Prompts for Inspiration

Oh! to sleep

to stop.

to rest

until the light

is gentle

Character idea:

A cat shows up in the Realm beyond the Realms, where nothing physical should be able to travel or exist. The cat is fine, and goes about their business doing cat things.

Chaos ensues.

("But cats can't travel the realms! No one can!" you might exclaim, in the frustration and confusion only a cat up to mischief can elicit.

A space traveling civilization finds the Voyager, take a look at what's on the Golden Record and get curious enough to come for a visit. When they get here, they're a little dismayed by all the war, and poverty, and environmental destruction, but instead of leaving us to our mess, they decide to stay. They decide to take a chance on the world that so sparked their curiosity, and try to help.

Normally overlooked and easily underestimated Character A is always with their partner, Character B. B dotes on A, going out of their way to protect and care for them. At first glance, most assume A is simply taking advantage of the relationship, only too happy to be looked after, and they're just with B for the protection and attention being at their side provides. These people easily overlook the fact that A is no less thorough in their affection for B, they're methods are simply quieter. When anyone gets up the courage to ask respectfully, A simply states that they let B take care of them because it makes B happy, and because there was a time when B couldn't.

Barebones thoughts for a soft magic system:

Everyone is able to manipulate magical energy, but most are limited to a few basic spells, not due to lack of ability, but due to lack of knowledge. Magic is a bit like cooking - anyone can learn to do it, and some may be naturally better or worse at it, but not everyone puts in the time and effort, or has access to the right resources, to do it "well," or make it a career.

Average casting range is about 150ft^2, average spell duration is about an hour.

Magic's Law: Do not take what isn't freely and knowingly given. This law mainly applies to people, since animals/plants/etc can't necessarily give informed consent. So long as a non-person target treated with respect, however, the caster shouldn't have any issues.

The worse or more frequent the infraction, the harsher magic's punishment - especially if the offender attempts to use magic to break this law.

Rules of Magic (Things mages can technically do, but it's strongly advised against due to trying-will-probably-kill-them reasons.)

Don't create life. Only life can create life, and trying to do so 'unnaturally' may cost the mage their own.

Don't attempt to communicate with or bring back the dead. They've earned their rest, and it's more than likely what the mage makes contact with will not be the intended target.

Don't manipulate time. That way lies headaches and heartaches.

Pick a random year prior to the Industrial Revolution (~1750)

The world has now been "rewound" to that year. Any environmental changes have been undone, political boundaries have been rewritten, clothing has been replaced, architecture has been remade, etc. In exchange, any technological advancements have been replaced with magical alternatives, with everyone at least able to turn on the magical equivalent of a light switch.

In an effort to prove their "divine legitimacy," a royal family holds a lottery of everyone who's been born within the borders of The Country, is still living, and hasn't been convicted of a major felony. Feeling confident, they promise they'll honor whoever is chosen in such a way that it's actually legally binding, and can't be waived off as a publicity stunt.

An individual is asked to name three things responsible for the world's ills. After some thought, they name the following: 1) private cars, except in cases of actual need, like rural areas or medical necessity; 2) modern weaponry, most notably automatic guns and bombs; 3) big business