A House of Cards
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Patterning: A Patterned spell is one that has undergone the process of Patterning to make the spell’s pattern integral to that of the object on which it is vested. In essence, a Patterned spell becomes permanent, as long as the object it’s vested on remains intact. Thus, a Color spell Patterned on a Promise Stick to turn it red would no longer have a duration—instead, the stick would remain red indefinitely. However, if the stick is broken in half, the spell dissipates like normal, except that if the stick is reassembled (provided the two halves remain attuned), the Patterned spell manifests once again and the red color returns. Patterned Numeni still require Charges to take effect. Like Attunement spells, Patterning spells reside in the Category of Enchantment.
Phrendonic Heresy: Practicing Phrendonic magic, as outlined in the work Practical Phrendonics, was officially declared heresy by the Edict of Caprian in the year 887. Some related practices, such as demonology, had been deemed heretical long before that. Prior to 887, a number of canon scholars viewed Phrendonic practices as already subject to those previous edicts. To them, the Edict of Caprian was little more than a clarification of existing canon.
Profanity: This term is used by the Church to denote an object upon which a Phrendonic spell is vested. Since Phrendonic spells generally don’t last long unless they’ve been Patterned, it is usually presumed that a Profanity bears spells that have been Patterned.
Promise Stick: In its simplest form, a Promise Stick is a stick notched so that it may be easily snapped in two, usually to quickly break a spell without the bother of having to dispel it. In general, once a spell is vested on an object, at least 80 percent of the object must remain intact, or the spell is broken. Thus, if a Color spell is cast upon such a stick to turn it red, when the stick is broken, the spell is broken as well, and both pieces return to their normal color. However, if the stick is broken unevenly such that one piece retains at least 80 percent of its mass, the spell remains in effect on the larger piece, and dissipates from the smaller.
Reservoir: See Charge.
Sacrifice (Incinerate): Incinerate is a Summoning spell that instantaneously converts a Charge into light and heat in a radius around the targeted object. During the Caprian Inquisition, a number of Phrendonic Heretic prisoners used this spell to immolate themselves rather than endure torture that might induce them to betray their compatriots. Inquisitors who got too close were often injured or killed as well. The Church’s term for the practice, “Infernal Sacrifice,” gained traction at that time. Such a Sacrifice was an avenue of last resort for a heretic, usually attempted after having been bound and masked or blinded. By casting the Sacrifice on themselves, they obviated the general requirement for the caster to see a spell’s target to vest it. Since it’s a Numenus, the Incinerate additionally requires a Charge to take effect.
Slept: Term of art used by Phrendonic practitioners to indicate that someone under the influence of a Sleep spell.
Sorcel: Phrendonic term for spell, specifically, one that has not been Patterned and is therefore ephemeral.
Spell Radius: Radiant spells generally affect a 30-foot radius surrounding the targeted object. Skilled Phrendonic practitioners can modify radiant spells to have a smaller radius, but not a larger one. Spell Radius is to be distinguished from Casting Distance, which is generally line-of-sight up to a maximum of 150 feet.
Spells vested on persons vs. Spells vested on objects: Spells vested on people or animals behave differently in some particulars than they do when vested on inanimate objects. For example, the maximum duration of a spell on a person is approximately an hour, whereas on an object, a spell can last up to a day. The difference is thought to result from an interaction between the spell and the person’s soul.
Tag: A Phrendonic spell that creates a standard (though invisible) magical pattern, generally useful for interacting with other spells, such as Attractions or Repulsions. The term is also used to refer to spells that create non-standard patterns that are able thereby to avoid interaction with the standard spells.
Talis: Phrendonic term for a Patterned spell effect.
Vest/vesting: The nearly instantaneous process whereby the pattern of a spell spreads across the target object. Once initiated by casting, a spell spreads to encompass all solid material that is both attuned to and touching the point at which the vesting initiated. Thus, if one were to cast a Color spell on the blade of a knife to turn it red, the spell would initiate at a point targeted by the caster and spread until it encompassed everything that was attuned to the blade. If the handle had been in association with the blade long enough, they would be Attuned, the spell would vest on the handle, and the handle would turn red as well. If the blade and handle were only recently assembled and therefore not Attuned, the Color spell would vest on the blade only, and the handle would not be affected.
About the Author
Doug Bornemann was a jealous child. When his cousin Margaret got a two-octave toy organ that played real notes, he wanted one too. It took wheedling, but he was eventually successful. Proud of his achievement, he took his bright-red battery-powered Jaymar organ to his second-grade class for show and tell. Blue-haired Mrs. Mueller was so impressed by his enthusiasm for hammering out the melody to You’re a Grand Old Flag, she made it her mission to arrange piano lessons. Shamelessly exploiting his parents’ secret hopes that their child might actually be talented at something, she convinced them to devote a fraction of the meager monthly household income to renting a piano—a fine blond spinet with waterfall keys. For a music teacher, Mrs. Mueller recommended Marilyn, one of her former Brownies who had recently returned from college with shiny new degrees in math and music. Marilyn demonstrated prodigious talent with numerous instruments, including piano, though her specialty was the accordion. For 10 years, Marilyn stoically endured Doug’s keyboard antics and even managed to instill some musical wisdom—as well as an appreciation for classical music that still baffles his long-suffering wife. Marilyn’s brilliance in math and business whisked her away to strategic corporate jobs in Michigan and, eventually, Southern California. Many years later, when Doug’s academic pursuits took him to UC Irvine—only a few miles away from Marilyn’s California home—they renewed their acquaintance. During that time, Doug took up writing as a hobby. By serendipitous accident, he emailed Marilyn an early copy of his first work-in-progress, and she has been an unflagging advocate for his writing ever since. In 2020, they will celebrate the 50th anniversary of their friendship. In a way, she’s still stoically enduring his keyboard antics, and Doug couldn’t be more grateful. Caring teachers really do change lives.
Also by Douglas J. Bornemann:
The Demon of Histlewick Downs (Book 1 of the Dreamweaver Chronicles). This stand-alone novel explores historic events that set the stage for the rest of the Heiromancer Trilogy.
The Heiromancer Trilogy:
Practical Phrendonics
A House of Cards
The Hanged Man’s Gambit—coming soon
Website: dougbornemann.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/djbornemann/
Twitter @DougBornemann