ring(s) of CeBeGia [discussion]

[Stargate525]

Well the strong spots don't necessarily have to grant more spells. They could just let you recover spells faster (in six hours instead of eight, say).

That's not too terrible....

And besides, true strong spots would be dangerous as heck. To a normal caster, the extra power would be like a desert aquifer suddenly becoming a waterspout. If it didn't kill him outright, it would at least severely burn him.

[SDragon]

Okay, another major CeBeGia bumpage, here. Again, I'm not really posting much right this moment, but I have taken a bunch of key ideas, and I plan on putting them into my patented Idea Blender soon. Hopefully everything will come out alright, and maybe we can get something from it. :)

[Poseptune]

Where is the idea smoothie, blender man?

How about this to chew on:

With all the debris up flying around the planet, won't those rocks occasionally smash into each other and rain down onto the planet?

Since it is still pretty much the consensus that Arcane magic comes from the rings, wouldn't these rocks have some sort of power? Now this may start to sound like dragonshards if we decide to develop this live of thinking, so how can we make them different?

[Poseptune]

This post started as a blending of ideas that were only in this thread. However it took on a life of its own and incorporated ideas from the Wizards, Sorcerers, and Bards in the Empire, Discussion: Magic (Spell Casting Classes) and probably a few other threads.

What do you think? Ideas Suggestions?

Post:
Eons before even the first great empire start to grow the moon of Cebegia was destroyed. No one knows for sure what happened, but some stories tell of a great war between the celestials and the infernals, others claim that an attack from some alien source meant for the planet itself collided with the former moon. Whatever the reason, the moon no longer exists as it once was. Now the remnants of the moon surround the world in nine rings. They are bound to this world by the arcane energy that leaks from beneath the surface. The leaked energy was never strong enough for the inhabitants of to even noticed or manipulate, but when the remnants of the moon settled in their new home they began to reflect some of that energy back to the surface.

The increase in energy could be felt by some in tune with the world. Some were able to will the energy to do spectacular as well as terrible things. Most were not able to understand or fully control what they were feeling. All were the first sorcerers to grace Cebegia.

Then came the ones fascinated with the sorcerers. Why can they do these things? What is making this possible? These questions and more led these first wizards to begin to study the sorcerer and eventually the energy provided by the world. It took years but they were able to replicate everything that the sorcerer could do, however they needed more planning and preparations.

As the first great empire rose from the many city-states that dotted the land, the wizards living within its borders were able to study the arcane energy further. The protection of the empire granted them the time and ability to create powerful spells and effects. They also learn of the reflective properties of the rings. The wizards planned and experimented, and when they were ready released a large amount of energy toward the rings. They failed to realize that the rings reflected arcane energy in its natural state as given off by the planet. What they released was gathered, worked and manipulated. The spell did not have the effect that the wizards had intended. There were many casualties, many among wizards as if the world had struck back.

Those wizards that survived where executed by the command of the emperor and the practice of wizardry outlawed. Anyone caught practicing wizardry would be put to death. The people were informed of the wizards' treachery and those that lost love ones were happy to turn in known practitioners. Wizard's had to leave the empire or go into hiding.

During this time magic was chaotic in areas, most located within the borders of the first great empire. Spells meant to deal damage would summon livestock or some other harmless effect. Spells meant to aid a person could end up setting that person on fire or worst. The sorcerers, being in tune with the world, could feel the chaotic areas and learned to avoid using magic in them. While this event did not single handedly bring about the fall of the empire it was one of the contributing factors.

In time the arcane energy balanced throughout the world. Arcane magic was once again safe to use. Generations had past and only few remembered the tragedies that happened long ago. One was the man trying to rebuild the empire to its former glory. When he became emperor he reminded the people of what happened before. He caused the mob to once again hate wizards, but to show his benevolence he did not call for executions. Wizards in the new empire are closely watched and not trusted but able to practice their magic. The emperor himself had no ill will toward wizards, but knows the knowledge and power they could possess if left alone.

[Stargate525]

first question, how can one source create nine separate orbital patterns? Second, what were those banned wizards trying to do?

[Poseptune]

first question, how can one source create nine separate orbital patterns? Second, what were those banned wizards trying to do?

First Question: Since there are being held in orbit by magic it is possible that each orbit is cause by the draw of each of the different schools of wizardry and sorcery (which is one of the ideas discussed in this thread that the orbits would be associated with the schools). One school might have a stronger draw on the pieces of the moon that have been held in orbit than another school resulting in different orbits.

Second Question: DM discretion. I like leaving elements that a DM can fill in if they want. I also specifically did not mention what happened to the research and experiments done by these wizards. That is also left up to DM discretion. They may have been destroyed, hidden away, or being studied. It's up to the DM running a game in this world.