magic in the land

[marycatelli]

How much magic lies about in the land?

There are no magical creatures like dragons or gryphons, and no people except humans. But there is a spell, a major spell, that is vital to the kingdom. There is also a wise old woman who does some stuff in a secret place.

Is there any other magic being worked in the land? Would the heroine be aware of it if there were? Would she lump in magic useful for blacksmithing in with the general art? Is it fundamentally part of the of the major spell? There is magic that handles transportation as part of the major one. . . and the wise old woman could tap into it.

Though -- its use in battle is important. Especially since it's a question of why rebel forces can stand against the queen if the major spell fuels her armies.

Hmmm -- kings and queens might have to send their armies from their kingdoms. So battle magic, at least, is probably distinct. If existent.

Comments

[jbellinger]

Battle magic sounds like an interesting subject. That's one body of skills the rulers would take very seriously and preserve at all costs. There could be generic spells and counter spells and counter-counter spells, and spells associated with only _this_ valley.

The possiblities are fascinating: Babel-spells to confuse command-and-control, fogs and blackouts, irritants, death/disease, waking up the trees around your enemy's army, hauntings--and counter-spells for all of them. If one can't field all the spells in your arsenal at once, that opens the way for some clever kludging to use what you do have against what the enemy has.

You may have Excalibur, but your opponent may have its scabbard.

Probably this has nothing whatever to do with your story, of course.

[marycatelli]

actually some of it definitely does. One attack catches her alone with a small guard, and the magic tears her away -- a single guard manages to keep with her despite the magic.