Craft

Practiced magic is referred to as Craft or The Craft.

"Magic" is innate to Touched, but Craft is innovated, created, and learned like a science. Craft often requires a focus, an incantation (rhythmic chant), or material sacrifices (called fodder).

Craft that involves sacrifice, malicious intent and violation of autonomy is usually referred to as dark craft. Some dark craft is considered forbidden craft by the Consortium. There are other specialised types of craft, such as music craft and conveyance craft.

Examples of craft spells may be explored in the Craft Directory.

Components

Craft spells typically require concentration and some combination of the following components:

Focus

A bespoke item through which a wix channels magic. Examples include watches, rings, bracelets, pendants, etc.

Foci can be used in various ways: held in right or left hand, placed against the body (temple, heart, stomach, mouth), dipped into substance, have substances dripped in, held in fire, levitated in the hand, gesturing, set on top of an object.

Foci are specially made by Focalists and a wix imprints upon their focus, making it difficult to replace if lost or damaged. Skin contact is required. A focus can only be used by the wix it belongs go. Covens or a Focalist can assist with new imprinting.

Fodder

Reagents or material sacrifices for specific spells. Examples inlude:

Chalk, vinegar, gold, silver, mercury, ice, water, sand, glass, quartz, soil, jade, coal, ash, wood, insects, tongue, bone, marrow, hair, nails, ink, flowers, honey, silk, sulphur, ochre, clay, algae, seeds, saliva, blood, tears, iron, bronze, copper, rust, beeswax, mirror, witch stone (stone with a hole in it), leaves, paper, alcohol.

Fodder is typically bought from Apothecaries although common ones (like chalk and salt) can be gotten in tuck shops or newsstands and such.

Gesture

Physical gesticulations, usually with ones hands. Snap, point, touch another person, touch an object, paint/smear, wrap inside of, fold, burn, grind into powder, swallow, hold in mouth, bite on, draw blood, pinch, spit.

Chant

Incantations, typically in an ancient or classical tongue, e.g. latin, ancient greek, sanskrit, old gaelic, etc etc.

Object

An item upon which the spell is concentrated, e.g. making an object glow, saturating material in fodder, etc etc.

Not all craft is created equal. There are various levels of difficulty and exposure, and ones go-to spells may depend on which coven you attended or what you have picked up over the years.

Conveyance Craft

A mundane door is enchanted with Craft to be a portal between two fixed points. The Door can be a regular door, opening in and out of a room or building or closet. Or the Door can be put on a wall, with its only intended use being for travel.

Skilled Touched can use chalk fto create temporary, one-way Doors. This requires precision chalking and lasts only as long for as long as the chalk is intact. A regular Door is far safer and more secure.

Creating and connecting proper Doors is a specialized Craft, regulated by the Consortium through local Council Offices who keep a directory of public doors. The Council or a private doorman (doorknocker) can repair broken Doors.

▶ More about conveyance craft

Forbidden Craft

General content warning: violence, gore, death

Dark craft is generally understood to mean craft that requires the sacrifice of animals or blood. It is not a strict classification of craft. For example, haruspex, a form of divination involving the interpretation of animal entrails, would be considered a form of dark craft. Certain aspects of dream craft is also considered dark craft if it violates an individual's psyche without their consent.

Some dark craft falls into categories forbidden by the Consortium. Certain forms of the ‘three Cs’ (Corruption, Consumptions, Cruelties) are permitted to be practiced by Watchers. Knareswick researchers may apply to the Consortium to practice forbidden Craft in pursuit of their studies.

▶ More about forbidden craft

Chalk

Chalk of the earth is said to be the stone wall of the Fae.

Carefully measured designs in the right kinds of chalk will create powerful effects - these are referred to as sigils. They are used to cast lasting enchantments or as part of more extensive ritualistic spells.

▶ More about sigils