World & lore continued (Patreon)

In this post we'll continue exploring the game world and setting.

As explained previously, the world is laid out with the north pole at the center, and south radiating outwards to the edges. Right at the center is a pole in the magic field, which affects the surrounding area and has given rise to dragons that nest nearby. Similar to the magnetic field, the magic field shoots up from the pole into the stratosphere and then arcs back down near the edges of the world, creating three zones with different magic strengths. Magic is strong near the center and edges of the world, and weak in between. This weak magic presence creates a harmonious Goldilocks zone in the middle, free from the chaotic energies and unnatural creatures that otherwise wreak havoc on the world. This is where human civilizations flourish, surrounded by fertile lands and bountiful fields. Further south towards the edges of the world, the land turns less hospitable in the presence of ever stronger magical energies, eventually transitioning into a scorched wasteland inhabited only by demons and other magical creatures. They are bound to this land, for they will wither away in the absence of the magical field.

This world model is conceptually similar to that of Norse mythology, where the world is divided into concentric rings inhabited by different beings. At heart is Asgård where the gods live, then the next ring is Midgård (also known as Middle-Earth) where the humans live, and beyond that is Utgård where giants and other magical creatures live. It differs quite a lot in the details though, but it has the same principle of dividing the world based on the beings that reside there.

The magic field is in constant flux and can be thought of as a sea, where the surrounding shores represent the border between the strong and weak areas. On a good day, it is calm and stable with not so much as a ripple on the surface. These conditions produce eras of stability for the humans that are sheltered from its influence, where civilizations are built and prosper. Occasionally a strong wave hits the shore and chaos ensues as the realm is flooded with magic, but it always eventually pulls back into the sea and order is restored.

However, the ancient scribes whisper of another type of fluctuation, one of far greater severity. An ebb and flow of the magic field, tied to the motion of the celestial bodies. It is said that when the tide of magic rises, the end times are near. As the magic field grows stronger, the arcane borderlands at the edge of the world creep ever closer and the creatures from beyond march on the realms of men. In the north, the magic pole is turned into a maelstrom, sundering the land with primordial powers. Deep below, ancient dragons awaken from their long slumber, unshackled by the tide.

So that's a small overview of some recent ideas for the world lore and the background for the game. It would've been easier to explain with a cinematic but hopefully it was somewhat understandable. Next time I'll talk about how dragontwins fit into this!