Matter

The Arcana of Matter deals with the transmutation and shaping of the Fallen World's various forms of physical matter. Mages proficient in this Arcanum can repair broken objects, transmute substances into other substances, shape solids, liquids, and gases as they please, annihilate matter, and even create matter out of nothing. It is primarily used by the Moros^[1].

Influences

Alchemy, chemistry, elemental air, elemental earth, elemental water, shaping, transmutation.

Nature and Power

The Arcanum of Matter is the Gross Arcana of the Supernal Realm of Stygia, a trait it shares with the Arcanum of Death. Stygia is riddled with objects of wealth to the cultures of the Fallen World, whether the piled gold and silver in the tombs of the dead, the veins of precious ore and gems that run through the rock, or the rich marble that composes the ground of the realm. The country of death is filled with base objects and solids, and so influence over these substances is strong in that realm. Of course, the Fallen World is not quite as riddled with matter as Stygia, but the power of Matter is still formidable.

Though most of the Fallen World is composed of empty vacuum, awash in a sea of energy, everything that truly matters in the material universe is made of matter. Our stars are made of flaming gas. The planet we live on is built from metal and rock and magma, covered with oceans of water and sheathed in a protective shroud of air. Without the anchor of matter, stars could not burn, the galaxy could not remain tied together, and life could not come to be.

Considering the power of matter on a less cosmic level, the Fallen World and its peoples are intimately connected to the material. Mundane matter is all around a mage who sets out to influence it. Humanity has a great reliance on tools and devices, and a mage with the full power of the Arcanum of Matter can make his devices or those of his allies superior to those of a mundane Sleeper, or reduce the quality of the tools of his enemies to the point where they become useless. He can create the means for himself to survive on from nothing, crafting devices, conjuring up raw materials, or simply spinning the gold to buy such things out of thin air. A mage can shape objects and substances as he desires, whether solid, liquid, or even gas. He can convert types of matter into other types, or simply render them unto dust, as he wills. Higher level mages are capable of creating the mythic substance of thaumium, a metal capable of storing Mana within its form, though this also requires some mastery of Prime.

Aurora

(Apprentice)

Chambers

(Initiate)

Levels of Proficiency

Initiate (●)

An Initiate of Matter, with the first level of mastery, can read dense resonance, discern how to operate a complex machine, detect specific substances in his surroundings, and recognize the structure and density of an object. He can also alter the conductivity of a simple item, and detect hidden compartments and passages within walls and objects.

• Spells: Alter Conductivity, Breach Point, Counterspell, Crafters Eye, Craftmans Eye, Dark Matter, Detect Substance, Discern Composition, Eye for Destruction, Find the Hidden Hoard, Sense Poisons and Drugs
• House Ruled: Eye for Destruction
• Banned:

Apprentice (●●)

The second level of mastery allows an Apprentice of Matter to grant his perception of dense resonance to others. He can improve the balance and weight of an object, making it more accurate, or alter the transparency of objects to allow sight through walls or to bar the sight of others through normally transparent objects. He gains power over the composition and shape of liquid objects, allowing him to turn one liquid into another or shape it into any form he desires, without heed of gravity or cohesion. Finally, the mage gains the power to employ surrounding matter as a shield, using water vapour to douse flame, softening oncoming projectiles, or using air to dampen the inertia of blows.

• Spells: Alchemy, Alter Accuracy, Control Object, Deceptive Appearance, Evidence Shroud, Eyes of the Earth, Loosen the Threads, Manufacture Powder, Shape Liquid, Steel Windows, Temporary Repair, Transmute Water, Unseen Aegis, Weaponize Object
• House Ruled: Alchemy, Manufacture Powder, Unseen Aegis
• Banned: Weaponize Object

Disciple (●●●)

With the third level of mastery, a Disciple of Matter can bestow his shield upon others. His power over the composition of liquids expands to solids, allowing him to change one solid into another (though he cannot yet shape solid matter, or change things into rare or precious objects). He can make substances more or less resistant to damage, repair broken objects, and make weapons or ammunition armour-piercing. Also, he can now combine various parts of unrelated devices into a working machine to do whatever he pleases.

• Spells: Acidic Spatter, Alter Integrity, Alter Raiment, Animate Object, Armor Piercing, Backbite, Book of Metal, Bundle Enchantments, Enhance Toxin, Jury-Rig, Manufacture Drop, Manufacture Medication, Manufacture Oil or Jelly, Manufacture Salve, Manufacture Spray, Perfect Lock, Plasticity, Reassembly, Repair Object, Transmute Earth
• House Ruled: Acidic Spatter, Alter Integrity, Book of Metal, Manufacture Drop, Manufacture Medication, Manufacture Oil or Jelly, Manufacture Salve
• Banned:

Adept (●●●●)

An Adept of Matter can, using the fourth level of mastery, alter the form of solid objects as he wills or create rare and precious substances out of base materials. His control over solid and liquid matter is extended to gaseous substances, as he can now alter the density and course of gas or change one form of gas into another. He also gains the power to transmute solids into liquids or liquids into solids, whether they are related (ice into water) or not (soup into iron). Mechanical objects may be altered to be more or less efficient. Finally, the mage can annihilate chunks of mundane matter, dissolving it utterly and leaving behind no trace of its existence.

• Spells: Alter Efficiency, Annihilate Matter, Duplication, Fold Object, Golem, Improve Quality, Lesser Transmogrification, Petrifaction, Reconfigure Object, Secret Compartment, Shape Air, Stone Servitor, Transmute Air, Transmute Gold, Transubstantiation of Content
• House Ruled: Petrifaction
• Banned:

Master (●●●●●)

At the fifth level of mastery, a Master of Matter may change the size of an object, making it larger or smaller as he pleases. His ability to transform substances grows yet again, allowing him to transform objects between states of solid, liquid, or gas. His faculty with objects increases to the point where he can cause them to constantly repair themselves, and he can create objects out of nothing. His powers over destruction also increase to the point where he can unravel even magically charged objects such as enhanced or imbued items, thaumium, or even Artifacts.

• Spells: Alter Size, Annihilate Extraordinary Matter, Construct Homunculus Form, Forge Thaumium, Greater Transmogrification, Raw Creation, Self-Repairing Machine
• House Ruled:
• Banned:

Conjunctional Arcana

Life

A Disciple of both Matter and Life can transform inanimate objects into minor living creatures, such as swarms of insects or spiders. The spell does not grant him control over the creatures created, however.

Prime

A Master of Matter and Disciple of Prime can combine the perfected metals of orichalcum, lunargent, and hermium to create a powerful magical substance called thaumium. Thaumium can be used to store Mana, and if properly made it can be harder and lighter than any other substance.