Blacknoise

Centuries ago, a virus coursed through the land, changing human brains and exposing them to a new sort of energy - magic. The Magic had existed in the world alongside them for eons, but humans could never connect with it, or interact with its denizens. The two worlds were separate, although they existed in the same space; side by side, the human and the magic existed, each unknown to the other.   Until now.   After the connection, humans could channel the power, but were more susceptible to its backlash than magic-borne species. Casting a fireball could cause intense pain, burns, and neurological defects - and that's not even considering the "taboo" mancies of controlling light and dark, healing and decay. Humans were never built to wield this this sort of power, and it shows.   The virus let them connect, channel, and /see/ the magic. Humans suddenly were confronted with the knowledge of more intelligent life, living with them since the beginning; new species, new cultures, and, of course, new conflict. There was clash with species inhabiting the same areas as humans. Territory, resources, traditions, biology, and any number of other factors were suddenly a source of dispute; culture shock on the highest scale. There were years of war.   In present day, things have settled into a sort of coexistence - not peace, by any means, but acceptance of the new world order. Magic thrums through bloodlines, and it's still seen as more of a curse than a blessing - it's stronger in the hands of magic natives than in the fragile hands of humans, and it can be seen as a source of weakness.   Humans aren't alone anymore, and they're more powerful than ever. It's only natural that something will break.