The Art of Inscription
Inscription is a skill tied to the Intelligence (INT) attribute. It can be acquired as a trained skill through the Apprentice Scribe profession.
Crafting a Spark
Section titled “Crafting a Spark”Creating a Spark requires proficiency in both Crafting and Inscription.
- Choose a material from the Material Table below.
- Check skill requirements. Materials at Ceramic tier or above require a skill level of at least 12 in both Crafting and Inscription.
- Make your roll against the lower of your two skill values (Crafting or Inscription).
- Commit Willpower. Decide how many WP to spend.
- Calculate charges using the formula below.
Material Table
Section titled “Material Table”| Material | Efficiency Ratio | Skill Modifier |
|---|---|---|
| Wood | 1 : 1 | +1d6 |
| Clay | 1 : 2 | +2d6 |
| Ceramic | 1 : 4 | +3d6 |
| Glass / Bone | 1 : 6 | +4d6 |
| Gemstones | 1 : 10 | +5d6 |
- Efficiency Ratio: How many charges are stored per point of WP spent.
- Skill Modifier: A craftsmanship bonus (rolled in d6s) added to the total charges.
Calculating Charges
Section titled “Calculating Charges”(WP Spent × Ratio) + Skill Modifier = Total Charges
Example
Section titled “Example”An Inscriptor with 18 WP decides to create a Glass Spark, spending 3 WP.
- Base charges: 3 WP × 6 (Glass ratio) = 18
- Skill Modifier: Roll 4d6 → result: 12
- Total charges: 18 + 12 = 30 charges
- WP cost: The Inscriptor spends 3 WP.
Recharging
Section titled “Recharging”A Spark that has not yet been fully exhausted can be recharged by an Inscriptor.
However, recharging is inefficient — it costs 4 WP per charge and takes one stretch of time to complete.
The Golden Rule: Metal Kills Magic
Section titled “The Golden Rule: Metal Kills Magic”Regardless of the WP invested or the quality of the roll, metal grounds magic. Any Spark held by an individual wearing metal armor or wielding metal tools will instantly ground out, rendering the device inert.
Professional Inscriptors and dedicated Spark-users rely exclusively on gear made of leather, wood, bone, or reinforced ceramic. See The Metal Rule for full details.