Wild Magic Fragments

Awldor    Natural Laws      Wild Magic Fragments

It is understandable that roaming and unpredictable fragments are a problem. Magic fields and storms trouble us all from time to time- sometimes greatly.
But here is a question worth asking... could we control these fragments and thus their power for our own purposes? To impose upon them our designs to benefit our dreams and ambitions?
I ask only that you consider the possibilities.

— Sanev Vensandoral, Archmage

Since the collapse, wandering wild magic fragments can be found all throughout Awldor. Some remain stationary seemingly forever, while others blink in and out of existence. It is impossible to keep track of the movements, appearances, and disappearances of magic fragments. Anyone traveling ought to be aware of this and to prepare as best as they can. These fragments are responsible for the occurrence Magic Fields and the more dangerous Magic Storms. Fragments are also thought to be responsible for the occasional present day instances of Collapse Enchantment, a phenomena so named for the artifacts imbued with magical properties during the collapse.
As the name "wild magic" would imply, it is an unpredictably chaotic force that is deemed untamable. At times it is a violent outburst of energy (a firestorm for example), and sometimes it is harmless (a swarm of soap bubbles). It is randomization at its best, but this is necessarily a problem for recovering civilizations. Attempts have been made by skilled scholars and mages to understand the underlying processes of wild magic- to make the unpredictable predictable. However, verifiable efforts have produced little additional understanding. Beware of those who claim to have a complete understanding of wild magic.

Fragmentums

Simply called "fragments" in colloquial speech, these are the metaphysical shards whose erratic behavior creates all manner of unpredictable magical processes. These fragments are difficult to conceptualize according to most master mages. The fragments are said to form beyond the three dimensional nature of the material realm. In short, they are subject to laws that are beyond mortal comprehension (some would disagree). Scholars have managed to identify and classify five varieties of wild magic fragmentums.

Minima Fragmentum - The most common and the least harmful. Minimal preparation should be made just in case.

Parvulum Fragmentum - The second most common wild magic fragments. This level of wild magic fragment can manifest fields and storms that are truly dangerous.

Mediocris Fragmentum - The wild magic fragment responsible for most of the violent manifestations of wild magics.

Magnum Fragmentum - The largest known fragments. Their manifestations are in occurrence, but the impacts can remain for generations after. These fragments are the only ones capable of manifesting the rare and devastating super storm.

Dominus Fragmentum - The Dominus fragmentum are said to be the keys to the shattered arcane lattice. Shards with the power to order wild magic. Shards with the power to manifest the rest. Only seven such fragments are believed to be in existence. Should all seven manifest their powers at once in a single event the energy released could cause a Second Great Collapse- and possibly the true end of the world.

Our current understanding of magic centers on the chaotic interactions of the fragmentum. How would magic manifest with an intact lattice?

— Rahma Kaur, Sorceress of Fire

The Arcane Lattice

Many question are asked about what was, what is, and what will be- matters of magic are no exception. What great whole did these the fragments form? Many scholars and high mages agree that the arcane lattice of our world had shattered during The Great Collapse, leading to a world plagued by instability. The initial shattering of this lattice would have unleashed tremendous amounts of energy leading to a storm of cataclysms at the onset of the collapse years. What has become unknowable to us today of a world with the lattice intact?
There is another question, why has this lattice stabilized? True, magic storms and fields still plague the lands, but it is comparatively calm compared to the years before The Recovery. There are indications that these fields and storms have declined in occurrence and intensity throughout the last millennia. Perhaps the lattice is slowly losing its potential for magic? What does this mean for the mages of the next millennia? Will magic be forgotten and all but unknown in due time? Will it all be relegated to myth and legend? What becomes of Awldor then? What will die when magic dies?
Perhaps the greatest question of them all concerns itself not with what was, but what can be. Can this great lattice be repaired? Such a feat would require tremendous energy to accomplish. The use of such energy is all but certain to bring about another cataclysm. Perhaps repairing the magical lattice of the world is worth the cost, but such a feat could be all but impossible.
Some argue that no attempt should be made at repairing the arcane fragment, and that perhaps its fracturing will lead to a new state of reality no one can foresee. That the fragments are arranging themselves into something new and unexpected. This leads to some more questions: Could the shattering have been a necessary process of life to bring about something new? Was magic meant to leave the world after a time? Will it return on its own terms?

Type

Metaphysical, Arcane

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Defense Against Wild Magic

One of the only surefire defenses against wild magic fragments is with a standing magic shield, such as the Schutz Fields that allow settlements to become bastions of safety. Another kind of defense is with an enchanted pendant that was properly made. Otherwise, keen eyes and ears and knowledge of what to look out for are the most prevalent mechanisms of defense.

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Note(s) from the Archivists:

One day we will be able to track this fragments, and then we will have an early warning system. - Archivist Bob
That's very optimistic, but such a task is not far removed from predicting the weather. It might never be done. - Archivist Rena
Are we just going to ignore the fact that dominus fragments are a thing? - Archivist Edward
Not like we can do too much about that yet. - Archivist Rena
True. I'll go back to cataloguing some artifacts in the meantime. - Archivist Edward