Of all my travels all over Kajiri, nothing has ever managed to grab my interest as much as the fauna of the continent and the various methods mankind has developed to defend themselves from these and each other. As always, what I find the most intriguing is the similarities between all three. The same conclusions that have been arrived at using very different methods.

As Orezians, we call magic, that immutable blueprint of reality, anwansi. To the Karfi it is sihiri. And the Irorun natives know it as idan. Different names, same substance.

Here in Oreze, as in all the three regions, we gain the ability to cultivate and use one or more aspects by first eating an Ancestral Seed. Where we differ is that we bond with a Firstborn. Whatever affinity that Firstborn has, we gain as well.

In Karfi, the bond is with a weapon, chosen when a child is six and wielded for the rest of its life. A sihiri affinity is slowly imprinted into the weapon as it is used and trained with, until the child is freely able to call upon the aspect, usually by the age of fourteen. As jarumi, their extremely limited magic is mainly used to supplement their unmatched martial prowess.

The Irorun awosan favour a different tactic. Here at age six, it is a soul beast that a child must bond with, gaining their idan affinity and characteristics. Over the years, they have perfected this process, breeding soul beasts (whose names the awosan bear) specifically for bonding. This produces people with quite specific but potent applications of the aspects; like the winged Windweavers that can summon gales and tornadoes utilising wind idan to the now extinct, three-eyed Whispers who could control the minds of others and plant illusions with dream idan.

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Also of note are the various ranks in all three regions. All are nine in number and all are roughly equal in strength, but with obvious caveats. A Karfi Iron will be physically superior to an Oreze Practitioner, but the latter’s magic will far surpass anything the Iron could muster. Likewise, the Irorun Aethertouch’s healing abilities will be leagues ahead of anything any similar ranking dibia with the life or dream affinity could muster but will falter in the face of the diversity of their techniques.

And so, balance between the three realms is maintained.

It is worth noting the specific names for each of the nine ranks across the three regions. While the power levels are comparable, the titles reflect the unique cultural and magical focuses of each society:

1. Oreze / Irorun / Karfi

* Plain

* Adept / Attendant / Copper

* Disciple / Apprentice / Bronze

* Practitioner / Expert / Iron

* Ordained / Master / Steel

* Mystic / Pilgrim / Gold

* Sage / Blessed / Diamond

* Apostle / Saint / Champion

* Throne / Paragon / Sovereign

These ranks represent not just increasing power, but also deepening understanding of one's chosen path. An Oreze Throne, for instance, has not only mastered their affinity from the Firstborn but has also gained profound insight into the very nature of anwansi. Similarly, a Karfi Sovereign has achieved perfect unity with their weapon, transcending the boundaries between flesh and steel.

The Irorun ranks, interestingly, reflect the deepening bond between the awosan and their soul beast. A Paragon is said to have achieved such perfect harmony with their bonded creature that the line between human and beast becomes indistinguishable.

Understanding these ranks and their equivalencies is crucial for any scholar or diplomat navigating the complex power structures of Kajiri. It is a testament to the rich diversity of our continent that three such distinct systems of cultivation can coexist and thrive, each offering its own unique path to power and enlightenment.

— Chapter 48: A Study of Magic and the Martial Arts; paragraphs 13—20, The Last Testament of Omaliko Dike.