Magical interests
Since its earliest days Avereaux has always been accepting of magic and those that practice it, appreciating the awe and beauty that magic can create. With the ever diverse nature of magic so too are those that practice it, Avereaux is brimming with magic of almost every variety. The only notable exception being the study of the Sphere of Athria. A lot of Averlaise believe that all great stories have a beginning, a middle and importantly an end, but there are those who study it – both to understand the world at large or to have a greater understanding of their associates in Morvalis, and the other nations that embrace the Sphere. Athria magic, after all, can be an incredibly useful way to find out the end of someone’s story when none were near enough to witness it. There are adventuring parties who specialise in dealing with underdwellers who may have escaped the Athrian Sphere to cause trouble, and a little knowledge goes a long way in those cases.
The Elemental Spheres are practiced in all Freeholds but due to the different environments the holds are built in and their natural ties to a particular element there are firm favourites in each hold. The people of Windchase draw from the wind through the barley fields to breath life into their Air rites; pilgrims to the Embermount in Phoenix Rest gaze upon the molten heart of the mountain and channel its searing heat into Fire rites; the cool refreshing waters of the Millturn inspire magicians to soothe their allies and flow into their Water Rites; and in Irondelve the very rumblings of the earth echo in the ears of those performing the earth rites.
Fable weaving is considered something of a speciality of Avereaux with the nature of the Sphere and the power of stories and adventure seamlessly intertwining. These powers can bring about great feats of the Wyrd to empower and embolden, so that even greater tales can be told.
Weaving within the nation is as wide ranging in its appearance as the people themselves. There is variety in performance, serving to keep the crowds and perhaps even the Gods’ eyes on those involved – yet even so a few common elements have emerged with raucous singing and lively dances serving as somewhat of a staple.
Gourmands are an essential part of the nation, procuring ingredients for magical brews of all kinds – not just potions distilled in lofty laboratories. It’s a common attitude in Avereaux that the best health tonics come in the form of dumpling soup, not something glowing in a bottle.
Magical Creatures
Magical creatures are a fascination of many Averlaise; both as a source of inspiration for their storytelling and as a very real resource. Basilisks, Chimeras, Cockatrices and other large beasts are regular subjects of adventure contracts, either killing them outright if they are causing a lethal problem, or sometimes encouraging them into other habitats away from habitable areas.
One creature that is not hunted is the Griffin. These creatures have legally been protected by the Crown for centuries and are intrinsically connected to the Royal line through symbolism and bonds of mystical kinship. Killing one, even since the Monarchy has fallen, has the maximum sentence of immediate lethal contract with the Court of Daggers.
The border with The Wonder is also a source of magical creatures, often more strange in appearance than those at home in Avereaux. These are most often from the Fable and Earth Spheres, although some Athrian underdwellers do sometimes cause problems as spectral and corporeal undead.
