People have asked us now several times how exactly the magic works in Rellas. We will give you a bit more information soon, but here is the quick and dirty explanation.
Magic in Rellas exists in 3 types: mage magic, priest magic, and bloodline magic.
Mage magic depends on the environment and the user’s capabilitiers. I am going to let Damaes explain it a little bit. There is nothing spoilery here, so hopefully I won’t get in trouble with Tor. Please keep in mind that Damaes has trouble with using words to communicate, and Maggie was a PoliSci major.
Damaes took a deep breath. “The water cleaning barrel. You take a barrel. You punch a hole in the bottom, layer cloth, clean sand, and crushed charcoal inside. Then you pour dirty water into it and wait. In time, what will come out?”
“Clean water,” I said.
“That is the magic of mages. We absorb magic from the world, filter it through ourselves, and gain essence which is the fuel for our spells. Some barrels are small, others are large. The power of the mage is determined by the size of the barrel and the quality of the filter.”
Damaes raised his hand. Streaks of white light slithered from his fingers, clasped the boulder, and levitated it eight feet off the ground.
“This is difficult. It has mass. It takes up space. It wants to stick to the ground.”
“Gravity,” I said.
He looked at me waiting for an explanation. I should have paid better attention in science class.
“Objects that have mass attract each other. The heavier they are, the stronger they pull.” Earth… wait, no. “The world on which we stand is a very large and heavy object. It pulls everything to itself, the rocks, us, the moons. That force is called gravity. The moons are in motion, which is the only reason they don’t fall onto our heads.”
Damaes nodded. “Gravity depends on mass.”
“Yes.” And he got it on the first try.
“Essence has no mass. Making it act on objects with mass is taxing.”
The rock plummeted with a thud.
Damaes raised his hand. A ribbon of crimson lightning wrapped around his fingers.
“Flame, lightning, and light have no mass. They’re easy. They cost little. This can kill a human in a fraction of a breath, because humans are fragile.”
He paused, and I nodded.
If I understood it correctly, mage magic existed in two forms: environmental and essence. He absorbed environmental magic and converted it into essence. Acting on something like a rock probably required converting the essence back, so it could affect the environment again. Working with steam, heat, lightning and so on was likely infinitely easier. When he conjured that beam to destroy a meteorite, it looked like white fire. He must’ve hit it with some super plasma or something. Whatever it was dissipated back into the environment as heat and light.
Priest magic works similarly. They too absorb magic from the environment, but their focus is on physical enhancement of self. They cure diseases, improve their bodies, and buff themself to use a game term.
Bloodline magic doesn’t rely on external source which needs to be absorbed. It is manufactured by the user’s body or possibly soul. It is a finite but replenishable source. If the bloodline magic wielder overextends, they become exhausted and must take time to recover, but given enough rest, they will be back to full power.
The bloodline magic isn’t limited to Great Families. Butcher’s magic was bloodline magic. Sol’s magic is also bloodline magic.
All magic can be improved and developed with practice, even bloodline magic.
All magic has a price. We’re going to borrow Doran Arvel for that explanation.
“I shared things with you,” Doran said. “Private things. My goals and designs. I must know.”
I sighed. “Does your magic have a price?”
“All magic has a price, Maggie. The mages hunger for power and struggle to contain it. The priests enhance themselves, watching time gnaw away on their mortal bodies with every breath.”
“What about the Great Families?”
His face turned contemplative. “Ours is the magic of the soul. It seeks to dominate its source. Some of us conquer it, and others succumb.”
“Ulmar Hreban had succumbed. I would say the Mirror Heart corrupted him, but that would mean that there was a time when he was free of its influence. It manifested as soon as he was born, and nobody around him bothered to put any safeguards in place. He never had a chance. The Mirror Heart was a trellis, and his soul grew twisting around it like a grapevine.”
“How did it twist him?” he asked.
“It convinced him that people are selfish liars. Ulmar thought the entire world waited to stab him in the back, so he responded with brutality. He wasn’t just cruel. He became inhumane, and he wanted power so he could inflict suffering on others.”
