military magic
Mar. 11th, 2017 09:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
marycatelliConsidering the navy of my Faerie, which underwent a transformation when there was a disenchantment arms race, and spellcraft gave way to brute strength, because unlike a sail woven on the mast from cobwebs, a linen one hefted on ropes would not vanish. (And so on!)
Tech about the level of the early 19th century -- Jane Austen with -- ehem -- the Fair Folk. Though with the race you got a lot more of the folk who weren't great at spells. Like selkies.
Then the question is, what effect would magic and then disenchantment have on the army? All right, the land you marched and fought on was not liable to disappear at disenchantment, unlike a ship conjured from an eggshell, but there's still the question of weaponry, and supplies, and supplemental effects on land. Many a gallant cavalry charge would founder if an opposing wizard could cast earth-to-mud. Not to mention effects of wizardry on invisibility and weather.
Not to mention that if the weaponry had magical supplements, driving women off the battle field would not keep them from arming themselves in day-to-day life as needed. Early 19th century, it was still the done thing for a man to walk about with a sword. And it was not unknown for him to need it. Even a genteel young lady might find it useful to walk about with some means of engaging in violence.
Hmmm. . . . especially if disenchantment could not easily be done on the cheap.
Tech about the level of the early 19th century -- Jane Austen with -- ehem -- the Fair Folk. Though with the race you got a lot more of the folk who weren't great at spells. Like selkies.
Then the question is, what effect would magic and then disenchantment have on the army? All right, the land you marched and fought on was not liable to disappear at disenchantment, unlike a ship conjured from an eggshell, but there's still the question of weaponry, and supplies, and supplemental effects on land. Many a gallant cavalry charge would founder if an opposing wizard could cast earth-to-mud. Not to mention effects of wizardry on invisibility and weather.
Not to mention that if the weaponry had magical supplements, driving women off the battle field would not keep them from arming themselves in day-to-day life as needed. Early 19th century, it was still the done thing for a man to walk about with a sword. And it was not unknown for him to need it. Even a genteel young lady might find it useful to walk about with some means of engaging in violence.
Hmmm. . . . especially if disenchantment could not easily be done on the cheap.