The City of Thurmark

Overview

Long ago, in the sleepy university town of Thurmark, an arcane research school known as the Collegium Arcanum made a discovery that would reshape civilization. A team of three scholars developed a process they called Inscription, and the objects it produced became known as Sparks.

Sparks activate easily, require no complex preparation, and carry a magical signature stable enough to be pressed into physical matter: a fired clay bead, a carved bone token, a glass marble. The effect is bound into the object’s material structure and can be triggered by anyone — not just mages. No training. No Willpower Points. Just squeeze, tap, or snap the Spark, and the trick activates.

The Spark Economy

Because metal is useless for storing magic, Thurmark’s industrial revolution relies almost entirely on non-metallic materials. Cheap clay Sparks are disposable household items — squeeze once, toss the crumbled remains. Wealthy merchants and factory owners invest in gemstone Sparks that hold dozens of charges and power heavy machinery for weeks.

The availability of Sparks has created entirely new trades and social classes. Inscriptors are respected professionals who command high wages. Spark-runners courier charged goods across the city. Street vendors hawk single-use clay Sparks the way another city might sell candles.

For detailed material tiers and pricing, see Inscription and the Spark Pricelist.