Magic

Magic is usually categorized as one of the sciences. It involves the displacement of the caster's energy into a rune with a designated purpose.

## Power Sources

Magic comes from bonds generated by organic life, and specifically the breaking of them. These bonds exist within the caster—casting makes actual physical demands of a mage. They must eat well in order to cast well. Mages are trained to draw on caloric intake because it can be replenished, rather than burning other physical resources, like their own body mass. Untrained mages are more likely to consume themselves, without instruction or practice on maintaining their wellbeing while casting.

### Magical Signatures

Because a caster expends from within to do magic, the magic force is specific to individuals, like DNA. Spells leave a signature, totally unique to that mage and readable by mages who learn the skill.

## Runes

Magical energy is accessed by the mage, drawing on energy from within, and directed through the inscription of runes. Runes are developed through the University, carefully researched and tested, and taught secretively only to students. Most mages carry charcoal to assist in drawing runes when no other implement is available.

### Rune Activation

To cast, a mage draws the appropriate rune/runes, then channels the requisite energy through touch. This is referred to as *rune activation,* *runic activation,* or just *activation*. Most effects are immediately visual. Items affected by magic will briefly shimmer/flinch when the spell is cast, then appear normal.

### Types of Runes

Runes are categorized by specific applications. There is a wide range within the categories; i.e. warding can range from small spells designed to boil a pot of water, to larger protective spells cast over entire buildings, banning individuals or groups of people or serving as an alarm. The primary categories, as determined by the College of Magic, are:

* Warding (keeping things away).
* Summoning (bringing things near).
* Synthesis (creating things from scratch).
* Explication (deconstructing or destroying things).
* Transmutation (modifying things that exist).

### Creation of Runes

While some runes have existed for millennia, new runes for more sophisticated applications can be created through research and testing. A rune can be as simple as a couple of lines and as complex as a microchip. The more complex the rune, the more specific its application, and the more predictable it is.

Rune creation is a painstaking and dangerous process best practiced in controlled environments by experts. The research and development of runes occurs in only one place in the world: the College of Magic. The bulk of this work occurs at the East Campus research annex, though some faculty may also work on rune creation. Through the research annex, runes have been developed to benefit the infrastructure of the Straye, speed technological processes, and fight disease.

## Runic Aspects

Runic aspects are naturally occurring runes with innate energy sources. Examples might include geographical formations, birthmarks, palm lines, patterns on animals, or particularly formed foliage. The College of Magic's location was chosen based on the runic aspect of the exposed bedrock formations in the area.

### Possessing a Runic Aspect

Individuals with runic aspects are one of the least understood areas of magic. This is in part because many people don't even realize they're in possession of an aspect: they have never questioned why they are particularly skilled at climbing (a transmutative birthmark affecting muscle mass in the legs), or why they fear the ocean (a warding aspect formed by a cluster of moles).

There are also individuals who know exactly what they are capable of, and may not be able to hide it. More intense examples of runic aspects include the ability to clip through some solid objects, abnormally sharp senses, and mild pyrokinesis. If an individual is discovered to have a powerful runic aspect at a young age, they will be treated much like other magically apt children, even if they don't have aptitude outside their aspect. This may mean a private education or admittance to a Foundry. If an aspect is deemed safe enough not to be regulated, the individual will simply be entered into a registry for runic aspects (ostensibly for research purposes, more secretly as a matter of liability) and required to sign non-usage paperwork.

## Legal Implications

As a matter of record, it is illegal for untrained individuals to draw and/or activate runes. But smaller applications of magic are a part of everyday life, as long as they aren't considered a public safety risk.

Unauthorized magic use, even if only suspected, is grounds for search, seizure, and detention by the government. These incidents are few and far between, as the punishment for serious or repeat offenders is exile to the Colony.

## Magic Use in the Private Sector

The medical system, especially pharmaceuticals, is dependent on magic for many treatments and in keeping mortality rates low. Some products are available with active runes, like those used as contraception. There is also an underground market for books like *A Hundred Runes For A Cleaner Home*, etc. These runes are not considered dangerous enough to be regulated, and some are fabrications, peddling fake runes.

Larger companies have increasingly made sophisticated runes a part of their manufacturing processes. This is legal but highly regulated, and these runes must be commissioned from the University.