ARCANE MAGIC (Wizardry)
The Nature of Magic: Magic is a palpable energy. It is the fifth fundamental force of the universe. It is as ubiquitous as heat and light, and if it were to disappear the universe would be just as doomed to a cold, dark death. Magic permeates all matter, living or not, and all other forms of energy. Yet, its very omnipresent nature makes it hard to see by most, and even more difficult to harness. Like a quantum construct, it responds to the will – intentional or not – of sapient beings and can be channeled through either precise, intellectual algorithms or pure willful guile. In a world infused with magic, those that can master it and manipulate it for their own purposes can become like unto living gods among throngs of mortals.
The History of Magic: The elves claim that it was they among the mortal races who first mastered magic. They are right, but theres is only half the story. Long millenia before elves first mastered fire – let alone magic – the Dragons were born. Immortal beings of pure elemental power, the Dragons were as much a part of magic as fish are part of the sea. Though intelligent, the true power of the Dragons was their unmatched presence, their unparalleled strength of personality. Whether this was a result of their link with the fundamental forces of magic, or the cause for it, even the Dragons do not know. Even from the beginning, the Dragons were covetous and jealous creatures and for thousands of years they hunted down and enslaved or killed so-called “lesser” creatures who shared their intrinsic link to magic. Over time, however, they discovered that this threatened magic itself, and by extension their own supremacy: magic, it seemed, fed and grew on those that could manipulate it. Knowing they could no longer destroy their rivals, but unwilling to allow threats to their supremacy to walk freely, the Dragons hatched a different plan: they would cull and guide the bloodlines that seemed to lead to an inherent link to magical energy, making those lines more 'draconic' over the centuries, breeding in a loyalty to dragon-kind.
Meanwhile, the elves had risen from their primitive state and were the first mortal race to use language, both spoken (or sung, in the case of elves) and written. Perceptive of the natural world like no other race, the elves became aware of the ubiquitous nature of magic while men and dwarves had yet to crawl from their caves. Early elven thinkers began to experiment with word and symbol and discovered that they could manipulate the power of magic. It was an arduous and precise task and one only the most intellectually gifted were suited for. Nonetheless, the first formalized magical methods appeared even as the first great elven cities were built. Not so covetous as the Dragons, the elves eventually shared their art with men and dwarves during the first great war against the orcs, ogres and giants. Had the elves realized the capricious and rapid nature of human culture, or the indomitable desire to master all crafts of the dwarves, they may have kept the secret to themselves. As it was, not a single elf generation passed before the study of magic was no longer theirs, but the whole world's. Even the goblins, often considered little more than vermin and rabble, learned the art and mastered it for their own uses.
The Dragons had long since retreated from the wider world to their home continent of Abyscor, as they had throughout the history of the world. The rise of this new kind of manipulation of magic went largely unnoticed by them, at least until the hordes of orcs, ogres and giants were driven into the Dragons' domain. They learned from these new arrivals of “wizardly” magic and responded in the way dragons are wont to do: first they dismissed it as inferior, then, over time, began to consider it. By the time they chose to take any sort of action, however, it was too late.
The Rise and Fall of the Wizard-Kings of Babyrast: By the time of the Great Catastrophe and the migration of the mortal races to Abyscor, magic was an old art with many traditions and schools of study. Among the most knowledgeable and ambitious was the Arcane Academy of Babyrast. Before the Catastrophe, it was a small school on the fringes of both society and mainstream magical thinking, due mostly to its focus on summoning and consorting with extra-planar powers. Unlike many schools, however, the Babyrast academy survived the Catastrophe almost entirely intact when its headmaster bargained with a powerful demon to have the entire school and its grounds teleported to Abyscor. While other magical organizations migrated relatively slowly to Abyscor over the next two hundred years – many of them expending resources and members trying to combat the Catastrophe – the Babyrast wizards were able to establish a foothold in this new land. Other migrants in need of magical services and protections against the fearsome monsters native to Abyscor came first to the Babyrast wizards. By the time the migration was complete and other, formerly more influential, magical schools came to Abyscor, the Arcane Academy of Babyrast was already embedded as the most powerful – politically, economically and magically – wizardly organization in Abyscor. It was not a great leap from Arcane Academy to City State to, ultimately, Empire of the Wizard-Kings of Babyrast. Unfettered by old world restrictions and bolstered by powers few other wizards dare treat with, the Wizard-Kings grew in might and influence and eventually ruled all of “civilized” Abyscor. Rich from taxes and tribute, they sent forays deeper into Abyscor to seek resources and battle the constantly raiding, but never fully organized, orc, ogre and giant clans. All the while, the delved deeper into their arcane study, creating wonders and horrors never before seen among the mortal races. Hardly a homogeneous lot, the Wizard-Kings all had their individual proclivities and the spells and items and places of power they created were as varied as the 108 Wizard-Kings themselves. At the height of Babyrast's power, nine out of ten of the city states of Abyscor knelt under the yoke of the Wizard-Kings.
