Vericraft (VAIR-ih-craft)

Chardovil    World    Magic & Science    Magic      Vericraft

"I do not believe the soldier realized I was there, as the sword he wielded already dripped with flame whilst he carved through enemies. But, vastly outnumbered, the fire turned bright biolet and glowed so hot and bright I had to back away. Surely it was Vericraft that created such a powerful weapon.

— Shifting Reality: Observations of Vericraft

Vericraft is poorly understood across Chardovil, despite scholars' best attempts to amend and expand their existing knowledge. Master Thaumaturges seldom entertain academic questions regarding their craft, its powers, limits, and risks, so concrete evidence is sparse and scholars rely heavily on real-world observations.

Overview

What is Vericraft?

Scholars theorize that Vericraft is a type of Transmutation magic, though there is much internal debate about whether it falls into one of the eight existing schools of magic or is its own, ninth school. The name "Vericraft" stems from the root ver- meaning "true" or "truth", named for its practitioners demonstrating remarkable control over themselves and the world around them, manipulating reality seemingly on a whim.

Identifying Vericraft

Confirmed observations of Vericraft are few and far between, with many contradictions among them. However, a common belief is that Vericraft manifests as an almost blindingly bright violet color of magic with small magenta flecks or streaks. Different studies supposedly documenting Vericraft observations have disagreed, with some saying the violet color is not Vericraft, but magic from the Shadow Plane. Still others have argued the two are one and the same.

Powers and Dangers

By far the most commonly accepted powers of Vericraft are at-will material manipulation, such as with telekinesis or by changing the state of matter. Thaumaturges have allegedly flash-frozen an entire lake in the middle of summer, or turning a soldier's armor against them by melting the steel.

Demonym
Thaumaturge
Power
5+ - Theoretically Infinite
Risk to Self
5 - Critical Risk to Self
Risk to Others
5 - Critical Risk to Others
Low Risk Trifectas
Voidwalker, Lucidic, Zombie
High Risk Trifectas
Soul-Slivered, Severed, Heart
Known Thaumaturges
Nadyra Yvrey
Ifaris
Jeweled Star
Suspected Thaumaturges
Caeda Yvrey - Denied Accusations

Vericraft Masters
While theories and speculation abound about Master Thaumaturges, the only documented Masters are Voidwalkers, though none have agreed to discuss their magic or how their Broken Trifecta may aid or hinder their craft.

Example Spells

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Change Matter (Cantrip)
Sense Emotion (1st level)
False Life (1st level)
Arcane Lock (2nd level)
Shadow Blade (2nd level)
Life Transference (3rd level)
Phantom Steed (3rd level)

Risk

Vericraft's varied and extensive power comes with an assortment of risks, some relatively minor, others potentially catastrophic. This is largely due to Vericraft's innate instability and connection to the wielder's emotions.

Avoiding Risk

Minimizing risk— especially to innocent bystanders and the enviroment— requires perfect emotional control. Vericraft has shown to draw from the emotional state of the Thaumatuge wielding it, amplifying itself accordingly. Therefore, a Thaumaturge may be attempting to freeze a glass of water, but if they are upset, they made freeze an entire city block instead.

The emotional element to Vericraft has many scholars speculating that the magic draws upon the Soul, specifically as a source of its power.

Perfect Control
This emotional element to Vericraft makes it particularly well-suited to Voidwalkers, whose Broken Trifectas result in dampened or eliminated emotions and thus, the least likely to lose control of their magic.

He stretches and winces, sighing as he traces his finger over the wound in his chest, sealing shut with a violet glimmer as he goes.

Best-Case Scenario

When Vericraft goes wrong, it is just as likely to become local or national news as it is to go unnoticed.

Minor consequences to losing control of Vericraft include:

• Minor injury to the wielder or bystanders
• Temporary and localized environmental damage
• A random string of bad luck to someone across the world

Worst-Case Scenario

Mercifully for Chardovil and its inhabitants, a true "Worst Case Scenario" with Vericraft has never occurred within memory.

