Societies and Magic

Because Aloria has many societies, cultures, religions, and sub-groupings, it can sometimes be hard to understand who is "okay" with Magic and who is not. This kind of information may be necessary to form a compliant backstory, so this page has a very simplistic overview of the kinds of Magic/Demon attitudes that can be found in societies across the world, defined in tables. The two strongest indicators of how a Mage might be treated while growing up in their society are religion and culture. Religion is by far the strongest indicator because it has superimposed moral judgment and directives on the cultures. Sometimes a culture may be more accepting of Magic, while a religion is not. Because of these reasons, religion will be tackled first on this page. This page is part of the wider Magic page, link back to this page if you would like to return to the main navigation.

Religion and Gods

While originally some religions in Aloria had issues with Magic or outright banned it, by the modern era, all religions have found some form of acceptance of Magic and even celebrate it within their dogma. For each religion, the nuance is slightly different and this will give an overview. Generally speaking, all religions at a baseline demand the proper and responsible usage of Magic concerning Venting and Corruption.

• Unionism views Magic as a blessed gift by the gods, but one that can also equally be a terrible burden. To Unionisms, Magic is no different than holding high political office or having some exceptional skill, in that an expectation is attached to use it only for the good of the Empire. Frivolous and self-satisfying use of Magic is frowned upon. Unionism has no general preference for any of the realms.
• Draconism views Magic as an irrevocable reality of the world, but one that the Dragons would prefer to live without, but can tolerate. To Draconists, the right to live a full life is more important than the impact Magic could have, and Magic is still a necessary part of life at this point. Magic is acceptable within the fight against the traditional enemies of Draconism, like the Malefica and violent Demons.
• Estelley is a religion deeply steeped in Magic that not only encourages all of its worshipers to try Magic out but actively worships the ideal of the Archmage Magic user. A large portion of Mage supremacists are Estelley faithful, and being a good Mage is considered a high virtue. Estelley as a religion has a strong preference for Eidolon, Eternum, and Anima Magic, with only Abyss Magic being considered stigmatized.
• Aldurism is a religion that follows textbook Mage supremacy. It is a religion made by Mages, for Mages, with the express purpose of becoming better Mages. Aldurists seek to expand the freedom and influence of Mages and Magic, and it is effectively impossible to be an Aldurist and not have Magic. Aldurism considers all dimensions to be equal, seeing the good and bad in all, but having strong reservations about Demons.
• Fornoss is a religion deeply steeped in Magic, but also with inherent themes of Magic versus mundane, the idea that someone should both be able to become a strong Mage, but also strong in body and mind in opposition or defiance of Magic. Both must be considered equal ideals. The Fornoss Faith has a strong preference for Eidolon and Eternum for the Eili Gods, and Abyss and Silence for the Vola Gods, but other realms are also fine.
• Evolism is a relgion deeply steeped in Magic. It is practically unthinkable that an Evolism believer does not practice some form of Magic, as Magic is the cornerstone of their trans-dimensional ideology. Out of all religions, Evolism is the most likely to tolerate irresponsible usage of Magic and Magic corruption, so long as it is done for an explicit purpose other than acts of random terrorism.
• Khama is a religion that was, until recently, extremely anti-Magical but has recently become more accepting because of the reality of their followers. Their anti-Magic stance is related to the societal trauma inflicted by Magic usage on their people, but they have come to accept Magic among them because it has become an undeniable part of the identity of some of their flock, who they do not want to reject.
• Minor Faiths & Nilthism have no explicitly stated view against or in favor of Magic, and it should generally be considered to be entirely open to interpretation from the individual. Generally speaking, Magic should be seen as a tool much like a weapon.

The gods themselves have varying Magical inclinations. Generally, every god is at least a little bit magical, though the exact nature of their magic is dubious. Because gods are an extension of the realm-crafting of Dragons, they can use Elderlaw but they never exclusively use Elderlaw. Many of the gods are magically aligned, though their exact nature ranges from extremely obvious to very dubious. The Fornoss Gods are, for example, very explicit in their Abyss-Silence and Eidolon-Eternum alignments, while the Unionist Gods are very unclear, save for Caan who is explicitly Vortex and Dictat. For more specific information about Magic nuances in each religion, or the alignment of their gods, see the religion pages themselves.

