Story Help- All Part of the Plan

Yo guys, I have a plan or something for a new story I want to run by you, get your opinions on. You know the drill.

Basically, in the new fantasy story that won't GTFO of my head, the "world" as we know it is actually made up of 7 pocket dimensions (or planes; crap, my inner nerd is showing!) inside one universe. So it's kinda like a Multiverse within a singular universe? I dunno, it's 2:40 am and my brain is fried. Anyway, each dimension is home to a new world with a new dominant species, listed below (not in a set order):

1. Angels
2. ???
3. Dragons
4. Humans (Modern era)
5. Spirits
6. ???
7. Demons

Imagine a world similar to ours, only one of the most basic changes is that instead of humans inhabiting it, it's one of these seven instead. Well, five of the ones I have already chosen, that is. These worlds are completely separate from each other- as if they're in their own little bubble- and cannot be accessed under normal circumstances.

Each of these species are going to have some magic, sometimes particularly a particular disposition, such as Dragons having powerful fire magic, Angels having the best healing magic, etc. The amount of magic each species is able to wield and how powerful it is is entirely dependent on the species in question. What I've got so far for that would be:

1. Angels - Healing and order magics
2. ???
3. Dragons - Fire/poison/water/etc magics (dependent on type of dragon)
4. Humans - To be determined (telekinesis-type magics?)
5. Spirits - Stealth-based magics (invisibility, intangibility, etc)
6. ???
7. Demons - Mental and combat magics

Each of these species also builds up their magic differently. Angels have their magic supply increase when they're around positive emotions; demons are the opposite, gathering more magic when around negative emotions. Humans channel their power from their own life force, spirits have their own internal supply that's total amount cannot grow or shrink and recharges over time, and dragons draw energy from the surrounding land to fuel the power of their magic. Dragons are typically the most powerful magic wielders with access to the correct land energy. Angels and demons (with no power boosts from surrounding emotions) are about equal in power, and humans and spirits are the weakest. All of this comparison is speaking in terms of sheer power.

Now for the issues I'm having rounding this out. See those question marks in the list? I need two other species to round out the list for pocket dimensions. I also need to figure out what type of magics they excel at compared to the other species and exactly what magical abilities humans have. I have been considering elementals that have the ability to manipulate the ground around them into doing their bidding as well as robots who have the magic to.... mechanize things, I guess. But... robots and magic... I dunno, like I said my brain is fried. This could be incoherent babbling for all I know.

A few things I'd like to point out:

- Yes, there needs to be 7 different species and pocket dimensions. Plot point.

- One species I'm trying to stay away from is vampires because I really have no wish to write them. Sorry.

- The spirit world is not the afterlife. Rather it's more of a limbo where occasionally souls get trapped on after dying.

 

I'm afraid that isn't really preferable because there does need to be 7 dominant species, one from each world. It's a pretty major plot point. But thanks!

 

Deities are interesting for sure. Though if I were to go in that direction they'd most likely end up very similar to Shinto kami, spirit gods. I do sort of have an area to draw inspiration for these kami from, but I'm concerned they'd end up less like actual kami and more like nature spirit gods if they were in a world of their own. And the fact that they draw power from belief- where would they get this belief from if they are the only sentient species in their dimension?

At this point I'm kinda just nitpicking. I really like this idea, just need to figure out a way to make it work.

I could see sirens (or merfolk, but MTG kinda warped merfolk for me) as a potential one as well. They'd have magic to control people who fall in love with them and they exude a natural thrall or hypnotism or something that can also be increased through magic. Their magic increases with the amount of creatures under their thrall and decreases with distance from them. Their power miiight fall a little too close the the demons' mental control, but I can make something work differently. There's also the issue of being the only sentient species in their world again. Hmmmm.

Witches and warlocks are kinda already like human spellcasters. Reapers would be super cool (at least to me) but probably a little too similar to demons, and can probably be substituted in as a kami. Shapeshifters are intriguing as well, but fairies and pixies seem kinda meh to me.

Thanks for the thoughts!

 

In the very very beginning stages of planning this I think I was contemplating using orcs, but I didn't really like them that much. I felt they and their potential magi-wielding abilities would be lackluster compared to the others'. I'm getting the same feel with dwarves.

An oceanic world certainly would be something, especially for visitng oxygen-breathers.

Thanks for your input!

 

Necromancy is actually something I hadn't thought about. It's very interesting to do, and when I first thought about your suggestion I didn't think it'd be able to work, but after reconsidering it I think it might be doable! Like you said, the spirits aren't undead, merely souls tied to their plane, and the undead actually brought back to life would just be bodies under control of their animator. Since the planes live in their own bubbles and rarely, if ever, interact, necromancers wouldn't really be able to draw from deaths of other worlds, but their powers could increase from rituals or something. Now for the species... I'm kinda thinking South Asian naga (help MTG has corrupted me beyond repair), which are cool though I don't really have any better ideas.

Thanks for the ideas!