Magical Girl (Sparkalia)
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Magical Girls (Magian: 魔法少女) or Mahou Shoujo are humans who have the ability to transform into alter-ego superhumans and have abnormally enhanced physical strength and agility. Magical Girls have varying characteristics and all have powers that they can use for their own goals based on their own sense of morality. Magical Girls are said to be the ideal versions of their human counterparts; described as strikingly beautiful and the ideal form of femininity. Magical Girls typically also possess a unique outfit upon transformation and go by a pseudo-name to disguise their identity. While Magical Girls are female in appearance during transformation this does not mean being a Magical Girl is limited to women. Anyone, regardless of age or gender, may become a Magical Girl.
Magical Girls have been a presence around Sparkalia since before the Ruin, however seldom is known about them. the new era of Magical Girls first appeared in Sparkalia around the 800s with the modern Magical Girl dating from the 1300s.
Basic Attributes
Most Magical Girls have the following characteristics/abilities:
Transformation
Magical Girls achieve form by transforming into superhuman versions of themselves which are typically accompanied by special powers. This is achieved either by inner magical ability or through the use of the magical item. Magival girls are able to access their powers and abilities only while in this form. Some Magical Girls in Sparkalia use their transformation as an alter-ego; hiding their real identity. Magical Girls are able to de-transform from this form and go back to being a regular human. Some Magical Girls, particularly the Mahou Shoujo of Magia Regnum, do not de-transform once they have achieved Magical Girl form.
Resistance
Magical Girls do not suffer from disease nor toxin. Magical Girls are also immune to most forms of physical damage or major wounds inflicted by man-made issues. However this immunity does not typically apply to wounds inflicted by magic or other Magical Girls.
Strength
Super strength and durability. Magical Girls have capabilities drastically beyond what is naturally possible of normal humans.
Speed
Magical Girls are able to move faster than humanly possible.
Magic
Magical Girls, as the name mostly implies, are able to wield all types of magic. The overall ability of the Magical Girl depends on the aptitude as well as origins of the Magical Girl in question.
Sub Types
While most magical girls all share the basic abilities and attributes, there are difference in how Magical Girls appear, perform, and become Magical Girls. There are a variety of nations which field Magical Girls and due the varying nature of their ideology and politics, each nation has different requirements to fulfill as well as appearance, role, and overall powers.
Magian
Magian Magical Girl originate from the nation of the High Magical Girl Realm of Magia Regnum, an oceanic nation located in the middle of the Meager Ocean on the Dacia continent. Magian Magical Girls derive their power primarily from a divine being they refer to as the Ōrumaiti. They are broken into types being a full Mahou Shoujo and an auxiliary Mahou Hojo.
Mahou Shoujo
On becoming of age Magians can sign a contract, if they have the potential, and be infused with the power of the Ōrumaiti becoming fully fledged Mahou Shoujo (Magian: 魔法少女; Magical Girl) and retain a permanent right to be one. The contract provides protection to the Ōrumaiti and also provides her with a source of life force in exchange for granting the power and longevity a magical girl possesses. Upon signing a contract Magians are infused with their magical item, thus permanently implanting the power within them, and grants them the ability to transform. The form one assumes is based on personal desire and choice, however typically the "magical girl name" is bestowed upon them by the Ōrumaiti. Full Mahou Shoujo also receive a weapon as part of their regalia which vary in type and can be summoned and de-summoned at will.
As the Ōrumaiti is an embodiment of purity, justice, and beauty, drawing upon her does grant the user this pure power. However because she herself also suffers and is inflicted with corruption as pure acts draw upon pure power, corrupt acts draw upon corrupt power. Mahou Shoujo who do not uphold their contract or otherwise use their powers against the Ōrumaiti's wishes suffer corruption. While some levels of corruption are considered normal within a Mahou Shoujo, If too much corruption occurs they can receive the what Magians refer to as "hoka fever." Hoka fever does not kill but is harmful to the body the longer it persists until the corrupted Mahou Shoujo is effectively torn apart in mind and spirit. This can range from hypersensitivity, weakness or discomfort, to fever, nausea, vomiting, and frequent episodes of skin irritation and shock. Severe corruption often warrants delusions, cerebral dysfunction, anxiety, confusion, insomnia, and agitation.
