fantasy vibe and a more political low fantasy vibe, and I try to get both of those out of it by having the availability of magic wax and wane through periods of time

---

Magic basics

Magic is an intangible substance, it cannot be observed or interacted with in any meaningful way via the physical body or senses. It can only be observed or sensed via magical senses. If you are seeing "magic", then what you are seeing is not the magic itself, but the percentage of it that converts into matter/energy (including visible light) upon introduction to reality.

The most important functions of magic are its ability to bind to itself and create chains encoding information, and the ability to convert into matter/energy (and vise versa) or convert one form of matter into another form of matter/energy. This ability is the basis for magic usage such as spells, and for the construction of souls, spirits, and the veil.

In the context of this worldbuilding the word "fae" is synonymous with magic. The fae realm is the primary body of magic in existence, overlapping with reality(the physical world), but separated from it by a layer of bonded magic, known as the veil. The fae realm is not a physical place, or accessible in a physical sense. It's easiest to comprehend as similar to the Internet. Not a physical space, but a collection of information. Anything that enters the fae realm converts into magic (data), and when magic enters reality it begins converting into matter/energy.

Fae spirits, the inhabitants of the fae realm, are beings made of magic. They could be compared to programs(coded from magical networks) and may gain physical forms via possession of a material host, but naturally occur as intangible autonomous networks of magic.

All living things (even plants and microscopic organisms) have souls. A soul is primarily a conduit(with associated neural networks) that connects an organism to the fae realm. The conduit of the soul allows the exchange of information between the experiencing mind (stored in the fae realm) and the body/brain in reality.

Energy from the body is pulled into the fae realm through the soul and converted into atmospheric (unbonded) magic containing information encoded with the emotions and experiences of the individual. A portion of magic produced will bond to the network of the soul and the rest is released into the fae realm. More complex souls, especially those connected to a true nervous system and sapience will produce far more magic than simple souls. (it works differently between different sorts of organisms, such as colonial organisms sharing collective souls).

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Magic usage in practice

In order to interact with magic, a physical organism must be magically awakened (becoming a mage), a process which alters the soul and gives an individual more control and awareness of it. Since the soul is made of magic, it can be used to perceive and influence magic. The mind is just normally blocked from awareness of the soul (because it's not really safe). Awakenings can happen a couple different ways, most typically when the soul is used as a catalyst for a veil tear (When magic pools in the fae realm until it tears through and pours into reality), or via a deal with a fae spirit.

Only magically awakened organisms are able to perceive and utilize magic, and only a very small percentage of the population gets magically awakened at all (something around 1% for a placeholder, and an even smaller percentage of that number for more formidable mages)

The basic forms of magic usage can be understood as an extension of magic's basic capabilities: Magic can encode information. Magic can communicate with or direct other magic. And magic can convert into matter/energy or convert one form of matter into another.

Those capabilities are a natural feature that occur regardless of magic users directing it. Units of magic chain together, and those bonded networks can tell atmospheric magic(unbonded magic) what to become and where to place itself (similarly to coding).

A magically awakened soul will develop a sense of their own magic(tied to a focus point, the point at which magic exits the soul into reality, usually linked to a body part, such as a fingertip or a piece of regalia such as a wand), which is a magic user's awareness of their own magic. It varies from person to person, but most would describe It as similar to the awareness of a limb that they can move at will.

A mage's potential/power is usually measured in the combination of a few different factors: Force Output(amount of magic that can be output at once, think of it as the size of a hole limiting the amount of water that can pass through), Attention Capacity(Control over and comprehension of magical output), and Magical Reservoir(Amount of magic able to be stored and utilized before the user must wait for it to regenerate/sacrifice in order to refill it).

The most basic/common magic utilization is direct will enforcement, or magical kinetics. Magic converts into energy that is applied to a target. Some types are: object kinetics (moving objects), fluid kinetics (manipulating groups of particles), thermokinetics(manipulating particle excitement), etc. These usually come to a magically awakened individual naturally, some more than others (resulting in specializations).

Network development is the more complicated/advanced stuff that can't be done at a moment's notice. Since it's a lot like coding, it requires a mage to study and plan, and then practice until the network sticks (as an extension of the soul). This can result in simple effects like the production of fire or light in a particular shape, or more complex sequences, such as animating a puppet that carries out encoded tasks as long as it's in the vicinity of the mage. Mages will usually develop their networks over a lifetime and cut down on unnecessary ones since a network requires constant maintenance and upkeep (similarly to the brain pruning unnecessary information and holding onto what it deems important).

