Lore

The Origin of Magic and The Paragon Grimoire

Millennia ago, a group of sages known as the Lorekeepers discovered how to channel the pure energy of the world and transform it into magic. This energy, a source of creation and destruction, was a power that required profound understanding and often, unspeakable sacrifices. Aware of the danger posed by its misuse, the Lorekeepers dedicated themselves to compiling all magical knowledge into a single artifact: The Paragon Grimoire. This ultimate grimoire contained spells capable of altering reality itself, but its power was so immense that any attempt to control it could destroy the delicate balance of the world.

This central conflict gave rise to "Mahō," a world where magic, ambition, and the struggle for balance shaped history. In Mahō, its inhabitants not only live under the influence of Guildforts and the great factions, but also fear and revere the power of the Paragon Grimoire. Its legacy permeates every corner of this universe.

The Guardians of Wisdom: The Lorekeepers and the Guildfort

To protect the Paragon Grimoire, the Lorekeepers sealed it in an unknown location and divided the keys to its whereabouts into fragments of wisdom stored in lesser grimoires: the Novice Grimoires and the Elder Grimoires. These relics contained not only clues to find the ultimate grimoire but also fragments of its power, allowing those who wielded them to access spells that defined the course of history.

With the purpose of guarding these grimoires, the Lorekeepers founded the Guildforts, imposing fortresses spread across the world. Each Guildfort became a bastion of knowledge, protected by guilds seeking to preserve magic and maintain balance. However, over time, the ideals of the Guildforts began to stray. Some leaders were swayed by ambition, using grimoires as political power tools, while others succumbed to corruption. Rivalries between guilds grew, and the peace that once sustained the world began to crumble.

At the heart of each Guildfort were the Fatebinders, individuals chosen for their wisdom and loyalty to act as mediators between the guilds. These leaders carried artifacts that symbolized their authority, handling disputes and ensuring that magic was not misused. However, not all Fatebinders resisted the temptations of power, and internal betrayals contributed to the decline of the Guildforts.

The Corruption of Magic: Grimoires and Rivalries

Magical corruption began to spread when certain wizards, eager to expand their abilities, experimented with the grimoires. Thus, the Corrupted Grimoires were born, dark books filled with unstable energy that required both physical and spiritual sacrifices. These artifacts, though forbidden, became a valuable resource in the black market, particularly in the Guild Halls, where guilds and adventurers traded knowledge and resources. The proliferation of these grimoires marked the beginning of a decay that affected both the factions and the balance of the world.

The Lorekeepers, guardians of the grimoires, recruited the wisest and bravest from among the Seekers, explorers who risked their lives searching for fragments of knowledge in forgotten ruins and hostile lands. Aspirants had to pass tests of integrity and resilience against corruption, and only those who demonstrated a deep connection with magic could become guardians. This rigorous process did not prevent some explorers from succumbing to darkness, becoming enemies of what they once swore to protect.

The Great Factions of Mahō

In the midst of this chaos, the great factions emerged, defining the era of conflict. The Umbramancers, practitioners of the dark arts, rose from the shadows, resentful of centuries of persecution by the Luminaries, who monopolized magical knowledge. Convinced that chaos was necessary to unlock the true potential of magic, the Umbramancers invoked demons to strengthen their cause. These demons corrupted the Warlords, a faction of honorable warriors who once acted as mediators between the factions. Now, the Warlords, under the control of dark forces, became instruments of destruction, leaving behind a trail of ruins and tragedies.

On the other hand, the Luminaries, self-proclaimed guardians of light and order, reinforced their control over the Guildforts, using their influence to maintain peace at any cost. Although they claimed to act in the name of the common good, their elitism and secrecy fueled resentment. A dissident group within the Luminaries, known as the Bearers of the Truth, began questioning their leaders' true intentions, seeking to democratize access to magical knowledge and liberate the oppressed.

The Wildwardens, ancient protectors of the natural balance, initially remained neutral, observing how the human factions fought among themselves. However, seeing how magical corruption was beginning to affect the world’s ecosystems, they decided to intervene. Although they formed a temporary alliance with the Luminaries, their ultimate goal was to destroy the Paragon Grimoire and any source of power that threatened the harmony of nature. The Wildwardens despised human disputes, considering the other factions as intruders that had to be controlled or eliminated to preserve the natural world.

Luminaries

Umbramancers

Warlords

Wildwardens

The Adventurers: The Wandering Seekers

In this climate of war and despair, the Seekers, individuals unaffiliated with any faction, began to play a crucial role. Some acted as mercenaries, sold to the highest bidder, while others dedicated themselves to seeking fragments of grimoires, following their own ideals. The Seekers represented both hope and chaos, as their choices could tip the balance of the conflict in unpredictable ways.

The Hidden Truth and the Guardian of the Paragon

As the factions fought for control of the grimoires, a hidden truth emerged that would change everything. The Paragon Grimoire was not only a source of power, but also a record of the sacrifices that gave rise to magic. Each spell, each fragment of knowledge stored in the grimoires, had been paid with human lives. This truth, sealed by the Lorekeepers to protect the balance of the world, began to reveal itself through the corrupted grimoires, sowing doubts and distrust among the factions.

The legend spoke of a Guardian of the Paragon, an entity created as the final bastion of the grimoire. Some said it was an ancient Lorekeeper who sacrificed his humanity, while others saw it as a manifestation of magic itself. This guardian not only protected the grimoire, but also challenged those who sought its power, demanding they answer a crucial question: "What are you willing to sacrifice?"

The battle for the Paragon Grimoire ceased to be a war for dominance and became a test of each faction's true intentions. As the pieces moved on this board of ambition and despair, the fate of Mahō rested in the hands of those daring enough to face the hidden truths of magic. Would they be able to destroy the grimoire to protect the balance, or would they use it, risking the mistakes of the past? Thus continued the story, uniting the fates of heroes, villains, and seekers in an endless dance of redemption, sacrifice, and discovery.