Ignoring the ever-present Glittering Shield, most inhabitants of Shatterguard may see something magical on a fairly consistent basis, though more often in the city than in towns or countryside. There is no magic-infused technology, but trained Voice-caller mages and Sun-followers are often employed to assist with daily life in a society fractured and broken and trying to keep going. Some experimental devices have been created whereby a mage can speak the elements of a spell into a holding container. A different user, whether capable of magic or not, may then activate the device by means of a switch and a password (Voice-caller magic requires speech). These are still in rudimentary form, however, and have a small chance of failure. Soldiers are trained in dealing with magic, and many have orcish-made armor which can resist magical attacks. Therefore magic is an augment, but not a necessity, in combat.
In Humans: Around 8-10% of the human population will have at least some natural aptitude in magic, though many may not realize it, and fewer still (~1-2%) will have the talent needed to study at Voice-caller temple and become a mage. Others may decide to join the Sun-follower temple, where if accepted and trained they will gain the power to wield the light of the sun in limited capacity. But the vast majority of humans will have no magical skill or even ability.
In Elves: Roughly 80% of ælfas will have some magical ability. However, even while it is more likely for an elf to be magicapable, one is far less likely to have a high aptitude. By comparison, it is much rarer for humans to have magic than elves, but those who do will on average be more powerful. Very rare is the case of an elf becoming a powerful mage. Therefore, elves typically use magic solely among themselves, and there is no real stigma among the alfen-kind to having no ability at all (especially if one can cook well).
In Orcs: Roughly 5% of lihtorgas (light-orcs) will have magical ability. It is rumoured, but not confirmed, that magic is more common among the dradorgas (dread-orcs). Orc magic is typically limited to making, however, so many magical orcs choose to use their ability in their craftwork instead of becoming mages. Some others will instead choose to join the Sun-followers.
In Lizard-Folk: The krahtari (lizard-folk) are unfortunately unable to perform magic, with the exception that all lizard-folk are able to heal themselves slowly while submerged in water. This can be detected as magic use, but it is not under the conscious control of the user. It also does not interfere with another’s use of healing magic on the same target. In fact, when a group of krahtari are huddled close together in the water, their healing is accelerated. The source of this is unknown.
In Bird-Folk: The rurukaw (bird-folk) have no ability to perform magic, much like the krahtari. However, they all have limited ability to send brief (at most 3-second) visions of what they currently see to another person.
