#magic worldbuilding

As I explained in my premise post, They Fey are limited to the few powers they are born with, where as humans can learn any magic through the use of spells.

When making this system the very first thought I had was that I wanted magic to be like coding. Complicated, frustrating, and wrought with trial and error. I knew I wanted it to be something that had base building blocks that you could mix and match and experiment with to get different effects. There isn't just one way to cast a certain spell because there is any number of thing, I landed on runes, that you can mix to get same or similar effects.

As for how you would even go about learning of these runes, well most Witches have to discover them! By just simply sitting and observing the natural world, Witches will eventually discover runes connected to them! For example, if you spent a lot of time around wildflowers, you'll discover a rune to make a bunch of wildflowers grow! Spending a lot of time around a growing redwood might reveal the rune for growth! Or a rune to make a redwood tree! Or a rune for sturdy! It could reveal any number of things to a Witch, and it all depends on how open they are to finding them. Runes appear to witches in their mind's eye, kind of like how people can see faces in things that aren't actually faces, or seeing shapes in the clouds. Runes can also be recorded by a witch to then be replicated by others and it still works just the same, thought there aren't many witches around to be doing this.

I drew up a few quick designs for what some runes might look like:

And what a larger, complex spell would look like:

Each of those little circles would be a rune, or even another circle like this one! They can compound forever to create bigger and more complex spells!

Electromancers can't wear any metal jewelry on their hands (bracelets or rings) as the lightning magic that leaves their hands could burn their hands through the metal jewelry. So if they want to wear enchanted jewelry, they need to use bracelets made out of a non-conductive material altogether or wear jewelry elsewhere on their body.

Styluses are essentially the world's early version of wands. They're made to draw runes, but require surfaces to draw on. They always encase—or utilize as the writing utensil—a conduit (an object containing pure magic, ready for use by anyone). After the invention of wands, styluses are often used as "baby's first wand", so to speak.

In other words: styluses become the giant pencil you give a toddler budding wizard for them to begin to learn runic.

For perhaps predictable reasons, artists are often recruited as wizards. Dyscalculia and dyslexia (although not named in-universe) are known to be a particular struggle for budding wizards, however.

Hugo “Cricket” Tinoco from Waves of Misfortune is an example of both. He was sponsored by the Minoguan government to join a runic academy thanks to being a skilled artist, but was eventually forced to drop out due to struggles “recreating” the runes.

(He's got some combination of the two.)

Wands aren't too dissimilar from the tool in Marvel's Doctor Strange that allows them to write in midair. They often resemble the stereotypical image of a wand, and serve as what's essentially a magic pencil that can write in midair.

However, twist: oftentimes, wizards will etch their most-commonly-used spells spells into the sides of their wands. With that, they can then later filter magic through those runes and quickly, easily, and frequently re-use their preferred spells.

Similarly, many more advanced wizards carry around staves—which are essentially larger wands—with larger conduit cores and many, many, many more runic sigils littered across their casing.

While this may seem to (and does, in fact) simplify the art of spellcrafting, there is a risk to relying on previously-etched runes: the caster has to remember where they've put each, or learn to distinguish between them by feel.

Considering the fact that they're often etched as small as possible both to fit more and to keep a possible enemy from seeing what spells you have at the ready... it is very dangerous, indeed, to rely on pre-etched spells. The practice is highly advised against except for master practitioners with several years of experience... and practice.

"Getting a new wand" is also highly frowned upon in this case, because if the caster fails to put their runes in the exact same spots...

Well.

LONG ASS RAMBLE TIME!!! I'm putting most of it under a cut again. I'm gonna power through some other interesting asks today as well. But yes!!! I'm glad you sent this because I am so fascinated with the sci-fi themes in this series too! I guess when I started thinking about Faenil as a concept, I figured that a flesh mage should definitely know quite a lot about biology and medicine in order to properly work with their craft. But then I came across a problem - why would a society built around magic need a science-based doctor when there's alchemy and restoration magic?

╚══| ⹂ WERESHIFTER / WERECREATURE PARKS : WORLD BUILDING IDEAS / MONSTER IMAGINE

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In certain settings, wereshifters and werecreatures needs may not always be met.

There may not be an appropriate or comfortable setting to roam freely in their choosen form for the safety of themselves or others.

Many wereshifters and werecreatures feel a need to isolate themselves due to this; but many at the same time benefit best in groups with their kind.