Detailed Analysis

The detailed analysis will contain a more in-depth look at the individual traits of Magic acceptance or rejection by religions based on common terminology. To understand how to read this table, there is a legend for the terms described below:

• Celebrated indicates that a particular aspect of Magic is celebrated as a virtue or a good thing.
• Neglect indicates that a particular aspect of Magic is ignored or otherwise has no strong status.
• Tolerated indicates that a particular aspect of Magic is accepted or tolerated, but generally thought of as bad.
• Prosecuted indicates that a particular aspect of Magic is not accepted and is actively persecuted to destroy.
• Conflicted indicates that this aspect has both positive and negative messaging, and no clearly defined interpretation.
• Regulated indicates that this aspect is negatively viewed, but accepted only in limited context.
• Shunned indicates a strong dislike and social ostracization, but does not express disallowance or prosecution.
• Subvert indicates a tongue-in-cheek preference and liking of that aspect, but the public pretends otherwise.
• Hated indicates not just a desire to prosecute, but to utterly destroy any connection related to it.

Religion	Magic Learning	Magic Usage	Magic Military	Magic Activity	Arken Interactions	Curse Usage	Artifact Usage	Demon Binding
Unionism	Conflicted	Conflicted	Regulated*	Regulated**	Prosecuted	Tolerated	Neglect	Prosecuted***
Draconism	Tolerated	Tolerated	Tolerated	Tolerated	Regulated*	Tolerated	Tolerated	Celebrated**
Estelley	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Tolerated	Celebrated	Tolerated
Aldurism	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Tolerated
Fornoss	Celebrated	Celebrated	Conflicted*	Neglect	Neglect	Tolerated	Celebrated	Celebrated**
Evolism	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated
Khama	Tolerated	Tolerated	Regulated*	Regulated**	Neglect	Celebrated***	Neglect	Celebrated****
Minor Faiths	Neglect	Neglect	Neglect	Neglect	Neglect	Neglect	Neglect	Neglect

• Unionism:
  • Unionism in general holds Conflicted positions on pro and anti-Magic stances.
  • Magic Military only applies to Emperor-granted Charters.
  • Magic Activity has a near complete ban on economic usage of Magic.
  • Demon Binding is universally prosecuted, except for Evintarian Unionists, who are Tolerated.
• Draconism:
  • Arken Interactions are Tolerated only when in conjunction with Dragon plots.
  • Demon Binding is only Celebrated in conjunction with Kindred/Warden Binding.
• Fornoss:
  • Magic Military is Conflicted because Magic is considered more dishonorable than fighting with weapons.
  • Demon Binding is only Celebrated through Ancestor Binding, otherwise Prosecuted.
• Khama:
  • Magic Military is Regulated, only very specific Corsair fleets allow Magic usage.
  • Magic Activity has a near complete ban on economic usage of Magic.
  • Curse Usage is only Celebrated when used against Elves, Prosecuted otherwise.
  • Demon Binding is only Celebrated when used against non-Terror Binding Khama Demons, Prosecuted otherwise.

Heritages

Heritages group together a common average of opinions and beliefs held concerning Magic. Ailor are omitted from this list, as they have their section further below defined as Ailor Cultures. This list will use the same terms as the tables above. Some other Heritages are also omitted from this list because their society has a one-to-one translation of religion to their cultural understandings. These are:

• Dragonkin, Sihai, and Slizzar to Draconism
• Dwarves to Fornoss
• Freefolk to Estelley
• Asha to Khama

