The Twenty Domains
The magic system of Tarras is built on a 5×4 matrix of Elders and Spheres, creating 20 distinct domains of divine power. Each domain is presided over by a single god, and represents the intersection of a cosmic force (Elder) with an aspect of reality (Sphere).
The Structure
The Five Elders (Cosmic Forces)
- Void (Adaephon) - Absence, emptiness, the spaces between
- Preservation (Silanah) - Building, maintaining, bringing forth
- Fate (Kirkwood) - Meaning, purpose, significance
- Luck (Cato, Julius, and Cassius) - Chance, fortune, probability
- Ruin (Din the Red) - Breaking down, entropy, destruction
The Four Spheres (Aspects of Reality)
- Life - Living things, vitality, mortality
- Mind - Consciousness, perception, conflict
- Matter - Physical substance and manipulation
- Power - Raw forces and energies
The Twenty Domains
LIFE Sphere
- Void-Life → Conjuration - Summoning living things from emptiness
- Preservation-Life → Life - Healing, growth, vitality
- Fate-Life → Divination - Seeing destiny through living omens
- Luck-Life → Protection - Warding against harm through fortune
- Ruin-Life → Death - Entropy of the living
MIND Sphere
- Void-Mind → Time - The empty spaces between moments
- Preservation-Mind → Nature - The maintained patterns of natural thought
- Fate-Mind → Mind - The directed purpose of consciousness
- Luck-Mind → Illusion - Probability of perception
- Ruin-Mind → War - The breaking of wills and minds in conflict
MATTER Sphere
- Void-Matter → Ward - Creating absence in physical space
- Preservation-Matter → Creation - Building and maintaining substance
- Fate-Matter → Telekinesis - Directing matter toward its purpose
- Luck-Matter → Enhancement - Improving probability of material success
- Ruin-Matter → Alteration - Breaking down and reshaping substance
POWER Sphere
- Void-Power → Shadow - The absence of energy and light
- Preservation-Power → Light - Maintaining and projecting radiance
- Fate-Power → Weather - The meaningful currents of natural forces
- Luck-Power → Doom - Fortune's terrible energies unleashed
- Ruin-Power → Destruction - Pure entropic force
Practitioners and Cross-Training
Most practitioners follow one god monotheistically, mastering that specific domain. However, those who study multiple domains find it:
- Easier to learn within the same Elder (vertical axis) or same Sphere (horizontal axis)
- Harder to learn across both axes (diagonal jumps)
This creates natural affinities between adjacent domains and theological/philosophical barriers between distant ones. A practitioner of Life (Preservation-Life) might more easily learn Creation (Preservation-Matter) or Divination (Fate-Life) than Destruction (Ruin-Power).
The God Spots
Each of the Twenty Domains represents one of the limited "god spots" on Tarras, derived from the Elders. This is why The Usurpation of the Old Gods was so catastrophic - the Akkosian Pantheon had to displace existing gods to claim these positions of power.
The unity of faith and magic means that each domain's god draws power from practitioners and believers, while practitioners draw magical power from their devotion.
Mysteries
- Do any domains currently lack a presiding god?
- What happened to the gods of these domains during The Usurpation of the Old Gods?
- Can a single entity hold multiple domains?
- What is the relationship between the named gods of the Akkosian Pantheon and these twenty domains?