Magia and the world, day 16

Last question on this topic!

Can magic be used in the arts, and if so, how -- paint that glows, pictures that move, flutes that play themselves, etc. ? How do "normal" artists feel about this?

Some storytellers use magia to visually show their audience the tale they are telling, akin to movies. Instruments is also the way many spells are cast, but a spell has to be named before you perform in order for a spell cast via music to work. Just playing random notes or a popular tune without naming a spell won't do anything. Normal artists don't mind magia in the arts--they see it as an extension of their craft.

Magia and the world, day 15

Are there separate civil and criminal courts? Is there a separate court or procedure for magical crimes? Are judges and other court officers required/forbidden to know magic?

Magia related crimes are tried before a mage's tribunal consisting of anywhere from five to seven mages and a judge, but they work the same way as a court of common law--the prosecution and defense each make their cases, then the mages decide, based on the evidence presented, whether the person committed the crime or not.

Judges and other court officials are allowed to know magia, and those with Time magia (either as an innate power or as an influence) are encouraged to help out in the courts.

Magia and the world, day 14

Is forensic magic possible? Commonly used? Used only to investigate certain types of crimes (if so, which?)? Are the results of forensic spells admissible in court as evidence?

Yes--Time magic is commonly used to help solve cold cases by recreating the victim's final moments (in a time loop, similar to a movie) in hopes detectives will be able to find a lead. If a body was never found, a Time spell will be used on any evidence that is availiable. What is seen in the time loop is then used as a starting point to solve an unsolved mystery, and is often used as evidence when the perpetrator is finally brought to trial.

Magia and the world, day 13

Is healing usually a magical process? If so, how does the magical healing talent/spell work (i.e., speeding up the body's natural healing mechanism vs. doing instant repairs from outside)? Does a magical healer have to consciously direct the healing process (meaning that lots of knowledge of anatomy, etc. would be required), or does magical healing simply speed up the normal, unconscious healing process in the patient? Is there more than one kind of magical healer (as there are surgeons, eye doctors, orthopedic doctors, etc.)? Are there both magical and non-magical healers, and if so, are they rivals or simply different specialties?

Sekiyans prefer to let nature take its course when it comes to healing, but Holy magia is usually used to stabilize the patent so doctors can do what needs to be done (by manipulating the natural healing process). Just as there are different kinds of doctors in our world, so too are there different kinds of healers--the difference is how they heal. Some use potions, others herbs, some use magia, and still others a combination of these. Traditional doctors and magical healers work together most of the time, (i.e. when going into surgery, magia is your anethesia) but there are some ailments only magia can heal (traditional doctors are taught to recognize these) diseases)

The 100 post thank you

For my 100th post, I just want to say thank you to those that read the blog--thanks for their interest in my project and their support.

Magia and the world, day 12

How much has the presence of magic affected military strategy and tactics in general?

Guns and other firearms like them (except for bows and similar weapons) do not exist, but weapons can and often are enchanted, making for swords that shoot beams like a blademage's weapon (even when the user has no blademage training whatsoever), various enchanted arrows (your standard fire, ice, and light arrows, plus some new elementals), and even ways to magically infuse catapult rocks. Defensive wise, you can put up a strong shield around your camp to deflect (or reflect) the magia, absorb it for your camp, or drain it out of your opponent's weapon.

Magia and the world, day 11

Are magicians a force in politics, or are they above it? Are there national politics that revolve around magic/wizards (i.e., trying to outlaw or promote certain kinds of magic, trying to draft all wizards into the king's army, licensing of magicians, etc.)?

Since anyone and everyone can wield magia in Sekiya, this includes the politicians. Sekiyan politicians sign an oath promising that they will not use magia to manipulate rulers or otherwise promote their own agenda before they take office. Breaking this oath can land you in both the common courts and the mage's tribunal depending on what you did and how serious of a crime it is.

