The World Essences

It is said that the gods used eight essences to form the world, giving it form, shape and purpose. These essences are divided into two kinds: the Physical essences, which gives shape to the natural world, and the Mortal essences, which creates life and allows humanoids to live the lives that they are accustomed to. While the pure form of the essences can only be manipulated by the gods, mortals can tap into a bit of that power and manipulate a small amount of these essences to perform magic.

Physical Essences

Etya

Etya is the essence of matter. This was used to form all abiotic things that make up the mortal world in its three forms: solid, liquid, and gas. Additionally, Etya was used to form the bodies of all life, although it did not give them life. When manipulated, one can shift any object between the three forms of matter at their will, although only the gods can create or destroy matter.

Ajak

Ajak is the essence of energy. It animates everything, whether it be the wind blowing through the sky, or the water flowing through a river. For anything material to move, it must draw from Ajak, even living things. Manipulating Ajak allows one to shift energy to its different forms, with the most common kind seen being to take the kinetic energy of a person's motion and turn it into something more distructive, like fire. Similar to Etya, no mortal can create or destroy energy.

Ologi

Ologi represents the essence of time. It creates forward flow, allowing thing to grow and change, both in size and experience. Without Ologi, not only would rocks not erode or living things grow old, people would not be able to learn anything new, as things would not progress. Manipulating Ologi allows people to change the speed of the flow, whether speeding someone up or slowing them down, with some skilled people being being able to stop time for something. Despite a long time trying to attempt it, no one has been able to reverse the flow of time.

Lledri

Lledri is the essence of magic. This is what creates the arcane energy that infuses the entire world of Belkora. Inherently wild and unpredictable, bursts of wild magic is where monsters likely came from, corrupting normal animals. Drawing on the magic in the world is what allows people to be able to manipulate the other essence, but cannot be manipulated directly. This essence is the reason that those that study magic are called lledriologists.

Mortal Essences

Amea

Amea is the essence of the soul. Souls are globs of arcane energy that have been imbued with Amea, giving them the special property of binding a person's Spirit to their Body. Without Amea, souls would just be normal energy, with the Spirit just slipping off of it and to the afterlife immediately. While no one is completley sure, there are many theories claiming that the soul is part of what allows people to use magic, as there is no known way to manipulate the Soul. If one managed to manipulate souls, many believed it would pave the way to reviving the dead.

Ilfinn

Ilfinn is the essence of emotion. Without Ilfinn, the gods would not have been able to make Spirits, and mortals would only be animated husks. With Ilfinn, mortals can feel, experience, and respond to some degree. Being able to manipulate Ilfinn allows one to change the emotions of people around them, whether that be strengthening or weakening the emotion someone is already feeling, or implanting a new emotion for them to feel.

Ysgo

Ysgo is the essence of shadows. While also referring to physical shadows, Ysgo more so deals with mental ones. Without Ysgo, people would not be able to keep secrets and present masks to the world. Everyone would be completely honest, all of the time. For better or worse, Ysgo prevents this world, allowing for charlatans to exist, but also allowing for people to present the person they want to be to others. Manipulating Ysgo means that one can change the perception of those around them, creating illusions of what's not there or hiding what is. Skilled manipulators can even change someone's memories.

Kiri

Kiri is the essence of the mind. Kiri is what gives mortals free will and a sense of self. Without it, all mortals would just be mindless slaves to the gods, feeling what they want and lying about enjoying it. What Kiri allows for is for mortals to be their own people, not beholden to any god's edicts. Kiri is what marks mortals from outworlders, who have no Kiri. Also notable is how humanoids have a greater degree of Kiri than other creatures, giving them a unique position of deciding their place in the world, with them often being called the Kiried. Manipulating Kiri gives one the ability to bend other's to their will, taking away their agency, although it can also be used to bolster one's own will.

Type

Metaphysical