Codex Entry: The Planet Barista. Archivist Sarla Everhart initiates a high-level planetary survey of Barista, a spherical world approximately 8,000 miles in diameter located within the Baras System of the Milky Way galaxy. This entry documents the world’s unique polar geology, its celestial influences, and the profound cultural shift following the era of the blind psychic god.

Global Geology and the Belt of Isles:

Barista is defined by two massive circular landmasses at either pole, separated by a vast central ocean. Wrapping around the equator is the Belt of Isles, a collection of islands considered a continent in its own right, though it lacks a singular capital city.

The Southern Continent: Surhilk:

Surhilk is structured in concentric rings of extreme environments:

Aborea: A thick, outer jungle ring containing the tree-top city of Treskir, where fire and heat are strictly regulated.

Muspel Range: A blackish-red mountain ring featuring active volcanoes and Muspel City, an urban centre built within stone chimneys to manage volcanic heat.

Frigid Haven: The frozen central taiga forest, home to Castle City, a stone fortress the size of a metropolis built directly into an ice lake.

The Northern Continent: Clausta:

Clausta is divided into diverse regions, each housing distinct societies:

Sanvor & Savidor: The northern landmass features the sandy desert of Sanvor, anchored by the trade hub Al-Murad, and the acacia-dotted savannah of Savidor, featuring the clay city of Achor.

The Blood Forest: A region corrupted by the Haemomancer Noni, where trees bleed, the sky is perpetually crimson, and rivers run with blood. Its medieval hub is Crimson City.

Canyon Country: Home to Geostan, this region consists of four massive canyons reaching far below sea level, populated by cacti and sandstone structures.

The Orbal Range & Plaikik: The snowy peaks of the Orbal Range house Orbal City, carved from a mountain interior, while the hills of Plaikik contain Hillton, where dwellings are dug into the earth.

Celestial Orbit and Divine Origins:

Barista is orbited by two distinct moons: Vulcor (volcanic) and Frigal (ice). An adjacent asteroid belt is unique for hosting various forms of plant life. The entire system was created by the Giga Pantheon—including deities such as Skadi, Surtur, Tempor, Solra, Stonta, and Halo—who sought to cultivate a dedicated following away from the more populated Divine Galaxy.

History and the Reign of Lelouch:

The archive notes a dark historical epoch when the blind psychic god Lelouch arrived and forced the populace into worship. Accompanied by the vampire Noni, he oversaw the corruption of the Green Forest into the Blood Forest. Due to Lelouch’s affection for cats, his tyrannical reign caused the people of Barista to develop a profound fear and disdain for feline creatures. His rule was eventually ended by the druidic luchador Swolo Templado and Finn the Paladin.

Technology and Arcane Systems:

Modern Barista utilizes steam-powered technology, often enhanced through magical integration. While Haemomancy is practised almost exclusively in the Blood Forest, the rest of the world relies on Primordial, Faith, and Arcane magic as everyday tools for survival and industry.

Codex Entry: The Potioncraft Sub-Mantle (Wizards). Archivist Sarla Everhart initiates a specialized study into the School of Potioncraft, a distinguished sub-Mantle of the Wizards defined by the philosophy that consumable liquids are the ultimate form of magic. This entry meticulously documents their unique magical process, their extensive training requirements, and their vital roles as plague doctors and arcane alchemists across the universe.

Core Philosophy and Magical Process:

Wizards belonging to the School of Potioncraft focus their entire study on the fusion of magical essence into liquid form. Their objective is threefold:

Extraction: To meticulously extract the magical essence held deep within various types of mundane and extraordinary matter.

Fusion: To successfully fuse this magical essence with the essence of mundane liquids.

Excitation: To excite and boost the magical essence within the resulting liquid to produce a controlled magical effect when consumed.

Abilities and Potency:

Just as other Wizards can imbue writing to create scrolls, Potioncraft specialists can imbue consumable liquids with powerful magical effects derived from their complex formulas. Once an individual drinks these potions, they gain the full, intended benefit of the magical effect.

Utility: The most common and vital uses for their potions are the healing and curing of ailments, making them essential figures in many societies.

