Talismans

Talismans are objects made of various material, mainly metals, gems and stones. They are created using the principles of Magicalurgy and are used as a way to modify the abilities of Mages, both soulmages and Elemental mages.

Complexity

Talismans can be divided into three types, based on the effects that they induce to the mages wearing them. A single talisman can have multiple effects, depending on the wearer. Likewise someone who wears multiple talismans at once that give off the same effect won't see much of a difference after the third one. Wearing 2 or more talisman which have different effects may result in those effects suppressing each other if they are opposits or otherwise incompatible.
-Enhancers
These Talisman are able to amplifie the reach and strenght of a mage's ability as well as help maintain a good level of stamina by letting them use their ablities more efficiently. This is the most diverse type of Talisman and the type with the most complex talisman created.
-Inhibitors
Limits the capacity of the mage to perform their abilities, while also not completly suppressing them. This generaly results in the mages's ability having far less reach and strenght. Strong Inhibitors can act as Suppresors for weaker mages.
-Suppressors
Completly prevents the mages from performing their abilities. If a mage tries to do so, it may lead to injury and/or the destruction of the Talisman, altough only a mage with a exceptional talent may be able to overcome the effects of a strong Talisman.

Manufacturing

The creation and manufacturing of a Talisman depends on two factors: Wether it is intended for a Elemental or Soulbound Mage and what the intended effect of the talisman is, different materials will be used. The materials used to craft those talismans will be decided upon based on the concept of Magicalurgy.

Manufacturing process

Skilled artisans are required to craft these items. It is usualy a multi-generational buisiness for them, with the knowledge on how to make them being passed down from parent to child, just like other professions, like blacksmithing and glassworks. Many of those families and Metal mages, which is usualy why and how they started their buisiness, sometimes hundreds of years ago. Their ability to control and manipulate all metals at will helps them a great deal when crafting Talismans, as many of them are primarily made out of metal. However, some of them hardly have any metal in them, and many other talisman made of metal still require non-metal components, such as gemstones and crystals. This means that part of the work often has to be outsourced, usualy to jewelers, who can regular humans or Stonemages. This interaction between humans and mages doesn't create tension, as it is a mutualy beneficial buisiness. Families of jewelers and talisman makers both tend to know each other well, having worked together for many successive generations.

Shapes and materials

Most talismans are quite expensive. However, depending on how common the material they are made of is, as well as its size and shape, prices can vary drasticaly. This is why metal rings, made of iron, silver or lead are worn quite regulary by less fortunate mages. These offer minimal effects due to their small size, so some mages opt to wear multiple of them, which is still cheaper than simply wearing another kind of talisman.
Metal cuffs, worn around the wrists or anckles, are also pretty common. They can be either enhancers or inhibitors, but generaly, the ones that go on the wrists are enhancers, which are usualy made of bronze. They can be worn singularily or as a pair and are the talisman of choice for most elemental mages, especialy those working manual labor or engaging in combat, like soldiers. Inhibitors can go on both the wrists and anckles and can be made of silver, iron or lead, though that last option is reserved only for really powerful mages.
Many different types of Talismans can be worn around the neck, such as Necklace and metal chains, both usualy adorned with a crystal or gemstone pendant. These are worn by richer folks and are usualy the most specialized type of Talisman. On the flipside, Colars, made of metal plates, usualy of steel or sterling silve alloys and bounded together by leather straps are put onto mage criminals to keep their abilities in check. These inhibitor are stronger than wrists inhibitors and are mostly used against Shapeshifters and other Soulmages, since they are generaly more dangerous and powerful than Elemental Mages
And finaly, the largest in size and most expensive type of talisman is the Gauntlet. These glove-like contraptions can be made of metal plates, lether or both, and be adorned with gemstone, crystals and even contain more than one metal in them, which is able to give many different effects to the mage wearing them. Gauntlets are rare, since it is very time and ressourse consuming to make. Nonetheless, even if it is extremely rare to see a mage wear one, they have a legendary reputation, much like the Cerabattan

Social Impact

Wearing an inhibitor talisman in a large city is quite common for a mage, and even expected of them, as it signal to the other residents of the city that they do not pose a treat and won't cause trouble. Some mages don't really mind wearing them, while others find it frustrating and even a bit humiliating. Depending on what type of mage someone is, wearing a enhancing Talisman can be viewed either positively or negatively.
For the mage themselves, wearing a talisman can also be a great source of pride as well as respect and admiration from other mages, as they are likely to know the value in them and the usual hard work the wearer probably went through to be able to afford one.
In smaller cities, were people are generaly poorer and more isolated, Talismans aren't very common at all, and wearing one can lead to suspition and worry by the residents, especialy if the mage in question is a stranger.
In some larger cities, mages wearing Enhancing talismans can be assumed to be Mercenaries by the population. That is because mercenaries are known to wear their talismans prominantly on and off mission, regardless of how the local residents feel about it.
The impact of Talismans on warfare is also important, as mages who aren't wearing a talisman don't really stand a chance against mages who do. Thus, an army containing a well equiped and trained mage batalion will naerly alway win the battle against an army who doesn't. The most famous example of this is the infamous Battle of Hoxan, that took place during the second age.

Access and Availability

In general, for independant mages, talismans made of cheap metal, such as copper, iron and lead are easier to find at a reasonable price, though still the most expensive item in a mage's tool set. Mages who are with a guild usualy are given one or are payed enough to buy one themselves. Talismans made of other, rarer metals, such as tin, gold and silver are much more expensive, not to mention that fewer are made, so finding one may be a challenge for any mage outside of large cities.
But by far, the rarest and most expensive kind of talismans are the ones that are crafted with gemstones, crystals and other rare items. These are out of reach for most mages, even to those working as mercenaries, because of two main reasons. One, the price is simply too high for themand two, because the materials nessessary to craft them are so rare, that the artisan or jewlerer may not have them at all. In these cases, it is not unheard of for mages to go fetch some of the rarer items themselves before giving them to the artisan so the latter is able to craft the talisman they wanted.
Bronze Talismans are the most widely available talisman available to Mages. Bronze isn't cheap, but this alloy is very versatile in their usability, since they work on both Soulbound Mages and Elemental Mages, which is very convenient and economical and thus are in great demand. For this reason, many Talisman makers are specialized in the crafting of those. In the armies of Arros and Enask, mages are nearly always equiped with bronze Talismans for the reasons mentioned above.
Iron and silver talismans are also quite common, and are used as Inhibitors. While iron talismans are some of the cheapest talisman available, they can only be used by Elemental mages, while Silver is used on Soulbound mages. Silver talismans are quite popular with soulbound mages in general, as they help them regulate their powerful abilities, but they are especialy appreciated by Shapeshfiters who seek to control their Ikshai and/or the influence of Veos. Shifters living in Shapeshifter Clans don't usualy have them, but the ones living amongst humans or other mages in larger settlements usualy have one. In some cases, they may be forced to wear one, so others feel safer.

Children Technologies

• Etherial Telepathy system

Utility
They are widely used against mage criminals to control their abilites and most often suppress them for long periods in jail or while on trial, if there's one. Also used by mages all over the world, both elemental and soulbound, and either as Mercenaries or as soldiers to help enhance the strengh of their abilities and their stamina.

Inventor(s)

No single person or culture can be credited with the discovery of Magicalurgy and the subsequent invention and use of Talismans as many different cultures from all over the world figured out both of these times very early on during the first age.

Related Species

• Elemental Mages
• Soulbound Mages