Magic in the City-States

To most humans, magic is a seldom-seen and little-understood part of existence. They know it is out there - and that the practitioners of the art are to be respected if not feared. To those that interact with magic with some regularity, such as the nobility of the City-States Region, members of the Mercenary Guild, or adventurers, see it as a powerful tool but one wielded by humans nonetheless. Like any tool, magic (and those who wield it) can be made to fit needs as desired.
 

The Mages

[Main Article ] Magic users within the human-habited lands are extremely rare, not for lack of talent, but because it is under strict control. After the Dragonscourge, the leaders of the surviving human tribes forbade the existence of uncontrollable magic in their domains. To this extent, any sign of “inner-born” sorcery was outlawed and any human showing signs of natural magic abilities was killed on sight. Only a few of the humans had the skill to practice the more difficult scholarly pursuit of wizardry took on the task of both policing the “wurmborn” and teaching future wizards. Partially out of high-mindedness (limiting the number of potentially dangerous mages in the world) and conceit (the mages were part of the tribes' leadership and considered noble) they only selected apprentices of noble birth.
  Over the centuries, the slowly-growing number of mages established a regimented system of specialization and education with strict rules regarding who could learn and practice magic," further entrenching the world of magic as a “noble” pursuit. Formal schools were founded by more sedentary masters to teach slightly larger numbers of students (as many as three or four at a time for the more ambitious teachers) and a structured tradition of ranks came into being. Students were chosen by teachers through various means, though the most common would always be the acceptance of large quantities of gold or other valuables. Mages became valued aides to leaders of many rising cities along the coast and were often granted titles as these cities created their political structures. Even though many mages took positions within the hierarchies of the cities, hundreds more remained on an island off the coast, creating an isolated homeland for the magical arts.
 

The Virtues

[Main Article] The worship of the Virtues as spiritual and moral guidance predates the organization of the City-States Region by many centuries. Coming into existence alongside an empire that once dominated the eastern shore of Lasair, the Order of the Virtues first existed to set an example of "a proper and true life". Seven tenets are espoused by the Order; those with the will and devotion to do so can draw upon their strength to manifest what can be called "divine" magic.
  Even after the Dragonscourge, belief in the Virtues remained. While the Order does not command the influence it once did in the days of the empire, it continues as a background element to much of life in human lands on Lasair.
 

Why the Control?

There are a few primary reasons for the hierarchy which surrounds all Magic users in human lands.

 

• The first is what the two organizations ensure everybody understands is their primary purpose: policing the Wurmborn. Watching for signs of Sorcerers, to ensure that those born with the Dragons' power do not lay waste to human lands once more. They take this role very seriously (especially the paladins of the Order of the Virtues), but it is not a role that takes up a particularly large portion of their time.

 
• The second, especially for the Mages, is to maintain possession of magic. The Mages consider themselves to be the rightful inheritors of magic, as well as the only people worthy to be the true nobles of human lands on Lasair. By selecting from among the wealthy or from those who show particular promise, the Mages ensure that magic stays in the hands of those like them. (The Order of the Virtues is less concerned with nobility but still looks for candidates who have the right frame of mind).

 
• Finally, both magical orders understand that magic users are dangerous. The levels of power that lays in the hands of those who can bend physical reality to their will is unspeakable. By making the use of that power contingent upon acceptance of the hierarchy, the Mages and The Order of the Virtues ensure that every individual who wields the power understands that if they use it in a way that puts other magic users at risk, they will all destroy them. The Mages in particular are not concerned with "being good" (plenty of Mages are of an evil alignment), but they are concerned with one of their number becoming too powerful for the others to stop.

 

Minor Magic

This all is not to say that common folk across the City-States don't have access to magic whatsoever. There are ways that magic can be used in everyday life for those who weren't privileged to be taken on as an apprentice to a Mage.
 

Trinkets

It's fairly common for objects to be imbued with small spells, allowing for their use by a regular person. A gem can be enchanted with a light spell to be carried at night. An arrowhead could be connected to a stone with a tracking spell that lets a hunter follow prey after hitting it with an arrow. Plenty of little magical effects can be used by individuals. These items often start out fairly expensive when crafted (they most frequently originate from Magear) but they can pass into the hands of descendents or move in trade and become curiosities held by a family seemingly at random. Magical effects can also be placed into single-use, temporary vessels, such as scrolls or potions, which are designed for ease of use.
 

Hedge Magic

Not every apprentice taken by a Mage will complete their training. Many will fail early on, only learning the most basic of spells. These dropouts may teach what little they know in the future whether to their own families or in exchange for wealth or opportunity. Others may have learned some small magic from those outside the City-States: it's not unheard of for magical practitioners from the Korth'an Forest to spend time in Southport where they may interact with humans from the north. This can sometimes result in magic being traded. It's also possible for an individual to gain some magical teaching from the Fae in exchange for some major commitment.
  While the Mages certainly frown upon this minor spread of magic outside of their direct control, they will rarely take direct action to stop it. Such minor practitioners are no threat to their power or control, and beyond verifying that such magic is not the result of being Wurmborn they will largely ignore such magic.