Codex: Nature Magic

Welcome to the Codex! We will focus on one topic from one of the upcoming books, or one of the books that have been published. The Codex will review what is commonly known about that topic in the world, even if just at a scholarly level. There will still be mysteries, but if you are interested in learning more about something you read in the book or in another blog post, the Codex is the way to go.

Among the many forms of thaumaturgy that shape the Twin Worlds, nature magic stands apart. It is a force as untamed and ancient as the land itself. Unlike the carefully structured laws of sorcery, nature magic follows no codified system, no written spells. It is a living power, bound to the world’s breath (the Saelvir would say that it is the lifeblood of Eraslantyr), practiced almost exclusively by the enigmatic beings known as the children of nature. For mortals, wielding such magic is both a rare privilege and a tremendous challenge, for it is not something learned, but rather bestowed.

Nature magic cannot be studied in the traditional sense: it must be granted. Mortals who wield it typically gain their abilities through a pact with the spirits - ancient beings that inhabit the forests, rivers, and mountains of the Twin Worlds, such as Ellemere. These pacts often come with an oath: to guard a sacred grove, to protect a river’s purity, to serve as the voice of the wild in the affairs of men. Some are born with the gift, though such individuals are exceedingly rare. Whether given or inherited, nature magic is a force that can be wielded but never fully tamed.

Unlike sorcery, which follows logical constraints and rigid formulas, nature magic is instinctive, unpredictable, and deeply personal. It is a power that must be guided rather than controlled, lest it consume its wielder. Those without a mentor - one of the children of nature, or a seasoned practitioner - often find themselves overwhelmed, lost in the vast and primal energies that flow through them.

Dragons themselves are often regarded as the ultimate masters of nature magic, their very existence intertwined with its primordial forces. Some theorize that the Paragons of the Wild are those closest to achieving the understanding of nature that dragons are born with, though no one - except dragons themselves - truly knows.

Nature magic, while formidable, is not without its boundaries. It thrives in the untamed wilds but weakens in places where civilization has driven out the natural world. Practitioners of nature magic have long identified three key limitations:

• Location Dependence: The strength of nature magic is directly tied to the presence of the natural world. In places of great power - ancient forests like Ellemere, deep deserts like Atkurach - it can surpass even the greatest sorceries. But in the heart of a city, where stone and iron have driven out nature’s spirits, its strength fades almost entirely.

• Spirit Cajoling: Much of nature magic relies on the cooperation of natural spirits. The children of nature have an innate connection with these beings, but mortals must often bargain or persuade them to act. A spirit may refuse to aid a practitioner if it deems their intentions unworthy, or simply if it does not wish to be disturbed. Unlike sorcery, which bends reality through force of will, nature magic is a relationship, and it can be fickle.

• Natural Constraints: Nature magic cannot defy the natural order. It can summon a storm but not conjure a firestorm. It can cause an earthquake but cannot turn rock into glass. Unlike necromancy or divine magic, it cannot bring back the dead. It can heal wounds, even those that should be fatal, but it cannot restore a soul that has crossed into the Pale.

Nature magic is one of the many magical traditions in the Twin Worlds, although it is perhaps one of the least understood. There have been times when it was almost gone, and it ebbs and flows with the strength of the natural world. Some say that someday, when Oraurgalar - the Spirit Wyrm known to Saelvir as Eraslantyr - goes to sleep, nature magic will vanish. The truth, for now, is unknown.

Thank you for reading!