Magic Idea [MA: Gerqo. The Shape of Mana]

[ThatFunkyBunch 2066]

Spoiler

I preclose this with this is in idea I have been cooking for four years. Having found no other writers through the standard means. I open this up. DM if you wanna write with me. Idk what the forums are doing for images so it's a mess.
 

The basis of spells: How they operate, how they form:

 

Users of Geqo do not use ‘spells’ per say. With training, they draw upon the shapes of mana found in the world naturally and invoke them to life. 

Fluff needs updates likely.

The general idea is users manifest and manipulate existing patterns of Mana in the Material World. Needs flushed out and worked on over all.

This is the Google Doc.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_xmtCvnlgvI-PWzEE_vKdg7nAw-IcQUR5KF2i6Hqvxo/edit?usp=sharing

 

One to Three Magic Slots

 

Da Fluff 

 

A miasma of Eons has passed since the creator left its mantle and forsook the lesser creatures it had made. 

 

Waging wars and spreading nought but malice and hate. 

 

All are guilty of the charge. It is no mystery as to why the creator forsook what it had made.

 

Perhaps in an attempt to preserve the innocents once displayed among them in their early years. The mortal coil goes on, drowning newborns and the weak in seas of crimson blood. 

 

The void had made its home amidst the chaos of strife.  Uprooting natural mana to fuel it's creeping advance. Unsuspecting voidal mages help weaken the veil between this realm and the invaders.  Dark gods are praised in secret, beneath undead hordes in a blight-filled swamp, in dim-lit halls and vast forests. A war within the heavens combusts forth. 

 

This brings this tale to Mana, the heart of it all. Mana, which acts as a magical fuel. Allowing many to perform tremendous feats of magic. Mana can be found in any descendant. It flows beneath the ground. In the water they drink, the air they breathe. 

 

In the early 17th century. After the first appearance of the voidal tear. A team of scholars collected samples of raw mana recovered from the tainted land. Connection to the void is an easy way to increase the mana inside the body. At the cost of losing muscle mass and perhaps even unknowingly helping bring horridly abominable invaders.

 

These philosophers dubbed themselves the Verna. The preliminary beings in the creation of new art. 

 

: The Mask : 

 

The Verna tested their compound gathering, kidnapping stray mages, and mana users to eldritch laboratories. To test, study, and review their ability to harness more latent mana than normal descendants.  The Verna was displeased with the Shamanic ability to use only a small amount of mana to connect to their spiritual realm. As it showed it was not the Shaman at all who had the strength but their pacted spirits.  

 

The Druids were equally as disappointing. Which drew their strength from Aspects. Leaving the Verna with only the Voidal Mages and neutral. With these, Verna was most delighted. They would only target magi now. Studying their connection to the eldritch realm beyond, yet how mundane the magics they held were. 

 

The Verna had collectively agreed that this was indeed the scheme of a greater void being. Tricking carefree descendants into aiding it to breach the veil in return for power. At the cost of most muscle mass, the Verna did not see an equal trade-off. There had been no doubt, with the Creator gone The Aneguls and Daemons would attempt to seize control. The void tricked the mortal.  Weakening the veil through each connection and weakening their own forms for a glimpse of strength.

Neutral casters were a delight to their study. Their forms are pure, their ability honed through years of training. A glimpse where mortals may be free of the shackles of divinity. 

 

When the Verna had learned all they needed, putting down the captives they had. Leaving the bodies for the wolves. 

 

They would travel to the first voidal tear. Building within the sand,  a stone bunker. Digging down into the earth in search of a natural pool of mana. Which would be found beneath the scars of this first tear. The small team is set to work. Building around the pool of mana. Collecting samples of natural mana. Processing it, melting it down, and adding new compounds to test a variety of desired results. 

 

Mana is not visible to the naked eye and flows through everything. The fuel of life in truth. The Verna first needed ways to find gathered areas of natural mana. For you can not harvest what you can not see. One of the Verna had an idea. "What if, we made a lense. In which we see the force of life.". The Verna did just that, visiting the outskirts of the temple. Stealing away the skull of a long-passed monk of the cloud temple. 

 

When they returned to their bunker, they would offer the robbed head to another of the Verna. Who drenched the skull in warm blood willing given. 

