I’ve just read Emma Törz’s first novel, “Ink Blook Sister Scribe” and it set me thinking about its potential for inspiration for the Liminal roleplaying game. It describes a somewhat unique approach to magic which I think could easily be lifted and used in the game.
Inevitably this is going to talk about some of the elements that influence the plot, parts of which aren’t revealed until part way in. If you plan to read the book, then do that first as it won’t spoil what you find out. I’d have put a spoiler break here but Blogger isn’t showing it right on my blog.
The magic described is a combination of blood and book based magic. Spells are crafted into books which can then be read and performed by anyone. The magic can take any form and can be truly powerful but there are limits.
The books are written by Scribes. Scribes cannot hear magic and are immune to its effects. Scribes abilities are passed down genetically; however, their offspring are more likely to be sensitised to magic rather than have the Scribing ability. In the book, there are a handful of people with the Scribe ability; there used to be more but in modern times the pool is very limited for reasons I won’t explain (spoilers).
Scribes don’t actually have to understand how a spell is constructed so long as carry inscribe the spell in the right way. There is a logic in the way that the spell is constructed which would probably need some kind of skill roll by the person designing the spell. Once a spell is designed, it needs to be written into a book. The Scribe must prepare ink (which is infused with their blood, herbs and prepared with a ritual which is tailored as much to the kind of magical effect desired), write the pages, and then finish the book by binding it. In ancient times, when clay tablets were used, blood and herbs were mixed in the clay and the finishing done by firing the tablet to set it.
The amount of blood a Scribe can donate limits the powers of spells; bearing in mind it takes time to recover from blood loss, it would probably take the form of a long term endurance sacrifice combined with some willpower to activate the magic.
Extremely powerful spells can be cast - in the book, there is an example of an immortality spell and a spell to limit powers to a bloodline, both of which required two Scribes. One of the Scribes died in preparing the spell, and their body was used to form the book bindings and more to infuse the book with extra powers.
Scribes cannot cast magic. They can only prepare books for others.
Some people are magically sensitive; like the Scribes, they can hear the presence of books with spells (a buzzing like bees). They can read magical books and understand what is in them unless there is a live spell active in the book (Scribes could read the book and understand the type of spell). They probably find it easier to use spells but the novel isn’t clear about the difference between them and normal people.
Spell examples in the story also include:
- Warding spells to make people unable to see or enter an area without being sick
- Spells to prevent someone speaking of something (kind of like an NDA)
- Spells to detect Scribes
- Mirror magic that allows objects to be passed through and observations to be made (but not living things - anyone but a scribe would die in such a situation).
- Spells to transform water into a specific wine vintage for a specific time
- Spells to make a gun’s bullets turn to bees when shot
- Spells to draw animals close (to the point you could kill one and none would panic)
- Spells to force someone to answer truthfully
- Spells to reveal the location of something after certain conditions are met
- Spells to make you invisible
- Spells bound to an object so they sustain until the object is destroyed
- Spells to make an object emit heat
- Spells to cast a glamour to allow a character to convince someone or make they forget / let something go.
When you cast a spell you must give blood to the book (and it may also require you to mix that with herbs or smear it on certain objects and surfaces) and read the book. Once you make the blood connection, you will be able to read the book and the spell will carry you through all the way to the end.
Each book can only be read a number of times; some can be recharged with fresh blood but others just fade away as the power in the blood is spent. Books with live spells can only be destroyed by a Scribe (or natural circumstances like a fire) but if they are object-bound then they need the object destroying first.
There’s a very nasty protection spell called a ‘vampire’ which will suck a caster dry if they try to activate it. Any blood or skin contact with such is dangerous. This will take the form of a second spell inscribed in the book.
There is a British-based organisation - the Library - which specialises in selling magic to order. It has large resources (linked to a Ducal family) and strong influence. It also has a huge collection of books. It also fights dirty; it will often offer to buy out collections of books from others, but if refused it often comes into possession of them anyway through nefarious activity.
In Boston, there is a loose cooperate of spellcasters. There’s also a small library in Vermont, but the owner has hidden it away. No doubt there are others.
I found the book and magic described compelling; I wonder how it could be incorporated into Liminal (especially as I don’t have my RPG books with me). Anyone else find this interesting or have thoughts on how they’d do this?
10 August 2023
