Magic

Magic System (Detailed)

Magic Basics

Every creature on Loftia has a unique magic flow. They can be grouped into four major groups:

Some creatures, such as wolfigans, have varying magic flows. Wolfigans can come as wing-gifted and magic-gifted. Others only have one magic flow; the zebra and fire dragon, for example, can only have an elemental magic flow. 

When a creature is born, they cannot change the magic flow they are born with. The only exception to this rule is the shape-shifters, which can change their magic flow at will.

Ali-creatures are different from all of the other magic flows. These creatures are often considered royalty. They often have two of the magic flows above. These creatures have enough magic that they are immortal. Ali-creatures,  unlike the other groups, can be found in almost all of the species on Loftia. Since they are so rare, no more than one will be born every few hundred years. Ali-creatures are not formed by genetics. There is a very small chance that anyone on Loftia could bear an ali-creature as a child. The ali-creatures can sometimes only have one magic flow, but that one magic flow would have to be very strong and plentiful to create an ali-creature. Many leaders are ali-creatures, but there are a few who are not. Shape-shifters can be qualified as part of the ali-creatures group, as they are immortal and contain almost all of the magic flows. 

While most elemental-gifteds can fly, their magic is NOT directed enough to their wings to make them immortal. A creature needs at least two times the magic flow as a normal creature to be immortal, and element-gifteds do not meet that requirement. 

If a magic flow is damaged, it cannot be repaired through traditional means. They can heal on their own, or they might never work again. A magic flow is similar to a nervous system part of the spinal cord. Much like if a spinal cord is damaged, a damaged magic flow can cause the areas past the injury to not be able to function properly. 

Shape-shifters are very rare, and the only species known to have existed were the shiftlings and the kelpies, which are thought to have gone extinct over the years.

The creatures who are immortal can visit a place called the Starlands in their dreams. The Starlands are where all the ancestors and long-gone creatures go after death. The immortals can not control this ability, as the ancestors chose whom to share this ability with. 

Origins of Magic

Magic did not use to be on the planet of Loftia. Long ago, the creatures that now roam the planet did not exist. The species on Loftia were not magical at all. Then, one day, an asteroid crashed into the planet. The collision led to a shock wave that spread magic across the world. The magical blast mutated all of the animals on Loftia into other, new species. The new, mutated species became sentient because of the magic that now raced through their veins. The magic in these early creatures led them to be very powerful. 

Over the centuries, traditions, languages, and, eventually, countries were formed. The creatures who were exposed to the most magic became the shiftlings and the kelpies, as they were affected the most by the magical blast. (They were closest to the impact.)

The magic on the asteroid was contained in magical gemstones (the same type of gemstone Zeke's Amulet was made of). When the gems break, they release magical components into the area around them. This can be reversed as well. If the amulets are drained completely of magic,  they will suck in the magic around them, mostly from the strongest source, such as ali-creatures and shiftlings. These gemstones are less likely to emit or drain magic when placed in the water.

Since the magiod crashed into the ocean, the broken crystals did not draw the magic back into them.