Mages are power junkies. They are never satisfied with their level, they always want to push themselves further, and they have a compulsion to unleash their powers. If you reread what happened between Damaes and Isadau in the first book, you will see that Isadau lost control. That is typical mage behavior.
Priests are often tormented by their power. Most of us can disengage from monitoring our body functions. We don’t generally pay attention to our breathing and heart beat, unless something out of the ordinary occurs. Achieving that distance is a lot harder for priests. Some of the more skilled ones can look at a person and see exactly how disease or old age are changing their bodies, and they observe those same changes in their own bodies. They are aware. They learn early that they are incapable of saving everyone, emotionally, physically, or mentally.
As Doran explained, bloodline magic tends to have profound effect on the character and psyche of its users. You have to have strong will to stay true to yourself.
A personal aside: I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention the fourth kind of magic present in my life and life of many of us with spouses and partners: the project injury magic. I can’t tell you how many times I had the following conversation with my husband:
Me: You are bleeding.
Him: Where?
Me: Here. How did you do this to yourself?
Him: shrug.
I had to stop this post because his ear was bleeding. It turned out to be a tiny scratch which likely happened yesterday because we spent 4 hours fighting back the weeds. Texas knows that rain is rare, so when we get some, everything grows like mad.
I have become convinced that any project involving tools or equipment, like putting together a home gym, or weeding the yard, or building a wood shed, requires a small blood sacrifice to the God of Home Improvement.
First?
🥳
Yes. 🙂
Thank you! 🤗
Maybe I shouldn’t have read it first before commenting and might have gotten an elusive First! 😄
I have been stalking the website all day 😆
Thanks for this explanation! Not something I’d had time to wonder about yet, and now I don’t have to. Win!
Also, yes, project injury magic is so real! The number of bruises I have discovered post-project is astonishing.
Thanks!
The god of home improvement must be offered pain. Bruises, blisters & cuts. On bad days it is broken limbs and concussions. 😱
Thank you for the back ground to Rellas.
And also gifts of travel. Multiple trips to the hardware store, even when you were sure you got everything required the first time.
That is especially true when plumbing is involved!! For some reason the tool/pipe/screw/nut etc is never the correct size/kind and one should always factor in the time spent running back and forth to the hardware store!
this is so true!
Thank you, Ilona! I appreciate your generosity of spirit so much! Eeee!! Awesome info—and tiny snippetlings!
This is amazing! Thank you!
Does the ability to absorb magic from the environment (i.e. mages) pass down through bloodlines?
Are priests born with their magical abilities, or do they gain them through some sort of training or initiation rite of the priesthood. If the former, are those abilities heritable?
Is Maggie’s magic bloodline-magic? And if so, what implications would that have if she had any children in Rellas?
Let’s leave a bit of mystery and worldbuild for the next books 🙂
All of this is so much more beautiful as part of the story!
Thank you 😊
Sounds like Maggie is going to get some magic training. 🤗
Omg three snippet days in a row. WE ARE SO LUCKY! YAAAY!! THANK YOUUU!! The excitement I felt when I saw it was Damaes talking to Maggie!!!! His powers are terrifying and intimidating.
I love learning about this world more. As a scientist, I’ve been wondering how much science has been discovered (since Maggie says basic algebra would blow their minds) and how it may differ from our world, so I love seeing any mentions of it 🥹❤️
Advanced mathematics in those realist Euro-centric fantasies has always been an issue for me. My mind is always questioning the mechanics (no pun intended 😉) of it’s inception and development.
Sometimes I just want to say to my brain shush 🤫
When I read that part with Maggie thinking that basic algebra would blow their minds, I thought what we term as college algebra in the US and calculus would most likely reach out of this world status.
I’m thinking all forms of advanced math would shock the people of Rellas. 😊
I love the depth to which you devote to worldbuilding.
