World Idea
Psi and Magi are just tentative names for the general groups, so they are in brackets.
Hundreds of thousands of years ago, a huge asteroid impacted on an otherwise barren planet. This asteroid contained a strange radio- active substance not native to our universe. Hurtling from a rift between dimensions, this asteroid greatly increased the rate of which likely outcomes occurred (made genetic mutations instantaneous as opposed to gradual in life). In effect, it sped up the process of evolution and development, allowing life to flourish on the planet in a matter of hundreds of thousands years, as compared to the multiple billions earth required. The radiations from the asteroid permeated all life on the planet, which consequentially gained the ability to influence probabilities also (ie magic). Masters of this were able to influence probabilities on a massive scale, and huge empires arose. The world was segregated, with those closest to the unknown asteroid being the most powerful, while those on the opposite side develloped slower acting, more subtle abilities. Years past. Civilizations rose and fell, empires conquered, and were conquered. The ability to influence probabilities greatly inhibited the development of technologies in the sect of the (magi), as they called themselves. The converse was true on the side of the (psi), whose subtler manipulations were very useful in enhancing technologies. The (magi) often took it upon themselves to exert their power over the (psi) societies, crushing their technological developments before they could fully develop. Secret (psi) tech societies developed, most often underground. Over time, different schools developed in the teachings of the manipulations. The (magi), with their raw power, eventually developed mysterious practices surrounding their art, as masters with differing ideas attempted to conserve their power by limiting that of their students. The great differences in the amount of power eventually differentiated the races across the planet, the (magi), with their greater manipulative abilities, were able to cheat death longer, so they lived to great ages, while the (psi) with their shorter lives, grew more adapted to their surroundings. The speed at which evolution occurred led to many different species in the differing environments (ie dwarves, goblins, humanoid avians etc). The civilised (psi) were able to develop group minds to combine and increase their abilities. This often led to shamanism in the more primitive (psi) societies, where the shaman was actually drawing on the group mind of the following, under the pretext of some god or power. The power struggle among the (magi) perpetuated. Meanwhile, the substance of the ancient asteroid was decaying (half-life was about X years, whatever necessary or desired). The most powerful of the (magi) noticed a lessening of their powers, which did not greatly affect those of the (psi), who had survived and thrived with the minimum amount of ability for thousands of years. The greatest of (magi) masters had been able to re-open the rift through which the asteroid had originally come, escaping to their "native" land (could be called nirvana, heaven, etc; reincarnation was the standard among those who were not able to undertake this). This was only achieved early on, when the (magi) were at the peak of their powers. Now weakened, and with a huge lack of co-operation among the (magi), the masters attempted to gather the necessary power by any means possible. Meanwhile, the (psi) scientists had long ago noted that the differing power levels of the races decreased exponentially with their proximity to a certain point on the planet (where the asteroid was buried deep in the crust) and were beginning to suspect things. The crater was so huge that none had really noted its possible significance, save the (psi) scientists and the most powerful of the magi's masters, who kept the knowledge of the asteroid secret. The (psi) found that certain gems and stones (which had been circulating around the molten core and often rose in volcanoes in psi-territory) could enhance and focus their powers. The masters of the magi had found the same thing, and suspecting them to be similar to the asteroid, began developing ways to limit or eliminate the radiation's tendency to spread outwards, focussing it for personal use. The (psi) scientists were learning similar things, but could not make the same advances the magi could. While this was going on, the (magi) masters were developing powerful methods to open rifts to the alternate dimension, attempting to bring in more of the material to fuel their power. and the asteroid continued to decay...
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World Idea

Psi and Magi are just tentative names for the general groups, so they are in brackets.

Hundreds of thousands of years ago, a huge asteroid impacted on an otherwise barren planet. This asteroid contained a strange radio- active substance not native to our universe. Hurtling from a rift between dimensions, this asteroid greatly increased the rate of which likely outcomes occurred (made genetic mutations instantaneous as opposed to gradual in life). In effect, it sped up the process of evolution and development, allowing life to flourish on the planet in a matter of hundreds of thousands years, as compared to the multiple billions earth required.

The radiations from the asteroid permeated all life on the planet, which consequentially gained the ability to influence probabilities also (ie magic). Masters of this were able to influence probabilities on a massive scale, and huge empires arose. The world was segregated, with those closest to the unknown asteroid being the most powerful, while those on the opposite side develloped slower acting, more subtle abilities. Years past. Civilizations rose and fell, empires conquered, and were conquered.

The ability to influence probabilities greatly inhibited the development of technologies in the sect of the (magi), as they called themselves. The converse was true on the side of the (psi), whose subtler manipulations were very useful in enhancing technologies. The (magi) often took it upon themselves to exert their power over the (psi) societies, crushing their technological developments before they could fully develop. Secret (psi) tech societies developed, most often underground.

Over time, different schools developed in the teachings of the manipulations. The (magi), with their raw power, eventually developed mysterious practices surrounding their art, as masters with differing ideas attempted to conserve their power by limiting that of their students. The great differences in the amount of power eventually differentiated the races across the planet, the (magi), with their greater manipulative abilities, were able to cheat death longer, so they lived to great ages, while the (psi) with their shorter lives, grew more adapted to their surroundings. The speed at which evolution occurred led to many different species in the differing environments (ie dwarves, goblins, humanoid avians etc).

The civilised (psi) were able to develop group minds to combine and increase their abilities. This often led to shamanism in the more primitive (psi) societies, where the shaman was actually drawing on the group mind of the following, under the pretext of some god or power. The power struggle among the (magi) perpetuated. Meanwhile, the substance of the ancient asteroid was decaying (half-life was about X years, whatever necessary or desired). The most powerful of the (magi) noticed a lessening of their powers, which did not greatly affect those of the (psi), who had survived and thrived with the minimum amount of ability for thousands of years.

The greatest of (magi) masters had been able to re-open the rift through which the asteroid had originally come, escaping to their "native" land (could be called nirvana, heaven, etc; reincarnation was the standard among those who were not able to undertake this). This was only achieved early on, when the (magi) were at the peak of their powers. Now weakened, and with a huge lack of co-operation among the (magi), the masters attempted to gather the necessary power by any means possible. Meanwhile, the (psi) scientists had long ago noted that the differing power levels of the races decreased exponentially with their proximity to a certain point on the planet (where the asteroid was buried deep in the crust) and were beginning to suspect things. The crater was so huge that none had really noted its possible significance, save the (psi) scientists and the most powerful of the magi's masters, who kept the knowledge of the asteroid secret. The (psi) found that certain gems and stones (which had been circulating around the molten core and often rose in volcanoes in psi-territory) could enhance and focus their powers. The masters of the magi had found the same thing, and suspecting them to be similar to the asteroid, began developing ways to limit or eliminate the radiation's tendency to spread outwards, focussing it for personal use. The (psi) scientists were learning similar things, but could not make the same advances the magi could.

While this was going on, the (magi) masters were developing powerful methods to open rifts to the alternate dimension, attempting to bring in more of the material to fuel their power.

and the asteroid continued to decay...

Questions/Comments/Suggestions?

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