by Sage Tue Feb 04, 2020 8:26 pmWitches:
Witches are widespread and magic is common among people. However, most magic isn't particularly powerful. The majority of people who can use magic never join the alliance, as their magic is so faint it can't be channeled and trained. In the Alliance of Witches, witches are ranked:
Geld: Beginning witches with low level abilities. They can do small charms and spells that don't last long, and typically this magic works best as a day-to-day aid. Geld witches can use it to find work as a maid, barkeep, waiter/ess, seamstress, and similar work. While it is typically seen as a feminine position, there are more male Geld witches than female.
Syv: This is a typical level of magic(aside from those too weak to be a Geld); there are slightly more Syv witches than Gelds, making it the most populous rank. A Syv Certificate would help a witch get a job as a common bodyguard, soldier, courier, herbalist or at an apothecary, craft quality charms and spells, and most noble families won't hire anyone below a Syv witch. While Syvs are seen as masculine, there are more female Syv witches than male. Syl witches used to be highly sought out as soldiers for the kingdom, until the Alliance declared neutrality 150 years ago.
Aur: The third most populous group of witches. Aur witches are relatively powerful, and it is a minimum requirement to legally operate any divinity run businesses. Noble families typically will only buy from apothecary if it is owned by an Aur. Aur commonly work as personal medics, personal guards for wealthy people, a bounty hunter; some Aur are sponsored by rich families to train privately owned dragons. Aur are well respected in society, and quite powerful.
Ran: The second smallest group of witches. There are as few as five to fifteen Ran witches in most nations at any given time. Ran witches have typically been hired to mediate between kingdoms. Ran witches are very powerful and difficult to kill, but Allied witches aren't allowed to work for the Kingdom for violent purposes. To get around this, many noble families hire Ran witches as advisers, but use them to intimidate, steal, and influence the king secretly.
Aus: There are no known living Aus witches. These witches were once considered Demi-Gods, capable of miracles and seemingly boundlessly powerful. Aus witches used to rule the Alliance, and within their power was the ability to take away someone's magic. They used to visit kingdoms to help settle disputes and keep the land peaceful. The last registered Aus witches are thought to have been poisoned 65 years ago. No bodies were found, but they have not been seen since.
Aur-Ran Political Strife:
Un-Allied, Graft, and Racket Witches:
Magical Creatures:
Dragons: Dragons once reigned in the hundreds of thousands. Now their numbers are dwindling. Once they had good relations with humans: hunters came, joined their packs, and sometimes they'd pick a few to bring to live among humans. Dragons are social creatures, and with the right treatment, they could thrive and work with humans. When humans began hunting them for war, dragons eventually learned to be more aggressive with humans. Wild dragons are very dangerous, more so in groups. It takes a skilled hunter to capture a dragon without harming it. Dragons avoid populous human settlements.
Aquatic dragons have largely remained untamed and unstudied.
Fae: The fae of the forest are often thought of as silly superstitions by the rich and wealthy. But the people who live where the trees grow into hills grow into mountains know better. The farther you live inside the city, the less likely the fae are to find you, unless you anger someone or something and it follows you. If you're poor and happen to live closer to the forest, you might need to get a charm to ward them, or hope you know a little magic yourself.
Demons: Demons can be summoned by any witch powerful enough to do it. They are wild in diversity, though a course in demonology can be taken by Aurs. They range from mildly annoying to deadly to mass-scale deadly. Even a Ran is incapable of summoning the most destructive and powerful of demons. It is easier to summon a demon than to banish it, and easy to be tricked into a contract, so demon work is typically left to the very skilled.
Monsters: Monsters of all varieties lurk in the forests. The best defense against them? A dragon escort. Monsters aren't likely to be found wandering into cities. If you travel anywhere without much in the way of humans, hiring a witch escort or a dragon hunter is advisable. If caught by one and you survive, seek treatment from a witch as soon as possible, and take a sample of hair if you can.
Other: Many other creatures roam the land, if you venture deep enough. The city might usually be safe, but all sorts of creatures feed on chaos and have come crawling out of the woodwork. If you can't protect yourself, there are plenty of witches looking for a job.
Witches are widespread and magic is common among people. However, most magic isn't particularly powerful. The majority of people who can use magic never join the alliance, as their magic is so faint it can't be channeled and trained. In the Alliance of Witches, witches are ranked:
Geld: Beginning witches with low level abilities. They can do small charms and spells that don't last long, and typically this magic works best as a day-to-day aid. Geld witches can use it to find work as a maid, barkeep, waiter/ess, seamstress, and similar work. While it is typically seen as a feminine position, there are more male Geld witches than female.
