Lintcasters — The Unsettling Gnomish Mages

In what has seemingly become a tradition for WorldEmber, I have written an unhinged article about the gnomes of Fyria. And as is also common, this article was inspired by my wonderful partner Cassandra, who helps me come up with almost all of my unhinged gnome ideas and is the inspiration for all gnomes in the The Gnomish Lands.

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A Strange Magic

As is common with the Gnomish people, even their mages are unique, high-energy, and viewed as odd by outsiders. In this case, it is almost understandable why outsiders give Lintcasters the side eye when they infrequently travel the wider world. This is almost assuredly because, Lintcasters use their own and others, naturally sourced, bellybutton lint as a magical medium to cast their spells and conduct their rituals.
Plucking their procured lint from their own bellybutton, or specially made lint collectors and pouches, with a quick twist of their pinkies, or with a gently pinch between two fingers, Lintcasters use this delicate matter much like any other mage would use a wand, staff, or other magical focus or material. Focusing their spells with its naturally imbued powers this lint is an invaluable part of the job for a Lintcaster. In fact, one cannot be a Lintcaster without ample amounts of naturally sourced lint.
What that means is a mystery to many, even amongst non-mage gnomes. Lintcasters are almost sommelier levels of lint experts, they know which hunks are usable or not, which ones are passable, and which ones are purely exquisite. Watching a Lintcaster review acquired lint is a revelation for a gnomish audience and an absolute horror show for a traditional human mage — who will likely view these grading sessions as an unsettling display of lint fetishism. But what do they know?
In order for the lint to be used as a magical material or spell focus, it must spend time within the Lintcaster's bellybutton, this is so that it can be imbued with ample magical power. No one is certain how this works exactly, but the longer the lint stays within the gnome's belly button the more powerfully imbued it becomes.
This becomes a balancing act for a Lintcaster as there is only so much room in one's belly button — only a few hunks of lint stay within and are saved up for only the most special occasions and most powerful spells. Most lint stays within the belly button for a few hours or days and is then carefully removed and placed within a lint collector's pouch for later use. Though the gnome Lintcaster may occasionally return to the lint to their bellybutton so that they can freshen up its magical powers before use.

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Common Spells of the Lintcaster

All spells cast by a Lintcaster gnome have a distinct and unique casting process, material requirement, and ultimate effect. Again, with Lintcasters everything is unique and often weird to those who do not understand the culture of the gnomes. And their spells are much the same. Each spell must use a specific kind of lint, plucked from a gnome's belly button or their lint pouch, often procured from the gnome themself, or from finding it within their natural environment. In fact, many of the Lintcaster's spells require the lint to be of a specific source, as is noted in the spell descriptions below.

Animals Tongue

When a mage, or the subject of this spell wishes to speak with an animal they must first decide upon which kind of animal, as this spell only works on one kind of animal at a time. So, if they wish to speak with a squirrel, that must be kept in mind first. This is because in order to cast this spell, the lint, which is used for the material component of the spell must derive from a squirrel.
The lint during the spell’s casting, must be rolled between the fingers during a quiet murmuring, usually an approximation of the gnome’s recollection or guess at what the language of the animal may sound like. Then upon completion, the mage or the subject must consume the lint ensuring it is placed upon the tongue first. When the spell activates, the tongue of the subject will transform into a visual representation of the animal in which they can now communicate. A side effect is that the subject may have trouble speaking their native language if the physical properties of the new animal differ greatly from their own.

Light Fire

One of the smaller scale spells for a Lintcaster, this spell simply produces a small puff of fire emanating from the fingertips of the caster. Often used to light the fires of stoves and ovens in a pinch. For a Lintcaster, it is one of the first spells they learn to produce.
For them, it is as simple as looping a small bunch of lint, often mixed with some sulphur for added effect, around the index finger and snapping while announcing loudly the words of incantation. Different lint will produce slightly different colours, smells, and sounds but any lint will do for this particular spell.

Tumbleweed

A stranger spell in the repertoire of some Lintcasters, this spell allows the user to hurl an enlarged tumbleweed at several victims, snatching them up and binding them in its dried vines as it tumbles about. This spell has been used to great effect gathering up the drunken bodies of gnomes after an all-night bender.
In order to activate this spell, a Lintcaster must retrieve a generous globe of lint, likely collected over several harvests, and leave it out in the sun until it is nice and dried out. Then when casting the spell and tumbling out the magic words in a hurry, the gnome crushes the dried lint and tosses it towards its area in a swift bowling motion.

Party Lights

A very common party trick used by the Lintcaster, this is almost always the second spell a Lintcaster learns after a spell like Light Fire. This spell, when cast, spreads colourful bright lights overhead in a twinkling array of wonder. The effect can last from a few minutes to many hours, it always livens up a party and is a must if a Lintcaster is in attendance.
The spell is a simple one, any lint will do, however, the lint must be mixed with glitter or some form of glittery small object. As long as it twinkles and is colourful it will work wonders. When the spell is cast the Lintcaster must loudly sing out the words of enchantment and toss the glittered lint up in the air towards its intended area of effect. The lint will burst into the desired coloured light effect to the wonder of all in attendance.

