Magitech and Sorcery
The technology level of Five Coils is somewhere between First Age and Second Age. A lot of First Age magitech is available, even mass produced, in Five Coils. Magitech arms and armor as well as warstriders are in common use among the Peace Force (the Five Coils' police) and the Legions. Various industries also make use of magitech conveniences as crafting or labor aids. Only the Immaculate Order tends toward being 'purists', preferring ordinary jade artifacts over magitech ones.
Generally, one can say that magitech artifacts of 3 dots or below are relatively common, of 4 dots are uncommon, and of 5+ are rare.
As one goes up the levels of Coils, magitech becomes less obvious and sorcery more so. Sorcery sees greater and greater use in higher districts for providing additional labor, aiding artifact creation and enchantment, military and 'peacekeeping' use, mind-control purposes, assassinations and other instruments of social change. It's also more likely that summoned or created life forms will be used as servants in the upper levels (particularly Wood and above), while obviously mechanized servants would be more common in Fire and below.
This is not to say magitech is no longer relied upon further up -- far from it! -- only that it's not as easily noticeable. It's more likely to take either an organic, artistic or altogether invisible appearance further up. By the Air level it may be possible that an automaton, a bioengineered life form and a summoned creature could be all but indistinguishable, as the arts to generate all of those are the most refined there.
It is of course possible to create magitech completely without a sorcerous component, as it is possible to purely manipulate Essence without the aid of technological advancement. However, both are present and often interrelated with one another. One of the most ambitious projects of Five Coils is basically a meld of magitech and sorcery: incorporating Celestial and greater spells into portable magitech form, so that Dragon-blooded may use them. Celestial sorcerers are thus highly prized, and when such ability is discovered, are among the most strictly controlled of Celestial slaves.
The Academies (as yet unnamed!)
- The Air District is the home of the most prestigious sorcery academy of Coils.
- The Wood District academy focuses on biological applications of magitech and sorcery, including the creation and manipulation of life forms, poisons and diseases.
- The Fire District holds an academy of applied sorcery in combat and engineering, as well as the pure artifice option, which teaches a complete lack of reliance on sorcery.
- The Earth District academy teaches mundane craft and architecture and how it may apply to the creation of greater wonders (artifacts and manses).
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:00, Sun 19 Apr 2009.