“There are worse things than death… and magic has touched them all.”
Before rebellion scorched the west, before Dravengarde’s throne turned black with blood and ash, magic was the unseen thread that bound Varestal together. Ancient, revered, and feared — it whispered through stone and flame, hidden in lullabies and layered deep within the bones of kingdoms.
This week’s Worldbuilding Wednesday dives into one of the most enigmatic and critical aspects of the Tales of Varestal mythos:
What happened to the magic?
🔮 Once, Magic Was Real
Long ago, before House Drakemore’s rise, the lands of Varestal teemed with arcane presence:
- Sigil-binders etched protection and prophecy into flesh.
- Whisper-scribes listened to the dead and transcribed their warnings.
- Veil-touched seers foresaw civil wars long before blood was spilled.
Cities like Whisperfen and ruined sanctuaries deep within Ironholt’s mountains still carry scars — and echoes — of that time.
🩸 Then, It Vanished
There is no single tale that explains its fall.
- Some say the kings feared its strength and purged the gifted.
- Others speak of a catastrophic betrayal that led to the Rending of Avelin, where half a city crumbled overnight.
- A few believe the magic consumed itself — unraveling from within, unable to survive the greed of men.
Whether through purge, decay, or choice… magic faded.
🌘 But Not Entirely
In The Shattered Crown, we saw the weight of bloodlines and belief.
In The Fall of the Duke, the echoes of forgotten rituals stirred again.
And in Where the Prince Lay Dying… something stirs.
- Prince Lucian Drakemore’s mysterious decade-long coma, untouched by blade or poison.
- Ancient runes resurfacing in forgotten borderlands.
- Visions, dreams, and voices carried on the wind.
The world shifts. Whispers return.
Magic is waking.
🕯️ In Varestal, Belief Divides
- To the Church of the Divine Flame, magic is heresy.
- To the archivists of Veldenmere, it’s forbidden knowledge.
- To the folk of the forest and stone, it’s a sacred birthright.
Whatever the truth, one thing is clear:
Magic never died.
It waited.
📜 Let’s Hear Your Theory
What do you think caused the fall of magic in Varestal? Was it erased by kings? Hidden by seers? Or did it simply grow tired of humanity?
Comment below or join the discussion in The Kingdom of Varestal Discord for a chance to have your theory added to future lore.
Until next Wednesday,
E.J. Cordoue
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