I need some advice on how I should go about my magic system and religion in my fantasy book

[Reverie_everbleedingheart]

Okay, so I was thinking of having them intertwine with one another but I wasn't sure if that would complicate things further. Cause I started writing out some of the more recent gods with just starting out with the basic three of sky, ocean, and underground. However I was worried if I should have just one or multiple gods or make the magic system base on being given/blessed with magic or them just born with it and praise a specific god.

 

[ThinkerX]

What role does magic play in the story?

The Gods of the classical pantheons had mixed portfolios: Zeus was a storm god, ruler, and warrior. Thor was a god of storms and war. Semeter was the goddess of the hunt - and pregnant women. Posiedon was God of the Sea...and horses. These spheres of influence altered over time. People rarely worshiped just one God. Instead, they paid homage to the God that suited their circumstances. Also worth noting: most of the ancient deities were...not good people.

As to magic, here are some possibilities. Most are not mutually exclusive.

1 - The power originates with a God or Spirit, possibly because of a pact. (Though hereditary magical priesthoods were a thing.) The God or Spirit supplying that power does so for his/her reasons...which might or might not involve chaos and corpses. Over time, the wizard becomes little more than a puppet.

2 - Magic is mostly or entirely dependent on an object or potion. Maybe a staff or an amulet.

3 - Magic is hereditary. Almost all wizards are descended from a group 'touched by magic.' Obsession with bloodlines. Contempt for Group #2 and suspicion of Group #4.

4 - 'Bolt from the Blue.' The wizard was struck by lightning or survived a normally fatal fever or some such, emerging from the experience with the gift of magic. This might be the origin of the wizardly ancestors in #3.

 

[pmmg]

With a pantheon of Gods, there is generally something that is still above them. Zeus was still subject to time and prophecy, the fates still played a role in his life, as well as the scrutiny of other Gods. Zeus did not create magic, he just used it in his divine way. Magic was something available to him, but it existed independently. So, in its own way, Magic came before Zeus, and Zeus was underneath of it. If it had laws, Zeus would be subject to them.

Chronos and Rhea represented stronger powers, and were closer to creative forces, but they two were underneath of it.

Four your story, you have much to decide. I would start with 'Is Magic Divine, or is it separate from the divinities?' And then I would start to draw my conclusions from that.

What is the role of Gods and Magic in your story?