Thaumaturgy

Th is fi eld of study combines certain aspects of tech nomancy, alchemy, and enchantment; some scholars believe that the fi eld is an off shoot of the lost art of sorcery. In the current age, the Dracartans of Caran theum and the Phantasians of Cabal Magicus are the only practitioners of thaumaturgy. Each is profi cient only in their own limited areas of knowledge, the vast majority of thaumaturgic lore having been lost dur ing Th e Great Disaster.

Th aumaturgy operates according to the principles of Talislantan metaphysics, which state that even the most fundamental or elusive substance has an essence that can be extracted and concentrated. Th aumaturg es use a device called an essence accumulator to distill such essences from the surrounding environs. Like alchemical wares, essences are not “magical” and do not count against the seven-item limit for enchanted items.

Basic knowledge of thaumaturgy includes overall knowledge of the science, its history and function, the safe procedures for handling essences, the use of thaumaturgical tools such as the essence accumulator and caduceus and the distlillation of Quintessence. Th e ability to use an essence accumulator to collect and refi ne various substances requires the relevant Quirk (see the various Distill Quriks).

Phantasian thaumaturgy has declined to the point that the only substances their people are capable of creating is Dream Essence and certain types of Dis tillations.

Dracartan Th aumaturges are able to build or repair an essence accumulator, the device used to derive and distill essences. Th ey are also skilled in the use of of the thaumaturgic wand, or caduceus. Th is is a rod shaped device made from a mixture of red iron pow dered diamond, and quintessence (see Equipment). By adjusting two moveable metal bands the wand can be used to utilize the properties of quintessence (or to analyze materials and substances). Because they contain quintessence, these wands are charged with volatile forces and only a trained thaumaturge can safely utilize their properties. A caduceus is always carried in a special tube-like container in order to prevent accidental contact with elemental essences, which can have disastrous consequences.

Training Period: 100 weeks Attribute Modifi er: INT