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One of the best parts of building a fantasy world is constructing the society in which people live in. While there will be different ones, there is one that is exclusive to the genre. A magical society is one of the most fascinating to make, for it is entirely comprised of magic and those who can cast spells.
Having a society made solely of magic is rich in storytelling potential. It gives the audience insight into a world that they know little to nothing about and yet they cannot help but be intrigued about what everyday life is like. They’re curious about what kind of characters they can see, their personalities, and so on.
A prime attraction of a magical society is the spells that people use constantly. There are a medley of spells that are used by everyone. Those with the power to transport people, send objects instantly to their destination, instantly repair broken objects, are common spells that everyone uses.
Besides the spells, the type of people who reside within a society comprised of magic is also a major draw for the audience. There are all kinds of people who live within the magical realm, nearly of all who are eccentric in some way. Thus, it’s imperative to populate it in a way that makes your audience want to spend more time with them and the world itself.
One of the most important aspects of crafting a magical society is the government that oversees it. While some worlds have ones as the Ministry of Magic in the Harry Potter series that regulate all magical activity, there are some that feature none. It’s imperative to develop the form of government that will appear in the world, how it operates, and the relationship it has with the people who dwell within its sphere of influence.
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The coolest part of developing a society where magic is dominant is the spells that its inhabitants use constantly. They help make it feel lived-in and it’s always fun to see what spells they use! To them, spells are an invaluable way of life since they don’t have access to technologies used in other worlds.
Communications are the lifeblood of all societies, not just those of magic. For a magical society to thrive, it uses spells that enable people to send messages to each other across distances. It can also give objects such as paper airplanes powers they otherwise wouldn’t have, letting them reach their intended recipient no matter what. It also relies on animals that it’s tamed to help in that endeavor like pigeons.
A magical society features cities and towns, meaning people need ways to get around since they don’t use horses and other, more conventional means of transportation. Walking is one thing but not everyone is willing to walk long distances from town to town. Spells such as apparition or those that are transportation-related are key to success here.
How do people who live in this society prepare food if they don’t use ovens or put their food over fire? They incorporate fire spells to heat the food though they have to ensure that they don’t burn it to a crisp and those that help them quickly chop the ingredients and mix them into a bowl. When it comes to cleaning the dishes, spells that instantly make the stains on them vanish are a lifesaver.
As for household duties, some people bewitch objects to help them clean the floor, fold and put away clothes, eliminate dust everywhere, and so on. Whenever objects break, they simply use spells that immediately pieces back together all the shattered parts, making them whole again. Whenever people get hurt, spells that instantly soothe them are commonplace though for severe injuries, they’ll require specialized attention.
Spells alone do not make a society brimming with magic. If there’s no people living within it, there’s no spells. Thus, populating it is vital but you need to do so in a way that invites your audience to want to learn more about the world and the people living there. The last thing you want to do is create one that is dull and insipid.
A good magical society features vibrant, interesting characters. Take the one of Harry Potter for example. Who couldn’t forget the antics of Fred and George Weasley, the wisdom of Albus Dumbledore, and the maternal instincts of Molly Weasley? Adding complicated layers of characters make them feel real and give your audience a chance to develop an attachment to their favorite ones.
Just as in the real world, there are different stances of morality in a realm of magic. Their viewpoints on morality govern how they interact with others, especially those who hold wholly different opinions from them. Clashes of opinion create riveting storytelling for they offer insight into who they are at heart.
Even though they have magical powers, people still need to work and there are a myriad of jobs that help make the society function. While many choose to work in the government, far more go into the private sector. They establish and run businesses such as restaurants, stores, and those that are service-oriented. There are a whole bevy of industries they can work in such as energy and transportation and having them all help make the world feel more real.
A magical society also looks to the future and it makes investments in the form of educating the children who are growing up within it. It establishes educational institutions so that children can learn how to use their magical powers in a responsible and safe way. After all, they will be future leaders one day.
Just because a bunch of people who can do magic are living together in a community doesn’t mean they can do whatever they want. There are laws and regulations that they all must adhere to and the institution responsible is the government. Whether it’s a republic or monarchy, the government works constantly to ensure that all the laws of the land are followed and it punishes those who violate them.
The government of a magical society performs much of the same functions as its real world counterpart. It collects taxes and uses them for many different purposes, it has the power to negotiate treaties with other countries, and so on. Following real world governments, it has three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
How it operates varies by world. Some are more altruistic and encourage a free society where different ideas are exchanged on a constant basis whereas others are closed and rule with an iron fist. It can also change forms. Some stories explore how a democracy falls into tyranny where those who oppose the regime are persecuted.
Since it oversees a magical society, the government has a special focus on ensuring that nobody knows about magic. Take the Ministry of Magic for example. It goes after people who perform magic in front of non-magic folk since doing so is strictly forbidden, except in extenuating circumstances. The reason it does so is because it doesn’t want the magical community to be persecuted by Muggles who might view them as a threat.
The government is staffed by wizards and witches who do all kinds of administrative duties. They do paperwork daily, deal with troublemakers and other nuisances, and have meetings where they discuss proposed policies or changes to those already enacted into law. They are expected to be kept abreast of all developments that affect how they do business and deal with the public.
A magical society is fun to create! You’re showing your audience a world that is exclusive only to the fantasy genre, meaning you can make it any way you see fit. It also shows how people who reside within such a place interact with each other and how they go about their daily lives.
It wouldn’t be a magical place if there were no signs of magic anywhere. From teleporting to summoning objects, magic is visible no matter where you go. Besides being used everyday, it is used in other ways such as communications, enabling people to talk from different places, and preparing food.
In its heart sits people. They have their own goals and dreams that they pursue. Many raise families so that their children can shape the future of the world in a positive way. They start up businesses that will become major players within the community and the world, affecting it in ways unforeseen both good and bad.
The government of a magical society sets the rules and it expects its people to abide by them. Though it may be staffed by wizards and witches, it still has an obligation to maintain the peace and punish those who violate the laws it established. It can come in many forms and the majority are derived from those found in the real world.
A magical society is a fantastic place to explore, at least for those worlds that feature it. Your audience will step into a world unlike any other they know. It’s up to you to create one they can’t get enough of!
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