You are nearly unmatched in the writing world. It is one of the reasons why your writing transcends genres, (at least IMO) what reads as effortlessly.
Thank you guys! I appreciate the insight into the world building aspects.
+1
really appreciated all the snippets and info over the last 3 posts.
can’t wait to buy the companion book.
Excellent!
Lovely snippet! The last bit made me think of Terry Pratchett and his fictional explanation of how various gods and mythical creatures happen. The sock eater, the Oh God of hangovers and the Verruca Gnome come to mind!
All praise to Anoia!
Ah yes, rattle those drawers.
love the snippets soooo much!
The god of home improvement has received many a sacrifice from me and my family, my dad I. Particular was quite devout. Lol
Many thanks, Ilona, for the additional details regarding the various types of magic in Rellas! More fuel for the mental visuals I conjure up while reading. Your creative spirit is truly appreciated! So excited for Maggie 2!
May the God of Home Improvement ever be satisfied with small sacrifices.
Sending peace, health and safety to all!
feasting for days on these snippets!! we are a well fed horde
OK, I kept reading the noun project as the verb project. So I read it as projecting injury magic. Which truly didn’t make any sense.
Same!
Home improvement magic also requires duct tape to stop the bleeding. All other bandages are inferior.
I think also travel magic requires a blood sacrifice. I never seem to go anywhere these days without scraping or bruising or something! Old thin skin. Argh! It actually sounds horrifying that the priests are so aware of their own bodies. Just being sort of aware is frustrating enough as you get older!
Better still, a wad of paper towel held in place with duct tape.
(This message approved by the Scourge of Mexico.)
👏 Was thinking the same thing.
You forgot the tube of super glue from the hardware store.
Instead of duct tape my son uses super glue. He is a carpenter/drywall contractor/steel stud worker. Says it works better than stitches.
Absolutely!, superglue, the unintentional savior of deep cuts and accidental slices from box cutters🤣 My husband has a huge stash of that and duct tape in his first aid box! Another addition benefit of superglue, it hardly leaves scars.
I loved reading about magic systems!
Thank you!!!!!!
Thank you
Thank you for giving us this explanation!
Thank you for the snippets that came with the explanation. I understand the 3 magics better so now I must (!!! 😄) re-read with all this in mind.
Loved this!! makes the mind start tinking the gears a whirring. im in need of a relisten. but do we know the origins of the magic. Is the blood line a blood line because they were more able to handle the magic in the first place? tink tink whirr lol
also my daughter who’s in Fort Worth was telling they cant walk in grass because it has burrs!!
In my mind I read I read project as a verb, as in to project, so was rather concerned for Gordon for a moment, wondering if we were supposed to be throwing out minor injuries on our loved ones when they piss us off doing the gardening – not an unreasonable possibility to be fair in my family 😆
Yes! Anyone who claims that human sacrifice or blood sacrifice no longer exists in our modern world has never met any of the millions of devotees of the God of Home Improvement…
I appreciate the work you do in creating internally consistent and logical magic and technology backgrounds for your fictional worlds. All too often both the magic in fantasy and the advanced technology in science fiction incorporate massive amounts of the element handwavium. You manage to keep that to a minimum.
Just as a sudden side thought: is there a God of Home Improvement somewhere in the Kate Daniels Universe?
I would think so since in Magic Tides, Kate and Curran were working on the house in North Carolina.
Then in Magic Claims, they are going to be giving the god of home improvement lots of new sacrifices in rebuilding their new home near Penderton.
No moat Curran! 😂😂😂😂
I can’t even image how a moat around that monstrosity of a building would take to dig!
Oh *that’s* easy. Persuade a few giant moles to dig a tunnel, at a certain depth beneath the surface, all around around the building. Then a few of the larger shifters break through the crust and all that remains to be done is cleanup and filling the moat with water.
Though I suppose it be be necessary for a mage or three to temporarily stabilise the crust/surface so it isn’t broken while the giant moles are digging …..
the element of handwavium – I love that!
Handwavium *is* extremely useful!
