Arcane magic
The moves of the arcane casters (Sorcerers, Magisters, and Wizards) will ask them to describe their spells and how they cast them according to their understanding of magic. The following is an example, common understanding of magic.
Treacherous Winds asks you to explore magic system. The key elements of a magic system are reflected in questions that arcane casters must answer before unlocking their various arcane moves.
They are:
- Local variations that limit what arcane magic can acomplish in a given area. This gives the GM a way to vary the challenges given to an archane character.
- An understanding of how arcane magic works so that the table can have a sense of its plausibility and to avoid an unsatisfying Deus Ex Machina.
- Some cost and danger to weilding arcane magic. An answer to the question “why not just use it for everything?”
As you explore and create the magic system (or systems!) it can be helpful to respectfully take inspiration from fiction, mythology, and traditional cultural practices.
The following is an example system and can be used as a starting point.
The Primes and the Praxes
The arcane practitioners can read, modify, and in some cases produce that which temporal reality emurges from with their will alone. They are masters of the primes and praxes that the temporal world emerges from. They have the ability to comprehend, manipulate, and some can even produce primes and praxes directly and at will.
Temporal Primes and their properties
There are three temporal primes. These are the fundamental materials making up the substrate of reality. They each impart their properties to the temporal world that emerges from them, as directed by the temporal praxes.
Sulphur
Explosivity, flamability, sudden transformation, passion, drive, aggression, impulsivity
Mercury
Fluidity, flexibility, fusibility, evaporation, smooth transformation, continutiy, indicision, care
Salt
Stability, rigidity, solidity, calm, stubborness, passivity
Temporal Praxes and their effects
There are six temporal praxes or methods of emergence. These are the fundamental ways that the temporal world emerges from the primes. Everything in the temporal world is an emergence of some mix and interaction of primes through some mix and interaction of praxes. Rarely does a phenominon emerge from a single prime or a single praxis, though it is possible as in the case of a firefly’s glow emerging from just salt and radiance.
Vibration
Sympathetic connection, jarring opposition, sound, mixing and combining, agitation.
Pressure
Force, direction, compaction, movement, impulse.
Charge
Attraction, repulsion, accumulation, delay, suddenness
Spin
Stability, precision, isolation, preparation
Heat
Transformation, purification, speed, passion
Radiance
Reach, light, travel, dispersal, visibility