Adélaïde's research project

Table of Contents

Proposal for a research presentation at court on the occasion of the Chinese envoys' visit

Presentation title: Materials used in the tracing of runic designs for crafting warding amulets and their impact on the resulting properties of their wards.
Author: Mistress Adélaïde Jameux
Affiliation: University of Lille
Topic: Runic magic

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Graphical abstract

Abbreviation: Ag, Silver; Al, Aluminium; Au, Gold; C, Carbon; Co, Cobalt; Cr, Chromium; Cs, Cesium; Cu, Copper; Hg, Mercuy; Ir, Iridium; Ni, Nickel; Pb, Lead; W, Tungsten.

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Abstract

Background
Ward creation is the most fundamental application of runes-based magic. All ward masters alter metal composition of warding amulets to make them more versatile and powerful, which is to say able to withstand more powerful challenges to their integrity. However, beyond ward design, few attempts have been made in Europe to look at the impact of crafting conditions on the resulting wards.
Aim
Develop a manner to enhance the potency and properties of a warding amulet by only varying the conditions of its crafting.
Method
A simple three-circle runic design was traced around the crafting spot using different prime elements, and identical amulets were crafted. The magical absorption of the different amulets during their empowering was measured, then their strength was tested with a series of calibrated attacks from an energy-sending stick. All craftings were repeated during the quarters, half and full moons, and data from amulets crafted with same materials were pooled together for comparison.
Results and discussion
Over 5 years of experiments totalling 62 moon phases, and 310 nights, 300 combinations of the 49 purified metals known to date were tested for tracing the circles and 300 additional combinations were tested to make chalk for runes and geometry tracing.
This report details the best combinations identified to create warding amulet with the following properties: most powerful, quickest to form, longer lasting, forming with the least energy, maintained with the least energy, absorbing attacks, reflecting attacks, and making magic visible.
Conclusion
This study has demonstrated that the material used to trace crafting runic circles greatly impact the resulting amulets. A simple runic design was used to illustrate this point, however the effects are expected to be amplified with the level of complexity of the amulet being crafted. Further study into the impact of alloys and minerals is required.

Notes

Problem

The wards work only against a narrow field of magic frequency
--> because of the simple three-circle design, cannot be change without using a more complicated design
--> would require decades of work
Danger = when I'll say one amulet has the best shield, they'll want to test it
--> nobody will be impressed if they select a frequency attack outside its range and destroy it in one go.

Solutions?

Cheating --> to have a connection with the amulet to make a frequency-changing ward.
My previous adaptable amulet --> to handle vibration-changing attack
--> need to keep hold of the amulet
--> Not discreet
One solution = blood.
My blood in the amulet = special link between us
But blood magic = ritual = outlawed = guillotine

How will they tell blood was used? --> If they could detect blood magic, they would announce it to frighten people
Successful presentation --> invitation to design new amulets for army --> more complex design without obvious flaw --> success
Who'll care about this then?