Linking Metal Types to Schools of Magic

[Herremann the Wise]

Hi Everyone,

I'm looking forward to running a new campaign with our group soon - Age of Worms. In this, I wanted to differentiate wizards from the other casters in that they wear chains representing their mastery over particular schools of magic - not dissimilar to the Maesters in the Game of Thrones books by George R.R. Martin.

Does anyone have any suggestions for linking particular metal types with those of the schools of magic: Abjuration, Conjuration, Divination, Enchantment, Evocation, Illusion, Necromancy, Transmutation.

Alternatively, if you have any other weird and/or interesting ideas with this or other social functions, feel free to add your thoughts.

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

 

[xnosipjpqmhd]

Does anyone have any suggestions for linking particular metal types with those of the schools of magic...

I would say death metal would go with Necromancy, god rock would go with Divination, acid rock might fit with transmutation... not sure where to put grindcore and thrash metal...

Oh, wait, something tells me that's not what you meant...

ironregime

 

[Blaque]

Well, some random ideas on real metals:
- Lead seems to be soemthing you'd link to necromancy wihtout much thought. Though, because lead is bad for you, and sucks for chahin, I wrought iron, or whatnot would be a good idea for it, unless you handwave the lead being poisenous thing, and just assume the metal is for style.

- Silver or siler-looking metals like mithril fit abjuration. Silver was often a material used for charms and protection. This is with the idea that the bad things come out at night, and the moon's light often was the only true beacon in the darkness. The silver light that pierces the darkness and all

- Gold for transumutation fits for my mind. This goes with transumutation sorta falling into alchemy in the sense of doing just that, and I can see it being a very useful metal. Gold-colored stuff, like a form of orichalchum, also would help.

- Copper or some other reddish metal would fit evocation's tendancy towards blowing stuff up. Copper for the chemist out there, is also one of the better conducutres (so is gold and silver, but they're taken already.) Seems like a way to go there meh thinks.

Ummmm, just for now my ideas there. You can also think of colors for them too, and assume they have the metulurgy to make the steel in the chain look like they want also

Stuff.

 

[domino]

Iron would work for evocation as well.

Or some of the alkali metals, which burn/explode on contact with air.

I'd say silver for enchantment. Or one of the other valuable metals.

 

[Baron Opal]

Well, the metals known to the ancients were gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, tin and mercury. They also knew of arsenic, but I don't think they considered that a metal.

Silver : Abjuration

Silver is known as the blessed metal, tied to protection, wounding the supernatural, etc.

Mercury : Transmutation

With its shifting, moving shape as well as the alchemical lore around it mercury seems to be perfect. Perhaps they wear a vial of it as a pendant.

Iron : Conjuration

Iron is the strong metal, used in forging binding chains. This fits in with the concepts of "binding" outer-planar creatures, the need for "iron will".

Tin : Evocation

One way to gauge the purity of tin is to flex it. The squeak that it makes is very distinctive, known as the "cry of tin". It was associated with thunder, and astrologically tied to Jupiter. this might make it a candidate for the creation of forces.

Gold : Divination

Gold is tied to the sun alchemically and astrologically, the source of light and vision.

Lead : Necromancy

Lead has a distinctive grey color and is unusually heavy. There are also vauge negative connotations with the metal...

That leaves copper unassigned along with divination and illusion. Lead would be a good candidate for abjuration as well given its antimagic properties.

- Baron Opal

 

[Tuzenbach]

I love metallurgical threads!

 

[wuyanei]

Copper can go with divination -- mirrors in ancient times were made out of either polished silver (if you were very, very rich) or polished copper (everyone else).

As for illusion... how about pyrite (fool's gold). It is not a pure metal, but the properties do fit.

 

[Testament]

Abjuration: Lead. It blocks divination, and is heavy and hard to move in any real amount.

Transmutation: Mercury. Ever shifting, ever changing.

Necromancy: Iron. Iron chains, cities of iron in the underworld, you get the idea.

Divination: Silver. Polished silver forms mirrors, and mirrors, as well as being a focus for the classic divination (Scrying) are associated with insight.

Evocation: Copper. One of the strongest conductors of electricity, and its colouration can be reminiscent of fire.

Enchantment: Gold. Greed addles the mind, and gold is the focus of greed. Enchantment also addles the mind.

I've got no sporking idea of what to do for Conjuration and Illusion. Hope this were helpful though.

 

[Remathilis]

Abjuration: Lead. It blocks divination, and is heavy and hard to move in any real amount.

Transmutation: Mercury. Ever shifting, ever changing.

Necromancy: Iron. Iron chains, cities of iron in the underworld, you get the idea.

Divination: Silver. Polished silver forms mirrors, and mirrors, as well as being a focus for the classic divination (Scrying) are associated with insight.

Evocation: Copper. One of the strongest conductors of electricity, and its colouration can be reminiscent of fire.

Enchantment: Gold. Greed addles the mind, and gold is the focus of greed. Enchantment also addles the mind.

I've got no sporking idea of what to do for Conjuration and Illusion. Hope this were helpful though.

Illusion: How bout Electrum? No one SERIOUSLY took electrum back in the day...

Conjuration: Platinum? (Don't you need platinum for one of the material comp or am I off base?)

 

[fusangite]

When characterizing a metal, be sure to think about all of its manifestations: pyrite, ore, oxidized, etc. For instance, I'd think of mercury's primary form as cinnibar rather than quicksilver.

There is some good stuff on this in 2E and, to a lesser extent, 3E Runequest. Also, remember that the physics of your world don't have to associate metals in quite the same way as ours. In RQ, for instance, the physics made aluminum and mercury relatives.