Introduction

An Arcanagram is a magic-imbued code designed to execute magic in a consistent, calculated manner. They allow humans to create and utilize magic that’s otherwise outside their natural grasp.

To create an Arcanagram, the clauses of execution must be written inside the lines. The lines themselves contain commands written in the Seer’s language, otherwise known as The Code. Without this, the shapes remain as mere powerless pictures.

The name of the Gram is determined by the number of points. A five point Gram is a Pentagram, and so forth.

Common Base Arcanagrams

Pentagrams (5) and Hexagrams (6) are the simplest Grams to have a standalone function. These are the two most basic Arcanagrams that any Magus will learn. They’re easy to construct and teach students the many foundations of complex Grams. Consequently, these are also the most well-known Grams to the public.

Typically, the points required for Arcanagrams are determined by their reagents & catalysts. The more components, the larger the Gram.

Keeping a Gram as small as possible is vital for highly experimental magic. Initiating volatile code without streamlining a Gram exponentially increases the chances of a meltdown.

Auxiliary Grams

Triangles (3), Squares (4), and Circles (0) serve as Gram enclosures depending on their placement and design. They are not fully able to stand on their own.

Triangles represent the magic of monsters. A triangle will transfer its effects only to a monster and no other. Therefore, it is used for any spell that is monster specific.

Ex: Monster Binding Fields, Showering Stars Spell.

Squares represent humans. The extra point is required to bypass the physical body. This is used for any spell that is human specific.

Ex: Human Binding Fields, Seven Psychia Barrier.

Circles contain other Grams within their boundaries, similar to a container. They will serve to transfer external components, such as reagents & catalysts.

Compound Grams

These are combinations of multiple Grams. For example, a Decagram (10) can either be made up of a combination of two grams that total to ten, or a standalone Deca.

Compound Grams will have a different function compared to standalones. This is vital to consider when trying to identify unknown Grams.

Reagents & catalysts

Outside of The Code, the primary modifiers of a Gram’s effects are determined by external components in the form of reagents or catalysts.

Reagents are components that are consumed upon casting, either burned as fuel or mixed together with the results.

Catalysts are not consumed. Though, their structural integrity is not always guaranteed.

Examples of components include:

Aspects - Sourced from the Psychia itself. The colours utilized determine the outcome.

Life - Leaves, scales, seeds, or other organic matter sourced by living things. The type materials used depends on the caster’s objective.

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Ex: A mix of Purification and plant life matter to cleanse corrupted lands.

The most powerful Life Grams deal with Determination, the willpower to live. These could either be tapped straight from the Psychia or from fresh human blood. The amount of Determination depends on an individual’s personality and Aspects.

Metal - These elements often comprise the most potent tiers of their category.

Eg: Iron / Carbon for Strengthening, Silver for Purification, Gold for Amplification, Mercury for Corruption.

Purification - Historically regulated to preservative sources such as salt, vegetable oil, lye, and silver. In modern days, choices of purification substances are greatly expanded. These draw out contamination within their target, from poisons to disruptive Determination.

Purification magic is NOT a replacement for proper medical treatment. The removal of toxins alone is not enough to prevent or halt fatal bodily reactions and cellular death. If poisoning is suspected, always administer a certified antidote and take the afflicted to a hospital as soon as possible.

Corruption - Applies to anything that causes the destruction or destabilization of life. These range from poisons such as mercury, to cyanide, to assorted other neurotoxins. Adding this component to a Gram encourages the manifestations of baneful spirits. This can be used as part of a lure or trap.

Special Notes: If used in conjunction with a Purification Reagent of the same tier, this transforms into a Neutralizer. It’s the cornerstone of many Vanquisher DEMON traps.

Amplification - Focuses and multiplies the output of a Gram. Common sources include silica based crystals (i.e quartz, glass). Gold is a particularly valued catalyst. Per weight, it’s the most effective amplifier on the periodic scale. However, it lacks the ability to lend a physical form unlike silica-based amplifiers.

Note that silica-based amplifiers have a tendency to become fine dust after use. Whenever possible, do not breathe in the particulates. Other hazards include ocular and skin lacerations.

Strengthening - The reinforcing nature of these materials adds strength to the integrity of a Gram. Example, adding chains made of metallic iron to a Binding Seal will combine its material strength on top of the magical input. Carbon and iron are the two most common sources in modern day.

Death - The Aspect of Death is a DEMON specific identification marker. It serves to either target or to summon their presence. In other words, it represents the spirit’s cause of death. This can take in the form of the possible murder weapon, a symbol of their demise, or the exact source of mortality.

If the deceased was stabbed by a screwdriver, then any screwdriver becomes their Aspect of Death. If they were the victims of a fire, a candle or a bonfire suffices. If they died from a known source of poisoning, search for the same chemical that caused their downfall.

Do not fully recreate their moment of death. This puts the spirit in deep emotional turmoil, increasing the risk of a backlash and violence.

Please consult the specialized catalyst & reagent literature for a full list.

Special Grams

The following Grams are known to have a unique function:

Septa (7) - Psychia.

Septagrams deal with anything involving Psychia. Each point accepts a different Aspect, essentially allowing for full absorption of a living person's essence, or a fragment thereof.

It’s first and most famous historical use was the creation of the Mount Ebott’s Seven-Soul Barrier. By combining different Psychia, the First Magi created a dimension-separating bubble of spacetime.

Caution is strongly advised for all seven-root grams. They are powerful, and thus susceptible to misuse.

Trideca (13) - The Seer’s Seal.

The first Gram made of a two-digit prime number. Its standalone version has only one known stable use: which is to create the Seer’s Seal.

The primary function of a Seer’s Seal was to remove Determination without inflicting long-term harm. This prevents the usage of their unique magic.

The Seer’s Seal does the following:

1. Draws and channels all Seven Aspects for input.

2. Reserves one point to burn Determination as a reagent.

3. Reroutes the remaining six untouched Aspects back to the target.

In other words, it relies on the target’s own magic to empower its sealing properties.

Due to its complexity, a Seer’s Seal can only be undone by another Seer. It’s created to to let potential Seers live a peaceful life without the burdens associated with their magic.

For best effects, the seal must be placed before a Seer’s Awakening. Late applications will eventually break from their target’s overloading power.

Heptadeca (17) - Annihilation.

The second Gram that utilizes a two-digit prime number. This was originally created as a theorized weapon of mass destruction, but it never performed at the expected scale. Vanquishers further refined this number for their personal use.

DEMONs often bind multiple vessels to hide or escape from elimination. Failure to address this issue will cause recurring resurrections. Therefore, this Gram was created to both funnel a DEMON to a desired vessel while destroying all spares. This will permanently confine the target to a single location.

For safety concerns, this Gram’s specific construction will not be elaborated on.

Quadraginta Nova (49) - Soul Stealer

This is the pinnacle example of a misused Septa-based Arcanagram.

The Soul Stealer is designed to separate and funnel every complete Psychia within a designated radius. The effects are one-way, often irreversible through normal means.

A Quadraginta-Novagram requires a huge investment of energy. As such, few are able to fulfil the requirements to launch a Soul Stealer.