Leik-Magic

Leik-Technology, or Leik-magic as it was more commonly known as in Dorralia, is an umbrella term for all magical effects created by the Thaumaturges of the city, which were powered by Leik-crystals.

Brief History

Even before Dorralias founding, the strange crystals found in the cliffs around the city had been known to sages and philosophers, though at the time the crystals were only known as a novelty item, which can, when wet glow for a while before fading. It was only when the first permanent military camp was settled at Dorralias later location by Dorralia Golrok and Circalion that the true potential and secret of the craft was uncovered. The magewrights and battlemages of the first Dorralian battalion discovered the source of the Leiks magical properties in the union of lightning and crystal and soon after combined the often overlooked rune-magic with this new power source. The first iteration of Leik-magic was born.

Utility

Leik crystals unique property is that they can capture the power of lightning. The power is stored inside the crystal at a suprisingly high energy density. Normally it stays there in perpetuity, but if it is given an outlet, the power drains from the crystal. The natural version of this outlet is water. A Leik-crystal that is wet emits a light blue light until either the water has evaporated or the crystal has emptied its reserves.
If the Leik-crystal instead gets in contact with pure copper or silver, it transforms its power into electrical energy, which flows through the metal. As it does so, the metal heats up.
On its own, escaping energy is of little use except for illumination or heating. This is where the second part of the equation, Runes, comes into play. Runescribing, is a field of magic with little use, as the guiding ability of the runes is just a more complicated form of achieving similar effects with normal spells. The far bigger problem with Runescribing is however, that it is by design very inefficient in its use of power. Often a runic spell requires five to ten times the effort of a different magic school.
But if, if, one had a vast ocean of disposable magical energy, say the power of a storm, Runescribing suddenly becomes very interesting. By combining the release of Leik-stored energy via copper and the intricate carving, writing or smithing of runes into artifacts, magic becomes tameable and more importantly accessible even to races which lack the magical talent of humans.

Common uses

Apart from the already mentioned uses of Light and Heat, Leik most commonly assists Dorralias wealthier parts in day to day things. Leik-Magic can decrease or increase the weight of items, it can repel things moving towards it, and it can achieve illusory feats, such as hiding unsightly features of ones appearance.

Image source: Leikcrystal by Ninodonlord (via Midjourney)

Parent Technologies

• Coppercraft
• Runescribing

Inventor(s)

Original Discovery by Obanion the Wise in 1796 BF
First working Leik-Tool built by Rabhakar Mirewright in 67 FE

Access & Availability

Minor Leik-Magic was used ubiquitous at Dorralias height, but was somewhat gated by wealth. Who could afford it used Leik for heating, light and minor comforts.

Complexity

The use of Leik-magic is easy. Once you complete the runepath, the effect begins. To make new Leik-tools is however very complicated and requires mastery of runes as well as the availability of and ability to process copper.

Discovery

First leik crystals were known long before Dorralia, but only after the founding of the settlement was the true source of the magic discovered and its use tamed.

Related Species

• Circaliadae
• Second Dwarf Generation

Combat

While Leik-Magic can in theory replicate any spell or magic effect by humans, this option is limited in two ways: First, human mage-knowledge is not commonly available to Dorralian scholars, secondly, the making and sale of dangerous magic is heavily restricted and closely guarded.
There have been attempts at using Leiks other abilities in combat, of which only one saw widespread use. The majority of weaponization attempts struggled with making a tool that was usable but at the same time not an achilles heel to the user. The one successful combat applications were the Guard-belts used by the Dorralian Wings, the city guard. These belts were used to decrease the density (and therefore weight) of the dwarven guards, so that they could be quickly carried to where help was needed by the elven guards (the Circaliadae).

Misuse

In the later years of Dorralia, the previously so jealously guarded secrets of Dorralian Leik-magic became leaky and criminal elements learned to use the magic for their own ends. Eventually, every mob boss with a lot of coin to spare had at least one quick-dagger, or leik-shield in their possession.

Magic made by Hands (via Midjourney)

Manufacturing

The only issue with this seemingly perfect form of magitech is the high barrier of entry in terms of knowledge. It takes a proficient mage or thaumaturg to properly handle a volatile thing like a charged Leik-crystal and it takes a group of trained Runescribes to properly weave the runepaths to achieve a magical effect.
And that is just for known effects and already found combinations. Only the truly daring or genius will try to discover new forms of runic magic pushing the boundaries of what Leik can do.

Social Impact

The ubiquitous use of Leik in Dorralia, with more and more accessible tools becoming reality, transformed Dorralia from just another settlement of nonhumans to a high civilization of species, which normally struggle with harnessing magic. Society saw and continues to see improvements, which would take centuries to millennia to achieve otherwise.