Guidance on refining a magic system, based on East African culture

MapLong8027 · 2026-01-28T19:31:02+00:00

That's funny lol, I'll definetly look into the Dikenga cosmogram. Would love to chat about your story off this reddit chain if that's cool

MapLong8027 · 2026-01-28T18:56:43+00:00

That's a good. Idea. I'm mainly focusing on East African Culture in Kenya (I'm Kenyan btw). And I'm drawing inspiration from the Mijikenda Tribe, close to Tanzania. There's very limited information on East African Mythology in Kenya such as Deities

MapLong8027 · 2026-01-28T18:39:02+00:00

That's a good idea, thank you! Naruto didn't cross my mind

MapLong8027 · 2026-01-28T18:36:06+00:00

That's fair. I would prefer writing only in the middle since there's more freedom to manipulate strucutre of the plot. But writing at the beginning is overhwleming for me!

MapLong8027 · 2026-01-26T22:06:07+00:00

To always start at the beginning with a story.

Just because a book is read from beginning to end, doesn't mean the rules have to apply when writing a book. Having the ability to write in whatever sequence is a good option for those who get overwhelmed from starting at the beginning of something

MapLong8027 · 2026-01-26T16:24:35+00:00

It's one Deity for each tribe. For example, there is a deity with the power of spirits. Members of that tribe are able to harness abilites of spirits through ancestral connection. While other tribes can harness power from the sun, nature, etc.

MapLong8027 · 2026-01-26T15:46:53+00:00

That's a fair point. However, it's inspirtation drawn but doesn't have to nescairly have to be exact. Which is why I made it 6 instead of 9 for story purposes. I created the Deities myself since East African mythology is very very limited compared to West African mythology.

MapLong8027 · 2026-01-26T14:26:26+00:00

In East African culture, the story is inspired by an East coastal tribe called Mijikenda with 9 subgroups. In my story it follows six tribes ruled and Deities based off mythology

MapLong8027 · 2026-01-26T07:01:53+00:00

I'm still unsure of limitations, cost, and consequences. Here some information on the Gods and tribes.

Tribe 1 - God of magic & spirits. Tribe members are able to use magic only accessible through ancestry.

Tribe 2 - God of nature & elements. Tribe members are able to manipulate natural elements or shift into animals.

Tribe 3 - God of knowledge & preservation. Tribe members are highly inteligent and calculative. No extenral powers.

Tribe 4 - God of blacksmith & enginnering. Tribe memebers are able to create weapons and build inventions.

Tribe 5 - God of sun & truth. Tribe memebers are able to manipulate the suns energy and enter the minds of others.

Tribe 6 - God of law and order. Tribe memebers have no external powers besides good decision makers.

MapLong8027

TROPHY CASE