BuggaBoo
Bumble🐝Butt~!!
k so here's what buggirlie thinkin...thats a great question.
Most people can use magic of a variety of kinds.
The 12 Noble families have Maximized their elemental affinity at the cost of using any other kind of magic. So while the Nobles are less diverse in ability their raw power in their element is well above average. They have access to higher level spells and a lowered cost for all spells of their affinity. Not to mention powerful spells passed down over 700+ years.
A Mage from outside of the families can mix different elements to achieve other things, like for example a steam mage mixing fire and water. However their mana amount and lower affinity would limit them from accessing the higher levels of either fire or water.
Basically spreading mana development like a videogame stat tree. You can either minmax or generalize or somewhere in between.
The Corp are a strange exception. Their mana levels are piss poor usually, and they don’t have many spells. But they are born with remarkable physical attributes at varying degrees. Corp blood can grant longevity, regen, strength, durability, speed, hell even bone claws. The king was known to sprout bat-like wings in battle but didnt always have them. They sort of absorb mana to initiate physical mutations. For some it will grant all, some get none, you can even come up with a new one i didnt list. The point is they are the BODY family and everything about their ability is physical.
Thats partly why the Heirs are so scary to some folks. They have the potential to be physical AND magical powerhouses with potent affinities and physical power that rivals most if not all other mortals.
Tense times for the Empire.
Like my charrie is like mixed blooded, but she has the royal dna in her blood since her mom had some dna donated to her from the king lol. but she is stunted in the magic-brains dept and actually has a mutation. She cannot wield magic AND magic items or even spells seem to falter or fizzle out and most attribute that to her being a jinx or just cursed. She strays away from society since she seems to ruin things and is inept with magical items. Somehow she ends up being a wilderness person that has a 'whisperer' nature about her, she prefers animal/monster company over people. She'll have a pet... something or other.
Like she is a hunter but she is like one of the most stealthiest hunters ever without knowing it cuz it's soooooooo hard to scry on her or use magic to sense her out. Her mutation is a double edged sword. But she doesn't realize it she just thinks she's awesome lol Perhaps her name is thrown around a bit as a guide or survivalist but thinkin that LadyOfStars Queen picks up on who she is.
K so maybe some off her late hubbies consorts have accidentally leaked info that with kings death it was time to take stock of all 'loose ends' (illegitamate kids) and cut off the ones that poised to challenge throne? or something. But this mutant they've been keeping tabs on could prove to be dangerours and needs to be offed. But for REASONS Queen sees the hunter as useful or pitied? And takes her on as specialty role X to the Queen, staying her execution.
My girlie is gunna be a big tough strong sweetheart whose heart is in the right place but is kinda slow witted... but she means well. She's not clumsy by any stretch of imagination, but she kinda... like you know how people struggle with tech and screw things up by just looking at it? Yeah. that's her lol. No mistake she can be aggressive an d ferocious but like any good dog, they can be trained to chill with but a single look kinda deal.