Nodes

Nodes in relation to magic are generally seen as pools or wells of magical energy that form when ley lines cross. The easiest way of imagining ley lines and nodes are in relation to rivers and lakes. Nodes form much likes lakes, when rivers and streams meet and pool together. Magical nodes form when ley lines cross and pool together. They come in various sizes from small to large depending on the strength of the crossing ley lines. These nodes can be tapped into by those with magical talent, the energy used to produce various magical effects. Nodes are stronger and more potent than the ley lines that create them, as such younger and inexperienced magic users are usually cautioned about tapping into them without training and practice with weaker ley lines or else they can suffer damaging effects. Much like the ley lines of the island, the nodes contribute to the general good weather and warping of the standard dimensions of reality in a manner that makes transportation and teleportation magic significantly easier. Much like the ley lines it's unknown whether anyone has mapped out the locations of nodes across the island. Outside of the natural nodes that form, it is possible to create nodes either by forcibly moving ley lines or else by pooling magical energy together to make an artificial node. Such a node would need constant maintenance and unless it had a recurring source of magic energy to fuel it, would have to be maintained by the creating giving it energy and would not otherwise refill unless done so. There is also a creature on the island, the node tortoise, that has developed a natural ability to collect magical energy in itself to become a living, mobile node. How the node tortoise does this no one has yet figured out, and it seems the animal doesn't do it consciously. Creating a node of magical energy should not be done lightly, as the effects of such a concentration of magic can have unknown effects on the area around it.