The Law of Consumption

The Law of Consumption is an unyielding force that governs energy and its perpetual cycle in Tanaria. Energy cannot be created or destroyed—it can only be transferred, consumed, or reshaped. This law dictates the price of life, magic, and power, ensuring that every action, great or small, carries an inherent cost. To ignore this law is to invite ruin, as overconsumption disrupts the natural balance and leaves scars upon the world.

The Consequences of Overconsumption

Violating the natural limits of the Law of Consumption has dire repercussions. Overuse of energy—whether from magic, souls, or life—fractures the balance of Tanaria:
Blighted Land: Excessive consumption corrupts the environment, turning once-thriving regions into lifeless wastes where nothing can grow. These “dead zones” pulse with lingering magic and are often avoided for fear of curses.
Hollowed Beings: Those who consume too much, whether intentionally or not, risk becoming hollow. Their physical forms remain, but their minds and souls erode, leaving behind twisted, corrupted husks of what they once were.
Cascading Collapse: The natural cycle of energy relies on balance. If the scales tip too far—through necromantic rituals, unchecked magic, or reckless predation—it can destabilize entire ecosystems, creating famine, sickness, or even rifts in reality where energy bleeds uncontrolled.

Manifestation

The Law of Consumption reveals itself in the very essence of life and magic or Myrridra; when a creature dies, its energy does not simply vanish but flows back into the earth, nurturing new life or empowering those attuned to its passing. This cycle is sacred, a natural form of renewal. However, necromancers violate this process, stealing energy from the dead to power their magic. Such transgressions fracture the natural order, corrupting the land and leaving behind blighted, lifeless scars.
Magic is never free; it requires consumption. Spells can draw from a caster’s vitality, the environment, or even living sacrifices. The more powerful the magic, the greater the price—years of life, blood offerings, or the very land itself. In Valoria, mages have drained entire forests, leaving behind barren "dead zones," and some have gone so far as to consume the life force of villages to fuel their ambitions. The strong consume the weak in both physical and metaphysical forms. Cursed beings, ancient spirits, and predators of the arcane feed on life force, emotions, and memories to sustain themselves. Ghostly entities might drain happiness or hope, while eldritch creatures siphon the very essence of their prey. Such consumption leaves victims hollowed, corrupted, or broken.
Ancient relics imbued with the Law of Consumption offer immense abilities but exact terrible tolls. Wielders might sacrifice their sanity, vitality, or even their souls to unlock the artifact’s potential. Legends speak of cursed blades that drink their wielder's life with every strike and rings that trade power for unending madness.

Localization

The bond between a Sahar and their Guardian is one of the most powerful manifestations of the Law of Consumption. While the Law demands a price for all power, the Sahar-Guardian bond allows them to share the burden, creating a unique balance that enhances their strength.
The Sahar draws on the Guardian's energy as a source of power, allowing them to amplify spells, perform feats of magic beyond their natural limits, and endure physical and magical strain that would otherwise prove fatal. In return, the Guardian benefits from the Sahar’s magic, gaining enhanced reflexes, vitality, and resilience in combat. This symbiotic relationship creates a cycle of shared consumption, where energy flows seamlessly between them without either succumbing to exhaustion or corruption.
What makes this bond so exceptional is its foundation of mutual trust and connection. Unlike magic fueled by blood or sacrifice, the Sahar and Guardian willingly share their energy, strengthening their bond with every act. This harmony is why their combined strength far surpasses individual warriors or mages, enabling them to overcome challenges that would destroy lesser pairs. However, the bond is not without its risks. If one partner falls, the sudden severing of energy can leave the survivor weakened or broken, as part of their shared essence is lost forever.

Type

Natural

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The Role of the Gods

The gods are not exempt from the Law of Consumption; they are its architects and its enforcers. While the Prime Deities wield unimaginable power, they understand the price of their actions. Legends tell of divine wars where gods consumed too much of the world's essence, fracturing the land and leaving scars that still linger in Tanaria today. Some mortals believe Velmorra, the Goddess of Death and Fate, ensures that the Law is upheld, reclaiming energy from those who would abuse it, while others credit Zemia and or other primoridal deities to ensuring the balance is maintained.

Cultural and Regional Interpretations

Different cultures in Tanaria understand and embrace the Law of Consumption in their own ways:
Kalros: The tribes of Kalros revere the Law of Consumption as a sacred truth of survival. They perform ritual hunts where the energy of the prey is honored, consumed, and redistributed to strengthen the hunters. To waste life or take without need is considered a grievous sin, as it disrupts the natural flow of energy.
Valoria: Valorian mages exploit the Law of Consumption to fuel their relentless pursuit of power. Rituals often consume entire ecosystems, draining the earth, animals, and people to empower devastating spells. While effective, this reckless use creates desolate landscapes and curses that linger for generations. Valoria’s dead zones are grim testaments to the dangers of unchecked consumption.
Necromancers and Blood Mages: Practitioners of forbidden arts manipulate the Law of Consumption with cold intent. They drain life from the living, pull energy from the dead, and fuel their power with sacrifice. While this mastery grants them terrifying abilities, the corruption that follows is inevitable—both for themselves and the world around them.