Magic in Ethoria is not a gift; it is a violation of natural law. Originating from the Shattering, it is raw energy bleeding into the world through the Portals, waiting to be shaped by those with the will—or the madness—to seize it. It is not governed by clean formulas or ancient books, but by intent and consequence. To cast a spell is to tear a small hole in reality and force one’s will upon the physics of the world. Because of this, magic is physically exhausting, socially dangerous, and inherently corrupting. There are no clean miracles here; healing transfers wounds rather than erasing them, and power always demands a price in blood, sanity, or the attention of the Inquisition.
The discipline of magic is divided into five primary Domains, each reflecting a different aspect of the Rift’s influence. Shadow magic manipulates light and sensory perception, often used by spies and assassins to thicken darkness or muffle sound. Blood magic governs vitality and pain, a visceral art that can clot wounds or boil an enemy’s veins, but always leaves the taste of copper in the air. Iron magic resonates with the industrial reality of the Empire, allowing users to sense structural weaknesses or rust metal in seconds. Flame magic consumes light to produce kinetic heat, while the forbidden Rift magic twists gravity and time itself, causing nausea and visual glitches in the very fabric of the air.
Under Imperial law, magic is strictly regulated. Sanctioned mages—like the Iron-Whisperers of the factories or the Shadow-Binders of the intelligence services—are valuable assets, collared and monitored by the state. Unsanctioned use is a capital offense. The common citizen views magic with a mix of awe and terror, knowing that a neighbor who can light a candle with a snap of their fingers might also accidentally summon a Glimmer-Blight. In Ethoria, magic is a tool of survival, but it is a tool that cuts the hand that wields it.