S - Mana Colors

The raw magic of creation, the flows of the Primordial Aether, is called Mana. Most mortals on Sethrophos cannot directly use Mana. It is rumored that the dragons can, but they are not telling. Mana is split into five colors, each one representing one of the Five Fundamental Forces.
Each of the five colors (and Colorless) represent a portfolio of powers, traits, beliefs and principles, giving identity to its users. A color's philosophy explains how it sees the world, what objectives it hopes to realize, and what resources & tactics a color has at its disposal. The basic concepts related to each color are:
White: [GRAVITY]. The Primordial Varytita, The Returning Sun. Organization, peace, law, structure, selflessness, equality. White puts value in the group, the community, and its civilization as a whole. White believes that suffering is a by-product of individuals not prioritizing the good of the group. White's ultimate goal is peace—a world where there is no unnecessary suffering, a world where life is as good as it can be for each individual, a world where everyone gets along and no one seeks to disturb the bonds of unity that White had worked so long to forge. To govern and protect its community, White makes use of and puts value in a number of broad concepts; morality (ethics, grace, truth), order (law, discipline, duty), uniformity (conformity, religion), and structure (government, planning, reason). White is a color commonly associated with good and justice, but if left unchecked or if everyone is not working toward the same unified goal, White can become authoritarian, inflexible, and capable of sacrificing a small group for the sake of a larger one. Everything necessary to preserve the laws, rules, and governance that White created.
Blue: [INTENT]. The Primordial Sympan, The Thoughtform. Curiosity, knowledge, deceit, cautious, deliberate, perfecting. Blue is the color that wants perfection and looks on the world and sees opportunity to achieve that, figuring out what you could achieve with the right education, experience, and tools. For Blue, life is one of constant discovery as you keep seeking to better yourself. This way of living requires the right attitude. You have to be open to possibilities, but also not too hasty in action. Blue is methodical and exact and recognizes that there are many forces, even some that come from within, that lead an individual astray. It is better to think one's options out carefully and select correctly than to rush to a decision. Implicitly, in that general world view, blue believes in tabula rasa: every one of us is born a blank slate with the potential to become anything. One need only understand how, to make the change. So with this goal before it, Blue reasons that if it is to make itself better, it must become capable of everything it could be capable of, for that is to "merely add" to its own capabilities. Blue believes it can't possibly be bad to acquire the potential for any conscious action. Thus, Blue, believing it is capable of changing anything if it understands the change, and believing it is imperative that it acquire every capability it could have, concludes that it is imperative that it understand change. As such, blue is the color most interested in technology and wants the latest and greatest version of whatever it is using. Moreover, blue decides that it must understand everything; for truly, understanding can only improve one's effectiveness in any task. To gain understanding, blue must acquire knowledge. Since knowledge itself will inform every other decision, blue forms its principal goal: omniscience, the knowledge of all.
Black: [ENTROPY]. The Primordial Thanatos, Death. Self-concern, power, self-interest, death, sacrifice, uninhibited. Black doesn't see anything as fundamentally immoral. To black, the only measure of right and wrong should be whether or not it leads to success. Black is open to opportunities and strategies rejected by others as taboo or forbidden—death, torment, infection, betrayal. Black characters will do anything to ensure their own well-being even at the expense of others; to black, anything less only allows others to do the same. Thus, black does everything possible to gain the only commodity that can secure it from weakness, and ensure its ability to get whatever it needs or wants—power. Although if taken to extremes, black's selfishness and lack of ethical restraint can result in tragedy, at its most basic level black is not inherently evil. It has a very cynical world view, and its core philosophy is that of self-determination and release from society-imposed limitations. Black has an ally in blue, as it appreciates its subtlety and use of cold logic. Black is also allied with red, respecting its desire to do things on its own terms. However, black's disregard for other members of the group, spirituality/religion, and the sanctity of life opposes it with green and white.
Red: [LIGHT]. The Primordial Phoss, The Unyielding Storm. Emotion, Freedom, active, impulsive, destructive. Above all else, Red values freedom. It wants to do what it wants, when it wants, to whom it wants, and nobody can tell it otherwise. In summary, Red thinks that all you have to do is listen to your heart and simply act accordingly, letting your emotions guide you. Red loves life much more than any other color and so it believes that all people must live to its fullest. Red believes that life is an adventure, that it would be much more fun if everyone stopped caring about rules, laws, and personal appearances and just spent their time indulging their desires through experience. Red doesn't live its life questioning choices it has made, and lives in the moment; Red is spontaneous and embraces every adventure put before it. Red is the color of immediate action and immediate gratification. If it wants something, it will act on its impulses and take it, regardless of the consequences. Red embraces relationships and knows passion and loyalty and camaraderie and lust. When Red bonds with another, it bonds strongly and fiercely. To outsiders, Red might seem a bit chaotic; that's only because others can't see what's in red's heart. Red sees order of any kind as pointlessly inhibiting, believing that only through embracing anarchy could everyone really be free to enjoy life to the fullest with no regrets.
Green: [MATERIAL]. The Primordial Yliqo, The Mother. Instinct, nature, wildlife, connected, spiritual, tradition. Green doesn't want to change the world, it wants everybody to accept the world as it is. Green is convinced that the world already got everything right. Green tries to coexist with it instead of trying to change it, regulate it, norm it, or take advantage of it. Green is the color of nature and interdependence. It believes that the natural order is a thing of beauty and has all the answers to life's problems, that obeying the natural order alone is the best way to exist and thus favors a simplistic way of living in harmony with the rest of the world. This can often lead to it being perceived as a pacifistic color, as it does not seek to make conflict with the other colors as long as they leave it alone and do not disrespect nature. However, it is fierce when it feels threatened and can be predatory and aggressive if its instincts dictate. Green believes each individual is born with all the potential they need, that it's imprinted in its genes. That everyone was born with a role and that the goal is to recognize it and then embrace it, and thus do what they were destined to do. But that role interconnects with the web of life, and thus everyone has to learn how you fit into the larger picture. We are not alone, we are a part of a complex system full of interdependence. Green truly believes that every individual has to bother to sit back and understand the bigger picture and don't get so caught up in the details of their lives.
Colorless: [MAGIC]. The Primordial Klarion, The Unseen Guide. Clarity, fluidity, power, purity, neutrality. Colorless embodies the essence of adaptability, valuing the ability to move through life without problem. It believes in the power of being unobstructed, allowing one to observe, adapt, and navigate through any situation with ease. Colorless values the purity of thought and action, seeking to strip away the clutter and distractions that obscure true understanding and purpose. Colorless' ultimate goal is enlightenment—a state where one is free from the distortions of bias, prejudice, and confusion. It seeks a world where individuals can see through the illusions that cloud their minds, achieving a state of perfect clarity and insight. To achieve this, Colorless emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, mindfulness, and the constant pursuit of truth. Colorless values honesty and integrity, believing that only through transparency can one achieve true harmony and balance. Colorless can sometimes be perceived as detached or indifferent, as it does not form strong attachments or seek to impose its will on others. It can become overly passive or elusive, avoiding confrontation and direct action in favor of observation and subtle influence. However, at its core, Colorless strives to illuminate the path to wisdom and understanding, guiding others to see the world as it truly is.