D&D General how would you recommend I make this feel like a more magical culture?

[Mind of tempest]

I do not need help on government structure more easily observable cultural stuff

Name: odhi
the non-integrator name options? (I am not calling the high or pure odhi the first is too elf and I hate pure as a positive concept so if you guys have any idea please tell me)

When they speak of the wonders of the odhi they rarely mean the local integrator populations although they are well known for their scholarly or magic works who they mean are the odhi native culture the ones who came to this world and apparently many others although that is questioned deeply by other peoples scholars.

Odhi city builders? Are known for their love of scholarly subjects to the point if you have knowledge and or a story to share you will always be welcome and you can trade for lodging, food or other goods.

These people build small city-states mostly in largely in inaccessible locations which are deliberately selected for a variety of reasons from the slopes of mountains to far-off islands to the Underdark.

They have never been known to have knowingly gone to war with each other although they have only had a fifty-year history on this world so it may be simply the need has yet to happen they speak of a far-off time in their histories when they fought other aberrations such as aboleth, mindflayers and Psurlon but this is apparently long past.

I am struggling to think of ideas for them and I would love some input?

 

[Starglim]

What do they look like? I mean "describe them" and their clothing and items, rather than "pick something that they resemble", though either might suit your thought process.

 

[Bluebell]

So my big question here is, why do they build their city-states in such inaccessible locations? Are they deliberately setting themselves apart from other people and trying to make themselves difficult to reach? Does something about their magical practice necessitate being far away from other ambient magical sources? Or is it perhaps the opposite -- that they are drawing on the unvarnished magic of these remote areas? Because I think that right there can inform quite a bit of flavor. Maybe the cities have buildings that glow with magical runes or a dome of crackling magical energy, depending on what exactly they're doing there.

Another question I have is, if they are so open to trading knowledge, how do they reconcile that with their remote locations? Do they have sophisticated methods of communication or easily accessible teleportation circles? Or are they more like hermits, who develop their knowledge in private?

 

[Mind of tempest]

What do they look like? I mean "describe them" and their clothing and items, rather than "pick something that they resemble", though either might suit your thought process.

I am not asking for appearance but things to make the base culture feel magical and stuff.

So my big question here is, why do they build their city-states in such inaccessible locations? Are they deliberately setting themselves apart from other people and trying to make themselves difficult to reach? Does something about their magical practice necessitate being far away from other ambient magical sources? Or is it perhaps the opposite -- that they are drawing on the unvarnished magic of these remote areas? Because I think that right there can inform quite a bit of flavor. Maybe the cities have buildings that glow with magical runes or a dome of crackling magical energy, depending on what exactly they're doing there.

Another question I have is, if they are so open to trading knowledge, how do they reconcile that with their remote locations? Do they have sophisticated methods of communication or easily accessible teleportation circles? Or are they more like hermits, who develop their knowledge in private?

thank you this helps as this makes me ask in-universe questions.

 

[bedir than]

You call them integrators but then put them as far off from others as possible. This creates a disconnect immediately. Using ironic names should be avoided in original lore in fantasy and sci-fi.

If they are integrators they should be directly among the rest of the peoples -- have them be diplomats, conversationalists, merchants. For the magic elements as integrators focus on enchantment and illusions used to get to know new peoples and share their stories.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

I'd see them as a Oligarchy based on spell slots: Odhi economy is based on the exchange of spell slots as a currency and mark of power. Like literally: you exchange goods for a casting of a spell or recharging the seller's spell slot of a selected level.

As a society, I'd mix D.A Tevinter (with the whole Sorcerer Papacy/Church governing the house of princes) and Ravnica's Orzhov (gain power now, serve us in undeath to pay off your debt). Maybe with a touch of Thay or Halruaa from FR? With each city dedicated to a the specialist school of the Liege-Prince, who are themselves in service of a High Archon of X who answer only to the Magus-Most-Exalted.

 

[Mind of tempest]

You call them integrators but then put them as far off from others as possible. This creates a disconnect immediately. Using ironic names should be avoided in original lore in fantasy and sci-fi.

If they are integrators they should be directly among the rest of the peoples -- have them be diplomats, conversationalists, merchants. For the magic elements as integrators focus on enchantment and illusions used to get to know new peoples and share their stories.

I used the term non-integrator as I had already built the two integrator cultures.
my language must have been unclear I am sorry.

I'd see them as a Oligarchy based on spell slots: Odhi economy is based on the exchange of spell slots as a currency and mark of power. Like literally: you exchange goods for a casting of a spell or recharging the seller's spell slot of a selected level.

As a society, I'd mix D.A Tevinter (with the whole Sorcerer Papacy/Church governing the house of princes) and Ravnica's Orzhov (gain power now, serve us in undeath to pay off your debt). Maybe with a touch of Thay or Halruaa from FR? With each city dedicated to a the specialist school of the Liege-Prince, who are themselves in service of a High Archon of X who answer only to the Magus-Most-Exalted.

I was going for something less evil you got any ideas for that?

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

I was going for something less evil you got any ideas for that?

I think they would see themselves as pragmatic, not evil, much like magic itself. Some may be good, some less so, but everything is about magic.

 

[Mind of tempest]

I think they would see themselves as pragmatic, not evil, much like magic itself. Some may be good, some less so, but everything is about magic.

both examples you used are clearly evil so I am not really following how they are pragmatic?

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

both examples you used are clearly evil so I am not really following how they are pragmatic?

Those are inspirations, not copies
Tevinter, Thay and Orzhov are pretty evil indeed. You dont need to use the whole blood magic and slavery stuff. But they are good example on how a society (hierarchy) based around magic knowledge both in the life and afterlife of its people would work, IMO.

Halruaa and the classic monks of Candlekeep might be other inspiration where your knowledge of magic = your place in society.

But of course, ''power corrupts'' and all that could be reflected in some enclaves.