The History of Magic in Arcmor
Once, the people of Arcmor only knew how to cast spells. They could make giant Dragons of flame or freeze someone with a whisper. For a long time, they believed themselves to be the most powerful Magic users there were. They called themselves Wizards. The Wizards of Arcmor honed their skills and shunned any who didn’t use Spells to cast their Magic. They labelled Alchemists with their Elixirs as archaic and they called the Potion using Witches uncivilized. Even the Scribes, who made little items imbued with Magic, were labelled weak. After all, what good is your Magic if you need a tin or bottle to be able to cast it? Spells were obviously superior.
Then, one fateful day, a great storm set upon the Castle of Arcmor and brought with it a broken, limping ship. The ship carried wounded and, try as them might, the Wizards could not heal the injured. They cast every Spell they could think of, banding together to increase their power. Finally, an ancient Witch approached the ship. Have long since run out of ideas, the Wizards agreed to let the Witch try to heal the wounded. They watched in awe as she poured a glowing blue liquid over the worst of the Sailors’ wounds and, with a flash of light and a muttering of words, the wounds were sealed and the Sailors revived. The Wizards could hardly believe their eyes but, as closed-minded as they had been, it soon became clear that the Wizards had too deep a love of Magic to send the Witch away. Soon, others followed and even those from other countries became welcome in the land of Arcmor. The Wizards cast aside their prejudice and welcomed every new type of Magic with interest and excitement.
Since then, Arcmor has been a little oasis where prejudice has no place and everyone is welcome, no matter the kind of Magic they use (or whether they choose to use Magic at all).
As a result of this influx of various Magic users, the land of Arcmor has begun to move away from boxed in terms such as Wizard or Witch and instead have taken to referring to how each person channels their Magic.
Below are the main types of Magic and who is known for using them:
Magic and its users
Spell Weaver:
Spell Weavers use Spells to channel their Magic. They can call upon the power of the sun and the stars and they have a special connection to Dragons. The most notable (and most powerful) Spell Weaver is the UnCommon Wizard. While the position is passed down from master to apprentice, the current UnCommon Wizard is Marissa Underthread. She resides at the Wizard Tower and uses her Magic to help keep the Castle and the wider land of Arcmor safe. She also oversees the education of all apprentices, not just other Spell Weavers.
Potion Weaver:
Potion Weavers use plants and other natural materials to brew Potions to channel their Magic. Potions usually have temporary effects that can immobilize others or, in great need, get you out of a sticky situation. They have a particular connection to nature and the land itself. Most Potion Weavers gather into covens with a Coven Leader (usually called the Witch Mother). Most notable Covens are the Forest Witch Coven and the Port Witch Coven (though you should stay away from the Port Witches). In the Castle, the most well-known Potion Weaver is Aunt Anuba, the White Witch of the Marsh. While she is technically the most powerful Magic user in Arcmor, she lets the UnCommon Wizard take that title. Aunt Anuba always have a cup of tea and a bowl of cabbage soup ready to offer weary apprentices.
Fire Weaver:
Fire Weavers use Elixirs to channel their Magic. Elixirs have long-lasting, sometimes unpredictable effects (there are a few Fire Weavers who still sport the purple hair or snake-like eyes from an Elixir that didn’t quite turn out). Fire Weavers are probably best known for their ability to turn lead into gold, but much more interesting than that is their ability to dabble in the more dangerous areas of Magic and still come out the other side. The most notable Fire Weaver is Ezra Deepwillow, Chief Arcane Alchemist. He can usually be found in his underground chamber, experimenting with various Elixir ingredients and avoiding the UnCommon Wizard (Fire Weavers are notorious for getting on the nerves of Spell Weavers). Still, when the Castle needs his help, Ezra will never back down from the challenge (just be sure to practice your riddles before visiting him).
Ink Weaver:
Ink Weavers channel their Magic through items store in special tins. More powerful Ink Weavers also use books and pens to channel their Magic. They can use their Magic to call on the help of book authors or to turn written words into Magic. They can even alter the very land with a simple mark on a map. The most notable Ink Weaker is Falcon Djinn, Chief Hermetic Scribe. He runs the Manuscriptorium where you can find any book you need and even restore old documents. Falcon is the right hand man to the UnCommon Wizard and is always available to answer an apprentice’s questions.
Wind Weaver:
Wind Weavers have a special connection to all things nautical. They use special knots and rope to control the weather, sail their personal boat, and even communicate with the creatures of the sea. They hail from outside of Arcmor, travelling the lands and picking up interesting items, information, and ways to use Magic. A skilled Wind Weaver can use their Magic to follow the path of those who came before them or to find safe refuge in a new place. The most notable Wind Weaver is Janice Marlon of the Castle docks. She’s in charge of building and repairing any boats in the Castle and she might even have a few powerful upgrades for aspiring young Wind Weavers.
Mist Weaver:
Mist Weavers hail from the Land of the Long Nights where it is almost always cold and frosty. They use disks made of glass to call on the aid of ghosts and Diminutive Spirits (who are in charge of small, menial tasks such as keeping the flies out of the milk). They also have a special connection to animals, often being able to act as one with animals they have bonded with (sometimes they can even see through an animal’s eyes). They are quiet and mysterious, best known as traders of furs and fish. The most notable Mist Weaver in Arcmor is Aster. She is a relatively recent addition to the Castle and little is known about her, but when Apprentices need to travel to the Land of the Long Nights, they always make sure to speak with Aster before they go.
Rune Weaver:
The Rune Weavers are the descendants of the Queens of Arcmor. They use a powerful, ancestral Magic, using wax seals to call upon the power of Queens and their advisors from long ago (some can even call on the power of past royal familiars too). Rune Weavers have a unique power over the people of Arcmor, sometimes even being able to command them to do something they would otherwise prefer not to (though they must use this ability carefully). Queen Clarice, the current Queen of Arcmor, has ruled over Arcmor with power and grace for many years now and she is always happy to agree to an audience with a group of Apprentices (even if they don’t have a Rune Weaver among them). She uses her power to keep the Castle and her people safe.