The Weave

Extending through the whole of creation, this force is what makes magic possible. Beings tap into its power to help them hunt, see in the dark, fight, and even light a campfire. To some, the weave is both second nature and a form of second sight, while to others it is something to be wrestled and mastered. Lying either deep within the earth or just beneath one's feet, its power fluctuates.
Wherever the weave lies beneath, life grows. Wherever it lies too deep, it withers to dust.

Manifestation

The weave is a living ethereal tapestry that flows beneath the world. Thick threads of the weave that come close to the surface, called leylines, make the presence of magic in an area stronger and fosters the growth of plants and animals that have strong connections to the weave. Conversely, it is the concentration of magical beings and enchanted items that anchors a leyline to the surface. Only creatures above a certain level of intelligence are able to survive away from these leylines, though they are severely weakened without the weave's immediate presence due to the greater difficulty in calling magic.

Localization

The strongest concentration of the weave's leylines is in the region known as the Uncharted West. Life abounds and magical beings thrive in this area, even the trees grow larger in less time here. Creatures such as the Fey are naturally drawn here as well.
In the Eastern Arm region, the weave is far weaker and fewer leylines run through the land. While the leylines are deep, they are still close enough to the surface to allow life to continue normally. Mages are weaker in this area, and feybeasts are rare to the point of being mythical.
Within the deserts of the Dry South the weave is so deep that all there is to find on the surface is sand. However, it does rise rather close to the surface in places for a time, creating the oases that come and go to break up the endless dunes. It is said that the weave here is in constant flux, always disturbed by something, never settling. There are only a few points in this region where a leyline has stayed near enough to the surface for life to gather more permanently, allowing for cities to be built.
Conversely, The Everwinter of the North, with its icy peaks and frozen tundras, is an absolute chaos storm of magic. The weave here is potentially even more unsettled than the weave in the desert. Leylines seem to clash together to create storms so wild and dangerous that even the orcs native to the area can't survive them unsheltered. Any magic user here, be they creature or greater, must have exceptional control and strength of will in order to manipulate the weave without causing disaster.
The Myriad Isles and the surrounding waters are another beast altogether when it comes to the weave. Perhaps it interacts oddly with such vast quantities of water and the life within. Or perhaps something that calls the ocean its domain has its own affect upon the leylines. Whatever the case, the areas off the continent are oddly sporadic with their concentration of the weave's power. Some islands are brimming with raw elemental power from a near-surface leyline, which have given rise to the genasi, while others seem almost devoid of magic. The ocean itself is wild and unpredictable, spawning and banishing storms almost without warning, and home to all manner of sea monsters.

Type

Metaphysical, Arcane

Manipulation of the Weave

One's ability to shape and control the weave is directly tied to the strength of their connection to it. While some can use the power of the weave as naturally as breathing, others must work to strengthen the connection they do have. Strengthening a connection can be done through training or through the use of certain magically attuned materials.

Some individuals and certain beings actually possess the ability to sense the weave in some manner, allowing them to more precisely achieve their desired outcome. While some species will naturally be more connected than others, there is still plenty of room for variation between individuals.