Religion	Magic Learning	Magic Usage	Magic Military	Magic Activity	Arken Interactions	Curse Usage	Artifact Usage	Demon Binding
Skyborn	Shunned	Shunned	Prosecuted	Prosecuted	Prosecuted	Prosecuted	Prosecuted	Prosecuted
Isldar	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Shunned	Shunned	Celebrated	Regulated*
Lanlath	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Shunned	Celebrated	Tolerated
Finullen	Neglect	Neglect	Shunned	Neglect	Celebrated	Shunned	Celebrated	Tolerated
Solvaan	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Prosecuted	Prosecuted	Celebrated	Prosecuted
Suvial	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated
Kathar	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated
Sihndar	Tolerated	Shunned	Prosecuted	Prosecuted	Prosecuted	Prosecuted	Tolerated	Prosecuted
Maquixtl	Neglect	Neglect	Tolerated	Neglect	Neglect	Shunned	Celebrated	Shunned
Narim	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Shunned	Shunned	Celebrated	Prosecuted
Eronidas	Shunned	Shunned	Prosecuted	Shunned	Shunned	Prosecuted	Celebrated*	Prosecuted*
Urlan	Shunned	Shunned	Shunned	Shunned	Shunned	Prosecuted	Tolerated	Prosecuted
Allar	Neglect	Neglect	Shunned	Regulated*	Shunned	Prosecuted	Shunned	Prosecuted
Maraya	Shunned	Shunned	Prosecuted	Prosecuted	Prosecuted	Prosecuted	Shunned	Prosecuted
Bralona	Neglect	Neglect	Neglect	Neglect	Neglect	Neglect	Neglect	Prosecuted
Orion	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Prosecuted	Celebrated	Prosecuted

• Isldar:
  • Demon Binding is only Regulated for Life Isldar through Draconism, or for Death Isldar to Hollow Demons, Prosecuted otherwise.
• Eronidas:
  • Artifact Usage is only Celebrated with Religion or Eronidas history, Shunned otherwise.
  • Demon Binding is Regulated for Draconism-approved Bindings, Prosecuted otherwise.
• Allar:
  • Magic Activity is Regulated because of a near-universal ban on economic activity using Magic.

Ailor Cultures

Ailor cultures are as vast as the Heritages themselves, so this list has a separate table for ease of reference. This table uses culture groups, not exact cultures, as most sub-cultures within groups share similar ideals on Magic unless specified otherwise. Here are some notes to keep in mind:

• Pre Empire-Tribes includes Sarnan, Balten, Tsaiqvanes, Krakimardik, Aber cultures.
• Other Slavnogo includes as of yet undefined general west-Slavic cultures.

Culture	Magic Learning	Magic Usage	Magic Military	Magic Activity	Arken Interactions	Curse Usage	Artifact Usage	Demon Binding
Cearden	Tolerated	Tolerated	Tolerated	Regulated	Prosecuted	Shunned	Tolerated	Prosecuted
Ithanian	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Subvert	Subvert	Celebrated	Subvert
Wirtem	Shunned	Shunned	Shunned	Shunned	Prosecuted	Prosecuted	Tolerated	Prosecuted
Anglian	Shunned	Shunned	Prosecuted	Prosecuted	Prosecuted	Prosecuted	Tolerated	Prosecuted
Breizh	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Subvert	Prosecuted	Celebrated	Prosecuted
Cantaluna	Celebrated	Regulated*	Celebrated	Celebrated	Prosecuted	Prosecuted	Tolerated	Prosecuted
Velheim	Celebrated	Celebrated	Conflicted*	Neglect	Neglect	Prosecuted	Celebrated	Celebrated
Tierravera	Neglect	Neglect	Neglect	Neglect	Celebrated	Prosecuted	Tolerated	Prosecuted
Krainivaya	Prosecuted	Prosecuted	Hated	Prosecuted	Hated	Hated	Tolerated	Hated
Regal	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Neglect	Subvert	Subvert	Tolerated	Subvert
Aetosian	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Celebrated	Subvert	Shunned	Celebrated	Celebrated
Other Slavnogo	Shunned	Shunned	Shunned	Shunned	Hated	Hated	Tolerated	Hated
Pre-Empire Tribes	Tolerated	Tolerated	Shunned	Shunned	Prosecuted	Hated	Tolerated	Hated

• Velheim:
  • Magic Military, see Fornoss Religion above.
• Cantaluna:
  • Magic Usage is Regulated because the Cantaluna have conflicting ideas on where it is permissible to use Magic, usually military only.