inscribed
word -> glyph
sentence -> spell
paragraph/verse -> ritual
story -> ward
only when it is WRITTEN is it classified as script. People who practice this type of magic are Scribes. They'd have the pathway (type of magic eg healing) in front of their scribe title as classification.
glyphs have base properties that are unique for each one. however by altering how you write the glyph, the meaning can change. e.g the create spell, if not written fully could recreate the sensation of something through only one of your senses. the life glyph when shittily written in a revivify ritual brings the target to a half life state where they're effectively brain dead. (this is where I would write about how healing and necromancy in this world are intrinsically linked and doctors here need good handwriting to be called a healer or else theyd be liches)
Beings are born with a source of magic within them, however, they cannot express it unless they channel it through language first. With every being created, they have Name Glyphs associated with them. Each individual has a Clan Glyph, and a Personal Glyph.
- Clan Glyphs are misleading in that they actually are linked to the species of the individual. Theres a whole creation story that Clan Glyphs determined the key characteristics of each race, e.g humans have adaptability, the elves had swiftness etc. that is still a wip since I haven't fully decided which fantasy races i want in the world lmao
- Personal Glyphs are kind of self explanatory in that they relate to the individual. it describes their being and unlike Clan Glyphs, can change in time.
- Some also have Family Glyphs, but you don't typically see them unless it's an Emanator lineage.
people who use scripts as their source of magic require a physical medium to write their scripts
[Ari preferred chalk but now uses the fantasy equivalent of a Sharpie
Nera engraves hers onto whatever material she's enchanting.
Papa Ispada likes woodburning but will settle for ink and paper. He has made fantasy latte art with a spell inside the coffee (usually a keep-warm spell) and has taught both of his kids how to do it whenever they help out at the cafe.]
There's different 'languages' of scripts, the most archaic being the purest form in that the words you write are magic in itself. These types of scripts therefore, are irreversible and very unforgiving. it's basically like livestreaming your all your mistakes to the world but the world is the all powerful entity of magic and they like taking epic fail VODs of ur worst moments.
Archaic scripts take up less space as they are condensed to a message's purest meaning. Modern scriptwriting is more time consuming as you need more steps to do things.
However, the payoff is that modern language variants of scriptwriting are inert until you provide it stimulus. They're usually less potent, but usually because it takes time to write a good script you know?
Most magical non scribes are some of these types:
- Warblers and Orators- they use magic when they speak (Orator) or sing (Warbler) the words. Warbler and Orators's spells are unique to an individual. There are base compositions that they learn but they are all heavily encouraged to embellish with their own style. They have a repertoire of memorised spells that they can recite at any given time.
- Conductors, who utilise enchanted weapons (Usually made by Enchantment Scribes) as a focus, which are further split as this includes melee fighters AND mages. If the weapon is of masterwork quality and the person of high skill, their title is Conductor of ____ (e.g Nera is the Conductor of the Twin Suns)
- the weapon usually has one (or rarely, two) properties that will manifest the magic in that way.
- There are also *Emanators, that don't work off these rules but instead use their Name Glyphs in a way that lets them manifest magical traits. (think barbarian or sorcerer in dnd)