Primis

Lost Knowledge & Heretics

Mystel, where most of the narrative of the setting takes place, is a province settled atop the ruins of the once-powerful Skarric Empire. This ancient civilization once mastered both magic and technology to achieve near-immortality at a tremendous cost. Though Skarro’s true fate has been buried by time—and deliberate suppression—its legacy lingers in the forbidden artifacts scattered across the land.

Now under the tight control of the Tritian Empire and the zealously anti-magic Holmenic Order, Mystel exists in a fragile balance between tradition and upheaval. Magic, once revered, is now outlawed. But as the Tritian Empire's power crumbles, change stirs: progressive factions, rogue scholars, and underground resistances experiment with auramancy, the art of manipulating life-force energy. As tensions rise and Skarro’s secrets resurface, Mystel stands on the edge of rediscovery—or ruin.

Themes & Influences

• Magic as a Taboo Practice: Feared and coveted, magic is forbidden in many places, practiced only by the reckless or the ostracized. Aura—the essence of magic—is dwindling, and each use has a cost.
• Technology & Culture: Mystel reflects a world in flux, echoing the 1600s–1700s post-Renaissance era, where gunpowder meets lost arcane innovation and ambition minds dream of a new age for arcane technology without fear of persecution.
• Southern Mystel & Seagraive: Inspired by early New Orleans and Louisiana swamp country, this region is dense with spirits, steam, and social unrest.
• Northern Mystel: Echoes of New Zealand and its surrounding islands—rugged wilderness, seafaring cultures, and ancient spiritual traditions—define the highland reaches.