#ahvan magic system

[duskforged]

Worldbuilding Ahvan: The Magic System

(disclaimer: this may be subject to change as the world grows and develops. this iteration is to be regarded as a hard magic system.)

table of contents

table of contents

introduction

the inner source

natural magic

synthetic magic

spirits

users of magic

limits and exceptions

consquences

disorders

introduction

In Ahvan, every single living thing is part of a magical ecosystem, from the plants and the animals to the very essences of a place. Until the creation of the four sentient species, this remained in a natural ebb and flow. But now, with magic manipulated in the same way as scientific elements, new power has been unleashed into the world, for good, or ill.

the inner source

The inner source is, in short, what creates the magical energy that flows throughout every living being, plant or animal. An inner source is relatively proportional to the size of the being it inhabits. The magical energy flows through the bloodstream (sometimes poetically called the ephemeral network), and is often channeled through the limbs or a tool such as a wand, staff, pen, etc.

Plants do not strictly have a natural inner source, instead creating magical energy through photosynthesis and other natural processes - some plants are better producers of magical energy than others, but it is not yet known how or why.

All animals, from the greatest true wyverns to the smallest mice, have a natural inner source. The inner source itself is sourced from a small organ near the animal's liver. This is also true for the sentient species. Animals are able to suffer from inner source disorders, but it is very rare in the wild and almost exclusively presents itself in species which use magic in some form, such as wyverns. The creatures who are able to manipulate their inner source generally may only limit it to one ability defined by their biology, such as the wyvern's ability to breathe cold, white fire.

The four sentient species are the humans, the enath, the elves, and the hlayä. Humans have a roughly average ability with magic. Enath and hlayä have a higher chance to produce greater magic overall, with the former focused primarily on natural elemental magic and the latter on clairsenses and divination-related magic. The elves tend to have two groups: one who is excellent at magic and the other who has little to no magical ability. Both the enath and the elves increase their lifespans the more they use magic.

natural magic

Natural magic is magic that uses one's own natural inner source to influence that which already exists. This may range from raw, unadulterated magic to spirit conjuration, from elementalism to healing.

synthetic magic

Synthetic magic is magic that uses one's own inner source to create something that does not exist. This may range from enchanting to protective wards, from necromancy to transportation. This is most commonly done by virtue of creating a synthetic inner source and placing it into an object, with or without additional runes or sigils to program its use.

spirits

There are two types of spirits: sentient spirits, normally one of the dead (see: the Ánasezan ancestral spirits), and spirits of place. Spirits of the dead can range from ancestral spirits to hostile hauntings, and are dealt with normally by a conjurer if needed. A sentient spirit may start to gain power if they are exceptionally old, but the longer they remain adrift from a bonded item or place, the more likely they are to become lost and therefore hostile.

A spirit of place is one that forms over time, with many different imprints over those who have passed through it - a spirit of place tends to develop only in inhabited settlements. An example may include a pilgrimage shrine, an ancient family's garden, or a theatre. These spirits rarely manifest in a normal way that sentient spirits do, but are merely guardians for the place where they were born. This is often where the idea of the fair folk/fairies, evil river spirits, etc come from.

Traditional offerings for spirits vary from culture to culture and religion to religion, but a popular offering that almost always remains is honey and bread.

users of magic

Across nearly every single culture, users of magic are called a magus (plural: magi). In most cultures, they are generally regarded as part of society, often that which helps it run - though there have been ironic and hypocritical takes in the past in regards to their value to science and innovation. In some places, the term 'witch' may be used for those who are self-learned.

limits and exceptions

For now, there are only three major limits and one major exception to using magic in Ahvan. One: a magus cannot raise the sapient undead, nor resurrect the dead. Two: a person cannot contain more magical energy than their bloodstream can carry; else they may quite literally explode. Three: transmutation (i.e. transformation of one object into another) is impossible.

The exception: anything is possible for a god to do, should They choose.

consequences

There are two main consequences from using magic in Ahvan: source drain, and source strain.

Inner source drain varies from spell to spell, from user to user, but often causes physical and mental symptoms when drained too much. Fatigue, nausea, headaches, migraines, sensitivity to light and noise, and insomnia are often symptoms of mild inner source drain. Severe source drain symptoms may include fevers, chills, sweating, vomiting, hallucinations, and even death.

Inner source strain comes from repeated and excessive inner source drain, and is generally considered a chronic disorder. It causes pain and numbness when attempting to reach the inner source or manipulate the energy within the body. It also often causes fatigue, hot and cold flashes, and joint pain. Inner source strain is relatively rare, and is almost exclusively found amongst those who regularly drain their power levels far beyond their limit.

disorders

Much like one's mental, emotional, and physical health, one's inner source may become regulated improperly. Some individuals may be born with disorders, others may gain it from excessive inner source drain or strain, or aging.

Maladaptive Source Disorder (MSD) is categorized as a trained magic user attempting to manipulate their inner source and it failing to respond. This is most commonly brought on by way of a birth defect, considered a chronic disorder. Often, it causes a numbness or pain in the source when attempting to use it, and may occasionally cause soreness and fatigue. It is treated with pain medication, source therapy, and rest.

Inner Source Leak Syndrome (ISLS) is a disorder most commonly caused by a birth defect, but may arise from repeated inner source strain. It is categorized as erratic spell results, with magical energy leaking from the individual regardless if they are a magic user or otherwise, leading them to influence their environment heavily. ISLS is often diagnosed when the individual is an infant or toddler, as their leaking energy can lash out from emotional distress.

