Influence: Magic originates from a source of energy that surpasses all levels of dimensional properties. It is in the air, the ground, the trees, even a key part of the genetic makeup that makes up all living creatures. It is the carbon of the universe. The only known central source that can be narrowed down is that aura in a pure particle form comes from stars, however it is evident it comes from many other unknown sources as well. Aura has been very prominent in the development of everything in Ptitheros. It has affected the outcome of wars based on high-aura fighters, enchantments on weapons, and even the influence of lindosts on the aftermath of these violent events. It has influenced how cultural tenets work, punishments, and values about what is desired in the world.

The Global Aura: Global Aura - Atmospheric Aura - The Living Paricles... is the collective term used to describe the aura present across Ptitheros. It is essential for the functioning of many species and magic types. Creatures breathe it, rely on it for their existence, and it cycles through the environment in a way that mirrors the interconnectedness of nature. The Global Aura is present in all living beings and even seeps into the earth.

However, pure aura must be recycled to maintain its functionality. Lindoss and its monsters serve as collectors and decomposers of the dead, reclaiming the locked aura from corpses and returning it to the Global Aura for reuse. While the Global Aura is resilient, there are instances where aura can be drained or decreased in certain locations, either through intentional magical means or the accumulation of strong magical entities. This can be dangerous for beings reliant on aura for sustenance.

On Magic Usage: Magic is any action that requires aura to work. Aura courses through everything and is a constant force across the planet. The higher a creature's inner aura reserve is, the more powerful their magic capabilities. This is classified as active aura. Idle (inactive) aura is anything that uses aura in a naturally purposed way, such as the growth of a plant or the gentle cycle of aura going into the body of an animal when it breathes. Idle aura cannot be messed with directly, interrupted, or controlled. Idle aura requires aura to constantly be flowing; when an animal with aura locked within it dies, a lindost takes the aura from it, recycles it, and it is returned to the planet's cycle again.

Magic Education: The renowned colleges around Ptitheros provide practical training in advanced magic usage, especially for useful magic (like restoration). These classes are not cheap, but ensure a Ptithian is well-versed in their magic and how to make use of it. Necessity magic training depends on the community. These include practical training sessions for lefika cubs so they learn how to use their geoshift.

For ptithians with strong magic bloodlines (sorcerers), or those who excel at magic study (wizards), who wish to use their power as a means of occupation, seek out older casters to teach them their ways. Students often become their apprentice for a few years in order to spend time and learn from the master before heading out on their own.

Spellbooks and Runes: Tome magic, also called spells, and runic magic, is any magic usage that comes from using an object. Ancient magic from the E.W era is enclosed in the pages and rocks left behind across the world by the Architects. Those with spell books or runes in their possession can make use of the idle aura to cast magic that they couldn't naturally perform. These include curses or wish granting, enchanting objects, and creating some of the arcane-technology found throughout the world.

Runes, tomes, and spellbooks are not rare, but they are finite... and most of the items are protected in libraries and museums. The rest are scattered across families or in the archives. Spellbooks can be reprinted, making the newer translated versions easier to obtain, but lack the intense idle magic of the originals.

Draconic is used for scientific labeling and is the language used for almost all spells and runes.

Low-aura: Contain a natural idle aura inside them that can be harnessed and converted into active aura. Some ptithians have a strong control due to genetics and perform magic with ease, others can train their active aura into something more powerful through great effort.

High-aura: The classification found in lindosts. Permits manipulation of space-time and teleportation.

Architect-aura: Only found in Architects. Architects are the gods of worlds. Architect-aura beings are capable of twisting everything on a planet and surrounding systems to their liking.

Inner aura is aura inside one's body, outer aura is aura taken from the surrounding environment. Inner aura is used to cast harnessed magic abilities (Spells that do not require high-powered spells or runes). Inner aura can be exhausted with use, but cannot be depleted. Using spells from books or runes will draw from the outer aura. Casting massive spells will not only drain an individual's inner aura, but can cause dry spots to occur temporarily in the outer aura.

Aura Illnesses: Aura pumps through a creature like invisible blood. If an inner aura is high enough, and the person is cut open, the flow appears as a wispy, shimmering vapor. When magic is used, this internal flow is interrupted, and pushed towards the source of the spell (often the hands). If the flow is disrupted for too long it will cause acute magic fatigue, in which the aura will eventually recollect itself and restore the flow.