For their part, the Dragons were content to study the wizards of Babyrast for centuries. Some even treated with Babyrast, gleaning knowledge of mortal magic for the price of what dragons would consider a few baubles, but wizards would covet as great artifacts and treasures. It is believed that a few dragons even “converted” to the study of wizardly magic (although this is unconfirmed). But as the Wizard-Kings grew in both power and ambition, reaching deeper into the continent, the Dragons could no longer ignore them or treat them as curiosities. They warred with the Dragons' chosen servants, hunted the powerful magical animals native to Abyscor, and looted the ruins of the First Orc Empire for Dragon-crafted artifacts once bestowed upon that now-defunct civilization. At first, the Dragons treated with the Wizard-Kings. They were denied and betrayed by the wizards. Then the Dragons warned them with small attacks and displays of power. The Wizard-Kings retaliated. Finally, the Dragons decided this human civilization was too arrogant and too great a threat to continue and waged a devastating war. They brought all their hordes to bare against Babyrast, and, for the first time in thousands of years, came themselves in force onto the field of battle.
In the end, the Wizard-Kings were all but exterminated and most of mortal civilization was reduced to smoking ruin. Only the original Arcane Academy of Babyrast itself survived the onslaught unscathed, protected by some pact with demon-kind that even the Dragons could not undo. Even so, the Empire of the Wizard-Kings was broken and many of its secrets were lost forever, and many more were buried beneath the ruins of towers, palaces and laboratories.
Magic Now: The Wizard-Kings suppressed many magical schools and traditions, viewing other wizards as threats. It was ultimately their undoing, as they had few allies when the Dragons attacked. After the Empire was destroyed and Babyrast itself was reduced to a single school with no more influence over the surviving city-states than any other, wizards of all kinds were able to once again study and exchange ideas in the open – mostly. Due to both the uncompromising control of the Wizard-Kings and the Dragon wrath they brought down, many surviving cities took a dim view of any practitioners of the arcane arts. In some city-states, wizardly magic is outlawed completely and punishable by death or banishment. In most, though, wizards are viewed with suspicion and fear. In a few, where other schools have become important institutions, wizards are treated well and even engage in civic affairs. Overall, wizards are relatively rare (and magic items and spells for sale equally so). Far more common are hedge-mages and alchemists who can provide much more limited, but less expensive and dangerous, services. There is a brisk trade in relics of Babyrast and other magic from the past, including Orcish and Draconic items (though these are not, strictly speaking, 'wizardly' arcane magics).
Rules: Here are some ideas I have for rules options and modifications for arcane casters, specifically those that prepare spells. (Sorcerers and other spontaneous arcane casters will get separate treatment.)
A wizard can prepare a number of different spells per day as indicated by their level (not modified by their Intelligence). They may cast a number of spells per day as indicated by their level and modified by their Intelligence from among these prepared spells. In other words, wizards don't need to prepare any given spell multiple times to cast it multiple times.
All wizards must be specialist wizards, and all specialist wizard options from Unearthed Arcana are available.
I am considering using 'laden spells' (from Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed) instead of the core metamagic system (though characters will still have to know the individual metamagic feats). I have to look into this a little further and see what kinds of conflicts it may create.
Some spells from various sources are going to be 'tagged' as rare or otherwise difficult to come by and learn. These spells will have an increased spellcraft DC and an XP cost to learn. There won't be many from the core rules that are affected, but many spells from other sources will be tagged as such (quite frankly, mostly the spells that are just that much more powerful or problematic).
I am going to create a sort of blank Familiar creature type and template, as all familiars will be unusual, unique magical critters (with a description and type specific benefits based on player desires), without the need for long lists of 'improved familiar' level requirements, etc... Item familiars will probably also be available.
