Contractual Binding

Summary

A particular form of magic, intersecting deliberate design with focused attention. Contractual Binding(s), or contract magic in common vernacular, is utilized to create powerful agreements between entities of varying description and natures. While this understanding is well-known across the world, the particulars of Contractual Bindings are as varied as the colors and stars in the sky. There are four specific components, however, that form the skeleton:

• Participants involved in the contract.
• Details of the accord.
• Consequences of breaking or violating the agreement.
• Magical spells, enchantments, or other binding forces upon the participants.

Additional details can be appended as needed by the participants. Most tend to become represented by physical objects (paper, scrolls, stone slates, etc) as a proof-of-record, as well as centralizing element for the appropriate magic. Some exotic contracts may take the form of a singular object (e.g, a ring, necklace, or other personal affect).
They are by their nature expensive and difficult, so Contractual Bindings are not utilized in day-to-day or other banal affairs. Their most common place is found in merchant business, noble circles, and affluent independents. In these realms, while normal contracts can suffice, the Contractual Bindings suffice for the highest degree of guarantee possible. This is made possible through the magical effects tied to the accord itself. In many cases, these serve the purpose of alerting the contract's participants of dishonesty, plotting, or actual violations. This can range from triggering when the actual breaking occurs, or if a decided "intent to break" manifests in a person's mind.
More severe effects are potentially possible, but the cost goes up astronomically. It is not possible, for example, to have a person burst into flames, or die outright from something, due to violating a contract. A source of power would be required, then a means of transmitting it, and finally the person being able to actually succumb to the effect. Capable mages can and often would deliberately provoke breaking contract magic, then simply shrug off the punishment.
Magical defenses and more could also suffice, making the market for such intent quite lucrative. Then, other details may also cause interference--the person is too far to receive the punishment, or the magic is not able to penetrate through kilometers upon kilometers of ground, trees, mountains, and so forth. As a consequence, attempts to use it as a method of bondage (e.g, slavery, forced servitude, etc) often failed because of exorbitant costs and underground markets facilitating 'safe breaks'.
Thus, by necessity and practicality, most contract magic simply acts as a monitor and informant device, which is notoriously difficult to deceive. While not foolproof, to go through such effort is often a canary in a coal mine situation in and of itself. The baarham are especially notable with their finesse and talents in this regard. With most of the species functioning as powerful mages, their contractual binding magic is the most detailed out of any other in the whole world. They're often at the throats of nebusian lawyers of Atenkhet. While not sung by bards far and wide, their legal battles are notoriously lengthy.