Mahou Shoujo inflicted with severe hoka fever are usually institutionalized and imprisoned as they are considered a danger to Magian society. This has lead to offshoot, rogue societies isolated in Magians of "Hoka Shoujo" who embrace their own corruption. While Hoka fever can be cured, although this requires a lengthy recovery process, Hoka Shoujo are considered irredeemable and are typically hunted down and exterminated.
Mahou Hojo
Mahou Hojo (Magian:魔法補助; Magical Auxiliary) are otherwise Magian citizens who possess a magical item and therefor given the right of the Magical Girl but have not signed a contract therefor not able to transform. Typically a Magian receives their magical item upon reaching the age of 10 years old. The item allows the Magian to maintain a "Magical Girl" status within Magian society, of which without one is liable to be exiled from the country, as well as the ability to use magic. The item can be anything ranging from a pendant, a wand, or even a sword or spear. The magical item is not bound to the user nor is it's power imbued into the user which leads to the unfortunate consequence that if an individual loses their item; they also lose their rights and power along with it. Item lose or theft is considered a high offense in Magian society and the consequences severe. When a Magian reaches the age of 18 they are allowed to sign a contract imbuing them with their magical item and becoming a full fledged Mahou Shoujo. However, Mahou Hojo are allowed to decline the contract and continue being Mahou Hojo. Mahou Hojo are a fundamental part of Magian society who participate on most levels of civil service and make up the majority of the population of Magia Regnum.
Unlike their Mahou Shoujo counterparts, Mahou Hojo can be both male or female in appearance as they maintain their birth physiology. Mahou Hojo also do not wear magical girl or robe attire - as they cannot transform - instead wearing regular, everyday clothing.
Sono Shoujo
"Sono Shoujo" (Magian:その少女) is the informal name for Mahou Shoujo created through the contract system of the Sonohoka Hantei. Unlike other Magian magical girls, the powers are not granted by Ōrumaiti and therefor do not fall under her influence. Hantei herself tempts the user with incredible powers and function beyond magical girl understanding and Sono Shoujo follow a radically different and self-destructive contract system which grants them extraordinary power at the cost of their life-force and high corruption. Like regular Mahou Shoujo, Sono Shoujo are infused with their magical item, however not before it is twisted by Hantei. The process is said to be incredibly painful and side effects of fever, nausea, swollen glands in the neck (common place for the seal to appear), bright red skin in the creases of the underarm, elbow, and groin, whitish coating on the tongue, and chronic bleeding which persists well after transformation. Often not revealed to potential contract signers, the powers of the Sono Shoujo do not draw off of Hantei like they do from the Ōrumaiti with Mahou Shoujo, and instead draw off the users life-force itself. This cannot be replenished even with healing magic and the more power is drawn the worse the health of the user deteriorates until it is ultimately followed by death.
Sono Shoujo typically do not have a transformation form that is different from their own body except for minor changes. Sono Shoujo also do not have a "magical girl moniker" as they are not gifted one by Hantei as is custom by the Ōrumaiti; Sono Shoujo instead are usually referred to by the Kotoba as their name with the prefix "Sono-". Sono Shoujo are considered an abomination and highly dangerous in Magian Society with users being relentlessly hunted down and exterminated and any known associates, mahou shoujo or not, detained and imprisoned.
Shinkei
In Shinkei, the Organization's army and the Federal Ten Kingdoms' Armies operate the Mahō Otome (魔法乙女, Magic Maidens), a special force unit that utilizes magical girls recruited from Jūmin-ryōiki Island. Most of the Mahō Otome's members are young women from noble families or old veterans who don't want to retire and don't have the pull to get good political appointments. In comparison with other magical girls in Sparkalia's realm, the Mahō Otome is almost equal in power. Their magical power/abilities are on par with the rest, with the exception of advanced training in modern warfare tactics and the support of technology from the Nihonjin forces.
