Magic Fields

Awldor    Natural Laws      Magic Fields

One can see for themselves how the collapse shattered our world for time and space no longer have that grand predictable uniformity that existed before.

— Sanev Vensandoral, Archmage

Magic fields are remnant fragments of magical energy of the The Great Collapse. These are the calmer versions of Magic Storms. The presence of these fields are yet another manifestation of a world shattered in a real and metaphorical fashion. Some have even speculated that magic may just be the product of a universe whose fabric is broken. That certain feats we see today should not be possible within a stable continuum.

Manifestation

Must we break the continuum ourselves? Must we risk a further shattering?

— Sanev Vensandoral, Archmage

Natural

Natural may seem to be a stretch considering the origin of these fields, but there is hardly a better descriptor available. Some fields form temporarily, winking in and out of existence at wildly different intervals, while others appear to be a permanent addition to their landscape. Additionally, some are stationary while others slowly cross the world.

Artificial

Certain spells and artifacts can produce magic fields. Certain wealthy organizations have have employed master mages to erect such a field as a defensive measure. This application is rare due to the dangerous and often unpredictable nature of summoning magic related to the collapse.

If you're worried about those magic fields, then carry a crystal with you. Just make sure its of the proper kind.

— Bezon, Alchemist

Detection

Magic fields can be detected by keen senses (sight, sound, taste...), those who can sense magic, or by using a Zmysel Crystal. The last two listed are capable of detecting the fragments of magical energy, which means they can sense the formation of a magic field. Keen senses will see the field as it is forming at the earliest, not before.

Prevention

Magic fields can be prevented through the use of magical shielding, preferably powered by a Schutz Crystal, or by creating an artificial magic deadzone.

Types of Magic Fields

This list is by no means exhaustive, though a traveler would do well to consult this list.


Aero field - A perpetual wind fueled by magical energy. These fields can form mild tornadoes, wind gusts, and other varieties of phenomena concerned with the air. These fields have been known to cause breathing difficulties to anyone traveling through them. This type of field seems to form most often in mountainous regions. It is said that the greatest and most violent of these fields exists within the Oniruuru Desert.



Aqua field - These fields can only be noticed in the presence of water due to the sometimes strange way the magic interacts with the liquid. Aqua fields can be a discomforting presence to beings traveling through them as bodies are made of water in no insignificant part. Signs of an aqua field are unusual waves, vibrations, or even flotation. A seemingly endless misting or rain exist in more powerful fields of this type. In even stronger fields, a light water sprout or vortex can be seen in or emerging from puddles and other such small bodies. The greatest concentration of aqua fields exists within The Verdant Archipelago, although they are relatively mild.



Aurora Field - These fields appear to bring the northern lights not only further south than they should be, but much closer to the ground than they should be. They are also smaller in scale, but quite a spectacular sight nonetheless.


Bubble field - A field of perpetual bubbles that range from small to large depending on how strong the fragmented magic is. Most fields of this sort produce small bubbles that offer a fun distraction for any with a lightened heart. Particularly strong varieties of this field present a traveling hazard as one could become trapped within one of the floating bubbles for the duration of the field's existence or until help arrives.



Confusion field - Any who enter fields become confused. This confusion can be something as simple as not knowing left from right to outright panic.



Feather field - A field that seems to perpetually apply feather fall to anything that walks within it. While this can be one of the more benign types of arcane fields one could enter, care must be taken to know the exact extent of the field. The strength of such fields can vary too. Some fields have lingering magic powerful enough carry people and materials high into the sky. A landscape that appears to have been carved out is one indicator of such a field.



Freezing field - A field that is perpetually frozen and will freeze anything that travels within it. Special care must be taken if one is to travel through such areas. These fields are most commonly found in the arctic regions and on mountain slopes, but some are to be found in the desert. Still others are known to form in underground caves.



Haste field - Time moves slightly more quickly in the area affected by this field. This kind of field seems to represent that even time itself was broken in places by the calamities of the collapse. These fields sometimes are the source of a plan gone wrong or a humorous incident. Thankfully, the more violent version of this field, one of the magic storms, is an exceedingly rare occurrence.



