The mage
can transmute one common
solid substance into another
common solid substance. The
mage could turn a small chunk of
granite into glass or a plaster paperweight
into a wooden one. At this level,
however, a mage cannot transform the
substance of multiple materials at once.
Thus, she could not transmute an entire
car, but she could turn its fender to balsa
wood or its frame to rubber.
Transformations that involve precious
metals or otherwise rare materials
are not possible at this level. (That is,
“precious” and “rare” by common
Sleeper estimation. While diamonds
are by no means rare, they have significant
metaphysical weight based upon
the importance most people believe
them to possess.) Such workings require
use of the Matter 4 Transmute Gold spell, p. 202.
At this level, the mage must touch
the targeted object (although he can
do so using forceps or other tools).
With Matter 4, he can cast this spell at
sensory range.
Radical transmutations might levy
spellcasting penalties. Changing rock
to metal has no penalty, but changing
rock to paper might be –1.
Note that this spell does not alter the shape or Size of the object, just its material
substance. Its weight becomes
heavier or lighter by whatever degree is
most appropriate for the new substance.
With Matter 4, a solid object composed
of more than one material can be
affected with a single casting (although
it must still be touched; Matter 5 is
needed to transmute multiple solid
substances at sensory range). The mage
can affect multiple kinds of materials at once (such as the different parts of a
revolver) or just one piece or sort of
material. (Thus, she could transform
the bullets, which are made of a number
of substances, or just the hammer,
or the entire weapon according to her
wishes.) This ability also allows the
mage to transform complex materials
into simple ones. The willworker is
capable of turning a diamond into a
small lump of clay, or a priceless centuries-
old Japanese metal tachi into a
sword made entirely of wood.
Silver Ladder Rote: Lesser Material Transfiguration
This classic act of alchemical wizardry
sees use by many mages of the
Silver Ladder. A flimsy card table could
be overturned and transformed into a
steel barrier, or a stout door could be
turned into cheap glass. Naturally, this
useful magic is practiced by members
of all orders with sufficient skill in the
Matter Arcanum.
