I really like the combination of fantasy and science-fiction themes. I like when „magic” has some logical (ok, quasi-logical) explanation. I also don’t like the artificial division between magic and science – when in our world we use the word „magic” for something made up or for superstition, such a division makes sense…. but when we use it to describe something that actually works within the fantasy world, it doesn’t. If something works, it is a form of science (because in the framework of fictional universe, therempirical proof it exists), at most a science that has not yet been understood. In this article, I present some concepts for a „quasi-scientific” interpretation of several fantasy motifs, such as dragons, demons and the undead. I am planning to use them in my own stories/games.

Wizards/Seers/Elves

They are people with biological mutation that gives them very keen senses, that’s why they can „divine” things. You will never attack them from surprise because they will hear you, they are aware of enemy army long before it is visible, they can tell that food is poisoned or that someone is sick because of smell, they can tell how will weather change based on subtle changes of athmospheric pressure etc. Keen senses mean also hypersensitivity to pain, so „squishy wizard” trope is in action and that’s why they don’t dominate world.

They can live in their own societes – it would make them more like elves. Or they can just sometimes born among „normal” people as a result of some mutation – it makes them more like wizards. Fate of the wizard can be of various kinds. If (s)he lives in small society, like tribe or village, he can be despised by homelanders as „this weakling who always is complaining that something hurts him or that we are too loud”. But (s)he can also be best hunter in the tribe, who always knows where animals are and is master with a bow. Or can became local oracle, and their „precognition” be considered as „advices of ancestor spirits”. In more advanced society they would probably became royal advisors and sages.

Necromancers and undead

Necromancers are type of alchemists who developed drug that gives people immunity to pain, poisons, diseases, fatigue etc but in time weakens mind. Hordes of mindless soldiers with visible severe wounds and fact, that necromancers often make „zombies” from wounded enemies after battles, created legend of „walking de...

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