 

In ritual most perverse, mana was weaved into the crimson blood. The skull of the monk became horribly melted as if parts of it had expanded and others had shrunk. With effort, the Verna placed the skull over their head. And through it, they saw mana. Natural mana, coursing through the veins of those around them. In the dripping pellets of water. Surging through the very stone around them. In its full glory, vivid colors were too complex to explain in words. With such beauty to bring tears. 

 

In fear, the other Verna would chastise and punish the scholar tasked with preparing the skull. This lone Verna worked in silence through the night. Sending the guest on their way, carving monks' bone into a beautiful shape.

 

When the Verna gathered the next day before them was the skull. Large silver hollow antlers feature spinning gears, and the forehead is equipped with a lock. "What is it?" Asked one of the scholars. Gesturing to the rock. "It is a lock. To keep those without keys from being able to see through the eyes. You see, they are but metallic screens." Said the true creator of the mask. Fishing a key from loose robes, slowly inserting a silver key. "The bottom slowly opens. Thins plates fold in. Allowing one to, place it over the head. Secure to a stuffed collar over wood. Not comfortable I am afraid." The scholar chittered. Turning the key, to which responded the soft audible clicks of locks releasing. Turning loose clockwork, gears spun round to draw open the metallic covers of the skull’s eyes. 

 

One by one, these researchers put on this device, to their glee and delight. Cheers rang through the stone bunker. At long last, the Verna had found their answer. Days turned to months, then to years. Hidden beneath ravaged sand, these scholars studied the mana around them. Patterns had been seen repeating, fundamental building blocks of the mana. Within each other, they saw mana weave and twist through their bodies. Bleeding and spiraling down to the stone beneath their boots. 

 

Only when they had stopped drawing and writing these patterns did they ask their original question again. “How can we move mana without the use of otherworldly beings?” One of the Verna spoke. Upon a stormy night. They had not thought of such in some time. In order to bypass the need to connect to powers outside the mortal realm itself. The Verna would first need to harvest mana. Once more, these scholars set to work. Collecting samples of raw mana from voidal tears left un-cleansed for so long. Within a glass chamber, this raw mana was carefully molded and warped. Heated to the point of near-boiling. Mixed with flakes of Aurum. Though, something was lacking.  The spark, connection. 

 

Verna sooner learned that everything comes with a price. Power has the highest cost of any. Months turned once more into years. Growing exceptionally desperate. Bolder ideas came to mind. Dangerous all the while. 

 

It was the idea of a single Verna. Within their hidden laboratories was made an anchor. The missing medium they had so pined for.  The Anchor looked akin to that of a totem. Large wooden grooves within a tree trunk carved into the shape of a pillar. A large center hole was carved. Drills turned by hand bore wide holes. Cruelly trapped within, the bones of the fallen. Dug from graves. And the firstborn of one of the scholars. Primitive, yet effective. Marked in runic cobalt and aurum. One by one they placed their hands on the Anchor. Pouring their very essence within.

The result, is the first Anchor. The Geqo. A well of mana to be bound to those that wish to use it. In the decades after, this art was refined. 

 

The art of mana was born anew. 

 

[T1] Non-Combative

 

Modern Geqo: Creation of the Anchor

 

Now,  in the second age. The creation of the Anchor is a joyous act between teacher and student. Typically made of stone, the Anchor acts as the well of mana from which a user of Geqo will draw.

Lined with deep grooves that are flaked with aurum paint mixed with cobalt. The teacher must be there with their student, to help imbue the Anchor with mana. These Anchors will need to be increased in size as the student grows in knowledge and power. 

 

: Creation of the Geqo, The Anchor :

 

Due to their nature, the Geqo is made typically of stone. Around, four feet wide. Its center is hollow and lined with Cobalt. Nothing is free, as the Verna knew. Within the anchor, are required four mortal Humerus of the fallen. Soaked in blood willingly given by those that possess mana themselves. {Any accepted MA suffices} The construct is further fashioned around these bones. Holes are bored through the material to allow the mana of the world to pass through, lined with thin cobalt to act as a conductor.

Once the construct is made, the Teacher will aid the student. Marking down the shapes of Mana upon the Anchor that they have learned. A practice passed down from the Verna that had spread this art in secret to protect their newly crafted might.  

 

A magi which implores the use of a Geqo is referred to as a Gerqo. As the Gerqo learns more patterns of Mana, they are embedded into the Geqo. 

