Note: For the beginning keep magic relatively simple! Unique magic is fine, but save really advanced spells/abilities for later on!

The widely accepted theory on magic is that Magi utilize energy in the world around them, as well as their own, to cast spells. By manipulating the nine elements found in the world and their own energies, Magi can craft a wide variety of spells. From healing to illusions, enchanting tools and weapons, something simple like fireballs, or animating golems, magic has nigh unlimited applications.

To cast magic requires both physical ability and mental aptitude. Even the youngest of Magi can cast a simple spell, but more advanced spellcraft often requires years and years of training. Incantations are not necessary, and while some spells utilize glyphs or sigils most can be conjured simply by willing it to be, and manipulating the energy around oneself.

Magic is not limited to simply elemental alignments. Most Magi do so simply because it is easier, as combining elements in the correct proportions for a spell is difficult. Fire and earth can be combined for magma, air and ice can be combined to create a hailstorm, the variations are as many as they are complex. Some magics are wholly unique to an individual as well, and though these tend to be rare some are known to be hereditary and passed down through a family.

Technology in Adelon is wide and varied. From appliances to weaponry, steam powered ships and tools, the kingdom has enjoyed numerous inventions over the past few decades. Its technological affinity gives it a military and production boon few other kingdoms can match. Production of almost every device and equipment is carried out in the intermediary towns and cities, then either distributed through the kingdom or sent to the coastal cities for trade. Regular citizens can afford most appliances, though not every town or settlement has the power to run devices. Luckily, not every device runs on electricity.

The existence of Demacite allows for some machinery to operate without being connected to a power grid. A naturally occurring gemstone, demacite is renown for its ability to "soak" and retain magical energy. Using extractors and specially designed circuitry, many appliances can use raw magical energy as a replacement for electrical, and depending on the purity and size of the crystal can power a device for periods of time. Think batteries!

In addition to everything else that Adelon has, there is a class of machinery that only this kingdom has: Machina. They are the most advanced machinery created bar none. Humanoid in appearance, these machines act as servants, as workers in assembly lines, and in general, physical labor fields. Powered by Demacite gems and programmed uniquely for their assigned task, they enable Adelon's people to work on more specialized jobs. The Church is ecstatic about the advent of Machina and grants companies developing them large sums of gold, incentivizing companies to continue development and research.

Humans, in the simplest terms. The most numerous of races in Adelon, and thus disproportionately holding the most positions of power within the kingdom. As the leader of the Nine Saints himself was a Muran, many credit themselves as being the true leaders. The result of this mindset has brought about no small degree of discrimination and bias towards other races of peoples. Murans - particularly in the larger cities - often own companies which employ other races, and often times they are treated as little more than cattle. Not to say that all Murans are bad, far from it, but it only takes a few to give them a bad name. Within the major cities and settlements they are viewed favorably, as the majority of those locales feature predominantly Muran populations. Other regions of the kingdom are less welcoming, some less so than others.

Murans are arguably the weakest race in terms of magic. Powerful Muran Magi do exist, but their numbers are far and few between. To make up for their shortcomings they accelerated technology and its development, being one of the chief proponents of the change in culture of the kingdom. It should come as little surprise then that the Murans benefit the most from this change, while other races - far more attuned to magic and the environment at large - suffer for it. And the Church - another predominantly Muran construct - is only too happy to support these changes.

No race of people are more magically adept than the Divined. Graceful beings with soft features, vibrantly colored hair, unusually pale skin and renown for their temperament, the Divined are the poster child for the current events of Adelon. Reliant so much on magic and the perpetuation of its use they have suffered by far the most with these changes. Though unrivaled in spellcraft they are physically weaker than other races, and more susceptible to illness without magic. Many have gone into cities to act as healers, or join the Church for an opportunity to practice magic without fear of punishment. Those who do not have built up small communities well out of reach of the Church,
becoming isolated as they cling to their way of life and the practice of magic. When in the cities, Divined have a tendency to wear concealing clothing, trying to mask themselves as much as possible for fear of scrutiny.

Physiologically similar to Murans - hence the name - Dimurans are a hardy peoples. In place of body hair they grow scales, tough enough to match some forms of armor. Horns sprout from their heads, tails are grown, and their irises are often slits. Many people liken their appearance to that of dragons, though they are more Muran in appearance than beast. Originating mainly from deserts of neighboring kingdoms, Dimurans have mostly taken up residence along Adelon's rocky plateaus and near geothermal vents. They are considered brutish by nature, known to be a warring peoples and highly aggressive. With their tendency for combat they have also gained an unfortunate label of being the dullest of all races, and any jobs given to Dimurans tend to consist of menial labor or mercenary work. Their martial prowess is exceptional as they are trained to fight at an early age, and very few would consider themselves an equal to them in combat. Plenty would think they could outwit one however.

Where the Dimura took to plateaus and fiery chasms for their home, Varuna found their homes in the shores of Adelon - and sometimes beneath the waves. Aquatic humanoids, the Varuna are stout, have brightly colored skin with varied patterns, webbed digits, and large eyes ideal for seeing in low light settings. All Varuna are capable of breathing under water - very few are naturally able to breathe on land. To remedy this their people developed a breathing apparatus while on land, allowing them to spend extended periods out of the water. Their knowledge of Adelon's waterways and the sea is unparalleled, and one will be hard pressed to find a better helmsman or guide across the kingdom. Constant travel has made them exceptional as traders as well, and many merchants are Varuna. Their propensity for water is twofold: some have taken to the less amicable side of things and become pirates. When set upon one of Adelon's bodies of water travelers would be well pressed to exercise caution until they know what kind of Varuna they are dealing with.

