Leylines

"Where strength and humanity converge.
Where sovereignty and flesh converge.
Where storm and spellcraft converge.
Where renown and solitude converge.
Where treachery and oblivion converge."

Overview

Leylines, sometimes called mana lines, are ancient Mana paths and rivers that flow and crisscross each other across a given landscape. They are invisible lines of mystical force that can grant great power to those who know how to unlock their secrets. Leylines are the amalgamation of mana and the lifeblood of the world they reside in, without them the world would be a barren wasteland devoid of all life. All mana comes from these rivers and all life is naturally drawn to them. Individual lines can ebb and flow in their potency, sometimes causing magical droughts or bountiful excesses of power. While invisible most of the time to the naked eye, it is possible to 'feel' the connection to a leyline and determine its strength or lack thereof.

The Leylines of Ravnica

The biggest leyline in Ravnica roots itself at the very center of Ravnica itself, where the Chamber of the Guildpact was built. This area holds tremendous power and is where The Guildpact draws its incredible magic. From there, the main vines that stem from the center branch out towards each of the guild's main residence. Whether or not this was intentional isn't known, but due to leylines naturally drawing life towards it, many people speculate that it wasn't just happenstance that this happened. Each of the main veins further branch out into smaller rivers and creeks that grasp out all over the world. The largest of the leylines have been mapped out as accurately as possible, though it is impossible to pinpoint exactly where each line is and where they flow to for two reasons: They are mostly invisible and they can shift from their location quite considerably. An area with very little magical magical capabilities one day, can be one of the most powerful location in the world the next.

History

Leylines are been a part of Ravnica since they were theorized in the very early years of recorded history, and almost certainly have been around since the beginning of time.

It is believed that leylines are the blood of the world, the very thing that generates and maintains life itself. It is not known where leylines come from directly, some think the center of the world, others believe they simply manifest where they want to be. Since all creatures are naturally drawn to them, there have been many records of powerful empires and individuals building their cities or homes near or directly on a large leyline, as is experienced in modern Ravnica with the ten guilds and the Guildpact.

Leyline of Lifeforce by Kev Walker

A powerful mage siphoning Green mana from five intersecting leylines.

Function

Leylines appear to be limitless wells of mana. As long as there has been magic, the leylines have been tapped for their power and show no sign of dwindling. Drawing from that power does not seem to directly affect the potency of the line itself. Given the vast population of Ravnicans and the amount of magic being cast on a daily basis, it is safe to assume that these rivers will never dry up. The only concern then is where these lines will move to and how much power they will emit. There is no pattern or predictability. A line may stay consistent for years, only to dwindle to nearly nothing for an hour, prop back up to normalcy afterwards, and become extremely potent for the next hour.
Drawing power from these lines requires no extra thought outside of regularly casting spells. The strength of the line can determine the strength or lack of strength for the spell being cast. Generally one can reliably cast spells at their intended power, though it is possible the individual can sense where their power can be even greater and cast a spell at that location. Humans have a far greater natural sense of leylines than other races, even most other creatures.
Leylines can also effect an individual's mood. As mana is tied one's emotional state, leylines can determine how one can feel in a certain area. Someone at a location with a flooded leyline may feel elated and full of energy, whereas if someone finds themself at a 'dead zones' they can have feelings of sluggishness and general apathy, symptoms shared by people with Dysubilysis.

Tapping into Leylines

It is possible for someone to directly tap into a leyline to grant themselves untold amounts of power and strength. These events are incredibly rare and come with a host of problems.

• It is illegal to tap directly into a leyline, and it is against the Guildpact laws.

• It is incredibly hard to find exactly where the lines are to tap into and there is no guarantee they will remain stationary before the process completes.

• The knowledge required to be able to tap into them is difficult to learn, hard to master, and requires expensive ingredients.

• Siphoning into too much from a line or lines may cause death or irreversible damage to the individual

Should one actually manage to pull power directly from these wells, they will find themselves with the ability to cast spells at least tenfold of what they could normally cast. The power that lingers with them can last between a few hours, to a week or two before it eventually fades away. There have been very few recorded accounts of these events happening.

Manifestation

The only time leylines are visible are when someone is directly siphoning from them. They are describes as vibrant beams of light that trace along the ground in smooth wavy lines like someone using a stick to draw in the dirt. The color of the line depends on the individual's want and need of a particular mana; white, blue, black, red, and green and any combination of those five. The light follows the direct path of the leyline for hundreds of yards before slowly fading out, and the user if often bathed in this light as they begin to draw power. Some accounts state that leylines can be seen floating in the air, but it is much more common to see them emit from the ground.