Cleanse Stomach

A very useful and prominently cast spell for the party hard gnomes of the Gnomish Lands and Bellbrook, this spell enables the caster to purify any toxicity from the subject's stomach. A handy ability for when consumption of treats and alcohol hits its inevitable zenith and things like food or alcohol poisoning occur. However, many gnomes are still hesitant to be the recipient of this spell as its casting is rather gross even for the usual not so squeamish gnomes.
The caster must procure a rather hefty piece of lint, one that has spent some time in the belly button of a once-sick gnome, whether that be the caster or someone else. This lint must then be soaked in a high-alcohol solution, moonshine works best, and then stored in the caster's belly button for at least a week or at least until fully dried. Then upon casting, the Lintcaster must scream the words of enchanting while shoving the lint ball into the subject's mouth. The subject must swallow the lint ball whole for the cleansing to be effective. If cast correctly, the gnome will be right as rain in mere moments, and any buzz they may have experienced will stay intact, as a bonus.

Extra Organ

Another rather useful spell for a variety of reasons for both the Lintcaster and their fellow gnomes and friends. This spell allows for the subject to grow an additional organ of their choice for a few hours, or even up to a day depending on the power of the lint used. The organ, often things like an extra stomach, liver, or lung, allows the gnome to withstand additional strain upon their body allowing them to eat more, drink more, or even consume various toxins or poisons in special circumstances. The caster can even create an organ not normally found in a gnome or humanoid creature like a venom gland from a snake, or the skin of a toxic frog. However, these latter organs require rarer materials.
To cast this spell the Lintcaster must first collect the appropriate lint, for a gnomish organ, they must collect lint from a gnome, which is simple enough. Afterwards, the caster must soak the lint in a cup of wine, beet juice, or other red fluid then the lint must be placed within the belly button, still wet, and kept there for at least a fortnight remoistening when needed as the lint must remain moist. Then when ready for casting, the words must be slurred when spoken and much like with Cleanse Stomach and Animal Tongue spells, the lint must be consumed by the subject along with a swig of whatever the lint was soaked in. For anything more exotic, the lint must be retrieved from the species in which the organ is to mimic.

Candy Coating

A particularly popular spell with the Lintcaster, especially those that dabble in the confectionery business. It allows the gnome caster to magically coat any surface, or multiple objects, instantly, in a brightly coloured and shiny layer of delicious candy coating. Often used to coat dozens of bites of fruit, or various food items in a candy coating in a blink of an eye. It is often used as a late-night party trick as well, coating the floor, walls, and furniture in candy coating. However, this latter use always ends up a bit messy during the eventual need to clean up.
This spell is a fairly simple one for the Lintcaster, they must procure a small amount of lint balls, usually between four and six in total. The origin of the lint doesn't matter, though it will alter the taste and colour somewhat depending on its source. Once collected, and after a few hours of time spent in the Lintcaster's belly button, the lint balls must be coated in sugar and left to dry somewhat. Then when the words of incantation are spoken, they must be rhymed lyrically while the dried sugar-coated lint balls are crushed up and sprinkled over their intended target. If done correctly the object will instantly become coated in a sweet layer of coloured sugar.

Summary

A type of mage that exists only within the Gnomish culture of the Gnomish Lands and Bellbrook. These bizarre mages use lint, commonly stored in their belly buttons, as a conduit to cast their particular brand of spells.
Lintcasters store their lint in their belly buttons and in special patchwork pouches. They believe that the former helps infuse magic better into the lint. When they require it, they fish it out, usually with a pinky or with a delicate pinch between two fingers. Then, as they roll it in between their fingers, they whisper, chant, or yell out the words of magic required to activate whatever spell they are looking to cast.
Lintcaster's spells range in variety but often come with a surprising twist or bizarre caveat that upholds the Gnomish tradition of being weirdos.

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Locally Respected — Outsider Disgust

Lintcasters are highly respected and lauded within the Gnomish Lands, and are often the focus of many events in Gnomish culture's unending array of festivals. Outside of the Gnomish Lands, however, they are viewed with disgust and are often not taken seriously. Usually treated as a joke or somehow lesser than by traditional western coast mages.

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Typical Attire and Tools

The Lintcaster are eccentric, and their attire and tools often reflect this. These gnomes wear clothing that reflects their love of and appreciation of lint and its importance in their craft. They can often be seen wearing colourful patchwork robes, cloaks, and various other clothing made of an assortment of cloth and materials often studded with clinging balls of lint with which they can cast spells. The only must for a Lintcaster's attire is that belly button access must be easy and quick, as the lint for their most powerful spells is stored there.
The tools of trade for a Lintcaster are also of great importance to these mages. Likely the most iconic and common of such is the Lint Roller Staff, a large staff that resembles a household lint roller, though much larger and often magically embued. This staff has the ability to roll over almost any object and quickly collect any such lint that may be adhered to its surface. The gnome Lintcaster can then easily remove this collected lint and store it either in a specially crafted lint satchel, or cram it into their belly button so as it infuse it with the essentially magics of the Lintcaster.

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Clerical Sibling

Rarer than the Lintcaster Mage is the Lintcaster Cleric, a religious offshoot of this bizarre style of magic where the cleric in question uses the lint as a symbol of faith to channel the power of their deity into them and then out into the world.
Lintcaster Clerics are more of a rarity, however, as the gnomes aren’t focused enough to be a part of any sort of organized religion. So, these clerics are often self-practitioners not a part of any sort of established church. Regardless of this, these Lintcaster Clerics are welcomed in all gnomish communities and celebrated just as much as any mage, tradesman, or average gnome.

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