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Magic in the World of the Four Marks
General Information
In the world of Aden's Run magic is one of those organizing threads that directs the flow of a lot of people's lives.
Hierarchy: The major players in the Four Marks concerning magic are; 1) the Mage's Association, 2) the Rune Makers, 3) Gods and Non-Humans, and 4) Independents. There are, of course, other magic users but they play either marginal roles in the power games of the countries in question or exist outside of the continent.
The Mage's Association: This group is the largest, most influential and high profile in the Marks. Its organization is very hierarchical with a governing circle of the seven most powerful (either in strength of magic or influence) users, a court of representatives from region and sect, as well as several schools and students.
The Rune Makers: Rune Makers are largely an independent lot, but they do have yearly gatherings and an informal set of older Rune Masters that keep the channels of communication open. The usual setup is one Master and one or two apprentices. Rune Makers follow their own rules and don't generally mix with the Mage's Association or other groups outside of their villages or communal lines.
Nonhuman/Gods: The world is sprinkled with remnants of a much earlier time and while humans are currently the main act, Gods and other magical creatures roam freely and occasionally make appearances. Some are strange, some are beasts, some are as human looking as the nearest farmer and there are others that cling to their old places of power, worshipped or in pact with humans such as clerics.
Independents/Anomalies: Independents are generally those who use magic but claim no association with either the MA or Rune Makers. These people make up a significant number of magic users but are not organized and have no wish to be. They often do freelance work, are held on retainer by the various lords and ladies, or simply do their own thing.
Anomalies (very much not team players), are rare and basically unexplained factors on the magic scene. If something strange happens that isn’t caused by the any of the human groups it’s usually credited to either Gods or beast, but these walking enigmas are forces unto themselves and don’t follow any known plan. Gentry is one example of this.
Click on any of the images above for a more detailed description of the magic groups or click the images below for a breakdown of the two types of magic in the Marks.
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