In the opposite direction is aura overexposure. If there is too much aura in the body and it cannot get rid of it, the person succumbs to aura-overexposure. They will become ill with muscle pain, headaches, and blurry vision, even death if the exposure is too high. Overexposure can come from powerful spells, voiden-proximity, arcanological machinery, or residing in space for too long.

Visible Spectrum: Aura is not visible to the naked eye in its natural form, but it interacts with light to create various colors. Under a UV lens, aura appears as flowing channels of ultraviolet light. Artificially condensed aura, such as in capsules and callrunes, reflects a mix of yellow and blue, creating a holographic effect. Highly condensed aura absorbs all light, appearing as a jet black color. Beyond this, aura moves into an unseen light spectrum. Architects, who can manipulate their appearance, choose visible forms for themselves, ranging from trees to dragons and more.

Despite the strength and flight capabilities of many ptithians, they rely on large domesticated animals as riding mounts for cargo and long distances. These include brirsters, chisliers, seavelles, snapps, karkadanns, and large-bred tions. Mount animals are also used to pull carriages, which one depends on the region and the amount of weight that needs to be pulled.

Ptithians also use machinery and construction for transportation. Ships and submarine navigate oceans, rivers, and underground waterways. Unique sand-ships traverse the endless desert. Trains were mostly replaced by blimps, but do handle continental cargo. Blimps evolved from ship-hulled balloons and serve for luxury travel and transport.

Spaceships are a newer form of transport. Most are owned by the international space station and thus are only used by employees, however tinkerers have scrapped together homemade spaceships too, with varying degrees of quality.

Animated constructs of Ptitheros are called automatons. Advanced automatons mimic existing species, with the most common resembling rubasyns, due to the majority of constructs being owned by the Nox elite. Early automatons were small, task-based machines. Theoretically, any form for a construct is possible. They can integrate tech addons as well, like callrunes, even functional wings.

The design of automatons was inspired by voiden anatomy, utilizing condensed aura as artificial intelligence and energy. This gives them the ability to think, perform tasks, take commands, and converse. Many automatons struggle with adaptability and do not like unfamiliar situations. With sensory magic enchantments, automatons can have rudimentary emotions and much better learned communication.

Thermal Control: Thermal enchantments can be applied to anything inanimate, but small stone slabs are favored. These items manipulate cold and heat output, can warm a room, cool it down, etc. Thermal enchants are applied to machines that resemble ovens, roasters, fridges (iceboxes), and clothing dryers.

Global-Streak Dectector: the ability to detect sources of aura. The strongest natural sources are global-streaks, the stream of aura through planets. A GSD detects these, finds the distance it is from the central points, and calculates the user's location. Large-scaled GSD is used in space and finds the base output of stars and planets to calculate spaceship location. Sunflares, divines, and aura-storms can throw off a GSD.

Energy Production: Aura can be extracted from its invisible, senseless form and concentrated into something manipulable; usually an aura capsule. Capsules can hold information as well and have been found in the ancient archives with historical data. They function like batteries, except aura is naturally clean and will replace itself once used, leaving no pollution. Aura energy is managed at hubs. These hubs use ley lines of the Global Aura to connect runic surge boxes across cities. Runic surge boxes are susceptible to damage from spells, so they are not allowed within a certain radius.

Music & Sound: Aura can hold sound information, like recorded wavelengths. The condensed aura is shaped into a disk and can be used on gramophones, and newer versions are like vinyl players. Voices can also be saved, be it discussions, notes, secrets. Aura disks and cylindrical films can be added to, clipped, and written over.

Callrunes & Sigil: The most revolutionary aura technology. Callrunes are expandable cubes with sigil-marked sides and a glimmering, watery screen. They enable remote communication, private and public connections, and have transformed news, entertainment, and creativity. Integrated with cameras, they allow video and photography, creating a pseudo-television system, paving the way for shows, online channels, movies, livestreams, and cinema. For further interconnectiveness, sigil loops were developed. These complex, callrune-like machines broadcast shared frequencies, allowing users to loop their signals through custom names, like domain names. Searching became seamless with categorized channel lists, like a structured television network. It allowed careers to emerge, like cinema, actors, directors, along with homemade video content. With the invention of the Sigil Network, “aura-digital” letters (like emails) could be sent, along with documents and files.

