Supernatural Skills in Nystria¶

Overview¶

Nystria recognizes three supernatural traditions:

Tradition	Practitioners	Function
Magic (the Gift)	Anyone born with the Gift	Spells powered by internal mana and mana crystals
Seiðr	Danians (völva / Seeress)	Prophecy; seeing the future
Wiċċecræft	Rare; gem-dependent	Divination — reading thoughts and intent

Monotheistic religions never developed in this world. The Temple and High Priest regulate mage conduct in law and custom, especially since the Mage Rebellion and Peace of King Henry (~century before AROTD1).

Magic¶

The Gift¶

Magic is available only to those born with the Gift—the ability to generate mana.
Inheritance: Uncertain mechanism; runs in families. Child of two mages has the Gift >50% of the time; otherwise <1% of children, though certain lineages show higher incidence. Close relatives of a mage are more likely to have the Gift.
Detection: Place a mana crystal near a sleeping person; if it charges overnight, the Gift is present (Day 13).
Training: Hold the proper number of crystals, focus internal mana, and silently recite the incantation. Focus difficulty scales with spell power and duration of concentration required.
Maidenhood: A female maiden has limited ability to focus mana for complex spells; consummation removes this limit (Miri, Day 51 exposition).
Ranger animal-control: Separate from mage Gift — some rangers are born with animal affinity; most are not (Karla, Day 17).

Male vs. female mages¶

	Female	Male
Youth	More powerful than young males	Power develops slowly
Peak	Surpasses males until ~50th year	Full potential at 25th year
Maturity	Cannot match mature males spell-for-spell after ~50	Stronger in later life

Sex and mana recharge¶

Female mage + male mage: She absorbs some of his focus ability; his crystals recharge more slowly; hers charge immediately when she reaches the pinnacle of pleasure.
Male mage: Any release depletes his power temporarily, mage partner or not — most "choose poorly," partially balancing male/female power.
Female + non-mage: Some female mages claim benefit; not reliable.

Mana crystals¶

Rare, mined from unpredictable ore veins; expensive (~100 silver per set of ten, later reference).
Charged crystals glow red and pulse with the mage's heartbeat; discharged crystals do not glow.
Use: Stronger spells require more crystals; crystals discharge on casting.
Recharge: Must be near the charging mage during sleep (8 hours); see sex rules above.
Distance rule: Crystals instantly discharge if moved any meaningful distance from the mage who charged them.
Ten-crystal limit: Most mages charge at most ten crystals at a time. If more than ten are close, none charge.
Exception — planar device: Crystals loaded into Kranos's planar mechanism do not discharge and do not count against the ten-crystal limit while seated in the device (Day 65). The mechanism is inert until crystals are seated; crystals do not discharge merely from placement. Ten charged crystals shatter on each planar travel event; attendant must replace shards before return transit.

Enhanced (coloured) crystals¶

Green crystals (Kranos's hoard): More powerful than standard red crystals; fewer needed per spell. Kranos overcame normal charging limits in his compound (Day 8).
Kranos's locked boxes (Miri, post–Day 48): Four boxes × ten crystals each—forty enhanced charged crystals total; each crystal more potent than standard. Boxes must remain closed to hold charge at any distance from the mage.

Standard magic boxes¶

Hold up to ten crystals; remain charged when locked, even away from the mage.
Locked boxes shield contents from the Haven Keep mana crystal detector (Miri, Day 44): ~30 charged crystals in boxes evaded Court detection.

Casting procedure¶

Hold required mana crystal(s).
Focus internal mana (difficulty varies by spell).
Silently recite incantation.
Crystal(s) discharge; effect manifests.

Elemental spells (Miri): Have not failed when concentration is maintained; powerful spells fail if concentration breaks during preparation (Day 17).

Cantrips¶

Draw from the mage's mana well—no crystal required. Cast at will until the well is depleted. Each cantrip uses a tiny amount of mana; most experienced mages manage ~four cantrips per day before regular spellcasting is impaired. Area of effect limited to within the mage's reach.

Cantrip	Effect
Mage light	Floating light above the mage's head
Mage hand	Telekinesis within reach
Create fire / create flame	Equivalent to a cigarette lighter (create flame taught to Miri by Melchior, Day 44)
Eldritch beam	Sends mana into a device; activates the mana crystal detector
Detect magic	Reveals magical enchantments

Spells (crystal-powered)¶

Costs vary by spell and caster unless noted. Listed alphabetically within category.

