The Manitides are extraterrestrial smileys.
Shortly after the Middle Ages, the Manitides attempted a technological breakthrough: bombing Earth with giant magnets and generating a colossal electromagnetic field to pull the planet toward Nivira. The plan failed: although the moon Orpha shifted enough to completely destabilize the geology of Nivira, Earth remained too far to be affected.
The Magnetic Shields are thought to be relics of this attempt: the magnets near Iron Shields permanently transformed them.
Since then, the Manitides have been observing Earth both on-site and from a distance, undecided between invasion, sabotage, or simply watching the side effects of mana potions.