Thaumaturgy

Thaumaturgy is one of the Five Magics, and is performed by reciting incantations that bind together objects at a distance that once had physically been together and with a source of energy that can perform the work. The power of thaumaturgy is limited by the fact that all incantations must conserve energy.

## Laws

Principle of Sympathy - like produces like

Principle of Contagion - once together, always together

## Practitioners

One who practices thaumaturgy is known as a thaumaturge. There are three ranks of mastery:

* Apprentice
* Journeyman
* Master

## Appearance

Thaumaturges wear brown robes covered with the symbol for similarity.

Their robes often have many pockets filled with the various tools and implements they use in their craft.

## The Art

The Art of Thaumaturgy consisted of applying the Principles to create a transitory effect. Thaumaturgy produces no lasting magical effects, but can be quite powerful nonetheless.

The Principle of Sympathy means that to create an effect, the same exact effect must be produced on a smaller scale. If you want to move a boulder, you have to move a smaller rock in exactly the same way.

The Principle of Contagion states that if something is once part of or associated with another thing, it remains indelibly connected to it and can be used to influence that other. Naturally, an actual piece of the target is the best, but there are various degrees of sympathy, ranging from a part of the same item, to a part of the same construct, to a long-associated item, down to something that has been in the presence of the target once. Each will work, which is one of the things that make Thaumaturgy the most general of the Arts.

However, the energy required to link the target with the spell is greatly modified by the sympathetic connection available. If you wish to kill a man, for example, you will need much less energy if you have a piece of his hair. If you have only a picture of him, you may need several orders of magnitude more energy to kill him, and if you know only his name, several more. The very simplest thaumaturgical effect is to move a larger object by moving a small piece of it. This can be a parlor trick, if done with floating balls or scarves, or it can be an act of violent war, if done with a multi-tonne boulder. The difference between the two spells lies only in the energy invested. The energy for Thaumaturgy comes from the natural world. Most practitioners use fire, as it is commonly available and easy to obtain, but other forms of heat, lightning, lava, motion, etc. can be used, depending on the amount required. Simple spells can even be performed using the heat from the caster's own body, though it is not unknown for young Thaumaturges to kill themselves by overdoing this process.

This need for energy makes Thaumaturgy simultaneously the most powerful and the least powerful Art, and both the most and least complicated to use. A Sorcerer, for example, is limited in his power by how much of his own life force he wishes to expend in a spell, but a Thaumaturge may simply build a bigger fire - quite an advantage! But without a prepared source of energy, the Thaumaturge is limited to what he can do with his body heat, and dare try only the very simplest of cantrips. Similarly, an Alchemist can simply drink a potion to gain an effect, but a Thaumaturge may need to take an hour to prepare a roaring fire to gain enough energy - or may take no time at all, if he has an existing forest fire to work with.

Given the simplicity of the basic principles of Thaumaturgy, why is it not used by everyone? The answer is twofold. First, there is a basic magical talent necessary. Few possess it, and fewer are trained to use it or channel the forces involved. The second qualification is knowledge of the chants and gestures needed to forge the spell link. Some say these are only a crutch to help the Thaumaturge concentrate while others claim they have intrinsic value, but they are necessary nonetheless. Naturally they (along with the practical knowledge of which materials work best for which properties) are passed from mentors to students and guarded jealously.

## Thaumaturgy and Society

Thaumaturges are craftsmen for hire. They are often hired by other craftsmen or farmers in order to speed up the process of crafting. For example, making a larger product by working on a smaller one, or caring for a whole field by tending to only a small portion.