Ptitheros has a very, very long history. There are mysterious temples, catacombs, and relics scattered across the world. While many artifacts could be linked to known ancient cultures, others remain inexplicable, raising many questions about their origins. Alongside history is archeology, a major field in Ptitheros, with the prospect of answers lurking in the endless archives that line the underground labyrinth. Some archive records will never be found due to the Architects expunging it, thus finding lost bits requires fieldwork. Historians also find it infuriating that voidens know the world's history but refuse to share it. Many relics are preserved in temples, colleges, and museums, often as replicas to prevent damage or theft. The most significant recent discovery is the End’s Beginning City beneath the East Volcanic Inlet, revealing evidence of an ancient species called the Colossals.

Ptithians have always been fascinated by space, knowing their Architects came from the depths of the cosmos. Early astronomers studied nearby planets, leading to theories about them; Petellous was said to be home to giant fire dragons and raining lava, Nere'enk was all clouds and a snowy swampland, Payrak was darkended by raditation so lindosts were believed to live there, and Ateshue was unfortunately too blurry. The development of star maps came even before telescopes. Today, Ptithians have a deep understanding of their universe, harnessing space travel to explore further. The international space station, Zariel, conducts research. Advanced satellite imaging and mountain observatories contribute to space studies. They have a great understanding of physics and natural laws, and the furthering of science is funded by governments, nobility, and universities.

Ptithians who wish to work in high-end occupations (scientists, politics, arcanology, etc.) attend one of four primary Sultana Ithir universities. These are built upon an open zone of the ancient archives, providing endless information and an aura source for research.

• University of Mau - Found in the heart of Sequelliyphs city, capital of Sequ'Manko. The college was built into a region of massive jungle trees, its halls and libraries dug deep into the trunks and archive caverns below. It was the renowned college for want-to-be scientists of all types. A lot of it was burned during The Raining Fire. Part of the college is open to the public, especially its library.
• University of Haboob - Found on the outer edge of the Stilted City, Tucruitora. The college is built into the same mesa cliff sides and boulders as the city it calls home. Most of the college is underground and connected directly to the archives farther below it. It is renowned as the college for those interested in politics and rules, those wanting to become diplomats and more.
• University of Wolven - Found in Kilaan, Psollo. The college is a wide-spread campus-based location made up of multiple wooden buildings all perpetually covered in snow. It too has immediate access to the archives, as its central building (a tall bell tower) burrows deep through the ice and into the underground. No prowess but no compromise, only a desire to learn and relax to prepare for the future.
• University of Neamore - Found in Steam City, Neamore has a large clock tower as its centerpiece, adorned with intricate gears and cogs churning away steadily. The campus is condensed and organized, highlights of copper and brass all throughout its elaborate Victorian-esce architecture. The classics, foundations for the new world like literature, mathematics, and philosophy are important, but students of Neamore tend to focus on engineering and difficult fields of thought. Automatons are common on campus, as assistants, librarians, cleaners, etc.

A mix of medical technology, natural healing, and magic. Ptitheros has full degree-holding doctors, alchemists, medics, holistic practioners, and the rarest; aura doctors, who cure "curses".

Old prosthetics were made from bark, clay, then enchanted. New age prosthetics are made from biometal and aura, negating enchantments and making them cheaper. When the faulty body part cannot be replaced, then comes soul-transfer autmoatons. Ptithians who need a new artifical body can be transferred to an automaton hull by a lindost, however this process is costly.

