Behind the form of the world course vast energies that shape, create, and destroy reality. The channeling of these energies by gods and mortals alike is known as magic.
Magic is a powerful and eldritch force in the world of Saga RPG. Its practitioners seek to master it, but often find themselves slaves to the very forces they sought to control. Indeed, one must be discerning of the arts one chooses to learn, as well as one's intentions in learning it.
This chapter will go over the rules surrounding the practice of sorcery in Saga RPG, beginning with the limited uses of the Magic skill, to the spheres of magic and their rudiments, ending with the combination of rudiments to create complicated magical effects. Only a fool would ignore the influence of magic in the world of Saga, but only a fool would plunge into it without foreknowledge of its secrets. This chapter will reveal some of those secrets.
This chapter goes over specific spells and effects that can be created using the Magic skill and its specialties.
A vinculum is a magical bond between two things. The subjects can be people, objects, animals, plants, locations or any combination of the two. Such a bond allows for the transferring of power from one end of the vinculum to the other. To create a vinculum, one needs training in a magical rudiment that allows for the creation of vinculi. An example would be the Mastery of Earth specialty.
How to Make a Vinculum There are two sides to any vinculum: the subject and the locus. The locus is the source of the magical power, while the subject is the recipient. To form a vinculum between a locus and a subject, one requires a focus, a token from the locus which acts as a reference for its power. The focus can be a lock of hair, a leaf from a tree, or a drop of blood, so long as the object came from part of the locus' being.
When it comes time to make the vinculum, the mage takes the focus and implants it into the subject in a ritual taking anywhere from a minute to an hour. Roll Magic + Specialties (Charisma) and take the result. This is the Fortitude of the vinculum. If the fortitude is nonzero, the bond is a success. If it is zero, the spell fails.
Using a Vinculum A vinculum's purpose is to create a flow of magical energy from one source to another.
There are three disciplines of magic, each deriving their power from different sources and having different effects upon the world. These disciplines are called spheres
The Mundane Sphere, or Demesnes Mundus, is one of the most commonly practiced spheres of magic. It derives its power from the elements of fire, earth, air and water, and is the favorite of nature magi. However, it is seen as demonic magic in most of the realms of the world, and even where its practitioners are not persecuted they are distrusted.
The Celestial Sphere, or Demesnes Celestia, is rarely practiced but widely respected. It derives its power from the sun and other celestial lights, and is seen as the work of the gods. The power of celestial magi is greatly sought after.
The Shadow Sphere, or Demesnes Nocturne, is a secret art that few know of. The Shadow Sphere is true demonic magic: magic of darkness and death that tends to consume all but the wariest of its practitioners. It derives its power, naturally, from shadow, void and silence. Where the other demesnes dare not go, those are the realms of the Shadow Sphere.
To gain access to the Mundane Sphere of magic, one first needs the Demesnes Mundus specialty.
| Demesnes Mundus | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Skill | Max Rank | Usu. Attributes | Prerequisites |
| Magic | 1 | None | Tome of the Elements |
| The Demesnes Mundus specialty grants you access to the Mundane (or worldly) Sphere of magic, as well as its rudiments of Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water. | |||
The rudiments of Mundane magic are accessible as sub-specialties of Demesnes Mundus. Knowledge of each element provides a specific range of capabilities, with both a creative and destructive side.
| Mastery of Earth | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Skill | Max Rank | Usu. Attributes | Prerequisites |
| Magic | 3 | Charisma | Demesnes Mundus |
| Vast mountains and verdant forests: these are all the realms of the element of Earth. Earth composes much of the body of creation: it is in Earth that all the parts come together.
Earth magic is the art of developing magical bonds between people, animals, objects, and locations. See the chapter on magical bonds for more on the phenomenon. |
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