Shinkei, in the hope of learning more about magic and mastering magic and hybrid weapons, opened and sponsored several magic academies. In the Federation of The Ten Kingdoms, magical girls are recruited and enlisted through their armies or their academies, most of the time under the decisions of states' high-ranking officials. Out of the annual 20,000 magical girls recruitment in the Organization and Federation, only 1,000 can get into the "Otome-katei" (乙女課程, Maiden Courses). The Otome-katei are military training courses oriented toward Commando operations. The courses are known for their severe harshness so only eligible magical girls can pass them. Out of 1,000 that participated in the courses, only 90 are recruited into the "Rose Platoon" (バラ小隊, Bara-shōtai), an elite special force of the Shinkei Regional Control Army, while the others are put into elite groups in the Federal Armies.
The Rose Platoon and other registered magical girls in the Organization are considered noble in the Federation's society and rangers in the Organization's eyes. Magical girls who are in the Rose Platoon usually have sworn their full allegiance with the Organization, sometimes by marrying Nihonjins or serving in the military for over 5 years. The current Head Researcher of the Shinkei Research Group, Mayumi Nikkuni, is the daughter of a Nihonjin general and a soldier of the Rose Platoon.
Lurynian
Lurnynian Magical Girls originate from the Lurynian Magocracy, is an oceanic nation located in the middle of the Meager Ocean on the Dacia continent. Magical girlhood can be achieved in two different manners: Great Daughters obtain magical girlhood through family lineage while Worthy Daughters obtain magical girlhood through conscription.
Great Daughters
In Lurynian society, it has become a privilege that some of the most well known and most storied magical girls of history still survive through their family. Known as Great Daughters (Velikaya doch), all of them at one point in their family history were of great status. Those that continue to be of great status also find themselves to be nobles or aristocrats. It is common for Great Daughters to have a more generalized power set and mastery thanks to the wealth many of them have to teach the next generation one on one with a tutor. Some families of Great Daughters no longer have such great wealth like they may have previously. These families may send their kin to facilities for private instruction domestically or abroad, like Regeliana’s Lady Cyclonia Academy. Families do not necessarily have only one magical girl persona within their family. It is not unheard of that at times new magical girls are introduced to accompany an original one, however it is relatively rare.
Great Daughters have a naming convention that is more unique to Lurynia. Magical girl names are typically three words: An adjective, family name, and historical title. For example: Passionate Pushkin Princess. Alliteration is a high preference and can often be weighed when being judged by other families.
Worthy Daughters
Worthy Daughters (Dostoynaya doch), while not as storied as Great Daughters, are the vast majority of Lurynian magical girls. This is in spite of foreign media portrayal of Lurynia. Worthy Daughters are all commissioned by the Magocracy to serve the public in some form. This can be conscription to the military or service in more civilian settings like police departments. As a point of efficiency and cost effectiveness, Worthy Daughters are trained by the Magocracy to have a more specific power mastery as opposed to a general toolset like Great Daughters do. Most Worthy Daughters are conscripted at an early age of 12, usually not being taken in any older than the age of 19 years old. It has been shown that magical girls conscripted earlier have more potential and power than those conscripted later. The exception to this general rule for conscription are volunteers from Dacia, such as Regeliana or Magia Regnum. After service, typically until the age of 37, most magical girls will retire. Many elect not to retain their powers due to the possibility of being called in as a reservist if necessary, which isn’t uncommon. Those that do wish to continue serving are not prevented from doing so.
Worthy Daughters have a naming convention similar to that of Regeliana, in which usually they are only made up of two words: A descriptor + a name. The government typically assigns these names and, like Great Daughters, have a preference for assigning alliterated names. The descriptor is typically recycled for those with similar powers and roles. For example: Flaming Fiona may share her descriptor with Flaming Florence due to having the same class of power they are trained in.
Regelan
Regelan Magical Girls originate from the Magocracy of Regeliana, an oceanic nation located in the middle of the Meager Ocean on the Dacia continent. Becoming a Magical Girl in Regeliana is a meritocratic process, being determined through exam rather than contract or birth. The exact nature of this exam varies from practitioner to practitioner, and many of the methods used in these exams have been heavily criticized. Among the methods used, the most common are written exams, field training and apprenticeship, and competitive trials such as tournaments.
Every Magical Girl chosen via exam in Regeliana has a unique power specific to them. The exact power can vary from ones explicitly designed for combat, to ones designed to gather info, and even to powers specific to a job that the person chosen is passionate about. The duties of the people who become Magical Girls vary, and within Regeliana there are magical girls at all levels of government, and on varying levels of various corporations. However, due to the less selective nature of how Magical Girls are chosen in Regeliana, Magical Girl involvement in organized crime is high, and has led the exam system to be heavily criticized by the other Magocracies of Dacia.
