The Codex of Power

The Concord

the powers of this world, set against one another

Bearing is the essence a power draws on. Powers that keep their mystery lie in close to the mist; the more a magic is governed by law, the further out it sits, where the plate is ruled and certain.

IStarward CovenantVoid essence · 2 workings · Braced against its own reachIIRootspeechVerdant essence · 2 workings · Bound tighter than it reachesIIIHearthbindingEmber essence · 3 workings · Braced against its own reach

Codex of Power · Void essence

Starward Covenant

Discipline: Soft; consequences are consistent but fulfillment takes indirect forms
Rarity: Very rare, fewer than one witnessed covenant per generation
Reach: Across a kingdom or the world between named endpoints, independent of distance
Regarded: Revered in songs, feared in law

AThe Source. A witnessed promise fixed to a recurring stellar alignment

Who wields it. A willing speaker, a named beneficiary and three independent witnesses

The rite. Speak the same exact promise under the appointed star at both endpoints

Known practitioners. Historical starward witnesses; no living practitioner publicly claims mastery

The Balancea reading of what is written down, not a judgement of the magic

Reach7

Price7

Ward6

Braced against its own reach

What it can do and what it costs are written at about the same weight.

Nothing to flag. Every working on record keeps to the laws this system sets, and each one names a price.

The Grimoire2 workings across 2 disciplines

Sanctuary1

A Light at the Last DoorExceptional

Ensure a named traveler encounters a possible refuge

Price An unknown number of the speaker’s remaining years

Range Between distant named placesLasts Until refuge is offered onceCast by Promise under the same star at departure and destination

Countered by The traveler can refuse; a false identity invalidates the named promise

Temporal reach1

The Season Held OpenUnverified historical

Delay one named place’s final frost until a specific harvest is gathered

Price Permanent pledged years; unpaid cost falls due when the promised harvest ends

Range A named valley or kingdomLasts One specified harvestCast by A witnessed seasonal promise renewed at the stellar return

Countered by Cannot renew a promise already fulfilled; ambiguous harvest names are perilous

Codex of Power · Verdant essence

Rootspeech

Discipline: Balanced; reliable contact, interpretive testimony
Rarity: Uncommon trained practice
Reach: Touch to a single grove, never beyond a connected living root network
Regarded: Respected by mourners, contested in courts

IThe Source. Impressions retained by living plants and shared root systems

Who wields it. Listeners trained to distinguish sensation from interpretation

The rite. Touch exposed living root and repeat an observed rhythm without cutting it

Known practitioners. Iven Morn; Sereva Morn

The Balancea reading of what is written down, not a judgement of the magic

Reach1

Price7

Ward6

Bound tighter than it reaches

The price and the wards are heavy for what the magic actually manages. That can be the point, but check that anyone would still pay it.

Nothing to flag. Every working on record keeps to the laws this system sets, and each one names a price.

The Grimoire2 workings across 2 disciplines

Memory1

Ask the Standing WitnessTrained listener

Hear one recent impression from a living tree

Price A personal memory becomes inaccessible until rest

Range TouchLasts MinutesCast by Touch a root and repeat the rhythm of the remembered event

Countered by Interrupt contact; dead wood cannot answer

Restoration1

Graft a Lost NameMaster

Reconnect a displaced impression to a consenting living grove

Price Risk of permanently retaining the stranger’s memory

Range One connected groveLasts Uncertain; may last generationsCast by Join compatible roots while the bearer speaks the remembered name

Countered by Incompatible roots or absent consent

Codex of Power · Ember essence

Hearthbinding

Discipline: Hard; measurable transfer with uncertain historical infrastructure
Rarity: Common small-work craft, rare network expertise
Reach: A room or city through connected channels; realm-sized networks require fixed chambers
Regarded: Necessary public service, distrusted monopoly

EThe Source. Existing heat in bodies, fires, water and rooted wood

Who wields it. Trained binders using calibrated garnets

The rite. Close a conductive circuit with a matched pair of garnets and a living cedar root

Known practitioners. Hedra Halvek; Ossa Sere; Mira Pell

The Balancea reading of what is written down, not a judgement of the magic

Reach6

Price7

Ward7

Braced against its own reach

What it can do and what it costs are written at about the same weight.

Nothing to flag. Every working on record keeps to the laws this system sets, and each one names a price.

The Grimoire3 workings across 3 disciplines

Containment1

Carry the EmberAdept

Store a bounded quantity of warmth in a sealed ceramic jar

Price Heat from the source; jar loses charge over three days

Range TouchLasts Up to three daysCast by Charge through a root wick and remove it before sealing

Countered by Crack the glaze or immerse in a large cold reservoir

Infrastructure1

Open the Winter RoadMaster

Keep one prepared stretch of paving above freezing

Price Fuel and sustained crew labor; dangerous bodily overdraw if supply fails

Range A maintained passLasts One shift before recalibrationCast by Synchronize buried root channels with the pass furnace

Countered by Sever a buried channel or overwhelm it with meltwater

Transfer1

Borrow a HearthNovice

Warm one room from a measured source

Price Fatigue; the cistern cools equally

Range One roomLasts Until circuit opensCast by A paired-garnet circuit around a cistern

Countered by Break the circuit or remove the source