Magnetic Cartographer
A Zoraï occupation
The Zoraï have always had an innate sensitivity to magnetism. Before they ever called it magnetism, the prehistoric Zoraï tribes already flocked to areas of the jungles that 'felt good'. Back then they called it Lao'Qi or "good energy". (Not to be confused with the modern Zoraï word Qi'Lao which means healing magic.)
In most Zoraï, this sensitivity was minor, and resulted only in a slight increase in day-to-day happiness when living in an area of high Lao'Qi. The first magnetic cartographers thus were Zoraï who had a greater sensitivity to Lao'Qi, and who could actually follow the magnetic lines and track down places of high magnetism. Ofcourse in the early days, many who claimed to have this ability were just charlatans.
But as the Zoraï tribes united into a nation, the occupation became more organised. A dynastic guild of magnetic cartographers was founded, which devised official tests that a Zoraï had to pass to become a recognised magnetic cartographer, as well as methods to teach new Zoraï how to properly sense magnetic lines. This was made much easier when the Kami taught the Zoraï magic, which seems to be related to magnetism is ways that aren't quite understood yet, but in any case knowing magic made it much easier to sense magnetic fields.
As Zoraï technology progressed, they eventually also found ways to measure magnetism with tools. This constituted a major breakthrough as it turned magnetic cartography into an objectively measurable science. A simple device the Zoraï invented to measure the direction of the magnetic field was basically a three-dimensional compass. They also discovered that magnetism was related to electricity, leading to the modern term Bzhé-Lor, or "electric force".
Magnetic Cartography easily survived the Great Swarming. The knowledge was widespread, and the surviving Zoraï refugees brought with them to the New Lands both intact cartography instruments, and trained cartographers who could sense magnetism without instruments. In fact the first thing they did on arrival was search out an area of very high magnetism to build the new capital of Zora on. However, once the entire Witherings had been magnetically mapped, it was no longer necessary to have more than a handful of Zoraï work as Magnetic Cartographers.
That changed only recently, when the Zoraï noticed that the magnetic fields in Maiden Grove had begun fluctuating. It started small but over time the fluctuations became ever greater. The Zoraï had no idea what was going on, and for an attempt to figure that out, they would need to know exactly how the magnetic fields fluctuated over time. Thus regular repeated measurements at fixed locations became necessary. This is why the Magnetic Cartographers have now started taking on dozens of apprentices to repeat the same measurements over and over, compiling a huge list of data that will hopefully provide a clue to the mystery.
As the fluctuations appear in Maiden Grove, most apprentices are send to that region. However, since Maiden Grove borders the Cities of Intuition, and fluctuations in the magnetics fields around the Zoraï cities could actually have consequences on Zoraï society, the newest apprentices are send to monitor the magnetic fields in Cities of Intuition, to continuously make sure the fluctuations have not reached that far yet. So far, they haven't.
For some reason, Zoraï magnetic cartographers have never been able to measure any magnetic fields in other ecosystems. Many theories circulate about why the magnetic fields are so much stronger in jungle regions, but none is conclusive.
A Zoraï occupation
The Zoraï have always had an innate sensitivity to magnetism. Before they ever called it magnetism, the prehistoric Zoraï tribes already flocked to areas of the jungles that 'felt good'. Back then they called it Lao'Qi or "good energy". (Not to be confused with the modern Zoraï word Qi'Lao which means healing magic.)
In most Zoraï, this sensitivity was minor, and resulted only in a slight increase in day-to-day happiness when living in an area of high Lao'Qi. The first magnetic cartographers thus were Zoraï who had a greater sensitivity to Lao'Qi, and who could actually follow the magnetic lines and track down places of high magnetism. Ofcourse in the early days, many who claimed to have this ability were just charlatans.
But as the Zoraï tribes united into a nation, the occupation became more organised. A dynastic guild of magnetic cartographers was founded, which devised official tests that a Zoraï had to pass to become a recognised magnetic cartographer, as well as methods to teach new Zoraï how to properly sense magnetic lines. This was made much easier when the Kami taught the Zoraï magic, which seems to be related to magnetism is ways that aren't quite understood yet, but in any case knowing magic made it much easier to sense magnetic fields.
As Zoraï technology progressed, they eventually also found ways to measure magnetism with tools. This constituted a major breakthrough as it turned magnetic cartography into an objectively measurable science. A simple device the Zoraï invented to measure the direction of the magnetic field was basically a three-dimensional compass. They also discovered that magnetism was related to electricity, leading to the modern term Bzhé-Lor, or "electric force".
Magnetic Cartography easily survived the Great Swarming. The knowledge was widespread, and the surviving Zoraï refugees brought with them to the New Lands both intact cartography instruments, and trained cartographers who could sense magnetism without instruments. In fact the first thing they did on arrival was search out an area of very high magnetism to build the new capital of Zora on. However, once the entire Witherings had been magnetically mapped, it was no longer necessary to have more than a handful of Zoraï work as Magnetic Cartographers.
That changed only recently, when the Zoraï noticed that the magnetic fields in Maiden Grove had begun fluctuating. It started small but over time the fluctuations became ever greater. The Zoraï had no idea what was going on, and for an attempt to figure that out, they would need to know exactly how the magnetic fields fluctuated over time. Thus regular repeated measurements at fixed locations became necessary. This is why the Magnetic Cartographers have now started taking on dozens of apprentices to repeat the same measurements over and over, compiling a huge list of data that will hopefully provide a clue to the mystery.
As the fluctuations appear in Maiden Grove, most apprentices are send to that region. However, since Maiden Grove borders the Cities of Intuition, and fluctuations in the magnetics fields around the Zoraï cities could actually have consequences on Zoraï society, the newest apprentices are send to monitor the magnetic fields in Cities of Intuition, to continuously make sure the fluctuations have not reached that far yet. So far, they haven't.
For some reason, Zoraï magnetic cartographers have never been able to measure any magnetic fields in other ecosystems. Many theories circulate about why the magnetic fields are so much stronger in jungle regions, but none is conclusive.