How does magic works in 52 Fates? Let’s talk a bit of lore!
Magic comes from devices known as the “arcane crosses”. There are four of these devices found so far, of unknown origin, scattered around the known world. As the name implies, each device is shaped like a cross with four points, altough the design is different on each cross (for example, the Cross of Warfare is shaped like two criss-crossed swords).
Through study and experimentation, it was found that each device allows intelligent entities to channel certain powers, the collection of which is known as magic. Mastering this requires that the mage (as the people who wield these powers are called) study a single arcane cross and devote themselves to it completely. This requires having the future mage travel to the location of the chosen cross, study it closely, and become imbued with its power in the process, as the cross gets to “know” the individual. This “knowing” process can take from a couple of days to almost a year, depending on the mage’s aptitude and how long it takes for the cross to connect with them.
Each cross has four known powers, or spells. These are the currently known arcance crosses and their spells:
Cross of Warfare – harm, heal, protect, destruct
Star of Deceit – control, release, hide, reveal
Star of Motion – hold, move, speed, slow
Spur of Energy – heat, cold, light, darkness
There are factions that are directly involved (officially and unofficially) with the arcane crosses:
The True Light – They believe their mission in the world is to find the truth about the arcane crosses. They don’t care about controlling them; they just want to know why they exist, and who or what brought them into the world.
The Cross & Shield – They are self-anointed defenders and protectors of the crosses. They are a group of strict, lawful warriors and mages that have ained the trust of all kingdoms, thus becoming the sole guards and protectors of these magnificent devices.
Beyonder Society – This group is certain that there are more crosses around the world, and they claim to have an ancient text that speaks of 16 such devices. They are constantly traveling and planing expeditions (some with hefty sponsorship from powerful people) to try and find these unknown arcane crosses.
There’s an interesting story that might provide a bit of background on how these devices came to be in the world. The book Explorations and Vicissitudes of Ser Andus Galabram, written by the famed explorer of the same name, relates the story of discovering the first known cross, the Cross of Warfare.
Although we say “discovered”, it was more a thing of being in the right place at the right time. Ser Andus, with his expedition of 42 people, were camping at the base of Mount Godsbright. His mission was originally to find the ruins of the ancient Elorabrin, the magnificent tower from which supposedly the northern titans were being manipulated in the Titan Wars. Quoting his book:
Some time after mid-night, I was ready to move into my tent, when the light of a hundred suns shone bright over us. A beautiful, shining orb was falling from the heavens, burning in white-hot flame. As we stared in disbelief, we saw how it crashed with a thunderous sound at the top of the mountain. Immediately, and almost without a word, myself and my team got ready to climb up the mountain to find out what this was.
It took us about four hours to reach our destination. And there it was: what looked like a magnificent pair of huge godly blades, making an X-like shape, embedded on the black mountain rock. The thing glowed with the light of thousands of runes that covered it, pulsating like a heart-beat.
We camped at a safe distance; I did not want to risk life and limb of any of my people. We looked at it, studied it, took notes and drew sketches. My personal assistant, Falina, was especially involved in this process, getting very close to the device, at one point even touching it (feels comfortably warm, she said).
After being there for four days, we were preparing to settle down camp, when we were ambushed by a raiding group of mountain orks! That, right there, was a defining moment. As we scrambled for battle, Falina mentioned that she did not feel well. However, she refused to stay back at camp. Her decision provoked the revelation of what we know as magic.
In the heat of the battle with these raiders, we were driven into a tight spot. As Falina was about to be struck by an ork, she instinctively held her hand out, and a void of black energy, darker than the darkest sky, emanated from her hand. The bolt of power hit the ork, killing him instantly!
We were dumbfounded. The orks were, too, as they could not believe what they had seen. They scrambled madly, afraid, and ran away from us. We did not give chase.
We wondered what had happened. What was this strange force? Falina claimed that she felt it come from the strange device embedded in the mountain. She could feel the force tugging at her soul, wanting her to become one with the device.
This, dear reader, is the origin of the very first magus. Falina the Mighty, as she was known, also Falinath, Falanak, and Falianara the Wise.
I will live forever humbled at the opportunity to be there with Falina as we discovered this magnificent device that changed the world as we know it.
We don’t know how embellished is the tale of Ser Andus. However, based on his other works, it is quite possible that it is factual and true. Falina was a real person, after all, and definitely a powerful and influential mage. However, her legacy has been changed and embellished by the peoples of the continent throughout the centuries. No one still knows the origin of the arcane crosses, or the complete meaning of their runes and symbols. One thing is clear: there is a definite purpose to each device, as demonstrated by their design and the concise powers they convey. Something or someone built this for a reason.
Why?