Hehehe, yes there is always a small blood sacrifice for doing anything at home. Another interesting blog entry. Thanks!
I loved this deeper glimpse into the world of Rellas. So thoughtfully written.
The God of Home Improvement, I like that. I am in the process of weeding my front patio, sweeping in weed killer into the grouge lines and covering it with sand. Oh, the knicks and aches to the hands and back pulling weeds and grass out.
Oooo, Doran told Maggie about his goals and designs!! So they must have spent some quality time together…. This causes So. Many. possible scenarios to run through my head. ***gleeful cackling commences***
Thank you! for the back-to-back snippets (or bonus scenes?) on Solentine. This really helps me to understand him better. I swear I’ve never read the first part before, which you thought you had shared previously. This makes me wonder how many other juicy snippets I’ve missed! The only one I’ve noticed being posted twice was the “glamorous” one with a knight dumping fish barrels. I clicked the “snippets” link at the top to try to catch any others I may’ve missed, but there are definitely some that didn’t get tagged as such.
I *love* that Maggie is getting to know Damaes, even getting a magic education from him!
In regards to the types of magic, if I understand it correctly, Doran may have access to two types – his bloodline magic (blowing sunshine out his rear, literally, especially when Maggie is around 🤣), *and* the Defender Order magic. As I thought I understood it, the Knights of the Defender Order pray to the Warrior aspect of defense.
Similarly, Mirabor would have access to bloodline and the Redeemer Order’s magic. Are the two types of magic compatible in the same person? Could that be why Mirabor’s magic is greater than his father’s?
Things that make you say “Hmmmm…”
Thank you Ilona and Gordon for all that you do. May the Home Improvement Gods be kind (for we know they are immortal, or in other words, never ending). I have the bruising to show for it.
“In regards to the types of magic, if I understand it correctly, Doran may have access to two types – his bloodline magic (blowing sunshine out his rear, literally, especially when Maggie is around 🤣), *and* the Defender Order magic. As I thought I understood it, the Knights of the Defender Order pray to the Warrior aspect of defense.”
No. There are no specific prayer-related spells. The knights orders are dedicated to their chosen Aspect, but there is no specific Defender Order magic that is prayer based.
Thanks for the snippet, it was a nice birthday present for me.
Happy birthday 🎂
Chirp has 2 of IA audio books on sale atm. The Inheritance for $3.99 and Ruby Fever for $7.99.
I love your humor. I love your world building. Everytime I read your writing I get such joy. Thankyou
Proud founding member of Solentine must live and thrive
And the mesquite trees – don’t forget the mesquite trees demand a blood tribute every time they get pruned…and the palo verde…and the prickly pear…oh, hell. Pretty much everything that grows in Texas. But we love ’em all anyway.
Bougainvillea are worse
I confess, I am haunted by the simulacrum Declan made out of magic and water, to teach George about the dangers of unnatural immortality. I can’t help but think that this plays into Rellas somehow, that someone got stuck on the chaos and destruction, and are redoing the story over and over with small changes to try and find a resolution that doesn’t involve a total apocalypse. Maggie’s magic is squidging out of her in such specific ways, finding who else in the world has these squidges might help… Or not.
Computers require blood sacrifice as well. If you don’t scuff your knuckles, or get cut by an overly sharp bit of metal, you cannot upgrade them. Repairs can sometimes be possible without blood, but be wary of your tools. They seek life giving essence.
Thank you for the explanation. Also. you’re correct that every home improvement project requires a blood sacrifice; however, general maintenance usually doesn’t, unless the gods of Texas are more demanding than the gods of Wisconsin. That’s certainly possible. as we potentially offer up body parts each winter during the polar vortex.
I live for these blog posts :))
“Any project involving tools or equipment … requires a small blood sacrifice to the God of Home Improvement.” And three trips to the hardware/home improvement store.
I remember reading an anecdote by someone where he was doing a sink repair job, bought the parts, realized one was either wrong or missing, and went back to the hardware store. The clerk said : “That’s one.”