Currently, magia legislation involves approval for various research and what to do about missing Holders

New picture

I've changed my userpic to a sapphire, so it better fits "SparklingBlue". I may use the ruby again, I may not, but we'll see

Magia and the world, day 10

Given the magical/technological level of this society, what is an appropriate ratio of farmers or food producers to urban residents? If this is based on the presence of magic, how many urban residents are going to starve if the spells supporting farming fail suddenly?

70% urban (including the middle class) to 30% rural (not including those of the middle class that grow food by choice). Magia is not usually used to help in farming, but no one would starve in the event magia were to not work--each town keeps a stockpile of food in case of famine.

Magia and the world, day 9

Where is scientific and/or magical research done--universities, private labs, under the auspices of the king/government, etc.?

As mentioned before, there are a number of magia academies scattered throughout Sekiya--these are where most of the research concerning magia takes place. That said, some researchers prefer to do their work in private labs, usually so they can do experiments in the field.

Magia and the world, day 8

What effect has magic had on laws? Art? Technology? Entertainment? etc.

Law wise, it has led to the creation of a Mage's Code detailing what can and can't be done with magia. Not only is a magia wielder subject to common law, he/she is also bound to this document too.

Arts/entertainment wise, instruments are what is most popularly used to wield magia, but a spell has to be named before playing--just playing random notes or a popular tune won't work. Storytelling is also a very popular art, with magia sometimes being used to project images of what is being told (similar to movies)

Magia and the world, day 7

Are there magical artifacts (rings, swords, etc)? If so, who makes them? How? Are they permanent, or does the magic wear off after a while?

Magical artifacts are plentiful around Sekiya, but the rarest and most powerful were made a thousand years ago--and many artifacts from that time have yet to be found. While the elves and the fairies generally make the bulk of the artifacts (eg. common items, clothes, potions, and jewelry), the humans, dwarves, and the avris also make a few kinds themselves (the dwarves that can wield magia make magical weapons, for example).

Making a magical item can be as simple as casting a specific spell, Magia Fusion, on an ordinary object, but artifacts made like this are not as powerful as relics made using special processes.

Once an item is enchanted, the magia remains inside it for all time, but if it is not used for a long time, the magia goes dormant until the item is found/used again.

Magia and the world, Day 6

What wild animals, actual or imaginary, live in this area? Are any of them potentially useful--e.g., for fur, whale oil, hides, magical ingredients, etc. Are there magical beasts, like dragons and unicorns? If so, which ones? How many? Are they common, or are some endangered species? Have any been domesticated?

On Sekiya's eastern continent, Earth animals that live on plains and in forests are the most common, as well as mystical creatures that live in those habitats. Some examples of Earth animals you might see include robins, cardinals, blue jays, mockingbirds, and other wild birds (their feathers are used as decoration on clothing and magical charms), deer (used for food and blankets), rabbits (used for food and winter clothes) squirrels, and many more.

In terms of mystical creatures, dragons, wyverns, goblins, unicorns, griffons, and rocs are all common on this continent. Of these, only dragons have been tamed for the dragoons

Magia and the world, Day 5

Which peoples/races/cultures/countries are most technologically and/or magically advanced? Least advanced? Why?

The elves and fairies of Sekiya are the most advanced in the knowledge of magia, while the dwarves are the least advanced. This is because the elves and the fairies use magia more in their culture, and have more people that study it. The dwarves meanwhile, just do not see a reason to harness magia themselves, although they certainly possess the capibility and skill to use it.

Magia and the world, day 4

Where did civilization begin? What directions did it spread? How was its development affected by the presence of magic? The presence of non-human races, if any?

Sekiyan civilization was said to have originated from a point in the fairy realms known as New Life Wood, From there, the new fairies made the realm grow, making some of their magia spill out into the other realm and making it hospitable for other races to exist there, bringing the first humans, dwarves, avris, and elves not long after.

I know this doesn't look like much, but I'm still working on details in this regard

Magia and the world, day 3

If there are imaginary animals (dragons, unicorns, etc) how do they fit into the ecology? What do they eat? How much and what kind of habitat do they require? Are they intelligent and/or capable of working spells, talking, etc.?

