Mana pools
Mana pools are wells/veins that go into the crust of the planet and spew magical energy. The magic is then dispersed around the world on through what is called Mana winds or breeze. Large settlements are built around those mana wells, the air is suffused with “mana particles” that can be harnessed by skilled arcanists. These pools/wells have been assessed to being older than the new Gods claim to be.
The walls of the wells can also be “mined” and artificial wells of mana can thus be spread where they would be needed. These stones are extremely difficult to manipulate and the fumes that emanate from the wells can be intoxicating and corroding. Select few people with proper equipment and natural resilience can go in to mine these wells.
Using mana
Mana stones or vapors can be used for a variety of things. It’s most common use is to increase the potency of magical effects. Some think that it can also be used to extend one’s life, but the secret to that feat is unknown to the general public. Once used, the mana stone or vapor is consumed and disappears.
Arcane Magic: Mana winds harnessed
This form of magic comes to an individual by learning to understand the mana winds and how they interact with the world around. Mana can be anchored or stored through rituals or in objects waiting to be released at the right moment.
(Generally: Wizards, alchemists, bards and some sorcerers)
Divine Magic: Miracles through force of will
This form of magic is usually attained through discipline and dedication. Rituals are sometimes heard whispered in dreams or while traveling close to the ethereal plane. Mana is battled with and forced into submission to perform these rituals.
(Generally: Clerics, Paladins, some druids, rangers, sorcerers and warlocks)
Occult: Borrowed and strange
This form of magic is obtained through the binding with some other creature or item of power that allows the recipient of magic to channel the mana around them or the mana allocated by the bound creature/item. Due to the strange binding at a distance of the two entities, the magic emanating can sometimes act in very different ways than arcane magic.
(Generally warlocks and some sorcerers)
Primal: No rules, let it loose.
This form of magic is practiced by those who excel in pushing the mana winds just what is needed to create a chain reaction that results in the spell wanted. Where divine and arcane magic require dedication and focus, this form of magic is best used by those who have good intuition.
(Generally Druids, Rangers and some bards)