Puella Magi
The Puella Magi are the typical, exam-chosen magical girls of Regeliana. In addition to the powers typical of a magical girl, such as immunity to non-magical attacks and increased strength, Puella Magi do not need to eat in Magical Girl form, and have an ability unique only to them. These powers vary wildly, and are typically representative of the Puella Magi's personality. The appearances of most Puella Magi are also wildly different to fit their ability. These powers get granted when one goes through the Regelian exam process, and are kept if the exam is passed.
The source of the typical Puella Magi's powers are not fully understood by the general population. Because of the secretive nature of the head council of Regeliana, the process by which one with potential is made into a Puella Magi is kept classified. Urban legend within Regeliena has often theorized that the source is something terrible or immoral, such as being fuelled by the "souls of the dead", but these claims are not backed up by anything substantial.
Artificial Magical Girls
Artificial Magical Girls, or simply "Artificials" are a new development within Regeliena. Rather than the vague source of power and personal potential that defines and powers the Puella Magi, Artificials have their powers granted by cutting edge Regelian magitek. Because of this, the powers of an Artificial are in stark contrast to the Puella Magi. Artificials powers are generally tied to a certain element or force, such as fire or water. Rather than a unique ability with a specific purpose, Artificials have more general powers, being able to utilize their element in a variety of ways, whether offensive, defensive, or utilitarian. Because of the nature of the process that creates them, Artificials are made in small batches, which typically share similar appearances and work as a team.
Artificials are a new development in Regeliena, and the magitek needed to create them is still in its infancy. Because of this, and because of the ease of the exam system that makes Puella Magi, Artificials are much rarer. Rather than being chosen through the typical exam system, Artificials are largely made up of boys and girls who volunteer in experiments related to magitek. Because of this odd way of being created, Artificials are looked down upon both by the Puella Magi of Regeliana, and by the magical girls of Lurynia and the Magia Regnum.
Zda'ani
Zda'ani is the name for the Magical Girls which originate from Kursibar, a democratic corporation-state in South Laurentia or Pythia, depending. The Dza'ani, as magical girls, are notable for lacking the usual standard Magical Girl traits as opposed to their contemporaries. This is theorized to be due to the lack of a firm concept of "girl" in Kursibar. The name Zda'an (lit. Blood-Girl) itself is a holdover from before the obliteration of gender, referring to an earlier form of Magical Girl that fit contemporary ideals of what constitutes a Magical Girl. These ur-Zda'ani were blessed by a blood transfusion directly from Violet, having the ability to transform and gain incredible powers at the cost of their health. These young women would often suffer from complete breakdowns of systemic function as their powers wore down their bodies. Indeed, the blood-girl moniker was accurate—the old Zda'ani often sweat and wept blood. The old Zda'ani were enforcers of Psumthar's will and healers, taking on a role comparable to faith healers and law enforcement in less bizzare countries.
The modern Zda'ani no longer draw power from Violet or Psumthar (instead drawing on the latent magical energy of Kursibar's land and the nascent Spirit of Progress), and therefore are far less powerful than their progenitors. Even more pedantically, Kursibari no longer understand gender and have little meaning or stake in the notion of 'girl.' The modern Zda'ani are more numerous than their predecessors due to not having to be selected by Violet, instead being selected by the whims of the unknowable to hurry the birth of Progress along. However, Zda'ani still boast impressive magical abilities, particularly in their amplified healing aspect. Zda'ani can dispel injury and death with their presence, and are hyper-competent warriors. Their magical healing is not only able to be used on themselves, but on others as well. Zda'ani also sprout extra arms during their magical transformation, obstensibly to signal the competency required by Progress. In Corporate Kursibar, many Zda'ani fill security jobs for hospitals, or otherwise are enforcers for less-legal medical enterprises. A sizeable minority also go on to become entertainers or foreign dignitaries.
While hardly considered to be Magical Girls by scholars of that lore, the Zda'an insist that they indeed are. The scholarly debate has raged for a decade and shows no signs of stopping soon.