Advanced Study (Poisons): Further meticulous study within this school allows the wizard to learn about various poisons. They can then harness this dangerous knowledge to mimic the poisons' debilitating effects within their own formulated potions, creating potent toxins alongside beneficial draughts.

Cultural Roles and Nomenclature:

Due to their specialization in healing and curing widespread sickness, Potioncraft Wizards are often highly regarded in certain systems. In some locations within Universe 336, they are formally known by the titles of plague doctors or arcane alchemists, reflecting their blend of medical necessity and magical specialization.

Rigorous Training and Initiation:

The path to becoming a successful Potioncraft Wizard demands unparalleled dedication, consistency, and precision—even among the demanding standards of the general Wizard Mantle:

Initial Study: Candidates must dedicate long hours of study and practice into understanding the specific nature of the deep magical essence within matter and how to successfully extract it consistently.

Mastery: Even more hours and days of meticulous time and effort are required to successfully and consistently merge these essences together and fuse them with liquid mediums.

Consistency: Learning how to successfully and reliably replicate each magical effect consistently—including the delicate balancing act required for creating poisons—requires extraordinary time, effort, study, learning, and practice. This constant, meticulous process is the hallmark of the School of Potioncraft

Codex Entry: The Wizards Mantle. Archivist Sarla Everhart initiates a critical study of the Wizards, the archetypal Mantle Holders defined by their relentless practice, study, and understanding of the fundamental laws of Universe 336. This entry documents their flexible power structure, unique specialization schools, and their rigorous path to achieving the rank of Archmage.

Core Concept and Philosophy:

Wizards are individuals who acquire and wield magic through intellectual pursuit. Their effectiveness is intrinsically linked to the individual's innate level of intelligence, which dictates the potency and success of their magical effects. Their core philosophy is that magic is a thing to be studied, learned, and wielded, believing that through intense study and practice, anything is possible. Because they learn and figure out their magic, the diversity and range of wizardly magic is immense, allowing them to study and utilise different types and sources of magic.

The Path to Mastery and Archmagi:

The sub-Mantles of the wizard are commonly referred to as schools, which represent the different specializations and areas of study a wizard can pursue. The most powerful, experienced, and learned practitioners are known as Archmages. These peak-level wizards no longer need to expend magical energy on commonly used effects, as practice has rendered those effects almost effortless.

Abilities and Spellcraft:

A wizard's primary ability is the creation and execution of formulas unique to their personal view of magic. They combine material components (or channel through a personal Magical Focus) with their deep understanding of the universe and linked magic type to produce a magical effect—often referred to as a spell.

Flexibility: Spells and magical effects vary wildly (utility, movement, offence, defence, etc.). Highly knowledgeable wizards can even alter the effect mid-casting.

Power Progression: As a wizard grows in knowledge and experience, they unlock the ability to wield ever more potent and powerful magic.

Knowledge Preservation: Wizards can record the formulas of their magical effects in writing and imbue the magic within, allowing others to reproduce the effect with the right components. This also allows the wizard to cast certain effects even when their Magical Energy reserve is temporarily depleted.

Resources and Equipment:

The essential resource for a wizard is their reserve of magical energy. Different amounts must be expended for most abilities, but as their knowledge grows, they learn to access more potent and powerful reservoirs of energy. While energy typically replenishes after an 8-hour rest, some wizards have figured out ways to expedite the replenishment process.

Key Equipment:

Spellbook: Although historically a book, a 'spellbook' is anything the wizard uses to record the formulas for magical effects.

Components/Focus: Wizards use either a collection of material components or a personal Magical Focus to channel their effects.

Cultural Role and Training:

Wizards face varied Public Perception: they are sometimes viewed with disdain by highly religious or opposing cultures, but are also highly sought after for their vast versatility.

Common Roles: These include lorekeeper (due to natural curiosity), Magical teachers, explorers, warriors, and spies.

Training Methods:

There are two paths to becoming a wizard:

Taught: Gaining knowledge through tutorledge (classroom, homeschooled, etc.), acquiring formulas passed down by another.

Self-Taught: By far the more impressive, having figured out the workings of the universe themselves. Their magic is often more unique in its manifestation and formulas than Taught wizards, leading to professional envy between the two groups. Both methods require rigorous practice and study—the most of any Mantle.