The guy asked what the clerk meant, and the clerk explained that every DIY home repair job always required three trips back to the store for additional items.
An hour later, something else went wrong on the repair job and the guy had to go back for another part.
The clerk smirked and said: “That’s two.”
in the end, the clerk never got to say: “See, I told you so — this is your third trip.” …
Because for the third trip, the guy visited a different hardware store….
Blood sacrifice, bruises, weed clippings, and the smell of air pollution all given to the god of home improvement on an apartment scale.
The gods of the kitchen get sometimes burns on the hands and arms. Sometimes they get the small cut without bleeding from the knife wielder.
Thank you for the explanation of the different types of Rellas magic. It reminded me of Kate’s world in Atlanta. Hugh would be under the priest magic since his magic heals when he wants to heal someone.
Wow! Maggie interacting with Damaes and Doran – as well as all the explanations and details!! How awesome!! I LOVE all the thought, effort and details you put into your world-building as well as the actual characters and storyline. We are a well-fed Horde, and we are being so spoiled in the best possible way! Thank you HA! 🥰🤗
Project Injury magic *nods with understanding* I’ve actually had that exact convo with my husband – including the shrug 😄(I admit I find that bit infuriating!!). Sometimes when you’re dealing with the god of home improvement not only is blood sacrifice needed, excessive time sacrifice is required too (time taken away from much more enjoyable activities such as book devouring for example). It’s a price I try to avoid where possible 😉😁😅
Thank you for the extra🤩! These snippets along with the vellums are so appreciated. I am invested in Maggie’s outcomes, you both have such a way with words! You’ve put a spell on me! 🤣
There’s another type of magic; I’m going to call you snd Gordon the Spellweavers. Magic that makes the written word come alive.
And yes, there is blood to be given to the god of home improvement; we keep plenty of superglue, duct tape, and bandages!😂 All supremely helpful with cuts from saws, box cutters, and nail guns. oh the injuries we have had😝Especially since my husband is a contractor.
My father filleted his finger on a table saw once. TIP: Maxi pads should be in every shop First Aid kit!
Oh no!, my son was helping on a deck build and was assigned to take straight nails out of old 2×4 deck boards. While pulling out the straight nails with a claw hammer he stepped on a nail, lifted his foot and the board was stuck to his work boot. It went straight thru the boot and bottom of his foot.They poured beer on it and took him to the emergency rm for a tetanus shot.
My hubby had his thumb smashed with a rubber mallet. He placed a wooden shim under his thumb and wrapped it with duck tape, then continued on. Both times there was blood sacrificed🤣
So throwing out a little “conspiracy”question – does the name of this post indicate a relationship of some sort btw Maggie and Damaes? There’s no snippet/sitdown/lesson btw Maggie and Sol on the question of types of magic, but Maggie and Damaes…. Just asking…
Luv all things House Andrews! Thanks for all the wonderful worlds!
Good old project injury magic. I cannot count how many times a variation of this happens with my husband while I am cooking or just doing house stuff.
Him: Holy crap, where did that huge bruise come from on your shin?
Me: Hmm, what? Where? Oh I think I hit the cupboard when I was trying to get by? Maybe? (My spatial reference is terrible, corners I think I am cutting are instead cutting me back)
Him: Also, I think you are bleeding.
Me: TBH, that may be chocolate, I melted some for a ganache.
I have had the “you’re bleeding” comment while working in the kitchen. Come to find out, it was ketchup that I didn’t wipe off. 😂
Thank you for the explanation! Makes me wonder if magics can overlap. Can someone be a priest and age or have bloodline magic and be a priest?
Official opinion until proven, otherwise: Maggie has the ability to be all three. She heals herself, we know she broke Damaes spell. And I think her ability to understand any language is bloodline.
I can’t wait to find out what it is 🥰
Love that you put a name to home injuries! The God of home improvement is perfect.