• Skinner Virus: Gelatinous, viral bumps appear on the hands and eyelids before the skin of the victim begins to die rapidly and sluff off the body. Excessive bleeding and high fever kills the victim quickly.
• Bone Weakener: Flight-capable species have semi-hollow bones, but this bacterial infection eats away all the rest of the bone marrow and causes a victim’s bones to become weak and snap within the body. Snapping bones puncture organs and skin, causing gaping wounds and internal bleeding.
• Firesac Eater: Not actually specific to ptithians with fire breath. It’s a bacterial infection that attacks the inner lining of the throat, tearing through the layers until the windpipe and esophagus are no longer separated. A victim can no longer drink or eat without suffocating.
• Crumbling (affects lefikas, lefika mixes): an uncommon genetic disease that causes a lefiká to slowly crumble away like old rocks. The disease does not kick in until adolescence, as the victim will begin to see their skin crack and will die within the coming years as their body crumbles away into dust.
• Prone Hairlessness/Scale-less (affects dragons, lefikas, gryphons, rubasyns, taroots, mixes): Ptithian is born without their fur, scales, and/or feathers, rendering them unable to fly, keep warm in cold environments, and sensitivity to the outside world.
• Nerve-ribbon Disorder (affects rubasyns, rubasyn mixes): a rubasyn's ribbons naturally have far too many nerve endings in them, making day to day life painful as the ribbons gently sway and tap things around them. Rubasyns with this condition are advised to cut the ribbons down to the wire at an early age.
• Visor Disorder (affects taroots, taroot mixes): a taroot is born without eye holes, like a tion, except that they can no longer see and have serious sensory problems.

Founded by the gryphon Anatah-ili. A prestigious and expansive organization headquartered in Fox Isle, Nox, with outposts across Ptitheros. Originally created as a hub for natural science specialists, it has since grown into a vibrant, globe-spanning community of adventurers, scholars, and thrill-seekers passionate about exploring the world. While it champions scientific discovery, it also supports related disciplines in collaboration with the Mage Guild. Known for its lively, club-like atmosphere and funded by wealthy ambassadors, the Guild provides its members with housing, equipment, and unparalleled opportunities for expeditions, research, and uncovering mysteries.

Founded by the lefika Niyyda. A vast, secretive, but officially recognized guild headquartered in Chaion, with roots across all of Ptitheros. Originating as a survival effort among the impoverished, the guild evolved into a professional network of thieves, spies, and strategists who operate under strict ethical codes: stealing only for sustenance, justice, or by commission. Backed by influential benefactors, the guild has grown into a structured, sector-based organization tied closely to the black market, handling espionage, item recovery, and even name-clearing. Though considered an "underground" guild, it is far from criminal in intent, enforcing discipline, loyalty, and secrecy.

Founded by the dragon Gemini. It focuses on the aspect of spells and magic-training in schools and colleges. They fund libraries, assist small business owners who own magic shops, and are known to have some of the strongest wizards and socerers within their guild. They fund the study of aura and technology for the betterment of Ptitheros.

Founded by the lefika Chaska. The Fighting guild leads the great tournaments found in the coliseums just outside of Tucruitora, Sequelliphys, and Braeyc, but they also deal with aid in training soldiers and take on volunteers from other kingdoms who wish to participate in wars that are not their own. They are full of mercenaries and ex-soldiers. The guild has been the tipping point advantage for many previous small wars and battles.

Founded by an unknown rubasyn and headquartered in Steam, Ravagers are spread out across cities and function as part of the "underground". Different sections of them work with their nearby government for intelligence in return for any of their crimes being excused. They provide governments and royals a scape-goat in case things go awry, such as an assassination or theft being discovered that ties back to them.

Ravagers have a strict hierarchy, with each city having a boss and their associates, with everyone else on equal footing below them. They work with the Thieves Guild and government, often to handle the most dangerous missions or deal with occult activities. For Ravagers in Steam, their primary instruction is to keep an eye on the Heart-forged.

Unlike the Thieves Guild who honor being completely neutral to all governments, Ravagers happily accept payment in return for loyalty, so long as the payout is high. They’ll also just as quickly switch sides if someone else pays them more. Their skills and intelligence are a bidding game, and the Ravagers always come out on top.

Rooted in a deep desire for reform, the Casm arose in opposition to the monarchy of Tora, originally as a rebellious force, but now evolving into a more structured political movement. They seek to dismantle the monarchy and or replace it, primarily to allow a larger variety of rulers. Their main quest to find the relic stones Meldr'uno supposedly left behind for His royalty to summon Him, and the Casm would request he strip the divine power for the ruling family.

Before and during the reign of Nexetep, the Casm was feared, callled the Obsidian Enemy. However, under Nasirr's purse, these violent tendencies were removed, and the group gained legitimacy after securing suppot from Prince Deen. A revolution turned reform, the group is working to reshape Tora, but have been preoccupied in recent decades dealing with The Matrons of Virtue, since the two groups want opposing ideas.