The Sinking City

Wave City is set on an Earth much like our own – give or take a few supernatural events. Built on the dismal coast (any coast, really), the city is caught in time between its traditions and the breakneck pace of new development. Still recovering from a tsunami that battered its historical districts and washed up old memories, the people of Wave City are beleaguered by the inexplicable. Disappearances, strange happenings, mysterious creatures and shocking crime run wild across every street, and anyone would give anything for a shred of normalcy.

The Nature of Magic

In MAGI, magic is an ethereal force from another world, capable of anything and everything. It has existed in many forms throughout history, and stewards have always sprung up right behind it in order to tame its power and stand in the way of those who would abuse it. In modern times, these stewards have become known as Magi. Magi have been offered a special bond with magic in the face of life-threatening danger, and almost always chosen to accept it. Their bond, known as an Affinity, can take many forms: searing flame, freezing ice, psychic waves, or animating stone are all singular examples of what an Affinity might look like. Invariably, their magic is funneled through this connection.

Some Magi work alone, fighting injustice on their own time. Others form teams to work more efficiently, becoming more powerful than they could ever be alone. Regardless, they are all subject to Overcharge, magical backlash that warps their bodies and the world around them. To mitigate this, they often work in special armor forged from their powers and "activated" by unique talismans. They also tend to use special tools to combat magical entities, as normal weapons are ineffective. A Magi's outfit and weapon are, in fact, just as important as their Affinity!

The Otherworld

Magic flows from a place known as the Otherworld, primarily accessed through tears in reality known as Rifts. Wardens guard these Rifts, twisting them into labrynthine domains colored by the emotions and strife of the people nearby. In a sense, a Rift as a Magi sees it is a hall-of-mirrors psychic reflection of people's sorrow. A Warden feeds on these feelings and grows into a unique form, "decorating" its Rift with the dreams of humans. If it grows strong enough, it might even kidnap humans to feed upon directly or worse-- make them into Thralls.

A Thrall is a human with its will subsumed by the Warden and forced to work towards the magical monster's ends. Telltale signs are erratic behavior, mood changes, an unkempt appearance, and other symptoms. They will vehemently deny anything is wrong, and may even seek retribution against those trying to help them. Approach Thralls with caution!

Those Who Seek Power

With a resource of limitless potential such as magic, there will always be those who seek to abuse it. In Wave City, the main threat is the Akechi Corporation: a multi-millionaire's conglomerate that uses its power and influence to try and obtain magic for its mysterious owner, Goto Akechi. With rumors of ties to organized crime, paying off corrupt politicians, and even the "disappearance" of key rivals in the city, Akechi is a dangerous man with enormous power. Too much for a normal person to challenge. But Magi are not normal people, and you may be the only thing stopping him from attaining anything and everything he wants...

Nefarious corporations and local criminals aren't the only people who would jump at the chance for power. Some Magi abide by no principles and serve only themselves, becoming perhaps more dangerous than any Warden. These Magi may attack and bully others out of the area, force weaker Magi to pay tribute in the form of magical artifacts, or simply throw their weight around as they please. The corrupting influence of magic may even turn the kindest Magi's heart to darkness over time, and it is for this reason that Magi often work together. Magi-to-Magi, friendship is sometimes all you have.