OK, now I understand! Project Injury Magic (PIM because absolutely everything has to be an acronym now). Next time my husband is dripping blood from his arm, leg, whatever, I have an explanation.
Thank you for your wisdom. We can now approach our backyard with a better understanding of the consequences, and the necessary sacrifices.
I continue to be wowed. And surprised. And delighted. So many thanks.
You’re not wrong! Hahaha!!
Thanks for the snippets, the Friday Funny and yourself.
You’re the best.
The god of hone improvement! 🤣🤣🤣
I can totally relate. So much blood spilled!
I think there might be (at least) two more types of magic in your house Ilona:
1) Crafting Magic. This type of magic enables the wielder to turn ordinary yarn into miraculous and beautiful creations. I know you are a talented practitioner of this type of magic because you’ve previously posted pictures of the results here on the blog. Beautiful!
2) Kitchen Magic (hmm, may have to think of a better name, this reminds me too much of the little Kitchen Witch dolls that many people hang in their kitchen!) This type of magic enables the wielder to combine and turn mundane ingredients into incredible and delectable dishes and desserts. I know you are a master of this type of magic because you’ve posted the spells (recipes) here on the blog, and I’ve followed them to delightful results! 😋
As a side note, I also am a practitioner of this second type of magic. It is well known that this type grows each time a spell is cast, and it works best if there are family members available to partake in the results.
Likewise, this type of magic is passed down from elders to descendants. I inherited my magic from my Grandmother, and my daughter is my apprentice. 🥰💕💕💕💕
Yes! I, too, am a practitioner of this sacred magic and blood sacrifice is involved at times. Not sure if it is to the God of Hunger or the Goddess of Delectable Delights…
Ahh yes, once my husband gives blood I know that the project will be completed and there won’t be any glitches.
Ha! My husband randomly bleeds a lot too (we live in Austin, so maybe it’s a Texas thing?). I have given up caring about the sheets. 🙂
“requires a small blood sacrifice to the God of Home Improvement.”
– Yes, and it’s only /small/ if you’re lucky.
LOL this is so true. This happens sorta often between my partner and I. Usually I have a bruise I didn’t know happened. Poor depth perception turns into lots of table corner / door jamb collisions! I’m also the handy one and will get some injuries here and there.
But thinking back, this happened all the time with my parents! My dad was a busy body and we (Myself being his “most able assistant”) were always working on some kind of project in or out of the house.
When we finished up for the evening, my mom would always insist he show her the top of his head because he almost always managed to injure some part of that bald spot and not notice. He was a tall guy and frequently bumped the top of his head just by existing so he probably tuned it out at some point. She’d treat the lil injury for him alongside some good humored ribbing. It always made me laugh 🙂
Does having one kind of magic preclude you from learning the others?
Thanks for the snippets and the magic lesson. Hope these are in the companion book. TYVM!
Is that a dursan in blog post?
It’s a stock photo, not a commissioned illustration 🙂
Do bruises count as a blood sacrifice? I’ve just bought a house and have been doing many, many home improvement projects. I’ve been finding random bruises all over my arms and legs and think “what did I do/how did that happen?”, then shrug and think it’s just “the cost of doing business “. Now I can say it’s the blood sacrifice to the God of Home Improvement!
Hah! I love the idea of a stock photo of a dursun – lol!
thank you for the information!
Don’t forget car repairs. they always require blood sacrifice.
That sacrifice must be related to the sacrifice of a tool to the God of Household Mechanical Maintenance… one of your required and necessary tools or parts will break for every maintenance job… blood may or may not also be required if Improvement is also being invoked…
My husband sacrifices regularly to the God of Home Improvement and he is constucting a black powder refle kit so there are nicks and little dings. I have the Goddess of Horse care and barn maintenance who appears to require random bruises in odd places and a bit of blood here and there from the scratch you dont remember getting. I also quilt and craft so the sacrifices continue. thanks for the snippet.
There’s a little magic in every one of us. Some people have charisma, others have an aptitude for mechanical things, or language, or math, or music.