Without a sound magic system, worldbuilding falls apart. Where does magic come from? Who can use it? What is the cost of tapping into such power? How does magic advance the narrative? Does it aid the protagonist or hinder them? What if there is an imbalance between the sides of the strife?
The Core Premise: Order vs. Chaos
I started with the premise that chaos predates everything. There’s no big bang. Arising from that chaos is an intelligence. What does it try to accomplish? Without delving into the mythos, which will be the subject of a forthcoming blog aimed at advancing the understanding of my worldbuilding, I want you to understand how magic shapes the world.
Aleara, the goddess of nature, wants her creations to thrive. She sees that a balance between humankind and her other creations is the most harmonious state. To that end, she limits the encroachment of civilization. Forests embody that give and take. While humans must use the resources to further their civilization, they must do so within limits.
The Divine Magic of Aleara
Her father, Klydos, is at odds with this symbiosis. While his mindset is hidden, his actions suggest that he would undo what his children have created to achieve his own goals. His armies and monsters serve to collapse the order. Aleara invests some of her humans with the ability to channel her divinity. They do so in unique ways. All of this is introduced in my debut novel, Rise of the Veilbreaker.
The Druids: Guardians of the Wild
The druids and druidesses are the guardians of flora and fauna. In contrast with those mandated to prosper in civilization, they seek to nurture the wilderness. Their gifts include communing with the animals and plants. Her power translates into the skills necessary to combat the expansive nature of their kin. Manipulating the plants, marshalling the animals to rise in times of need, and stepping in themselves is inherent to their place outside of society.
When foresters pass beyond their allotted areas of harvest, a druid will step in and force them back. They are often solitary beings, more attuned to the animals around them than humans. They wield their power with impunity. A wolf pack stumbling across an unsanctioned settlement will find a druid at their side, pushing back on the human settlers. This is not at odds with Aleara’s teachings. It is the belief that all of her creations are important.
The Priesthood: Shepherds of Civilization
The priesthood serves a different purpose. They serve to educate the people of their place within the world, to teach how human advancement is vital but comes at a cost. Their power manifests in protecting the humans, often from their folly. A priestess leads her flock, seeks the guidance of Aleara, and uses their abilities to that purpose. The human who injures themselves will seek out a priest for healing. When the beasts and monsters of Klydos set upon civilization, they are there to guide. Through Aleara, they use these gifts to further her cause.
The Paladins: Holy Warriors Against the Dark
The paladins are the martial forces of Aleara. Their combat skills, coupled with her divine energy, allow them to combat the forces of Klydos. When monsters emerge and threaten civilization, they take to the field to defeat them. Infused with her spirit, they fearlessly face the horrors the Lord of Tempests visits upon Binsmuth. Their allegiance is to no kingdom. Kings and queens may rise and fall with no intervention by these holy warriors. Their war is against those who would seek to undo Aleara’s creations.
A paladin might find himself beset by numerous foes. He calls upon Aleara to bolster his strength or imbue her weapons with the strength to pierce scales and turn aside weapons. Their very presence emboldens those fighting alongside them despite the horrific nature of their enemies. When a friend is wounded, they channel their divine capabilities to mend their injuries and return them to the fray. They are the special operations of Binsmuth. Singular in mindset, they exist alongside the druids and priests, but their place is offensive.
The Unbound Power: Wizards and The Aether
Challenges arise when those not aligned with Aleara find a way to channel power. These people use the very stuff of chaos itself, the aether, to oppose Aleara and her mortal chosen. This is where we find wizards. Their ability lies in sensing the aether and shaping it to their will. From the hands of these wizards fly lightning bolts, the ability to open portals to other worlds, and the destructive spells that destroy the works of humans. It is important to understand that these wizards wield their magic without the worship of a god. They draw upon raw aether itself.
Some do it because of power itself. Others do it because they agree that order is unnecessary and should be held in check. Some seek knowledge for its own sake. Whatever their reasons, they believe that Aleara is holding humanity back from achieving its proper place in the world. They ascribe to the enemy of my enemy is my friend, allying themselves with beings that hate them as much as those opposed to them.
Such magic comes at a cost, a principle that many great fantasy authors believe is essential for compelling storytelling.
https://www.brandonsanderson.com/blogs/blog/sandersons-first-law The aether is as fickle as Klydos himself. If a spell is not cast correctly, it may take the caster’s life or leave them forever altered. Their control of the aether is at odds with itself. They must create rituals, orderly steps, and limit their actions to foster the chaos they so desperately believe in. Wizards find no problem with that philosophy. They use their abilities and justify how through what they accomplish. This is important to the worldbuilding, as it sets the tension between those living their everyday lives and those serving Aleara and Donegal.
Magic’s Role in a Living World
The average human is not oblivious to what is happening. They either worship and thank Aleara for how her followers protect them, or they chafe at the confines of the system. Seeing the chosen of Aleara acting helps to keep their desires in check.
Those who follow Donegal use the gifts given by their god in different ways. The clerics that serve him can shape stone and strengthen steel. Some are blacksmiths, infusing the divine into the weapons and armor they craft. Others wander the lands, crafting buildings and temples, reaping the praise of their god through their actions. Donegal uses humans to serve him, though he does not hold them in the same regard that his sister does. You won’t learn much of Donegal and his followers in Rise of the Veilbreaker, but fear not they will be explored.
It is a complicated situation. Concepts of right and wrong are greyer. A paladin might ride past a group of bandits savaging a wagon train. If they decide it has nothing to do with Aleara’s goals, it is just as right as stopping to save them. Aleara teaches that death is but a return to her fold, to be reborn in whatever shape she might choose. There is no promise of paradise or reuniting with loved ones. Life is tenuous. Living it to the best of their ability is all Aleara’s creations can do.
Rise of the Veilbreaker is your first glimpse into this universe. I hope you’ll join me on a journey to explore how the characters navigate this unique paradigm. Another story coming is tentatively called Against the Aether and will explore more about the wizards that live there.