A continued except from the book A Short History of Magic (with modern applications) by Cassie Lee Ro Luryada, written as part of the Wyreth companions for general knowledge series.
Section 3.1: Introduction to Warlocks
Warlocks are individuals with the ability to generate locks, sometimes referred to as warlocks (noun) but better known colloquially as simply locks. Warlocks are classified as universalists, although some aspects of their power are restricted to local domains.
Section 3.2: The Art of Warlockcraft
Locks are invisible ties intricately linking one thing to another. Once put up, a lock can last indefinitely. This means that often a lock will outlast the objects it is attached to. Because of this, warlocks are considered powerful and highly dangerous magic.
A lock will not break unless a warlock wills it or one of the objects fully decays. The oldest recorded lock was discovered in the dungeons of Ya-itma. Dating of the object estimated the lock was around six hundred years old.
Section 3.3: Proximal Constraints of Warlocks
Warlocks, unlike warders, require some form of contact to establish a lock. There are two scenarios. In the first, a warlock can create a lock by touching one object and merging it with another. The warlock is only required to be in contact with one of the objects in this case. The objects are then unable to be pulled apart by any means, including warding.
The second scenario involves the warlock touching both objects, resulting in a lock of a slightly different type. The objects do not need to ever touch in this scenario, but they will always maintain the same distance from each other as when the lock was formed. Often compared superficially to magnets, this phenomenon is observable in the centres of most large cities, where floating displays showcasing history are common. These displays were created by warlocks.
Section 3.4: Material Constraints
Warlocks display the similar typing restrictions to warders, where locks cannot be attached to certain types of objects. A warlock cannot form a lock onto living flesh, but most other types of living matter–including all known plant matter, can be locked on to. Warlocks have been measured to have about half the number of exceptions and restrictions of warders. Whether this is inherent to the warlock ability or due to increased modifications on warding by Warrung is unknown.
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Section 3.5: Origins and Warlock Lineages
Scholars remain undecided about the precise origins of warlocks, but it is assumed they have similar origins to warders. It can also be deduced that they originated at around the same time as well, due to the fact that roughly equal numbers of warders and warlocks remain in the Network, with warlock numbers estimated to be slightly lower.
Section 3.6: Warlocks and Warders
The close link between warders and warlocks is often pointed out by casual students of magic. Both are universalists. Both warders and warlocks have restrictions against lying. Both have what is known as the “five year rule” when bequeathing the ability to the next in the lineage. Both warlocks and warders have heightened healing abilities, although warders tend to heal a white to white-grey colour while warlocks heal a dark-grey to black colour.
The similarities have lead many a category theorist and academic to delve into comprehensive comparative studies between the two. As there are no practical applications, I will quote one of the leading theorists, Professor Terry Tarberry:
> “I mean, I think the link is between warders and warlocks is obvious. Let’s start with warding. See, the interesting thing about warding isn’t the restrictions or the healing or any of the actual applications. It’s the equations. No other magic is as specific as warding. It’s the hardest of hard magics and no one acknowledges it! It’s fascinating.
>
> But anyway, the interesting thing about warding equations isn’t that they define a barrier but that they define a space. They didn’t need to define a space. There’s no reason the same barrier ability couldn’t be applied to two dimensional surfaces as opposed to three dimensional shapes. Oh, there might be some issues with infinitely sharp edges but it wouldn’t be that different application wise. In fact, using surfaces would be significantly easier in many aspects. They’re much easier to calculate.
>
> No, my theory for the reason warding equations define a space is because warding has nothing to do with wards at all. Warders aren’t creating wards. They are creating the bubble inside the ward. Say I create a water ward. When I do so, I am dividing all water in the world into two group: the water inside, and the water outside. And if I leave that ward up, those two groups can never, ever touch again.
>
> That’s what warding is! It’s not about barriers or blocking things. It’s about division. Dividing something into two completely separate sets.
>
> And now the connection with warlocks is obvious, isn’t it? Because warlocks stick things together. A lock is just a connection. And what is connection but the opposite of division? My theory is that warders and warlocks are two sides of the same coin. Warlocks manipulate connection, and warders manipulate division.”