Magic

Magic
	The system of magic within this universe is based upon the concept of the Platonic cave.  In this cave allegory, a man is chained within a cave, forever forced to see only the back of the cave, which is lit.  He is never able to see what remains outside the cave, only the shadows they cast upon the back of the cave.  Similarly, the physical realms of this universe are what the universe’s sorcerers believe to be the “shadows”.  The “true” world, an incorporeal, undetectable, and infinite universe that co-exists within our own, is a universe full to the brim with endless magic.  The physical realm is merely a byproduct of this “true” world, created from magical residue that leaked out of this invisible universe.  It is this energy with which sorcerers cast their spells, which is done through the use of the “true” language; a seemingly unintelligible and haunting spoken and written word composed by humanity’s first mage in order to summon and manipulate the “true” world’s energies.

	It should be noted that while the physical realm is a byproduct of this “Aether” universe, it is not the only one.  Other “shadows”, or magical dimensions, were created as well, co-existing with our own but unenterable except through magical means.  These dimensions are often occupied by extremely powerful creatures and even deities; since humanity’s dimension is relatively new, it is by far the weakest in terms of sorcery.  These dimensions are based upon the following religions and mythologies:

	Heven and Hel
		Based upon the Judeo-Christian religion, Heven is the major source of divine magics and is ruled by a being known as the One God.  Archangels, souls, saints, and other similarly divine beings are found here.
Hel is the complete and total polar opposite of Heven, being ruled by the former archangel Morningstar (also known as Lucifer, Lightbringer, or Satan).  Here, demons, skeletons, the dead, fiery spirits, and other unholy creatures can be found.  The major source of corruptive unholy magic.  Similar to Hades? and other underworlds.

	Oblivion
		A realm of darkness so black it seems as though nothing exists, here are where nightmares lurk.  Vampires, werewolves, gargoyles, and other boogeymen haunt these unholy grounds.  This dimension is often called upon by necromancers and dark mages.  Every solar eclipse on Earth, Oblivion manifests into existence, and both humans and Oblivion creatures can cross into each other’s respective dimensions, often leading to many humans being forever lost within the blackness of Oblivion or Oblivion’s many horrors entering Earth.

	Dainisekai (“Second World” in Japanese)
		Based upon the Shinto religion.  Dainisekai is one of the “nexus dimensions”, dimensions which can be entered without the use of magic.  This is usually done through the use of “focal points”, small areas on Earth that possess extremely concentrated amounts of a specific type of magic and as a result form portals to dimensions which are the source of that type of magic.  The Dainisekai focal point lies in the center of Tokyo, the magic capital of Japan.

	The Elemental Planes
		Not a singular dimension, but rather an interconnecting nexus of four distinct elemental planes, all connected via a focal point which can be found in the center of the Elemental Planes.  Focal points to the Elemental Planes can be found on Earth, but rather than a single point that provides access to the Elemental Nexus, there are instead four different focal points, each one granting access to their respective elemental plane.
			Lake of Flames
				Nothing but fire exists within this realm.  All that exists within the Lake of Flames is an eternally burning swath of red, yellow, and orange, forming a dimension solely dedicated to ash and destruction.  It is indiscriminate in what it burns; nothing escapes from its fiery desolation.  While it is the source of one of the most powerful elemental magics, it is also the most difficult to harness, for fire often behaves as though it has a life of its own.  The Sea of Flames is neither good nor evil; it is chaos incarnate, nature’s wrath manifested into a physical world.  No creature can survive within this realm but spirits of flame and heat.  The Sea of Flame’s focal point is located in the middle of the Sahara desert.
			Olympus
				Olympus’ focal point is located on the peak of Mount Olympus, Greece.  A dimension full of several hundred mile per hour winds and constant lightning storms, here lies the throne of the Greek skyfather, Zeus.  Though the rest of the Olympians sometimes gather here to discuss affairs, Olympus remains largely Zeus’ domain.  Powerful wind spirits and lesser gods and demigods reside within this dimension.  Olympus is the main source of wind magic (including storm magic, such as lightning).
			The Drowning Sea
				A dimension filled only with rapidly churning, murky waters, there are no fish to be found.  Instead, massive serpents and prehistoric beasts lurk within these icy frigid waters, along with watery elementals and sea demons.  Every bit as deadly as the Lake of Flames, anyone who steps into The Drowning Sea will not even be able to see their impending death, as light is barely able to penetrate this deep and vast body of water.  The source of aquatic magic (including the art of ice), The Drowning Sea’s focal point lies at the bottom of the Mariana Trench.
			Hades
				Hades’ focal point is located within the heart of Death Valley.  This shadowy realm is home to its namesake, the god of death, and is the very antithesis to Zeus’ Olympus.  It is dark and shadowy realm that seemingly appears to be miles below the Earth’s crust, but if one tried to dig out, they would find that they would never reach the surface, for there is no surface to be found.  Those with a deep connection to the elemental plane are sentenced to the Hades when they die, surrounded by millions of different kinds of stones and gems and stalagmites, as well as the walking dead.  Here, those who draw upon the power of earth and to a certain extent the dead draw their power from this dimension.

	Gōng Zhàn (Chinese for Palace of War)
		The Palace of War is the source of “combat magic” or “melee magic”, the art of using sorcery to enhance one’s existing combat capabilities.  The Palace of War is not a nexus dimension, and is only accessible to the skilled and dedicated few who have honed their bodies to perfection after years of training, who then transcend into the Palace of War via intense focused meditation.  The Palace of War, despite its namesake, is not dedicated to cruelty, brutality, or violence.  Rather, it is dedicated to discipline, training, willpower, the ambition of achieving fighting perfection, and the martial arts.  Home to a pantheon of martial artist gods and champions, this is what many fighters consider heaven or enlightenment.  In terms of morality, though leaning towards good, Gōng Zhàn can be considered neutral.

	The Badlands
		A barren wasteland, the Badlands consist of expansive dry deserts, with scorching days and freezing nights.  It is an inhospitable environment, a dimension that many humans send others to die.  It is home to the savage orc warbands and the giant tribes, as well as thousands of large and deadly wildlife. The focal point of the Badlands is located on the border between Europe and the Middle East.