Combat & offense¶

Spell	Notes
Area-effect stun	Incapacitates targets in an area (Tyra, Day 52)
Flame spell	Targeted ignition; Miri detonates gunpowder via focus talisman (Day 41)
Magic arrow	Ranged magical attack (listed in base spell curriculum)
Magic missile	Attack spell; Tyra trains Zoë (Day 48+)

Control & incapacitation¶

Spell	Notes
Paralysis	Target conscious but unable to move (Miri vs. Marcus, Day 12)
Silence	Renders subject unable to speak; used on High Priest (Book 01 Ch 70)
Sleep	Deep slumber ~8 hours; cannot be renewed like invisibility (Day 8)

Defensive¶

Spell	Notes
Protection	Physical harm; may cover self and one nearby ally (Tyra, Day 52)
Ward	Personal shield from moderate magical or physical damage; Miri's ~30 seconds (Day 8); woods patrol ~5 minutes (Day 17)

Detection¶

Spell	Notes
Detect life	Sense living presences through barriers; cannot identify individuals in crowded spaces (Day 24)
Detect magic	Also available as cantrip

Illusion & stealth¶

Spell	Notes
Invisibility	Concealment; effect fades and cannot be renewed mid-use like sleep (Day 56)
Muffle	Enhances stealth; dampens target's sounds (Day 1)
Night vision	~1 hour duration (Day 8)

Transformation¶

Spell	Notes
Shape-shifting	Maidenhead membrane; lengthy incantation; 3 mana crystals (Miri with Robert, Day 37; Tyra begins lessons Day 88; practices with Matthias Day 103)
Silence	Renders target speechless; Tyra uses on High Priest at coronation (Day 92)

Utility¶

Spell	Notes
Mage lock	Magically lock a door
Open lock	Works on most basic locks (Miri steals Warrant, Day 74)
Unlock	Open a conventional lock
Scry	View other times/places via planar device without destroying crystals (distinct from planar travel, which shatters crystals)

Wards & dispelling¶

Spell	Notes
Dispel	Remove magical wards (doors, objects); cost scales with ward strength (Day 8: one crystal for door ward; Kranos's personal ward beyond Miri's power)
Ward (door/object)	Kranos and others place persistent wards on doors and vaults
Barrier / force ward	Miri blocks Edward's movement and controls dungeon doors (Day 84); drops barriers for Knights
Soundproofing	Miri casts spell preventing laboratory conversation being heard through door (Day 75)

Court, detection & law¶

Mana crystal detector¶

Invented by Court Mage Gaspar; operated by Melchior, then Miri (Day 44).

Feature	Detail
Appearance	Radio-like body, antennae, indicator crystals on top
Range	Haven Keep; gold plates with crystals define detection zones
Operation	Rotate device to read each zone; full rotation covers Keep
Blue indicators	Discharged mana crystals present
Red indicators	Charged crystals present; e.g. two red ≈ 5–15 charged crystals
Blind spots	Compartment inside device; guardhouse lockbox outside range
Limitation	No distance readout (Miri considers multi-device triangulation)

Legal identification (Peace of King Henry)¶

Since the Mage Rebellion (~century before story):

Requirement	Penalty
Charged mana crystals in public without mage robes and prescribed medallion	Death by burning; no defense, no appeal; any authority may execute without trial
Sword in public without Lord's crest or personal symbol	Amputation of sword hand (trial before three Knights first)
Mage using magic to commit crime (historical)	Purification Ritual (pre-Henry); since Henry, hanging for serious felonies
Royal Writ	King may exempt a mage from robe/medallion requirement under Realm-security spy provision (Tyra, Day 64; King Edward's seal). Rarely granted.

Mages are expected to wear distinctive robes and a heavy silver medallion.

Purification Ritual¶

Required by Temple law for a sorceress to become Queen (Peace of King Henry). Miri refuses (Day 49). Potion of silphium, mandrake, and hallucinogenic mushrooms — renders mages infertile and prevents crystal recharge. Unused since Henry's peace.

Sorceress as Queen¶

Peace of King Henry forbids a sorceress Queen. Conclave revoked this provision Day 84 by significant majority, enabling Princess Miri to be crowned Queen while retaining the Gift. Before the Rebellion, sorceress-Queens were accepted.

High Priest & Temple politics (Days 67–85)¶

Titus demands Miri renounce magic, destroy crystals, and undergo Purification to become Queen (Day 67).
Miri asserts no gods exist; clerics perpetuate myths for wealth and power (Day 67, to Jillian).
Robert advised to let Titus agitate openly; magnanimous rule will shrink opposition (Day 85).
Conclave majority overrules High Priest on sorceress-Queen; Robert to implore Knights at coronation (Day 85).

