Magic works by drawing in, and controlling new energy into a closed system, the closed system being the universe. This can produce a variety of effects such as barriers, throwing lightning, or pretty much anything you can think of that involves energy. It does have it's limits though. Firstly it does take time to cast a spell, the better you get at magic the quicker you can cast but even the best mages need a few moments to concentrate to throw out anything potentially lethal. Second, drawing on magic harms your body, I'll go into this in more detail later in the gathering section, but basically if you use too much magic you could end up with serious organ damage. Third there are certain effects that just can't be accomplished through magic. You can't create or destroy matter, you cannot teleport or manipulate space, you cannot manipulate time in any way, and it is impossible to invade another person's mind. Illusions are a funny subject, you may enchant an object or place to appear differently or invisible but it is very hard to do and takes weeks and weeks or calculations and work to make it look right from all angles, and it only works if said object is not moved. Creating Illusions on the fly is outright impossible.

Anyway lets get to some of the specifics of casting a spell:
Gathering - The first step to casting a spell is to gather energy for it. To do this a mage must reach outside of the universe with their mind and tap into a seemingly infinite sea of swirling chaotic energy, called the Aether. This gives the mage a rush almost like adrenaline but better. This is often considered a very good feeling, warm, excited, you feel like you are unstoppable. Because of this many mages end up accidentally drawing in too much energy, particularly on their first try. This is often deadly causing the poor young mage to either die from internal bleeding (note: the rush of energy sometimes causes the mage not to feel his internal wounds until a few minutes later.) if they are stopped soon enough, or outright explode. Most mages cannot perfectly control the energy the gather, so bits leak out as they are casting the spell. This produces small effects like a slight glow or a breeze when all but the most powerful mages are gathering.

Shaping - once the mage has gathered energy he must shape it to his wishes. This takes both quite a bit of discipline and the ability to estimate and do mathematical calculations on the spot. If their mind is distracted in any way, the spell will go awry. If they have any other emotions or thoughts in their head that could interfere with the spell, and cause the magic to do something completely different than intended. For example if a mage wanted to close a door with magic, but he was exceptionally angry he could accidentally rip the door off it's hinges. Mathematical calculations are necessary because you need to know exactly how your application of magic will effect the energy of the world around you. Sort of like the butterfly effect, any spell has many unforeseen effects if you do not know how to contain it properly. Most mages describe casting a spell and weaving energy. They describe "lines" or "threads" of magic, and to most it is a very geometrical process.

Circles- Drawing a circle around yourself while gathering helps to stabilize the magic you are drawing in causing it to harm you less, and you to have better control over it while shaping. Many mages will also inscribe various runes around their circles which help them focus and control their magic.

The Flow of Energy - Mages become more attuned to the flow of energy of the world the more they cast spells. This allows them to sense when other mages are casting spells, and if an object has any enchantments on it. This often comes across as a sort of "static electricity feeling" but more powerful mages can even sense what said spells and enchantments are supposed to do.

Crystals - Crystals are able to hold and store magical energy. These are used mostly in enchanted items. Most crystals are not perfect for this and energy will leak out slowly over a few weeks so they have to be frequently recharged. There is a special type of crystal called Guilimite that will hold magical energy indefinitely though. These are fairly rare, and are the basis for the Empire's economy.

Mages occupy many different places in society depending on what country or region they are in. For the most part, magic is fairly controlled and regulated even in places like the Empire where they are the ruling class. Things like Necromancy, or using magic to physically control people are practices that are almost universally outlawed and practitioners of such are usually hunted down and killed, if not by the local mages or knights then by the Church of Cashemar (see factions once I get it up).

Emipre - In the Empire the mages are the ruling class. The nobility distinguish social standing by how pure their mage blood is, which translates to how closely related one is to the Emperor. Anyone who is non-mage is often looked down upon. Anyone who is discovered with magical talent who is not noble born is often considered and treated as a bastard. Magic is widely promoted at developed, there are many colleges spread all over the Empire for mages, at least one in each city, and these colleges not only train new mages, but they also serve as places to develop new technology using magic.

Amsusesh - Mages in Amsusesh are often considered scholars and healers and are well respected my most people, and therefore often elected to public office. Mages here almost always go to study at the Crystal Tower at some point in their lives. Mages that stay here very rarely specialize in just magic. Most go on to become experts in other fields like history, medicine, or other sciences.

Talisport - Talisport is the birthplace of the Church of Cashemar and therefore has very heavy regulations on magic. There is a single college the Church runs for mages, where they are also taught church doctrine as well as magic. Here they have instituted a branding system where each mage receives a unique brand on their left hand detailing who they are and what sorts of magic they are allowed to practice.