Individuals with ISLS still have the potential to use their inner source, but it must be regulated with treatment, such as medical enchantments.

Symptoms of ISLS may include fatigue, stunted physical growth in children, brain fog, and a weak immune system.

Hypersource is characterized by a person’s inner source creating far too much magical energy. This can result in severe headaches and migraines, body aches, nausea, and fevers. The energy can be siphoned into specially enchanted objects, which can act as a relief for those who have it.

Hyposource is characterized by a person’s inner source creating far too little magical energy. This can result in dizziness, fatigue, body aches, chills, and loss of appetite. Energy can be transferred into their body by way of magically enchanted objects, which can sometimes be donated by people with hypersource, or else can be found made by alchemists or enchanters.

[duskforged]

Worldbuilding Ahvan: Elven Families

(disclaimer, none of the constructed Elven conlangs are complete, and some are not even started. This is only a rough idea of how things work. They also age (and gestate) twice as slow as humans do.)

This is inspired by this post by @worldbuildingwedasks.

introduction

The elves of Ahvan are, as a general rule, matriarchal. This is not simply a reverse of the real life status quo, or in some fashion attempting to use insect hives as a model. It is simply the way their culture has fallen into place over time, especially given that from their perspective, they were created by two goddesses, who created the first woman. As every woman can assure a child is theirs (by blood or otherwise), families are also matrilocal and matrilineal, where, with some exceptions such as starting a new household, multiple generations live in the same home, or at least in the same neighborhood. Their family system puts more emphasis onto the concept of motherhood, and the caring and raising of children. Indeed, entire offices of their governments are dedicated to assisting with financial aid, among other things.

general concepts

A mother is generally called a matriarch of the family, whether or not they actively bore her children or not. The family will often elect a high matriarch to essentially be the head of house. A person who was once a bearing mother, but whose children have passed into adulthood is called a matron. A matriarch tends to marry a spouse who is able to reproduce in the natural way with them (though there are surrogates and magical aids which I shall not get into here), but as these tend to be arranged marriages among the nobility, a matriarch may also choose to have a secondary spouse, who may be of any gender. Any children are presumed to be the primary spouse's offspring, unless otherwise indicated. All children are considered sacred, and are strictly dressed in veils and other concealing clothing of pale pastels. They are referred to with only gender neutral pronouns, until they reach their majority and go on to become an adult. A daughter of a family may choose to marry and move out to start their own household, but if desired, they may also elect to start one in their family's ancestral home. This is a given if they are the eldest daughter, who is set to inherit.

the queen

For the queens, there is little difference in the above. The only exception is that instead of pale pastel hues, the monarch's children are veiled entirely in blue until their coming of age. Whereas other elves may have two spouses, the queen may only have one. However, it is commonplace for the queen to have multiple lovers, as catching their eye is quite a boon - or a curse - in the right circumstances.

the nobility

Due to the nature of their arranged marriages, many noble elves elect to take another spouse, in particular those that they truly love. The law permits only the two, so for those in polycules of a greater number than three, they are only permitted to take lovers guarded by the goddesses, which is a sort of religious form of a domestic union. This functions very similarly to a marriage, including legal protections (such as keeping children in a particular household) but far fewer... obligations (such as tax benefits or public visitations). Though anyone of any rank can adopt, I shall be discussing it here, since nobles have a different way of doing it. In short, there are two surnames an elf can have: their matronymic and their house name. A lower house may essentially 'give' their child to a higher house in hopes of improving their relations, ending a blood feud, helping the child learn new skills, or gaining favor at court. This often ends in the child taking on either the matronymic or the house name of their second house (though rarely both). (Rarely, a child might take a patronymic, but only if they are being adopted into their father's family, either as the heir of the house, or in an attempt to keep the family name from dying.) The adoption ceremony often takes place at specific locations and during specific times, typically related to the history of the house which is receiving the child. This can also involve a sort of 'dowry' given to the house sending the child, which might include livestock, gems, a lump sum of money, or other rare things. It could also be exchanging children altogether, especially in the case of blood feuds. And if a child is mistreated at the hands of either family... children have rights too, including being able to prompt an investigation into the household on their behalf, among other things, while they find safe harbor elsewhere.

the commoners

As they stand on less political grounds, the commoners have far greater freedoms in choosing who and when to marry. They have higher numbers of men/masculine-leaning folks as head of house, rather than the near-exclusive feminine-led nobility. They also adopt, but stand on less ceremony when doing so - often rarely asking for permission to even do so, especially if they find a child has been mistreated by their birth family. Similarly, there is less veiling for children, though the children are still referred to in gender-neutral terms. Often, they only wear pale or undyed headscarves that veil their lower face and hair, rather than the full-body veiling that the nobility do, particularly in the working class. Those with greater wealth, such as merchants and artisans, might splurge on brighter colors (though never sky blue, like the queens).

but what about trans, non-binary, and other GNC folks?

As you may have noticed, I am using neutral pronouns in English as I refer to mothers. This is because elves put less emphasis on actual biological sex, but on the actual gender of the person. This is reinforced by their veiled period as children, where each elf child is veiled until their coming of age, whereupon they select an adult name and may present as whatever gender they wish. A person is considered a 'mother' if their identity is feminine-aligned (which can also be conveyed by dress, personal pronoun usage, and other terms of address), even if they are non-binary, so long as they have children. This is because of the elves' strict emphasis on what is essentially finding one's true self - they may wish for daughters, but get sons instead, and they cannot exactly say otherwise, because being honest to one's truest self is sacred, passed down by their goddesses.

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