Compulsions, wards & alchemy¶

Geis (mind-binding)¶

Kranos cast mind-control geis on Matthew/Miriam at crossing (Day 1).
Anchor: Snowglobe-like device — water, silver shavings, figurines representing bound persons; powered by mana.
Effect: Minds bound to Nystria; OP bodies remain in coma. Kranos could threaten OP victims via planar link.
Seizure (Day 9): Matthias recovers the snowglobe from Kranos's safe during the arrest; binding persists until formal release.
Release: Tranos removes geis with silver rod on globe (Day 39); figurines vanish; Matthias and Miri free of external compulsion.

Tranos anti-Kranos ward¶

Black metal talisman necklace worn against skin; blocks all magical effects from spells cast by Kranos only. Does not protect against other mages or mundane threats. Tranos revokes ward if he considers Matthias unfaithful to marriage bargain (Day 4).

Focus talisman (alchemy)¶

Alchemical focus placed inside a sealed container (e.g. gunpowder clay pot). Mage ignites talisman remotely (flame spell) to detonate contents. Talisman destroyed in blast (Miri, Day 41). Related to Lisette's alchemical work, not Gift casting.

Lisette's alchemy (non-Gift)¶

Slow-acting poison, antidote pairs, potency potions, maidenhead ruses (pig blood), gunpowder—alchemical, not sorcery. See Lisette.md.

Planar technology (Kranos / Tranos)¶

Extraterrestrial planar mechanism (device + remote; lodestone; ten crystal receptacles per activation).

Operation	Crystal cost
Scry	Does not destroy crystals
Travel (one way)	Ten charged crystals shatter; round trip = two complete sets
OP return	Requires attendant mage to reload crystals; loaded crystals do not count against mage's ten-crystal limit
iPhone contact	Hidden iPhone 15 in hollowed book in Kranos's laboratory (Day 8 onward); Kranos threatens Miriam at her OP bedside; return calls must be initiated from the OP. Day 85+: green on-screen control with attendant mage in lab (Zoë trained)

Supply constraint: forty crystals destroyed ≈ more than two years of Realm mining output (Day 73 reference). Device depletes all mana in operator's body for ~one day per use (Day 11 note).

OP transits completed (Days 86–95): Matthias made five transits (counting each direction). Zoë operated device; multiverse fork confirmed — each transit creates a new branch; OP "original" Matthew unaffected. ~80 crystals burned through by Matthias and Kranos (~ten years' average mining output, Day 121).

Final transit planned (Day 123): After harvest, ~three nights; imports include brewing/distilling texts, seeds, baseball caps, candy, chocolate, papermaking tome, drafting supplies. Matthias will surrender planar remote to Queen Miri; no use without Royal assent (including by Matthias).

Scrying (non-destructive): Tranos can scry other planes/times without shattering crystals (Day 100 briefing). Matthias agrees to teach Tranos scrying (Day 123); Tranos may not safely travel to OP.

Attendant access (Day 108): Zoë may activate the device only (not control timing/plane); planar operating tomes are locked; keys held by Matthias and Queen Miri. Zoë is forbidden to enter the laboratory or activate travel except on express orders from Matthias or, in his absence, the Queen. Tranos questions Zoë in the library (has never seen the device); he is eager for OP travel but lacks safe identification, funds, and language fit (Day 100).

Unreplicated devices: Mana crystal detector and Kranos's containment boxes cannot be replicated even with correct assembly — likely enchantment (Day 121). Miri searches Kranos's library and journals for containment-box mechanism.

Seiðr¶

Power of prophecy and seeing the future.
Limited to Danians.
A völva is a female practitioner (Seeress).

Anne-Charlotte (völva, Book 02+) — vision log and discrepancy tracking: Prophecy.md. No völva in AROTD1 Ch 1–94.

Wiċċecræft¶

Power of divination—reading thoughts and intent (comparable to a mind-meld).
Requires a set of lāžward gems (lapis lazuli).
Obtainable from Tēsifōn in Pârsâ; scarce in Nystria (none seen for a century by Book 03).
Æther (divination energy) recovery:
Eight hours' sleep restores fully.
Intercourse reduces recovery by 30 minutes per female orgasm.
If fully charged before intercourse, male release significantly increases her power the next day.

AROTD2 Ch 32: Katrina (Telford) — Wiċċecræft Gift passed woman-to-woman in her line (ancestor of Kranos, Tranos, and Queen Miri); family gemstones smashed at the burning; without gems, descendants sense only that someone withholds truth. Practice illegal in Nystria; gems contraband if exported from Pârsâ.