The Ydra are a nomadic race of hunter-gatherers. Originally hailing from Adelon's forests and the northern steppes, they like many other races have dispersed throughout the kingdom. A proud race, and deservedly so, they are renown for their knowledge of the land, as well as their exceptional sense of sight and hearing. A pure-blooded Ydra has angular features and long ears, though in every other sense resemble Murans. Having been so close to nature for so long, Ydrans are particularly sensitive to the energies around them, similar to the Divined. This connection to the world gives them the second highest rate of Magi of any race. Ydra are exceptional in the way they are able to tame and breed animals. Nearly all Ydra outside of the city has an animal companion, and the more dangerous a beast, the more successful they are seen as a tamer. Some keep their companions in the city as pets as well, though this can be tricky depending on the animal.

The Naga are the newest race to join the lands of Adelon. Having only begun migrating to the kingdom within the last few decades, they are still seen as an uncertainty by many. Naga have had an increasingly difficult time adapting to the customs of the kingdom and its laws, and the Church's reluctance to fully welcome them as citizens as opposed to refugees leaves them open to discrimination. Within cities they are often shunned and at times even openly beaten, with many establishments refusing to serve what they deem "thieves" and "leeches". In some regards these harsh labels are not without merit - many Naga have been forced to take to unsavory lifestyles to make ends meet. In appearance they are humanoid-serpents: their torsos and heads resemble Muran features, though they have scales in place of skin, and their facial features resemble that of snakes. Their lower bodies are more that of a serpent, with their entire body being covered in scales and often sporting a variety of patterns and colors.

Name: Yarri (with her black cougar Shaela)
Race: Ydra

Age: 26
Appearance:



Magic:

• Beast vision – Yarri can see through Shaela’s eyes – the more distance between them, the more difficult the spell is.
• Hunter’s mark – Yarri can put a spell on her intended target (even from some distance), which allows her to track it – she feels certain subconscious attraction in a direction of her target.
• Freezing arrows – Yarri can use her magic while shooting, to give the arrows a chance to freeze the target in place for a moment.

Gear:
Bow and arrows and a set of javelins – Yarri is an excellent marksman and a hunter. She is proficient in most forms of long-range combat, but tries to avoid close-range combat as much as possible.

Brief history:
Yarri, like most her people, has always felt a close connection to the nature. She resents modern human creations, technology most of all. She prefers wandering around the forests and jungles with just her animal companion – giant black cougar named Shaela. Yarri isn’t a people person, she has very little skill communicating with others, regardless of their age, gender or race.

She is very respected amongst her people, because taming a black cougar is not an easy job even for older and more experience Ydra. Yarri managed to do it when she was only 20. As a result of this unwanted fame, she has received many marriage proposals from other famous hunters from her tribe. She refused them all. She could hardly be around people for a few days, she couldn't imagine being bound to an almost complete stranger for the rest of her life.

Name: Amuné Ris

Race: half-Ydra

Age: 10 years

Appearance: Amuné looks like a normal Muran child at first glance, with the signs of her Ydran heritage only evident upon closer examination. She is on the smaller side, lacking the slight chubbiness of most younglings, and she's grown thinner since leaving home behind. Her features have a sharp cast, though her ears are not so pointed that one couldn't claim they fall within the standard range for Murans. Her coloring is washed out, with pale mousy hair cut at her jawline and light grey eyes. At the moment, her clothes are ragged and stained, her hair untidy, and her face splotched with grime. She travels in the company of Wyth, a large moorcat.

Magic: untrained Seer

Gear: Amuné has next to nothing in the way of possessions. She has a beltknife and a child's sling along with a handful of nice stones.

Background: Amuné is the child of an Ydran Magi with an affinity for wind that settled down with a Muran healer in a backwoods town. She was not registered, as her magic was not apparent until well beyond when most children start showing signs of their gifts. Her father stopped using his magic publically years ago, but her mother ran a Church-approved clinic. As a registered healer, the young woman earned enough goodwill that the matter of her family didn't become a real issue for several years. Amuné's father was never officially acknowledged, but it's a rather open secret.

The people of Pinesgrove turned on her family, meaning to kick her father out if not worse. Things went very terribly wrong, and now Amuné is alone save for Wyth, and on the run. News of a fire and a riot have spread, but she is terribly frightened after what happened, and has avoided people whenever possible in the weeks since. She lacks a few key skills and supplies to survive on her own, even with Wyth's help, and she's growing desperate.


Name: Wyth

Species: moorcat

Age: 12 years

Gender: male

Appearance: Wyth has an appearance typical to moorcats. He is a large feline, standing nearly two and a half feet at the shoulder, with a thick, slightly shaggy coat of mottled gray and brown, with a lighter gray and cream underbelly. His paws are proportionally larger, to help distribute his weight on the often sodden and muddy ground of the moors and marshland. His eyes are pale green, on the yellower side of the hue.

Background: Wyth comes from a line of moorcats that live with Amuné's father's tribe. He imprinted on Baldur as a kitten, and has accompanied him ever since. When Baldur fell for Amira and eventually went to live in her village, Wyth joined them. The moorcat is very fond of their daughter, Amuné, and treats her like he might a kitten.

Additional info: Originally the companion of Amuné's father, he now stays with the girl and guards her, looking after her as best he can. He's reasonably intelligent, and knows a number of different commands.