Theoretical catastrophes Vericraft could cause include:

• Damage to an entire population's Trifecta
• Regional climate disaster
• Mass extinction of all sentient life on Chardovil

Vericraft Regulations

While no nation in Chardovil has strictly outlawed the use of Vericraft by its citizens, many organizations, schools, and governments have set their own restrictions on its use.

Governments

No government in Chardovil presently outlaws the use of Vericraft among its citizens, but many— such as Vochal, Albein, Altraxia, and Cinem— keeps lists of known and suspected Thaumaturges. Some go so far as to visit suspected Thaumaturges in their homes and either heavily interrogate them or temporarily incarcerate them until their investigation is complete.

Soul Brands
Rumors abound about Vochal using Soul Magic to Mark any known Thaumaturge they locate, as a means of ensuring absolute obedience to the regime.

Schools & Academia

Within educational and academic institutions, Vericraft in all its forms is typically banned in its entirely. Schools that train students in various disciplines of magic seldom offer instruction on Vericraft, among other "dangerous" types of magic, such as Soul Magic, Shadow Magic, and Divine Magic.

Secret Studies
Should a curious student know where to look and who to ask, they may encounter private academies where Vericraft is taught— and potentially even praised as a gift from the Gods themselves.

Guilds & Organizations

Few guilds carry strong opinions of Vericraft and its use— many wouldn't know it when they saw it— so long as it doesn't interfere with their work. However, the two largest black-market organizations— the Infernal Eye Network and Veiled Voice— use Vericraft as a means of controlling its members.

Trapped in Lightning
The Infernal Eye's leadership has been accused of "gifting" its promising Initiates the powers of Vericraft, knowing they will be forced to become Voidwalkers in order to maintain control of the dangerous magic.

Reward

With Vericraft's immense risk, why would anyone ever seek to practice it? Simple: its power— and the hubris of most believing they can attain such power— is infinite.

Acquiring Vericraft

Vericraft, while occuring naturally in Chardovil's physical plane, doesn't naturally occur within its people. There are zero natural-born Thaumaturges, and as such, only Master Thaumaturges can give the power to others. Finding a true Master is a feat on its own, with organizations such as the Infernal Eye Network using this quirk of Vericraft to lure more potential recruits. Most will never attain the magic they sorely desired, but find that leaving the Network is not an option either.

Some extraplanar creatures are capable of bestowing Vericraft upon their loyal servants as well. The Infernal Eye, for whom the Infernal Eye Network is named, is believed by its most devoted followers to be the source of all Vericraft. Subjects of the One in White are also Thaumaturges, albeit comparatively weak ones.

Impossible Bar
The bar to "master" Vericraft is unattainable for the vast majority of the population, but grifters and swindlers would exploit others' hubris and hope all the same.

Suspected Masters

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Nadyra Yvrey
Ifaris
Infernal Eye
The One in White

Novice Powers

Some of the first powers a new Thaumaturge will be able to use are:

• Changing the state of matter
• Sensing emotions within range
• At-will telekinesis

Exponential Difficulty
It's important to note that most Thaumaturges will never grow their power beyond a Novice, as the difficulty of Vericraft increases exponentially, along with its power.

Experienced Powers

Finer control over Vericraft allows Thaumaturges to:

• Create magical weapons and armor for immediate use
• Teleport to a mark left on a surface, regardless of distance
• Magically lock objects, rooms, and even pocket dimensions
• Comprehend any and all spoken language, including code

Master Powers

Finally, once someone has mastered their Vericraft, and by extension themselves, they have access to theoretically-limitless power over reality itself, including bestowing Vericraft upon another.

Lifetime Commitment
Mastering Vericraft requires a lifetime commitment to superhuman levels of discipline, practice, and control. Due to the immense risk a lapse of control poses, most Masters are reclusive.