 

Redlines of The Geqo Anchor

 

 

[T3] Combative/Non-Combative: Shapes of Mana

 

The Orb

 

The Magi is to create a bead of mana. These beads glow brightly with energy. A bead is a beginner form of mana. Clumps that linger across the world in small pools. These are standard and the first art for those learning Natural Mana Manipulation. 

 

Over the course of three emotes, the Magi channel their mana to create three round balls of energy that link to each other. It will remain until another spell is cast. 

 

At T4: An additional bead can be created with two additional emotes Five in total: 

 

At T5: An additional bead can be created with one additional emote: Six in total:

 

Active Effects: Combative.  Increase the range of all Geqo spells by a single block forward per bead

 

The user is able to crush the bead of mana to restore the 1 T3 spell slot. The user is able to crush 2 for 1 T4 spell back. And 3 for 1 T5 spell slot. 

 

These beads offer different effects to spells of Gerqo cast when the beads are active.

 

The user may alter the color of the beads at whim and move them around harmlessly within 4 blocks of themselves. These beads will phase through solid objects, unable to interact with the material world.

 

Red lines

•  

The Eternal Spring

The Eternal Spring references a pattern of natural mana. The Spring bounces and flops around the world. Energetic. It is a basic and essential concept for moving and manipulating raw mana.  

 

Manifest the Spring

 

The Magi are required to make three emotes to Manifest the Spring. This Spring will remain for [X] emotes unless shattered beforehand. The Magi must refrain from moving beyond two blocks per emote during channeling. 

 

The first emote must comprise the initial spark of Mana. Leaping from fingertips, faint sparks rippling through the arm. During this, fingers are prone to jerking about. Making holding an object while channeling impossible. 

 

The second emote must comprise the start of mana manifestation. A single thin strand of bouncy and springy mana is made between the palms. 

 

The Third Emote must comprise the spring starting to thicken, bouncing slightly as it does so. After this emote, it will last for [X] emotes unless shattered afterward. 

 

[X] Emotes equals the user tier in this magic. 

 

Uses of Manifested Spring

 

The user of Geqo is able to use the spring for many things in practical use. The spring serves as the basis of all Gerqo practitioners. First comes the spring, as new knowledge is gain, the spring is manipulated into different shapes of natural mana. 

 

Redlines

• At T3 the Magi is able to manifest the spring within their palms. The closer the hands are, the stronger the spring is. 

 

• One-foot springs have the quality of cast iron. Two-foot springs have the quality of sturdy wood. Three-foot springs have the quality of cloth. 

 

• If 1 Mana bead is active, One-foot springs have the strength of quality steel. Two-foot springs have the quality of cast irons. And three-foot strings have the quality of wood. 

 

• If 2 Mana Bead are active, One-foot springs have the strength of Black Ferrum. Two-foot springs have the strength of quality steel. Three foot springs have the quality of cast irons. 

 

Striking with the Spring

 

After creating the Spring, the magi may attack with the spring. Sending it out forward up to two blocks. This spring delivers the force of a mundane hammer swung by a human upon contact, and will only singe body hair if it is exposed. 

 

If 1 Mana bead is active when the Spring is used to strike, the Spring will hit with the force of a sturdy Ferrum Mace swung by a human. 

 

Red lines: 

• The Spring may not be thrown. 

• The Spring immediately fades if sent out from the hand or shattered. 

 

The Ball

 

References a pattern of Mana found in the world, constant movement. 

 

Serves as a summonable mount? 

 

Serves as a basis of Gerqo creations? 

 

The String

 

References a pattern of Mana found in the world, connecting all. 

 

Serves as aesthetic mana cloth and clothing? 

 

Mostly aesthetic, maybe ST signed material for special clothes? 

 

Used to make bonds between mortals? 

 

The Spike/Triangle

 

References a pattern of Mana. Protruding from the world. Aggression? 

 

Combative Iron stab stab? 

 

Enchantments? 

 

Small AoE Magic spike area? 

 

The Coil

 

Double jump? 

 

Used for Gerqo creations? 

 

The Line. 

 

Represents rigidity and stability 

 

Defensive? 

 

Arcane bridges? Houses? 

 

The Spiral

 

Represents lucidity? Taboo shape? 

 

Similar effects to narcotics when put up on a target? Daze or confusion? 

 

Used for Gerqo Creations