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An important aspect of magic is the theory of perceptive influence: People's beliefs shape the behavior of magic, and collectively this creates magical laws. (That I can go over in more detail in a future post hopefully, but here are some crucial ones)

One of the core laws within the system is the law of domain: The amount of influence an individual has over something is determined by their claim over it/their generally accepted possession of it(can be contested). Branching from the law of domain is the law of Autonomy: The body, mind, and soul are an individual's most rigidly claimed domain. Essentially, magic cannot be used directly on another person without consent. This doesn't stop mages from obliterating individuals by throwing things at them with magic, but it rules out things like bloodbending, mind control, or syphoning magic from them non-consensually.

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Some extra stuff that gives a picture of the world and inhabitants:

Fairfolk are human lineages descending from the host of a fae spirit who was altered by it in a way that allowed the magically altered traits to be passed on to offspring. Fairfolk are not inherently magical, they are still physical creatures so they must be magically awakened like any other organism: Elven fair, Eden Fair, Orcs, Dwarves, etc

Fairies (name pending) are lineages like fairfolk, but they do not originate from humans and cannot hybridize with them under normal circumstances: Goblins, Harpies, Pixies, Unicorns, Dragons, etc

Fae beasts are not species but individual occurrences, the result of a fae spirit taking on a physical host and altering it so it is genetically distinct. They may or may not retain the ability to reproduce, and those who can may start their own fair lineage. Because they are the host of a fae spirit, they are inherently magical: Proto Elves, Trolls, Changelings, the Sphinx, etc

Cardinal fae (or greater fae) are fae spirits which are born from the mass perception of a concept. Human perception creates magic, similar magic likes to clump together. It bonds and grows in complexity until it forms a fae spirit, and eventually perhaps a Deity: The Solarian (sun god. depicted in the first image, visage projected on the walls of its temple via a crystalline artifact), Nox (the night sky), Luna (the moon, depicted in image 7), Terran bodies, death, the Ocean, etc.

• Images 2-4 are diagrams attempting to depict some magic system basics (I'm working on revising all of them since they are a bit outdated, any advice on parts that need clarification would be great)

• Image 5 depicts some common types of wisps (the most common/simple form of fae spirit)

• Image 6 depicts a person caught in a moderately large veil tear

The basics of my magic system are fairly well fleshed out in my head I think? The troubles come in trying to explain it in a concise way, and there are definitely some gaps that I've probably overlooked. This is an attempt to break down the basics into something comprehensible, and I'm curious to know if it makes any sense or if there are any obvious problems I'm missing. Is it compelling or intriguing? Are there any changes that might benefit it?

It might be notable that this is a sort of meta version of the explanation, inhabitants of the world (Gaia) do not have the full picture, so it looks softer and more mystical from the inside. I'm very torn between a fairytale high fantasy vibe and a more political low fantasy vibe, and I try to get both of those out of it by having the availability of magic wax and wane through periods of time

Magic basics

Magic is an intangible substance, it cannot be observed or interacted with in any meaningful way via the physical body or senses, it can only be observed or sensed via magical senses. If you are seeing "magic", then what you are seeing is not the magic itself, but the percentage of it that converts into matter/energy (including visible light) upon introduction to reality.

The most important functions of magic are its ability to bind to itself, to create chains encoding information, and the ability to convert into matter/energy (and vise versa). This ability is the basis for magic usage such as spells, and for the construction of souls and spirits.

In the context of this worldbuilding the word "fae" is synonymous with magic. The fae realm is the primary body of magic in existence, overlapping with reality(the physical world), but separated from it by a layer of bonded magic, known as the veil. The fae realm is not a physical place, or accessible in a physical sense. It's easiest to comprehend as similar to the Internet. Not a physical space, but a collection of information. Anything that enters the fae realm converts into magic (data), and when magic enters reality it begins converting into matter/energy.

Fae spirits, the inhabitants of the fae realm, are beings made of magic, which could be compared to programs, and may gain physical forms via possession of a material host.

All living things (even plants and microscopic organisms) have souls. A soul is a conduit(with associated networks) that connects an organism to the fae realm. The conduit of the soul allows the exchange of information between the experiencing mind (stored in the fae realm) and the body/brain in reality, especially the nervous system when applicable (it works differently between different sorts of organisms, such as colonial organisms sharing collective souls).

In order to interact with magic, a physical organism must be magically awakened (becoming a mage), a process which alters the soul and gives an individual more control and awareness of it. Since the soul is made of magic, it can be used to perceive and influence magic. The mind is just normally blocked from awareness of the soul (because it's not really safe). Awakenings can happen a couple different ways, most typically when the soul is used as a catalyst for a veil tear (When magic pools in the fae realm until it tears through and pours into reality), or via a deal with a fae spirit.

