"A single primal sage is dangerous enough, whether or not they have much experience under their belt. But put two or more together and... let's just say not every natural disaster is, well, natural."
Primal magic is one of the four main classes of magic. It's made up of a combination of physical and light energies, and is the opposite of mental magic. Sages who master the primal arts of magic are some of the strongest and most dangerous warriors; a single well-placed primal sage can change the tides of an entire war. Primal magic is also sometimes referred to as natural magic because it draws power from three of the four spheres of life: the earth, the sky, and the heavens (the fourth being the ocean, which is too wild to tame even with magic).
Within primal magic, there are three subclasses which every primal sage can learn. They are tempest, gaia, and solar magic. Unlike the other three main classes of magic however, it is very difficult for a sage to learn spells from all three of the subclasses. Typically, if a sage shows an affinity for one of the subclasses then they won't be able to master more than the simplest of spells from the other subclasses. (As opposed to, say, mental sages who can master high-level spells from each subclass should they so choose).
Tempest Sages
Wind, rain, and lightning all fall under the hand of the sage who wields tempest magic. With a snap of their fingers they can fell even the largest of beasts, but their power comes with a price. Of all primal magic, tempest magic is the most volatile and difficult to control. Tempest sages are often accused of relying too much on their emotions as strong, evocative feelings are the simplest way of casting tempest magic. Using passion instead of control gets faster results, but is more likely to end in disaster - either hurting allies or flying out of control entirely.
Tempest sages have a well-known rivalry with gaia sages, but it's a rivalry that seldom ends in bloodshed - at least on the part of the primal sages. Some innocents are occasionally caught up in the lines of fire. However, friction between tempest and gaia sages is monitored by solar sages. Typically if a fight needs broken up between the two, it's a solar sage that must come to the rescue. Both tempest and gaia sages recognize them as mediators - and usually authorities.
Tempest Order
The Tempest Order is a faction of tempest sages devoted to military-specific training. It's a subsect of the Southern Tower and answers to the Arch Sage, but they often contract their services to kings and nobles. In effect, they're a military mercenary group. The Arch Sage largely leaves them alone, but it the Southern Tower is threatened in any way, then the members of the Tempest Order are called upon to defend their home. This is one of the largest factors for the Southern Tower's booming economy. Nobody is stupid enough to try anything against a tower that houses some of the most destructive sages on the planet. Especially when many tempest sages, specifically, have a do-or-die philosophy. Unafraid to take their own lives and destroy their homes if it means keeping them from enemy hands.
Gaia Sages
Strong, sturdy, and grounded in a formidable sense of self, gaia sages harness the power of stone and flora to overwhelm opponents with the very ground they walk on. They can sprout trees within moments or bring mountains down on the heads of their unfortunate victims. Gaia sages are often called druids, despite the inaccuracy of the term. Seeing as how gaia sages are the opposite of tempest sages in almost every way, it's not uncommon for them to disagree over policies and personal views.
League of Gaia
An organization formed around the same time as the Tempest Order. Most assume its formation was a counterattack by the gaia to avoid being outclassed by the rival order. Members of the League of Gaia also sell their particular skill sets to different kingdoms, but it's typically defensive work as opposed to muscle. Sometimes sages from the League of Gaia come up against sages from the Tempest Order. In such cases, if the sage or sages from either order meet an early grave, severe disciplinary action is taken - after a proper investigation, of course.
Solar Sages
And finally, the magic that evens out the warring tempest and gaia magicks. As this magic draws its power from the heavens above Vana - as in the stars - it stands out from the other two subclasses in primal magic. Though all primal sages have an especially strong connection to natural magic, solar sages also have a connection to spiritual energies that other primal sages can't understand. They're still no match for diviners when it comes to spiritual awareness, but they've at least got a sort of defense against spiritual magic.
The solar sages are the only primal subclass that doesn't have a mercenary order. They're loyal only to the Southern Tower - and here we see another reason that the tower stands so strong. As formidable as tempest and gaia sages are, there is a kind of terror-inducing destruction that solar sages bring that the other two subclasses can't hope to match.
Southern Sage Tower
The Southern Sage Tower is the haven dedicated to primal sages, and it's where they receive training. Like all sage towers, the Southern Tower is outside the realm of authority of any established kingdoms. It's ruled by sages and has its own political structure. The Arch Sage presides over all the ongoings, and has a number of councilmen and sages (like nobles) that handle smaller matters within the Tower.
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