Magic is a fundamental and real part of the universe. While the true nature of magic remains mysterious, scholars now describe it in simplest terms as the force that holds the universe together.

Many litres of ink have been spilled debating various magic-related topics. Some of these issues have been presented here for your reference.

It is generally agreed that magic comes in two types: arcane, and divine. While these two types of magic can sometimes be used to achieve the same ends, they still - in the words of reknowned gnomish scholar Yolliwell “Scribbly” Minmeck - 'just have different vibes'.

Of the two, arcane magic is the more codifiable. Anyone, in theory, could learn to wield arcane magic, and the rules for how it works can be described with equations and diagrams. Arcane magic tends to function predictably, making it very suitable for enchanting items as well as personal casting. Although some people have a knack for arcane magic that lets them weild it intuitively, most people learn it through years and years of study.

Divine magic is different. While we have some understanding of the results of divine magic, it is far harder to understand its mechanisms or source. For a long time, the most popular theory was that it came directly from the gods, but the existence of nonreligious druids who can use divine magic has thrown this into doubt.

The quest to adequately describe the two kinds of magic continues in the realms of academia, though for most people it is an abstract matter, far less interesting and important than the practical effects of magic.

The Ethereal 'plane' mirrors the prime material plane in a similar way to the Feywild and the Shadowfell, leading the first people to travel there to assume that it must be of a kin with them. General consensus now is that the Ethereal Plane is not a true plane as such, but rather an imprint of the threads of magic weaving through the world.

Magic is fairly common across the world, though more so in some regions than in others. The majority of magic users are wizards and artificers - those whose magic comes from extended periods of studying the arcane arts. Most cities and even large towns will have at least one shop selling enchanted items and magical supplies, and factories are constantly desperate for those skilled in arcane arts to work in them.

Divine magic is also common, and more geographically spread. While arcane magic users tend to congregate in cities and towns, the priest of even a small village church will have had the gift of divine magic bestowed upon them.

Throughout the world, magic and magic users are generally respected, and to be a magic user is a common aspiration.

Across the world, there is a strong taboo against bringing people back from the dead. Some, of course, still attempt it, and throughout history there have been many instances of leaders and visionaries brought back from the beyond, or whose lives have been prolongued unnaturally. These almost always end badly.

Aside from the general ethical implications, there is a strong chance that anyone who has been dead will come back with their soul damaged, a chance that increases with the length of time they have been dead. People brought bad from the dead may develop uncontrollable tempers, suffer from memory loss or, in some particularly ghastly cases, be unable to hold their body together and rot where they stand.

There is a level of dispensation offered to adventurers, who tend to lead dangerous lives in service of others. This is still something of a 'don't ask, don't tell' situation - if a cleric casts Revivify on a recently fallen comrade, then it is unlikely that anyone will know or care.

Some regions of the world argue in favour of necromancy without resurrection. The distinction between necromancers and 'resurrectionists' is between whether the soul is involved: necromancers would argue that they only use the bodies of the dead and do not touch the soul. Skeletons and zombies are corpses animated by magic, rather than by the souls of their former occupants, and thus do not cause harm in the same way. This argument is particularly prominent in areas where there is a severe shortage of labour, such as Brekan, where the undead can be used to carry out dangerous and unpleasant tasks.