Emeris - The continent where this game will be taking place. Broken into two parts the east and west. The middle is largely unexplored at least in current record, as there are two mountain ranges surrounding it, and any who venture beyond the mountains either report uninhabitable and impassable desert, or never return. The eastern portion of the continent is solidified into one kingdom under King Rolland, it's capital is the city of Aristia, a major seat of power for the Church of Cashemar. Other major cities include: Corden, an ancient city in the north with many old ruins, once said to be the home of a powerful necromancer, Goldport, a very prosperous port city build partially on the water and up the face of a cliff, and Dracmere, the seat of power of the Dracmere house, an exceptionally old family who produces many mages. The western portion of the continent is where this game will be taking place. There are two major cities on this side, and the two are often at odds. Amsusesh, a coastal city and also where the Crystal Tower is located, the government is sort of a republic, and there are heavy imperial influences throughout the city. Then there is Talisport, a city up the Talis river from Amsusesh. Talisport is the birthplace of the Church of Cashemar and therefore attracts many religious extremists.

The Empire - One of the largest powers in the world, based on an archipelago to the west. They rose to power because they were one of the first to develop ships that could travel over open ocean, and they were the first to develop magic. Their control extended over several continents at one point including most of the coastline of Emeris. In recent centuries though they have been in decline having lost their major holdings in Emeris and a few in the Northern Lands. One's social status in the empire tends to depend on one's ability to use magic, and most Imperial nobles breed for magical talent. This also tends to be linked with having dark tan skin, red hair, and either green or blue eyes. Almost all imperial nobles have these three traits to some degree.

Heisis - a large volcanic island to the south east. Well renowned for it's schools of swordplay and hand to hand combat. Students that graduate from these schools are sent off throughout the world as mercenaries and are some of the most feared and respected in the world. They can be identified by their plain grey robes, and black swords. Pure blood Heisians often have dirty blonde hair and either golden or violet eyes.

The Church of Cashemar - This is a monotheistic religion worshiping a being known as Cashemar. They preach about the evils of abusing magic and how mages need to be controlled and regulated, and they spend much of their followers tithes on maintaining a military force called the Templars which they use to hunt down rogue mages.

The Order of the Cold Silver - A group of fifteen individuals that always seems to travel in pairs. They are dedicated to hunting down and killing demons, but what exactly a classifies a demon to them is anyone guess. They are identified by each carrying a silver coin with a unique symbol or design that are cold to the touch.

Haven - a loose network of thieves all united by a similar code of honor. They offer shelter to various criminals, and they offer thieves places to sell their stolen goods, as well as information and contracts with individuals that need a thieves particular set of skills. They refuse to deal with murderers though.

Just smaller to fir the age :)

The Siddhartha family is an old one. Hundreds of miles to the east, they dwelt in the grand city Dev. No mere citizens, the Siddharthas were nobles. No member better embodied this than Mohinder, Raghu's father. While his line was always a prominent one, it was Mohinder that made his family the greatest in Dev. This cunning entrepreneur managed a workforce that developed land both inside and outside the city, and through his clever deals and wise decisions, brought fortune to his family. Having never been a particularly ambitious man, Mohinder was happy to allow a rival company to buy his out and return to family life lacking nothing. Nothing, that is, except magic.

Having always been keenly interested in magic but never able to discover it on his own, Mohinder sought for months to find a wizard that could take his only son under his wing. At last, he found his man: Jagannatha, the Lung of God. This man signed on with surprising eagerness, and instruction for Raghu -then only ten years old- began at once.

The wizard quickly discovered that no matter how Raghu tried, his ability to Gather aether was sorely lacking. After some though, Jagannatha decided to teach the boy his own unique brand of sorcery: Breath magic. This rare, mostly-dead art relied on a technique called Muster to substitute for Gathering. Raghu learned how to siphon aether from his surroundings (including living things, but mostly a trio of magic crystals called lacrima) and store it within himself, never having to reach with his mind into the same tumultuous sea of magic like ordinary mages. Despite hurting himself dozens of times, Raghu found he had a great innate talent for shaping this magic by putting his hands and fingers in different positions around his mouth, thereby affecting the properties of his Breath. Under his master's guidance, Raghu was able to learn Fire, Smoke, Toxic, Frost, and Force Breath. When Raghu pestered Jagannatha about how limited Breath magic seemed to be in comparison to others he saw, the wizard relented and taught him the Breath of Motus, which could bring objects to life. Learning Breath of Motus was young Raghu's proudest moment, though also his most painful. After landing himself in the nearest hospital following his first attempt to do so, he spent several weeks learning to create small, floating magic circles in front of his mouth to help control his power. Everything was going swimmingly.

However, this wasn't to last. Mohinder became increasingly worried about Jagannatha, who seemed more and more obsessive about him and his son. Finally, Mohinder decided to send his son overseas to a new magical school for safety. Afterward, the patriarch confronted the wizard, who revealed that he had been a slave in Mohinder's workforce and had agreed to teach Raghu in order to get close enough to take revenge. With a gleeful grin, the mage began to inhale.

A long way away, Raghu arrived at the Crystal Tower, his own story ready to begin.