Gradient - A fantasy world concept based on atoms!

FYI: Information about what atoms are is not required to read this, and I have taken creative liberties for the sake of simplicity and to make things more interesting. Soo... don't scream at me if I got something wrong about how atoms work. Also, I wrote this into my notes on a whim so this won't be my best writing. 

Speaking of writing; if you wanna use this concept for your own writing, go ahead! I personally think this concept has great potential and I wouldn't wanna hog it to myself. All I ask in return is that you credit me and link to this post.

With that, let's get into the show!

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In this world called "Gradient", each soul has a "charge", similar to an atom's charge. This charge changes the soul's properties, reflecting on the organism holding it. This charge is not static, usually changing quickly with big events or gradually with someone's personality and moral code.

On death, a soul will be dragged along due to magnetic charge to one of the Earth's poles. These poles act as singularities, all beings paired to them compounded into one point. When you're there, you're stuck forever, living out your days at one of the poles with your fellow ghost friends.

Negatively charged soul holders go to the South Pole after death, and usually are bold, brash, and powerful. Their trait gives them abilities related to attack. However, this doesn't mean negatively charged people are inherently aggressive or bad; they're just very bold.

Positively charged souls are the opposite.

However, there's a third type: neutral souls. This is the goal for any living being to reach, as after death you don't get dragged into a singularity, allowing you to live as a ghost in the material world. And living as a ghost in the normal world is really cool.

Ghosts in this world are very connected to the physical world; despite no form, they can interact with the physical world and even with people who are still alive.

The only tradeoff is that you do not obtain any powers in your living form, neutral people acting the closest to the average human.

Becoming neutral has two methods:

the first method is balance, simply balance out any of your negative/positive traits with negative/positive actions, very simple but way easier said than done.

the second method is bonding

if you find a polar opposite person to you (in terms of charge) and you really like them (people who bond are usually families, the closest of close friends, and of course lovers), you can bond with them, balancing out your charges

bonding also has other perks and weaknesses

bonding life links the two of you: if one dies, the other does too

people who are bonded need to be physically close to each other (within like a house's length, going any further for no more than a day) or else the bond breaks

but, bonds allow for combo moves which multiply negatively charged and positively charged magic together to create stronger moves

The area of the poles themselves act like black holes. The first and farthest area of effect is the Ergosphere. This area is harsh, usually distorting the world within it in small ways. People of an opposite pole to the Ergosphere they're within will begin to feel a gravitational pull towards the singularity, as well as a comforting feeling nudging them closer. People of the same charge will be slightly pushed out of the Ergosphere, and will begin to feel a mental toll; a certain, unsettling feeling of dread.

Closer to the Event Horizon, these feelings and effects intensify until two interesting things happen depending on your soul charge after attempting to cross the horizon. If you are of the same charge or are neutral/noble, the horizon will act as a wall, blocking entry. The mental toll and physical push get even stronger, making it almost impossible to stay as you'll either be pushed out or go insane.

However, if you are of an opposite charge... The event horizon sucks the soul right out of your body, killing you instantly and leaving your body a simple husk.

Neutral individuals are the only people able to truly safely enter and exit the area around the poles, but even then, the world distortion is very annoying. Nobody dares to cross.

At birth, everyone is assigned an unchangeable Atomic Number, which acts as a spectrum picker to see which "group" you fall into. The groups of course, being the Periodic Table's sections including Nonmetals, Metalloids, Noble Gasses, etc. Blends of sections are possible, but very rare. Whatever section you land in determines many things, mainly your selection of usable powers (which are further filtered by your charge and isotope (mentioned later)) and physical attributes. Most groups will often cause their users to grow animal-adjacent features from their group's associated animal group, but some have fully unique features.

One notable group is Noble Gasses. Noble Gasses, if snuggly fit into the group, will be born and be locked into neutral. Therefore, no powers or physical differences from neutral humans are observable from a Noble Gas. Since they are neutral, they are sadly unable to bond. Ever. They also can safely enter and exit Ergospheres with no side effects. If you are born as a Noble Gas, congratulations! You're a normal human.

Then there is your Isotope/Atomic Mass. This is a CHANGEABLE metric that can be trained through articulate methods usually handled by trainers. Your Isotope almost acts as your "class" of sorts. Certain Isotopes are better at support spells, some are better at evasion and movement, etc. You can use spells from any class; you're just most proficient and level efficient in those areas.

Which brings me to the Mana system: 

Energy Levels! 

Your energy exists on energy levels, the amount of energy levels determined by your charge. Every +5 or -5 on charge, you gain 1 electron level, with 1 level being the default. You need at least 2 to cast magic, meaning neutral and noble characters cannot cast magic. All your mana exists on one level.

Each spell requires your mana to drop a specific number of levels depending on how strong the power is, expelling the energy required to cast the spell.

To "recharge" your mana, you must make it climb the levels back up by absorbing energy. You absorb energy through the sun's light, giving you passive regeneration, but if you need a pick up of energy immediately, heat and chemical energy (food) are quick ways of regaining it.

Mana can be "reduced" by expending your energy, making your mana drop levels without using the drop for spells. Cold places naturally sap away your mana, making it drop levels over time. Physical activity, mentally straining activities, etc. drain your energy, and therefore, your mana's level.

Energy boosts that aren't major enough to make your mana jump directly will be stored in an extra organ in the body universal to all creatures, albeit in different forms, and will decrease over time if not used for a jump. Decreases sent to the organ will cause it to siphon energy from your levels until it is back to being neutral.

These systems apply to anything with a soul. This includes humans, animals, and certain mechas who have souls inside them.

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Hope you enjoyed reading all of that, because I certainly loved writing it! If you ever decide to use this, feel free to drop a link to your story in the comments, and I'll (probably) give it a read! Can't wait to see what people use this for! :)))