Syv: This is a typical level of magic(aside from those too weak to be a Geld); there are slightly more Syv witches than Gelds, making it the most populous rank. A Syv Certificate would help a witch get a job as a common bodyguard, soldier, courier, herbalist or at an apothecary, craft quality charms and spells, and most noble families won't hire anyone below a Syv witch. While Syvs are seen as masculine, there are more female Syv witches than male. Syl witches used to be highly sought out as soldiers for the kingdom, until the Alliance declared neutrality 150 years ago.
Aur: The third most populous group of witches. Aur witches are relatively powerful, and it is a minimum requirement to legally operate any divinity run businesses. Noble families typically will only buy from apothecary if it is owned by an Aur. Aur commonly work as personal medics, personal guards for wealthy people, a bounty hunter; some Aur are sponsored by rich families to train privately owned dragons. Aur are well respected in society, and quite powerful.
Ran: The second smallest group of witches. There are as few as five to fifteen Ran witches in most nations at any given time. Ran witches have typically been hired to mediate between kingdoms. Ran witches are very powerful and difficult to kill, but Allied witches aren't allowed to work for the Kingdom for violent purposes. To get around this, many noble families hire Ran witches as advisers, but use them to intimidate, steal, and influence the king secretly.
Aus: There are no known living Aus witches. These witches were once considered Demi-Gods, capable of miracles and seemingly boundlessly powerful. Aus witches used to rule the Alliance, and within their power was the ability to take away someone's magic. They used to visit kingdoms to help settle disputes and keep the land peaceful. The last registered Aus witches are thought to have been poisoned 65 years ago. No bodies were found, but they have not been seen since.
Aur-Ran Political Strife:
- Spoiler:
- Aur witches are often hired by nobles, and thus often find evidence or witness the corruption of Ran witches. This has caused trouble between the two ranks; Ran witches are stronger, but Aur witches outnumber them 1:10. While the Alliance doesn't dare show a divided front during the war, but the factions fighting has led to many witches abandoning the Alliance in favor of choosing a side of the war and living. This ended up pushing some witches towards Eryven, as it is seen as the likely winner at this point in the war. Others fled in favor of joining the rebellion, and some simply fled as far as they could.
Un-Allied, Graft, and Racket Witches:
- Spoiler:
- Most un-allied witches simply don't have enough magic to become certified. Their magic typically shows in small quirks like always finding four-leaf clover, never breaking a glass, or attracting a certain kind of animal. Their magic can't be tamed or amplified, and is usually involuntary.
Some un-allied witches oppose the Alliance. Some don't like the corruption, the strict ranks, the refusal to help in the war, the hypocrisy, among other reasons. They learn magic from family and friends, or other un-allied witches running illegal schools. Graft Witches are Syv or lower level witches who mostly use their magic to steal or sell fake charms and spells; they tend to be homeless or live a wayfaring lifestyle.
Racket witches are typically at the skill level of an Aur witch. They often try to mingle in society with fake certificates, gaining access to gullible noblemen's money. A skilled racket can fake their way into setting up a business, or illegally buying property. Typically known as skilled tricksters.
Magical Creatures:
Dragons: Dragons once reigned in the hundreds of thousands. Now their numbers are dwindling. Once they had good relations with humans: hunters came, joined their packs, and sometimes they'd pick a few to bring to live among humans. Dragons are social creatures, and with the right treatment, they could thrive and work with humans. When humans began hunting them for war, dragons eventually learned to be more aggressive with humans. Wild dragons are very dangerous, more so in groups. It takes a skilled hunter to capture a dragon without harming it. Dragons avoid populous human settlements.
Aquatic dragons have largely remained untamed and unstudied.
Fae: The fae of the forest are often thought of as silly superstitions by the rich and wealthy. But the people who live where the trees grow into hills grow into mountains know better. The farther you live inside the city, the less likely the fae are to find you, unless you anger someone or something and it follows you. If you're poor and happen to live closer to the forest, you might need to get a charm to ward them, or hope you know a little magic yourself.
Demons: Demons can be summoned by any witch powerful enough to do it. They are wild in diversity, though a course in demonology can be taken by Aurs. They range from mildly annoying to deadly to mass-scale deadly. Even a Ran is incapable of summoning the most destructive and powerful of demons. It is easier to summon a demon than to banish it, and easy to be tricked into a contract, so demon work is typically left to the very skilled.
Monsters: Monsters of all varieties lurk in the forests. The best defense against them? A dragon escort. Monsters aren't likely to be found wandering into cities. If you travel anywhere without much in the way of humans, hiring a witch escort or a dragon hunter is advisable. If caught by one and you survive, seek treatment from a witch as soon as possible, and take a sample of hair if you can.
Other: Many other creatures roam the land, if you venture deep enough. The city might usually be safe, but all sorts of creatures feed on chaos and have come crawling out of the woodwork. If you can't protect yourself, there are plenty of witches looking for a job.
