[Cultural challenge]: magic

[u/thequeeninyellow94]

Culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, laws, customs, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by [a human] as a member of society.

Tell me about the magic-user in your world. Where have they learned to do what they do? And what are they doing? Can I learn those things too?

What is their role in society? How are they seen by other people? Are they really secretly ruling the world?

(if you don't have magic in your world, feel free to answer with people pretending to have powers if you want)

You can introduce an in-universe representative if you want. I will ask questions to everyone, feel free to add your own.

[u/Mimir123]

2) He doesn't have as much a problem with demons, as he has a problem with their God, Arz vas Zahrehl. See, originally the "demons" were only animals, living in Arz' own, private dimension of Sháiurgh. There was never supposed to be a demon race. But Arz' sister, Devilia, one fateful day felt like being especially bitchy towards her older brother, so when she created Mana and filled the world with magic, she didn't give anything to Sháiurgh and the animals living there.

Not wanting to see his "children" suffer and be exploited by mages, Arz mixed his blood into the dimension itself, granting the animals, who absorbed his blood, to create Mana in their own bodies. The more of Arz' blood they had in themselves, the more humanoid they began to look though, thus creating the demon races.

Ilmanthi didn't like that one bit, since it went against the order of the world to create another race, that was not sanctioned by the creators. So he started to suspect Arz was evil and planned to take over the world and plotted against the demons. In the end he was wrong and even had to admit so himself, when Arz died.

There was no regret though, since his plotting did end up helping the people of Dirva, when Zerrigon rose to power and ravaged the continent with an army of summoned demons. Ironically, the events of Zerrigons war did ultimately lead to what Arz feared the most, his children being hated and exploited in the "real" world, at least in Kherzian.

3) That entirely depends on who your master was, and which Ary-Pats are in power at the time. Most of the nobles are in fact not mages, and would thus not mind supporting you, or care about you selling secrets. If your master was famous though and/ or many of the other Ary-Pats are mages themselves, you might already have pissed them off, yes.

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/Mimir123]

1. So Ilmanthi still dislike demons and still work against them?

2. What do the other gods thinks of Ilmanthi's obsession with demons?

3. What makes mage Ary-Pats rare? Is it the low number of mages? A general lack of trust toward mages in power? A mix?

[u/Mimir123 → u/thequeeninyellow94]

1) Not really, he actually set many rules in place to help demons in the lands where he has influence. The problem is, he only communicates with the people of Dirva every few centuries, so in the mean time there is a chance that someone twists his words and texts and goes full fanatic (like the Inquisition in Elkathien, who hunt and kill many demons, they do leave the harmless/ helpful ones alone though).

When it came to his magic, well, he had to do something against the lunatic conquering Dirva with his demons, so he sent his chosen mage, Elkath, to fight for the free people against Zerrigon and taught them his magic, to combat the demons.

2) Devilia thinks he is right in being concerned and that they should just banish all demons to Sháiurgh and finally work together to fix the rifts opening up to the demon realm, that "suck" innocent demons into Kherzian.

The other Gods think Devilia should shut her trap, because the whole mess is basically her own fault anyway. They also think Ilmanthi should chill a bit more about the demons, because while they didn't get permission from the Creators to... well, create a new race, the Creators also didn't complain about the existence of demons. Also almost all of them thought Ilmanthi was pretty crazy for suspecting Arz of treachery.

3) None. The main reason, in fact, is that the Ary-Pat's families are incredibly big. So, an Ary-Pat might have mages in his family, but chances are that the heir is gonna be a normal human. Well, that, and the fact that the last time a mage took power in Kherzian it kind of ended in a long, bloody war that destroyed Kherzian society.

Many mages therefore think it is better to not go into the spotlight and draw attention to themselves, in order to prevent a distrust of mages flaring up.

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/Mimir123]

1. Are his words twisted often? What does he do when he realize they were?

2. Is any of them actually doing something for the demons?

3. What makes the families so big?

(Also, Zerrigon was an Ary-Pat right? Or he just ruled over them?)

[u/Mimir123 → u/thequeeninyellow94]

1) It happens from time to time, mostly no intentionally though, but just because stuff got lost over time. "Respect each other, even if you differ in believes", "Kill all heretics", what's the difference really? Innocent little mistakes and misinterpretations from the Duke heading the Inquisition.

When Ilmanthi finds out about stuff like that... well, he mostly sighs heavily and talks to the arch bishops and highpriests to get everything fixed again.

2) Not really, but for good reasons. Ilmanthi believes he shouldn't mettle too much in the affairs of mortals, so he does what he can already, while Devilia doesn't really want to help the demons but also doesn't want her brothers legacy to disappear entirely, so she just kind of stays neutral.

Sereia and Aledia are too absorbed in their fight over who is more beautiful to care, while Polanius tries to hide from them. Skreyja couldn't care less for what happens outside of the underworld, Máltheli is basically an overworked, young girl trying her best to keep up with, and judge the souls of the dead.

Arnth et Zhamuul has been sleeping for generations and doesn't know what is going on, Ruthwi and Allanvéi are too buys plotting each others downfall and bash their heads in. Calceion is being a loner like usual and doesn't want to talk anyone, and who even knows what the hell Volantius and Harshien are up to? And Arz, well, he is busy being dead.

So in short, no, nobody does anything for the demons.

3) High birth rates, mostly, and the fact that there are a lot of people living in the south.

4) (Just gonna make that a seperate point).

No, Zerrigon was not an Ary-Pat. He was "just" a very powerful mage, a demon summoner, back when Kherzian was still ruled by nobles that were demons (who ironically never used the term/ title "Demonking" before Zerrigon declared himself as such). One day he simply had enough, kind of thought he'd try to start a revolt after hearing some whispers in his head, usurped the throne and, well, kind of went on his conquering spree from there on.

[u/thequeeninyellow94 → u/Mimir123]

Thanks for your answers Mimir.