• some extra stuff that gives a picture of the world and inhabitants:

Fairfolk are human lineages descending from the host of a fae spirit who was altered by it in a way that allowed the magically altered traits to be passed on to offspring. Fairfolk are not inherently magical, they are still physical creatures so they must be magically awakened like any other organism: Elven fair, Eden Fair, Orcs, Dwarves, etc

Fairies (name pending) are lineages like fairfolk, but they do not originate from humans and cannot hybridize with them under normal circumstances: Goblins, Harpies, Pixies, Unicorns, Dragons, etc

Fae beasts are not species but individual occurrences, the result of a fae spirit taking on a physical host and altering it so it is genetically distinct. They may or may not retain the ability to reproduce, and those who can may start their own fair lineage. Because they are the host of a fae spirit, they are inherently magical: Proto Elves, Trolls, Changelings, the Sphinx, etc

Cardinal fae (or greater fae) are fae spirits which are born from the mass perception of a concept. Human perception creates magic, similar magic likes to clump together. It bonds and grows in complexity until it forms a fae spirit, and eventually perhaps a Deity: The Solarian (sun god. depicted in the first image, visage projected on the walls of its temple via a crystalline artifact), Nox (the night sky), Luna (the moon, depicted in image 7), Terran bodies, death, the Ocean, etc.

- Images 2-4 are diagrams attempting to depict some magic system basics

- Image 5 depicts some common types of wisps (the most common form of fae spirit)

- Image 6 depicts a person caught in a moderately large veil tear

The basics of my magic system are fairly well fleshed out in my head I think? The troubles come in trying to explain it in a concise way, and there are definitely some gaps that I've probably overlooked. This is an attempt to break down the basics into something comprehensible, and I'm curious to know if it makes any sense or if there are any obvious problems I'm missing. Is it compelling or intriguing? Are there any changes that might benefit it?

It might be notable that this is a sort of meta version of the explanation, inhabitants of the worldbuilding do not have the full picture, so it looks softer and more mystical from the inside. I'm very torn between a fairytale high fantasy vibe and a more political low fantasy vibe, and I try to get both of those out of it by having the availability of magic wax and wans through periods of time

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Magic is an intangible substance, it cannot be observed or interacted with in any meaningful way via the physical body or senses, it can only be observed or sensed via magical senses. If you are seeing "magic", then what you are seeing is not the magic itself, but the percentage of it that converts into matter/energy (including visible light) upon introduction to reality.

An important function of magic is its ability to bind to itself, to create chains encoding information, and the ability to convert into matter/energy (and vise versa). This ability is the basis for magic usage such as spells, and for the construction of souls and spirits.

In the context of this worldbuilding the word "fae" is basically synonymous with magic. The fae realm is the primary body of magic in existence, overlapping with reality(the physical world), but separated from it by a layer of bonded magic, known as the veil. The fae realm is not a physical place, or accessible in a physical sense. It's easiest to comprehend as similar to the Internet. Not a physical space, but a collection of information. Anything that enters the fae realm converts into magic (data), and when magic enters reality it begins converting into matter/energy.

Fae spirits, the inhabitants of the fae realm, are beings made of magic, which could be compared to programs, and may gain physical forms via possession of a material host.

All living things (even plants and microscopic organisms) have souls. A soul is a conduit(with associated networks) that connects an organism to the fae realm, allowing the exchange of information between the experiencing mind (stored in the fae realm) and the body/brain in reality, especially the nervous system when applicable (it works differently between different sorts of organisms, such as colonial organisms sharing collective souls).

In order to interact with magic, a physical organism must be magically awakened (becoming a mage), a process which alters the soul and gives an individual more control and awareness of it. Since the soul is made of magic, it can be used to perceive and influence magic, the mind is just normally blocked from awareness of the soul (because it's not really safe). Awakenings can happen a couple different ways, most typically when the soul is used as a catalyst for a veil tear (When magic pools in the fae realm until it tears through and pours into reality), or via a deal with a fae spirit.

- some extra stuff that gives a picture of the world and inhabitants:

Fairfolk are human lineages descending from the host of a fae spirit who was altered by it in a way that allowed the magically altered traits to be passed on to offspring. Fairfolk are not inherently magical, they are still physical creatures so they must be magically awakened like any other organism: Elven fair, Eden Fair, Orcs, Dwarves, etc

Fairies (name pending) are lineages like fairfolk, but they do not originate from humans and cannot hybridize with them under normal circumstances: Goblins, Harpies, Pixies, Unicorns, Dragons, etc

Fae beasts are not species but individual occurrences, the result of a fae spirit taking on a physical host and altering it so it is genetically distinct. They may or may not retain the ability to reproduce, and those who can may start their own fair lineage. Because they are the host of a fae spirit, they are inherently magical: Proto Elves, Trolls, Changelings, the Sphinx, etc

Cardinal fae (or greater fae) are fae spirits which are born from the mass perception of a concept. Human perception creates magic, similar magic likes to clump together. It bonds and grows in complexity until it forms a fae spirit, and eventually perhaps a Deity: The Solarian (sun god), Nox (the night sky), Luna (the moon), Terran bodies, death, the Ocean, etc.