the.com/mana
the polynesian belief that power isn't what you have, it's what everyone agrees you have.
means a spiritual force or authority believed to inhabit people, objects, and places, earned through deeds and lineage rather than simply owned.
from from proto-polynesian roots, mana described the sacred potency in chiefs, warriors, and priests long before video games borrowed the word for blue bars that regenerate spells.
not fixedmana can grow, shrink, or be lost entirely
contagious ideaobjects touched by powerful people absorb their mana
gaming heist1990s rpgs turned sacred force into a resource bar
for instance
maori chiefs — mana held through genealogy and community respect in new zealand
hawaiian ali'i — royal mana justified rule over hawaiian islands before 1893
magic the gathering — 1993 card game made mana the currency of spellcasting