So we talked about WHY I don't want magic in my DnD games. And I feel like yes, I made some very good points, you're welcome. So now that we are on the same page, HOW am I going to build a world with no magic in it.
I have been thinking about this all week and I think I got something that I'm happy with. And let's be real, that's all that really matter here. It's my blog.......... anywho.
Because I am using DnD 5E's monster manual and PHB I can't completely look over the fact that magic exists, and like I mentioned last time, I want it to exist, but just barely. So my work around is that it existED, but is now gone from the world. So I can still use magical creatures, and weird geography shaped by magic, but just have to write them as they would be cut off from magic for millennia. And that seems fun! So that's what I'm going to do.
Now HOW did magic exit my world? To answer that there has to be a little bit of a lore drop. Not a dump, don't worry, just a drop.
So my world is called Simul, at least for now, not 100% loving the name. And in the Genesis story of Simul it was created by an unnamed entity removing their right eye and placing it in the void. (I think having a God with no name is kind of cool, albeit confusing when writing about it, but here we are.) After creating Simul they realized they were alone, funny how once you have something with no one to share it with, loneliness creeps in.
Loneliness was the first emotion this entity had ever felt, and out of that emotion another being formed. This was Adfectus, the second God. With Adfectus came warmth to the cold void. And like the entity before them Adfectus wanted to add to Simul, so they removed their left eye and created the sun, putting a piece of their warmth into creation.
Between the two a new emotion formed, love and from that love came another. (Ewww barf, I know right, I'm a sap) This entity was called Maisha. And Maisha also wanted to add to creation, so she felt fiercely and her tears fell onto Simul, creating the seas, and so life on their little creation began.
And from there the classic Fantasy begins, the rise and fall of civilizations and empires, humans stay being dicks, dwarves and elves be dwarves and elves and so on. Belief gives rise to gods, magic breeds innovation, yadayadayada.
But where out story turns is when the Three, who for the most part have stayed hands off, witness the absolute shit show down below. They see that magic has lead to corruption, war, classism, and death. Sure there are some good eggs but the bad ones outnumber them. So the Three decide to do something, something that they hope will save their creation, they take away, what they believe to be, the root of the problem: Magic.
This event is known as The Drawing of the Three. (I have been in love with this phrase since reading Stephen King in middle school) The Three gods draw out every ounce of magic they can from the world. They cannot disperse or destroy this power so they collect it into a single point in space, thus creating the second sun of Simul. (Oh yes this world has two suns BABY!)
Now, when all the magic is taken away from the world at once, it really fucks it up. Cities fall, civilizations crumble, and many many creatures and people die. But to the Three this is an ends justify the means scenario. They know that their creation is perseverant and will come out the other side in a millennia or so. And they're right. It takes a long time, and many changes take place on the planet, both geographically and evolutionarily. But after thousand and thousands of years life goes on. This period of magic leaving the world was known as The Great Drought. And that is where my campaigns will take place.
Alright. So now you know. And now we can really get started. The stage is set as the say, and next time I will dive into rewriting monsters, and races in this new magicless world. I'm very excited!
Until next time,
B.B.G.
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