The World of Crestmore
The world of Crestmore University is not too unlike our own. People live their lives, love their families, suffer under late-stage capitalism. It's just that some of those people can do magick.

Magick is a rare ability, but is accessible to all types of people. While some discover their power young, most aren't fully aware until young adulthood (typically ages 14-18). Some may not discover this about themselves until they're much older. While there are some magickal families, magehood is not tied to genetics. There are mages all over the world.

There are many ways to develop a magickal ability. Some find private tutors or after-school programs when they're younger, and some are self-taught (or "hedge mages"). There are magickal undergraduate colleges and universities, but students may also attend a regular undergraduate program. There are also other post-graduate institutions like Crestmore. In this regard, it is much like developing a creative talent—you might have a natural ability, you might develop it through study, you might go to a conservatory, you might choose be a creative professional. But not everyone does. There are many paths to magehood.

Where once magick users had to hide their abilities for fear of being hunted by religious zealots, contemporary mages feel less pressure to hide who they are, and have access to more safe spaces. But, while magick isn't exactly underground, they don't exactly advertise it either. It's like being able to speak another language. It’s not a huge secret, but it doesn’t always come up in conversation. Mages codeswitch when they’re with non-mages. Some work non-magickal jobs, others find professions within the magickal community. Mages interact with the non-magickal world on a regular basis; they drive cars or use public transit, they have phones, and are present on the internet. There is even a small group of young mages on TikTok. The magickal community has many enclaves in the world, including social clubs and bars, mutual aid programs, bookstores, and more. They do not have any centralized government or law enforcement system.

The existence of Crestmore is not secret (the school does have a .edu website), but it is not open to the public. Students, alumni, and faculty are given keys to gain access to the campus and its facilities. These keys are revoked should a student be expelled or withdraw from school for any reason. Faculty who move on are given the option to retain their key as a professional courtesy.


This game's magick system is based off dark academia and fantasy works like The Magicians (show, not book), Babel by R.F. Kuang, Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke, and Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. We are emphatically NOT, in any way, interested in replicating the work of JK Rowling or the world of Harry Potter. Crestmore is an INCLUSIVE game and a safe space for writers of all identities. We will not tolerate any mention of transphobic or hateful material.


Magick & Mages
Magick is made in the body, wielded by the mind, and cast by the spirit. There are many aids through which mages make magick, all which depend on the type of magick being made. For example, physical magick may use hand gestures or other bodily expressions. Many psychic magick practitioners use crystals or herbs to assist their spellwork. Others yet use language, written or spoken. Some spells may call for ingredients or rituals, but all are cast with intention. Magickmaking takes concentration and energy, therefore it is felt when performed and may take a toll on the body or the mind depending on the strength of the spell. Magick is a neutral force: there is no "light" or "dark" magick. But some people cannot be trusted with any kind of power.

Mages are both born and made. No matter what a person's path to magick, it is possible to grow as a mage through study and practice. Most mages stumble across magick by accident, though there are some tests to determine a certain aptitude in childhood (like an IQ test—this might tell you something, but it in no ways determines how that child will grow). Mages still exist in human bodies, which means they can still get sick, but healthy mages might have a slightly extended lifetime (around 150 years). The oldest mage death on record is 192.

There are, of course, limits to magickal power. Particular forms of magic that manipulate natural forces such as global weather, the bodies and life forces of others, and the force of gravity are near impossible for the average mage. The practices of necromancy and time travel are forbidden on campus. Crestmore also does not condone violence against other students.