Lore24 - The Darkening

Manipulating the very fabric of life, the forces of nature - in other words: Magic - comes with a cost in the lands of the Sovereignty. The world of Aedes is flux with raw arcane power. The more pristine and ancient the lands, the more magic flows through it. Barren plains and deserts are where this power is at its weakest, while glades and stark mountain peaks are places where magic flows strongest. But while the elves of Aedes have learned to live in harmony with these mystical energies, constructing settlements that guide the flow of arcane energies, the dwarven and human civilizations lack this knowledge. Dwarven halls and human towns and cities impede or even block the flow of mystical energy. And the larger these settlements are, the more they obstruct the free movement of magic through the world.

It is no surprise, then, that the lands of the Sovereignty are considerably less steeped in mystical force than the Wildlands across the Echor Mountains. The Sovereign Heartlands, where Aurora is situated, are the most cultivated areas in the entire world, and the force of magic is at its lowest ebb around the City of Dawn.

Yet wizards are able to cast spells all the same, and the clerics of Phaeton use their magic to heal the wounded and bless the cityfolk. Even though the mystical force of Aedes is weak, it can still be accessed. Such access takes a toll on the user, however. Those who weave the fabric of magic and take too much of the world, expose their bodies and minds to heavy exhaustion and mystical corruption. This corruption is known as "the Darkening" and, when left unattended, can influence the magician's surroundings as well. The Darkening warps the corrupted's body and mind, slowly turning them in a monstrous creature if left uncontrolled, and blights the landscape.

It is therefore that wizards must follow strict guidelines known as "the Traditions" to avoid becoming a danger to the Sovereignty. The Church of Phaeton conducts special purification rituals set forth by the Archangel of Light Himself. Waiving the Traditions or foregoing purification results in unchecked Darkened mystical energy, and will swiftly bring knights of Phaeton's Inquisition to purge the corruption with sword and flame.

OSR Rules
For old school rpg-games, substract the maximum spell level of the land, modified by cultivation, from the spell cast. The result is the amount of Darkening points the caster gains. As long as the Darkening remains lower than the caster's Wisdom, the corruption remains under control. As soon as the Darkening exceeds the caster'sWisdom score, the excess Darkening points count as a penalty on all d20-rolls and the influence of the Darkening is applied, per GM fiat, to the caster's surroundings.

Cortex
If a use of magic fails, the power of the land die is applied as a Condition (Darkening).