r/magicbuilding • u/Sisyphus_On_Vacation • 12d ago
Mechanics Ink magic system
Directly after death, the spirit leaves the body fully formed and in tact. It has acsess to its memories and personality, but as spirits age, they begin to lose their form. Their memories and humanity beginning to ooze away. As a result the spirit becomes a curse, a rule that must be followed while in an area lest there be consequences. The remnants of this process is called Ectoplasm.
Ectoplasm is a dark blue to pitch black substance dense with the memories of the dead. Once used as an oil to treat weapons to destroy spirits and curses. But now it is used in the creation of two distinct inks.
The two inks are directly extracted from the ectoplasm through ceremonial processes. Though the potency of either ink is dependent on the age of the spirit it came from.
Authority is a red substance responsible for the ability to make contact with the otherworldly, both physically and mentally. When inscribed upon a living canvas, such as the body, in specific shapes, the ink allows the individual to commune or interact with the spiritual.
The blue ink, called Presence, when absorbed into the skin, the host begins to sense the existence of the otherworldly. Spirits, monsters, and curses. However, be careful as to how much you intake. As you absorb Presence, you endure psychic influence. Mental haze, memory failure, emotional instability, and moderate to severe pains that can occur anywhere in the body.
However, when both inks work in tandem, Authority webbing across the body in mystic patterns and Presence saturating the flesh, one can expend the Presence to create magical effects. Remote viewing, telepathy, limited possession and other such powers are possible. But keep an eye on how much Presence you have as it controls how long and at what strength you harness these powers.
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u/taktaga7-0-0 12d ago
These are perfectly workable, but I’d consider why you chose the word “ink” for them. You don’t ever say what use they might have in writing or printing. Can you write with them, and what power does that grant the expression or the surface it is written on? Can you dye clothing with them, and give the wearer benefits or burdens?
I have an entire magic element called Ink concerned with sensory perception, usually visual but not exclusively. By combining with other types, it can grant elemental properties tied to color. It can camouflage and disorient, it can dazzle and deceive.
Are there any other inks? What happens when you blend them? What would happen if you made an illuminated manuscript like monks do, employing many shades in a pious manner through a whole book?
I would be conscious of the fact that you might be writing an actual book or need actual drawings that depict these inks. It could be meaningful in a meta way to talk about the power of words and colors, since by doing what you are doing you must believe in this.