There are plenty of mystical beings in Sekiya--dragons, griffons, unicorns, rocs, phoenixes, and wyverns are just a sampling of fantasy creatures you would be able to find. For the purpose of this entry, we will focus on the dragon and its smaller cousin, the wyvern.

Usually, meat eaters such as dragons would be content to eat other kinds of mystical creatures and larger Earth creatures--for example, dragons in the wild usually eat young griffons and rocs, and think twice before going after livestock or humans themselves (although a few dragons have terrorized the people of Sekiya before and met a grisly fate.) Wyverns, meanwhile, usually eat Earth birds of prey (i.e. hawks, eagles, etc.)

Dragons usually live in large caves up in the mountains and highlands, although a few have made their homes in a forest cave. Wyverns, by comparison, live in forest clearings and grottoes on the plains.

Both species are capable of speech, and tend to wield magia in a breath attack that does not require the spell to be named, although they can wield magia by naming a spell if they so choose. They have also been domesticated by dragoons and breeders for defense and as the dragoon's companion. if you treat a dragon well, you will have a loyal companion for life. Wyverns however, have not been known to be tamed, but the dragoons have managed to tame a few to let apprentices practice caring for them.

Magia and the world, Day 2

How do organized religions react to magic?


Magia is seen as a way the High Goddess, Meikon, granted permission for mortals to tap into the power of the Twelve Stones (when before, only she and a number of divine beings were able to even sense it). When Meikon created the world, she taught the first beings she created how to sense and wield magia--these beings were the first fairies. The new fairies then went out and taught others how to use magia--Elves were next (this explains why elves and fairies rely on magia more in their culture), followed by humans, dwarves, and the avris. At first, Meikon objected to the other beings she had made using magia, but the fairies explained that eventually, the other races would have asked for permission to wield magia anyway, and that they gave the other races precautions on how to use magia responsibly--and that is why almost any being can sense and wield magia.

Magia and the world, Day 1

Are the laws of nature and physics actually different in this world (to accommodate magic) or are they the same as in real life? If the same, how does magic fit in? How do magical beasts fit in?

The laws of nature and physics can be bent (and sometimes broken) when under the influence of some magia. For instance, moving objects can be brought to a complete stop with no damage to what is around it (due to the kinetic energy being reduced to nothing), or redirected towards another place entirely. One spell can even reverse the pull of gravity on a target.

As for the laws of nature, most of the time the denizens of Sekiya let nature run its course, but there are some plants that only grow when affected by magia, and sometimes, creating a pool of water by a water spell can be a lifesaver during a drought.

Magical beasts rub shoulders with Earth creatures, but the carnivores (i.e. dragons, for example) mainly eat other magical creatures (Griffons and rocs are a particular favorite of dragons in the wild, but tame ones usually learn to eat beef and chicken)

The life of a spellcaster, Day 4

How are illegal magicians apprehended? Punished? Is this the responsibility of the magician's guild, or do ordinary law enforcement agencies have to deal with it?

If they have commited a non magia-related crime, then they are subject to common law like everyone else, only placed in a magia proof cell block if they are sentenced to prison time.

Magia related crimes are the jurisdiction of the local mage's tribunal--those found to be casting forbidden spells without a very specific reason (or another serious crime) will have their powers locked via Mystical Bane. Lesser magia related crimes are punished via probation (in which they are confined to their house and told not to use magia for a certain amount of time), restitution, or prison time.

Tomorrow: Magia and the world

The life of a spellcaster, Day 3

Are certain spells illegal (as opposed to magic generally)? Why--because of the effect of the spell, or because of the ingredients or procedures needed to cast it, or what? How are violations of this law detected?

Yes--spells that involve creating monsters, placing a harmful effect on someone (unless you are doing so in self defense) or manipulating weather will land you before the mage's tribunal. Use of these spells can either be detected by their effects (for obvious reasons), or sensed by the mages on the tribunal (these five mages are especially trained to "sense" magia being cast, and why it is being cast)