Setting Primer

The Basis of Creation - General Mechanics of the Setting

This world pulses with high magic, where powerful energies weave through every aspect of existence. Since time immemorial, eight colossal and enigmatic magic structures have stood as silent sentinels—unseen by mortal eyes yet essential to the very fabric of creation. The Mana Gates. These ancient gates serve as crossroads, each one a portal to an Elemental Realm, the sources of raw energy that converge to shape the vibrant world we know today. Each of the 8 major continents has one of these Mana Gates, and the presence of this gate within their proximity has molded each region, influencing traits of its land, features, and even its creatures throughout history. Shrouded in mystery, the gates raise questions that even the wisest sages cannot answer: Who forged these wonders? For what purpose? And by what arcane means? Their secrets remain untold, beckoning the bold and curious to uncover the truth.
  - Spirits are beings that are created from the elemental planes. Spirits range from small and simple entities to powerful and ambitious beings. The Realm is mainly a realm with no concept of gods. Worship of higher entities is very uncommon. Most people largely follow the general practices of Quintessism, a loose and flexible setting belief.

- The undead and life after death expressly don't exist in this canon. Once a person perishes, they are gone for good. Once the mana energy- the closest thing to a soul living beings have- inside a person leaves the body, there is no way to recover that person's essence.

Magic & You - Intro to Magic Mechanics

The world is deeply infused with magic, with life itself drawing energy from the mystical Mana Gates in the form of Mana. Mana is the universal force that powers everything—a subtle, omnipresent energy as intrinsic as gravity or the need to breathe. In its raw form, Mana is the essence of life; without it, there is no vitality, soul, or will to act.

Living beings store significant amounts of Mana, which with training they can access through techniques, tools, or incantations—a practice known as spellcasting. Spellcasting is a skill that must be learned and refined, allowing individuals to channel their Mana into powerful spells. Not everyone bothers to learn how to use spellcasting, in fact much of the world forgoes it. Regardlss of their actual use however, each person is born with a unique Mana "signature", called their affinity, which determines the type of elemental energy they can wield. This affinity is fixed at birth and rarely altered by extraordinary circumstances.

A person can be born with one affinity or a dual affinity, drawing from two different elements interchangeably. Sometimes people will believe they only have one affinity available to them just to find out later in their life they had another dual element they never learned they had access to. The method for identifying one’s affinity is a question that holds great intrigue but is known to the common folk as stemming from multiple factors:

❂ Your Family Heritage: You will likely inherit an affinity from your family line. Multiple generations will tend to have frequent affinities show up within their children that they or their parents had. (If you are the child of a person with a fire and water affinity within your dad, an earth affinity within your mom, and your grandparents collectively have a water and air affinity amongst themselves, you have a high likelihood of being born with a fire, water, earth, or air affinity yourself, but since your father and grandparent have a water affinity, that makes the chance of a water affinity a little bit higher still.)
❂ What Region You Were Born In: The Mana Gates let out a constant strong mana flow. You are more likely to be born with an affinity that matches the one present nearest to your home or most potent in the area. Living in the Ice Region of Eiri might see you being born with the ability to control and produce magical ice effects yourself.
❂ Trial and Guidance: Some people, either for themselves or on behalf of their children, fall back on research and mentoring in common base level magic casting and mana drawing techniques in order to investigate what their affinities might be. This may or may not take a lot of work and investment, as trying to theorize and figure out your affinity "blind" is like trying to guess the contents of a painting hidden under a curtain.
❂ Not a hard rule: Sometimes, more curious cases happen when people develop affinities that don't have a clear origin. A family renowned for their talented lightning mages might find that their youngest child is beginning to understand how to use their earth affinity, whilst lightning magic is something they have no access to at all.

While most people never develop their affinity and live mundane lives, those who explore their potential can discover their elemental connection and learn to manifest it.

The World & It's People - Quick Guide to Main Places

The elemental planes converge to form a diverse world of eight distinct regions, each shaped by the Mana Gate it contains. These gates influence the landscapes, climates, and civilizations within their domains. Zul, home to the Magma Gate, is a primordial land of ashen soil, towering volcanoes, and magma-filled chambers. Eiri, dominated by the Ice Gate, remains a frozen wonderland. Yorn thrives as a lush realm of swamps and wetlands infused with the life-giving energies of the Clay Gate. Each region hosts a major civilization that serves as its cultural and political center, surrounded by smaller towns, cultures, and factions. Each of the main nations do the most to give a snapshot of the region's people.
 

The Town of Leefside - The Place where the Story Takes Place

Leefside is a vibrant town in Eren, the largest and most verdant region in the land, known for its diverse biomes—majestic mountains, crystal-clear lakes, lush forests, and golden plains. Founded 52 years ago by a pioneering couple and their caravan of settlers, Leefside began as a quiet fishing village and a waypoint for miners. Over time, it transformed dramatically with the arrival of the Wardens Guild, a group of adventuring heroes. Their presence brought rapid growth, new opportunities, and unexpected challenges. Though the Wardens Guild eventually moved on, Leefside remains a unique haven where people from all walks of life come to pursue their dreams and live freely. How will it's citizens continue to grow? What threats of darkness loom over the town? Will Leefside come to shine as a beacon within the Nokmar Barony? It's up to you...
 

Table of Contents - Extra FAQ Guides

- Playable Races

- Character Sheet Info

- Combat Info