The Arcana

The Arcana is an ancient codex of writings crafted to understand the nature of Aether — the primordial force that fuels all life and magic. Within its pages, Aether is classified into various Affinities, each representing a fundamental aspect of the world and the magical disciplines derived from them. These main affinities correspond to elemental forces, such as Fire or Water, and form the foundation for magical study and spellcasting. However, beneath each lies a complex web of Sub-Affinities — rarer, more abstract branches of magic that, while categorized under a primary affinity, often extend far beyond its physical properties.

Sub-Affinities are not bound to flame or frost, wind or stone, but instead reflect the core philosophies and metaphysical traits associated with them. For instance, while the Fire Affinity governs spells of burning and heat, its sub-affinities delve into deeper concepts such as destruction, rebirth, and perseverance. These intricate layers make the Arcana not just a tool for wielding magic, but a living framework for understanding the very nature of reality through Aether.

Main Affinities in the Arcana:

Fire - The power of flames and heat. Sub-Affinities consist of themes of destruction, death, and perseverance.

Ice - The power of cold and frost. Sub-Affinities consist of themes of time, decay, and glass.

Wind - The power of the invisible and dangerous forces of wind. Sub-Affinities consist of themes of weather and air.

Thunder - The power of the thundering rays that descend from the heavens. Sub-Affinities consist of themes of magnetism, suddenness and materialization.

Earth - The power of the boundless energy of nature. Sub-Affinities consists of themes of life, plague, and nature.

Water - The power of the bodies of water of the world, who sustain us endlessly. Sub-Affinities consists of themes of healing, calm, and sleep.

Divinity - The power of true faith stemming from the gods. Sub-Affinities consists of sheer and strict light and darkness.

Psychic - The power of the mind of living beings and their systems. Sub-Affinities consists of themes of control, manipulation, and emotion.

Curse - The power of persistence and permanence. Sub-Affinities consist of themes of age, sorrow, and inconvenience.

Realm - The power of different dimensions and planes, stacked up on each other like layers. Sub-Affinities consists of themes of exile, disappearance, and realm-crossing.

Summoning - The power of manifesting beings into reality.