Discordance

When magic and electronic technology comes into contact with one another a phenomenon known as discordance commonly occurs where both encounter high rates of failure, oftentimes to a disastrous degree with electronics being the most likely to fail of the two. The reasoning for this incompatibility is still highly debated with two major theories dominating the conversation: Quantum Mirroring & The Greying.

### **Discordance & Nativity**

Innately magical creatures and beings are also sometimes affected by discordance, however, the effect can take a long time to manifest any noticeable consequences. Often the most immediate result of discordance in innately magical creatures are feelings of disease and eventual illness as they remain in the presence of electronic technology. This is generally not true for cursed beings such as werewolves and vampires which are apparently unaffected by discordance. It is because of discordance that most mundane cities are devoid of what could be described as the more whimsical varieties of arcane creatures, meanwhile cities retain the presence of more malign beings such as apparitions and even ghouls, both of which are generally unaffected by discordance in a meaningful way as they either lack magical expression or are indeed already dead.

##### **Quantum Mirroring**

Favored by many academics and realists, the theory of quantum mirroring suggests that magic may be tied to an innate ability to control and manipulate an unknown quantum-state which either too closely resembles the electric state, or too directly opposes it to peacefully co-express alongside it.

##### **The Greying**

Favored by many alchemists, spiritualists, and the lay-folk, the theory of the greying is a far older hypothesis which gains its name from an alchemical theory that abundance of technology is damaging to the mind's potential to exert it’s will over reality as it further signals the consolidated laws and ideals of humanity regarding the function and laws of the universe; resulting in a "greying" of the creative and colorful mind. The Greying as a theory has grown to offer several different variations and mechanisms since it's original proposal, each of which retain the notion that electricity reduces or otherwise "greys" magical accuracy and ability.

Religious and spiritual theorists have suggested that electricity is the most essential form of magic, the divine power of God, or even the universe itself. Therefor the greying occurs when human magic is used in its presence because the mortal spells in function draw from the divine and accordingly damage its mechanically directly flow when it is used in technological devices, which can result in feedback harming the devices and spellcaster. The spiritualist theory is nearly universally accepted by wiccans within the Unseen, and has several additional more detailed religion specific iterations such as those published in the book Sparks on Holy.

## **Gremlins**

An early solution to Discordance was the use of gremlins in order to disrupt and destroy electronic power sources. Wixen who anticipated the need to use their magical abilities while in a place dominated by electronics would often prepare gates in order to summon Gremlins which would subsequently seek out and destroy the sources of electric power. This practice has since been outlawed.

### **Gremlins in a Bottle**

A popular choice tool for the modern wixen’s arsenal is the nullbane rod, sometimes colloquially referred to as a gremlin in a bottle. The nullbane rod is a one-time use arcane rod which, when activated, releases an arcane blast which mimics the effects of an electromagnetic pulse effectively neutralizing electronics in a variable proximity based on the specific rod’s strength. Other methods have since also been developed to help wixen circumvent electricity ranging from simple cantrips that neutralize individual electronics through prestidigitation, to personal charms that create an area of electric disruption around the arcanist. This latter method is often frowned upon by the concordance as it can endanger the Segmentus Obscura.