---
title: Prima Materia
subtitle: Where we read the earth and learn what it provides
summary: Where we read the earth and learn what it provides
cover:
  showInHeader: true
publishDate: 2026-02-25T23:28:00.000Z
status: published
isFeatured: false
parent: the-crucible
tags:
  - Crucible Stage
  - Generation
  - Material Conditions
  - Domain
  - Kindred
relatedArticles: []
seo:
  noIndex: false
---
## Overview

- **Stage 1** of the Crucible; tangible foundation
- Everything built later – kin, faith, magic, states – rests on what exists here
- The physical world before culture touches it
- Two halves:
  - [**Domain:**](/the-crucible/prima-materia/domain) the land; climate, topography, biome, features, resources
  - [**Kindred:**](/the-crucible/prima-materia/kindred) the biology; species-level bodies, physical traits, innate abilities
- Neither half generates *Culture* – that's **Calcination**
- *Prima Materia* generates **Conditions;** the material constraints culture must respond to
- Different land, different problems; different problems, different solutions; different solutions, different civilisations
- The land does not care what you believe; the body does not care what you build
