Geomancy

Geomancy works via attunement to Gaia, the entity that is essentially the world as most humans know it and all of existence therein. Normally you are limited by elements you know and the number of Geomancy 'circuits' you have available.

You cannot use Geomancy to effect Aeromantic materials.

Mikelle McDowell has learned a number of tricks to attune to Gaia in special ways that add extra circuits and reduce risks. He has a variety of elements, though focuses mainly on Light and Painting.

## Circuit

A circuit is the basic unit of power for geomancy. It represents a symbolic connection to Gaia, and how far one can split their magical (not mental) attention between different tasks. There is no physical component to this: each "new circuit" just means that total capacity and/or attention splitting has improved.

Circuits default to "off" meaning no energy is flowing but a person can "attune" the circuit to draw on Gaia's energy. The power is not a universal constant. During the attunement process, one chooses the "frequency," "amplitude," and "girth" (not real terms, just approximations to describe them) of the tap. Geomancers have certain patterns they train themselves to work with certain tasks, and during the "attunement" process, choose a preset they know. Attuning or detuning a circuit takes time, and staying attuned too long risks damage to your body and soul (unless you happen to be Thrice-Cursed). Lastly, it is harmful to attune a circuit too soon after detuning, as circuits aren't 'empty' immediately.

One can disregard safety to speed through any of these processes, risking damage from Gaian energy running rampant through their body.

## Lectures

"A Geomancer is often considered to be constrained by their element, unable to act without ready access to it. Practitioners of Gaia themselves fall prey to this mindset, trying to cover up their 'weakness'" he makes air quotes around the word, "though extensive training in distillation and/or spontaneous production. As exercises, they are laudable, but the motivation behind them is flawed. We are so caught up in the material that we fail to see the element. Observe."

On his desk is a salt shaker and a glass of water. With deliberation, he knocks over shaker. "Whoops." His tone is of intentionally bad acting. With a subtle motion of his hands, he draws the water from its container, unravelling it like a serpent. It weaves around the glass onto the desk, making its way towards the scattered salt. Quickly and carefully, it picks up each and every grain, clearing the table of white residue without leaving a droplet behind. Then it gathers into the air before Professor Koslov. With a dramatic clench and opening of his fist, the water disperses, dropping a single, amalgamated salt crystal onto the table. The professor grabs and buckets the rock. He then uprights the shaker. "It is water that cleans, a universal solvent. This is easily understood, and easily done. The problem arises when water is not available, but it is not a true problem. Observe."

Again, he knocks the shaker down, spilling more salt. "It seems I am rather clumsy today." Again, it is parodical in nature. The glass is now empty from his previous venture, but nonetheless a shimmering something winds its way out of it. The barely visible manifestation crawls around the table dissolving the salt. Again it rises into the air, and crushes the mineral fragments into a single, larger one. Again the professor pockets it. "It was not the water I needed, but a single property of it. What you saw was pure solvency, an aspect of the element. Even without the material, a master of water can mimic it, for it is not the material thing we control, but the entirety."

## References

1. ↑ https://forum.questionablequesting.com/threads/polyhistor-academy-year-two.6716/page-17#post-1628374
2. ↑ https://forum.questionablequesting.com/threads/polyhistor-academy-original-setting-survival-quest.614/page-55#post-118528
3. ↑ https://forum.questionablequesting.com/threads/polyhistor-academy-original-setting-survival-quest.614/page-68#post-118921