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I'd like to get everyone's opinions on the presence of "real" magic in addition to Aura, based on my current idea. Also, the Character Sheet is currently being developed, and OOC will follow after that. Both will likely take a bit of time, so once CS is up feel free to put character drafts here in the IC.

This idea for magic could be tweaked if enough people feel it's necessary, but I'm perfectly fine with leaving it out entirely. In addition to Alchemy and the other races, there are a rare few other aspects of this world I don't want to spoil just yet that I think make it feel "wondrous and fantastical" enough without wizards causing too much powercreep, lol. 

[hider=MAGIC]
Magic does not use Aura to fuel itself. Aura comes from the body, but the energy used for Magic comes from the energy of the World, or Mana. The amount and nature of ambient Mana makes casting magic more or less difficult; casting a spell to produce fire in the midst of an arctic snowstorm would be near-impossible, while the same would be true of a spell to condense moisture in the desert. In order to harness Mana at all, however, a human being has to learn the proper "Formula." Magic spells do not exist as malleable concepts; they cannot be bent to Mankind's will the way one can adjust the flow of their Aura or choose what they will have for breakfast that morning. Instead, one should think of Magic as one thinks of Mathematics.

How many formulas do you remember from your time in school? How many of them could you solve for, without putting a pencil to paper or using a calculator? That's likely the number of magical spells you'd be capable of using in this world, but in addition to that you have to consider that the more complex/advanced math formulae are akin to the more powerful/effective magics.

One of the most basic spells taught to any beginner is the "Kandyla" formula, which produces an unimpressive candle-flame at the tip of one's focus, whether that be a fingertip or a wand. Compared to mathematics, this is the equivalent of doing long division with 3-digit numbers in one's head. The "Naphthalm" spell, which produces a jet of dangerous flame over a distance from the focus, is like a quadratic function by comparison. "Orbys Pyre," a devastating ball of flame that explodes with lethal force, requires the magical mirror of advanced calculus. 

Thus, becoming a proper mage requires many years of study and practice. "Spell books" are really more like texts containing various proofs, tables of numerous variables made necessary by the environmental shifts in Mana or the need for fine-tuned control, and other necessary academia, often for only a single Formula. Mages can be powerful assets in warfare, but the time it takes them to cast their spells and the Mana they require means that positioning and protecting them is that much more difficult. It is difficult to incorporate magic into every-day life advancements, because if spells past a certain magnitude are used too often, the Mana in that area becomes depleted.

Depleted Mana not only causes plantlife to wither, animals to become lethargic, and the spread of disease, but it can even cause what is called "Miasma." Areas under the "miasmatic effect" are areas of low Mana that become like a beacon to Monsters and Demons for some reason. They can detect it from long distances---even the least sensitive seem to detect it within a mile. Some say Devils can feel Miasma literally days away. Monsters will often hurry to reach areas affected by Miasma, because any weakened animals there will be easy prey to fill their bellies. Higher Demons seem to make use of Miasma in some way---they, too, are capable of Magic, but many of their Formulas are quite foreign to human and elven knowledge alike.

Elves are more sensitive to Miasma than Humans, while Dwarves seem relatively unaffected by it. Humans tend to simply find being around Miasma "dreadful." It's true they are at risk of illness given how diseases seem to proliferate more quickly in miasmatic areas, and the plants and animals they eat from these places are less nourishing. But the most powerful effect of Miasma is psychological, not physical. Passing through it for extended periods of time deeply lowers morale and unsettles the nerves. In the worst cases, people become terminally depressed and seek to harm themselves, or go insane. For this reason, much of the research that has been done on Miasma can't always be considered trustworthy. As long as it remains a danger, the widespread usage of Magic in society doesn't seem possible.[/hider]
[hider=TOO LONG DIDN'T READ]
Magic requires specific formula and spells to work. You don't have "Fire Magic" that lets you freely manipulate flames, you have "Naphthalm," a single spell with only one purpose and performance---that being to spray a flamethrower over a given distance.

Learning these formulas is like learning advanced math---if you can't do trig in your head, you probably can't do powerful spells.

A beginner mage might only have a single spell they can use "on the fly" without the aid of their reference books and notes. Even a master mage might only be able to cast a handful of spells freely, and of those only a couple would be as dangerous as the classic DnD Fireball.

Magic requires Mana, which is the energy of the World/nature as opposed to Aura, which is the energy of the body. If you're at the North Pole, the Mana won't be right for fire spells like Naphthalm, making them much much harder.

If you drain all the Mana from an area to power your spells, it becomes "Miasma" and not only kills nature in that place, but attracts all kinds of Monsters and Demons. This is why Magic hasn't been incorporated into every aspect of worldbuilding no matter how powerful it can be, because if you start producing Miasma in cities then you get monster hordes trying to eat people.[/hider]

[center][h2]So, Magic? Yes/No/ "I have input" ???[/h2][/center]