Ursulyn

Ursulyn is a world of multiple continents and a myriad of peoples and cultures. The technology of this world is based on advanced science (think Renaissance Europe or the Age of Enlightenment but without the economic, cultural, and intellectual decline that took place during the Middle Ages) and magic. There are no motorized vehicles or electronic devices as we know them, but communications, medicine, travel, and so on are all bolstered by magic.   Magic is, however, not something that can be accessed by everyone. While roughly a third of the population has the genetic gift for magic, the other two-thirds is "ordinary," relying on the spellwork of the gifted. There are high expectations for those who have the gift, as their unique talents are needed to maintain the standard of living that has been built upon a magical foundation.   The Kingdom of Avareth, in which our story takes place, is but one of many in the world of Ursulyn. Built heavily upon magic, like most other countries and kingdoms, Avareth considers itself to be an advanced civilization. Slavery is outlawed there, though its neighboring countries to the south have no qualms about using slave labor. Trafficking across Avareth's southern border is an ongoing issue, requiring increased security patrols, especially along the southern roads leading out of Tottenham and Redwater.   Ursulyn itself is very similar to Earth in its environmental makeup. The northern and southern poles are uninhabited landmasses of ice and snow. The equator is marked by high temperatures. Unfortunately, weather can occasionally be unpredictable. Mages are fully capable of controlling the weather in their local regions, but too much meddling can cause the planet's natural systems to rebel. In general, most civilizations have agreed to use this type of magic sparingly, only to avert the biggest disasters; however, this doesn't stop local mages from calling up small rainstorms to water their plants during the hot seasons, or calling up winds to push snowstorms along, to avoid being dumped on by blizzards.