History of Magic in Antumnos
From the Archives of Vanora’s Watch - Summary Written by Llewelyn of Sterna
Magic has always been present in the world of Antumnos. Nobody really knows where it came from, how it manifested, or why. Magic just is.
What is known, however, is that it wasn’t always as integrated in everyday life as it seems now. In the earliest written records we have, when fae beings were just fledglings in history and had no nations nor differences to speak of, magic is mentioned rarely, but with immense reverence and fear.
The few snippets we have are about how magic insidiously corrupts the fae around the writer, their closest friends become unrecognisable, their children replaced with strangers. Beasts that are intrinsically connected with magic - most notably Archfey, dragons and unicorns - are documented as being hostile and powerful1).
In the records written by one of King Arawn’s subjects, Peredur, it is noted that before the King began his Unification Campaign, he was successful in befriending a red dragon2). Peredur continues to add that the blessing of this dragon was crucial to Arawn’s campaign, as the would-be King promised those who joined under his banner would be protected by the Red Dragon from all other magic3).
It appears to me that, after this point, there is a shifting in the perception towards magic. Records start to become more readily accessible, especially after the widespread usage of the White Lady’s Alphabet, the primary writing system that is still used today. Within these documents, more fae seem to be favourable towards magic, with evidence that tributes and gifts were offered towards Archfey to gain favours. Some of these favours mentioned are the temporary use of magic from one particular “domain” linked to the Archfey - sometimes this is a single spell, or up to a day’s worth of casting.
Then, there is the first documented usage of unfettered magic by a fae being. In the year 999, a young fae known as Auryn surprised his mother by producing golden flowers from his mouth. This was the first instance of a fae using magic without requiring the favour of an Archfey beforehand4). In the following years, magic started manifesting in more and more children, and within the next generation, it was intrinsic to all fae.
It took much longer for it to become both trusted and controlled, but it appeared that each magical fae was able to do so with training and dedication. By this time, the King of Annwn had disappeared, and the unified kingdom was no more.
It is unclear whether the Ley Lines influenced the direction of the nations’ magic5), or the reverse is true, as Ley Lines were only detectable to fae through the use of Divination, a skill honed by the piskies of Lyonn6). Regardless, the end result is the same - Ley Lines exist in their fluctuating glory, and the five nations have distinct magical cultures that reflect their livelihoods in some manner.