The Magic of Ancient Mia Symbology
This magic functions by etching one or a series of the Mia symbols while reciting their true names. The caster then serves as a conduit for Mia (mystic energy) which empowers the symbol causing a reaction. The results can be varied from a simple result like lighting an area to harnessing a powerful force like fire or ice. Of course this depends on the ability of the caster to serve as a conduit in ‘charging’ the symbol. Especially in the case of a series of symbols the caster must concentrate more fully and have a high level of PME at his/her disposal. To be able to maintain and control the force the symbol(s) release the caster must also have a very fine tuned and durable level of mental control (ME) or the power will quickly fizzle out, alternatively in the worse case scenario will spiral out of control. Therefore the caster must use a level of caution when attempting to call forth powers far beyond their abilities.
As the process of charging symbols is very taxing the caster also exhausts his/her own PME when activating a symbol. Additionally, the symbols are an area effect type of magic further requiring the caster’s direct contact to maintain a powered status. However, once the caster has exhausted his/her PME or is no longer in contact with the symbol, the symbol(s) may still retain a level of power. Depending on the case and the power of the caster a symbol could potentially stay empowered for up to years after loosing contact while it slowly powers down.
Because of the structure of the magic the types of reactions produced by the symbols can be quite varied, for instance certain symbols can have the results of granting the caster a new skill or access to ancient knowledge. In the example of this character, Ouseyi, he used the symbol for communication to empower himself to quickly learn the basics of Common Speech. Furthermore, with added concentration and expense of PME he will be able to more rapidly improve this skill. The idea behind this is that the symbols actually contain within them knowledge, like a library of some sort activated by magic energies. This is the more peaceful side of the magic. Depending on the situation and the ability/wisdom of the caster any number of magic abilities could be tapped into such as elemental, summoning, healing, sealing, combat, etc. The largest restriction is the ability of the caster to concentrate on his task at hand. Empowering more than one combination of symbols at one time is impossible and would only cause the qualities of two symbols to fuse together. Additionally, as said before the possibility of the uses of the symbols are somewhat endless and depend most directly on the caster and his/her characteristics. In the case of Ouseyi, his knowledge of the symbols and their powers as expressed by his skill, 4, meaning more than half the time he will be unaware of symbol itself or certain potential meanings and abilities. The skill primarily represents his ability to activate a new symbol or combination of symbols. This includes his ability to control the symbol(s) towards his desired purposes. PME is used exponentially here expressing the difficulty of first mastering the activation process of a symbol(s). For instance for the first time activating the communication symbol Di, the PME cost is 25, five times the normal cost making the discovery and attempts at new symbols and abilities a taxing and difficult process. Furthermore, each symbol has a different PME cost, depending on its power and intensity (this can be determined in play depending on the situation and ideas behind the uses of symbols). Finally, combination of symbols can have even further extra costs on PME because of the added intensity of activating multiple symbols at once.
Once successfully activated a symbol should be relatively easy to activate again and therefore should not need repeat rolls against the Ancient Mia symbol skill.
Ouseyi has in his possession a scroll of Mia which had embedded in it the knowledge and powers of each symbol. He is still mostly unaware of many of these symbols and the potentials they hold as the Madi currently in Mia serve basically as passive receptors of the mystic energy Mia, instead of active users of this magic. Slowly through trial and error, but mostly through experiences in the journey Ouseyi will hopefully unlock many of the secrets from the scroll.
As a side note, it might be helpful to understand that the language used in Mia today, the language Ouseyi speaks, reads, and writes fluently, is still distantly connected to the Ancient Mia symbols thus allowing him to make certain inferences from these letters and their meanings. This might be interesting especially because the potential for surprising mistakes. Another potential interesting folly is the fact that the magic must have sources to draw energy from like nature or some mystic site or something. If Ouseyi, found himself in a place void of a good signal (using the terminology of modern cellphone use) like a dungeon or something he might not be able to draw enough power to activate a higher level symbol.
In conclusion, I think it is also needed to be said that there is obviously a limit to the amount of power and abilities this type of magic can create. I do not mean to infer that just by writing one symbol in the dirt that my character can then learn any language on the planet in a few hours. There is and must be limits to the range of possibilities in this magic. Although it encompasses what I imagine to be a grand and deep ancient history and knowledge of magicks and civilizations long past as well as the Mia’s own unique culture, I think it would also be very interesting to have moments where the magic is actually outdated to some extent in the changing and vibrant new world of contemporary Landabore. I view this magic as providing some great insight and powerful help in a variety of circumstances, but also look forward to instances when with a great swing of his staff in anticipation of a mighty spell being cast, Ouseyi suddenly finds himself in a big cloud of fizzled vapor and that dragon just keeps coming. A blend of potential supreme strength tied moments of ridiculous failure. Good to keep us on our toes in gameplay. |