Igni field - A self-sustaining inferno that feeds off of the magical essence of a given area. These are most commonly found on the slopes of volcanoes or deep within the earth. Some have been known to form atop water located in bogs or swamps. Helian Fire has been known to cause such fields by mistake although such instances are rare.



Levitation field - A field that imbues objects with gravity defying properties. These fields are quite common as evident by the world's many floating islands. Strangely, these fields don't seem to affect living beings. At least the effect seems disproportionately weaker compared to non-living matter. Some levitation fields have been known to levitate people, though it is unclear if this is because those fields were stronger or if something else was at work. This is an ongoing area of research for several institutions of learning and research.



Petrifying field - An area that slowly petrifies anything within it. These fields have been known to turn entire villages into permanent monuments. Thankfully, these fields often act so slowly that those who recognize the signs early on are able to escape.



Poison field - The name says it all really. A field that continuously poisons anyone unfortunate enough to be traveling within it. Sometimes very slowly, other times very quickly. These fields are commonly found in swamps, bogs, sewers, and caves.



Shadow field - These fields cast an area in perpetual shadow. The strength of the fragmentary magic determines the strength of the shadow. Some of these fields merely allows one to see the night sky during noon. Other shadow fields will blind one utterly.



Shocking field -An area unusually charged with electrical energy. Commonly found in the mountains or in caves when a high concentration of magnetite is present. Travels must take care to avoid wearing anything metallic if planning to travel into such fields. Particularly strong fields of this sort have been known to shock the unwary from a distance.



Sleep field - A deep slumber awaits any who venture knowingly or unknowingly into fields of this sort. The greater the magic the longer and deeper the slumber. Many have reported having their clearest dreams when entering such fields. The presence of such fields can be difficult to prove due to the variety of other ways someone may suddenly find themselves asleep.



Slow field - Time moves slightly more slowly in the area affected by this field. Largely the same properties and level of occurrence as a Haste Field, except that time moves slower rather than faster.



Stamina field - Those who enter this type of magic field experience greater stamina. Many messengers seek fields like these out.



Strength field - Any who enter fields of this kind are granted increased strength for some time. The exact amount of time and increase in strength varies.



Withering field - These fields, though processes not entirely understood even by sages, will extract the life out of anything that enters them. These fields are exceedingly rare, at least on Quassus. Captain Amaya Quickwind noted that the locals on Planus have more records concerning such fields, especially in the immediate region around the Ancient Crater, where such phenomena appears to be more common.

All artwork is by starfarertheta unless otherwise stated.

Type

Metaphysical, Arcane

How are Settlements Affected?

Most cities and towns erect a magic shield to prevent the formation or intrusion of magic fields.
As such, large settlements act as places of refuge against the unpredictable dangers of the world.
Remote and/or poor villages, however, lack such a defense and are therefore at risk.
Many do employ a magic user, usually a mage, to help protect the village, but their ability to protect depends greatly on their level of knowledge and skill.

Is it Safe to Travel?

Every journey entails some danger, and magic fields as a particular danger should always be considered.
Travel routes have sprung up between settlements not because of planning, but of which routes were used most.
People use certain routes because they avoid magically active areas.
Travel along well-worn routes is considered the safest way to travel, especially those that have been paved.
Sometimes, a magic field will appear somewhere along a road and will thus have to be avoided or dispelled.

Dimensionality of Fields

There is no universal shape for a magic field.
It is enough to consider such fields to be spherical in shape.
Studies have revealed that many fields are not quite spheres nor are they quite a "solid" construct.
The reality is that magic fields would, if one could give them a opaque appearance, to be floating blobs.
These blobs can have tunnels or holes within them, though these are often too small or too chaotic for most to utilize.
The most learned individuals claim that these fields are not strictly three dimensional constructs, and that they prove the existence of higher dimensions.

Note(s) from the Archivists:

Has the magic field in the east outhouse been dispersed yet? - Archivist Theta
No it hasn't. I don't know what happened to the mage we hired. - Archivist Bob Ironrock
In any case, don't try to go in there now. It's gotten worse. - Archivist Bob Ironrock