But it can also difficult for them to find a group they click with– Let alone a species the same or similar to them in the first place.

So in order to better help, support and accommodate for the needs of these wereshifters and werecreatures, parks were built with their needs in mind.

They're large, outdoor national parks with a vast amount of space and terrain to provide enrichment for all the different species;

- Large stretches of a flat terrain and fields to run to their hearts content, or to just relax by!

- Winding hills and paths to hike, traverse and explore!

- Bodies of waters such as creeks, ponds and lakes to larp, fish, cool off or swim in on hotter days! Or drink from for wereshifters and werecreatures who enjoy drinking from these.

- Trees, large rocks and other structures to climb and relax on!

- Caves and other structures for those who enjoy a quieter, darker space during the daytime hours at the park.

The environment isn't the only thing kept in mind for wereshifters and werecreatures in mind however, community is also at the forefront.

- For newly turned wereshifters and werecreatures, or for those looking to be educated or support a loved one, educational seminars, support groups and other resources are hosted at the parks often to help spread awareness, resources, education and give community!

- ^^ Other mutal aid events are given as well through volunteer work typically; professionals such as healthcare workers and dentists stop by to help give medical check ups for free! Donations are given to wereshifters and werecreatures for clothing (as a lot of it can be ruined with shifting or just generally hard to afford)! And there's a food bank that takes donations for those who also struggle with food whether it's from the absurd amount they might require with certain cycles, not being able to afford food generally or having a specific/and or restrictive diet as a result to their species.

- Recreational activities are also held regularly at the parks, organized by organizations and the local community! They're not all directly related to associated with wereshifter and werecreature activities as one might imagine though. There's artsy ones, sports ones, board game ones– etc! On the account of the different anatomy and mindset of wereshifters, werecreatures and also disability, they're typically made to be as accessible as possible too so everyone can have fun, and specific events are also held for specific circumstances quite often so everyone can have at the very least fun opportunities that fit their needs and wants!

- As mentioned, organizations are involved with the parks, but local groups and clubs are also held at the park! Join a daily or nightly run club/group, join a volunteer club/group to keep the park clean and well maintained, MAKE YOUR OWN SPECIALIZED GROUP/CLUB!!!!!

- The parks are open typically for longer hours, if not 24/7 to the public to account for nocturnal wereshifters and werecreatures specifically; but also for those who just want to have some fun at night!

- Anyone can technically visit the park, it isn't a wereshifter/werecreature exclusive thing, but it's made for them first and foremost in mind! So if you wanna take your werecreature partner to the park? have fun! Your friends invited you to join an activity? Have fun! You wanna get more involved in the local community? Have fun! Just respect who the park is actually for first and foremost, don't demand it should be meant to YOUR needs as a non-wereshifter/werecreature or that it isn't diverse enough since it's catered for a marginalized group. (This isn't for just this hypothetical wereshifter werecreature park by the way. <3)

- There's A LOT of opportunities to meet people and make friends, basically.

Feel totally free to add anything else <3!!

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× woahh! first long-winded worldbuilding idea on this post! this is a little idea that's been in my mind for a while. I'm trying to creature a story where these are actually a thing in it! It's super fun, I might mention the world from time to time when werewolves are relevant :)

𓏲ּ𝄢 Credits to sisterlucifergraphics for the beautiful dividers used <3!!

Radiance Magic - Same way that it works in Pulp canon

Prose Magic - The magic of the written word, a person who masters this form of magic can make what they write come to life, or literally use words as weapons. Those with no mastery over it can make temporary projections of the words they write, so it is often used by scientists for demonstrating experiments or ideas.

Celestial Magic - A type of magic that requires a bond to a celestial body to use. You are either born with one or you can forge it, and said celestial body will grant you their abilities. The stars have the power of creation, though unlike Transformation they have to use existing materials to create something new. The sun has the power of healing, and can heal things even the Radiance cannot. The earth gives the user both the ability to control the earth as well as an innate understanding of the organisms that make it up. The moon gives the user control over wind and ice. Although not a known celestial body, the ocean gives the user control over water.

In my setting, magic is naturally occurring in everything organic, as well as being emitted by the 4 gods. Maybe then magic could become more concentrated along a food chain, causing more visible effects. For example, a small amount of fire magic present in an otherwise ordinary flower simply manifests as petals with glowing orange streaks, then this fire magic builds up in herbivores that are then eaten by other animals, until you have lions with flaming manes roaming the area.