Talk:Guns for Hire Magical Mechanics

Speculation: Somehow the patterns built up in the course of experiences shape some of the raw magic available (inside and outside the soul) into a binder as the soul is stressed and experience-striations form. Mind and body help influence the way the experience is even perceived, which in turn forms a memetic framework on the soul itself (as it slightly stretches and tears, becoming more receptive to direct modification) for the experience to hang on. In a process similar to a crystal forming, a memetic imprint on the soul from a powerful experience provides the nucleus for magic to form into soul-memories. Thanks to those memories having a tendency to remain together, the soul gains coherence and capacity.

Proposed Glossary

Free Magic: See Raw Magic

Free Magic Load: The total amount of magic, in free magic points, an individual soul contains. A soul containing more free magic points than its soul coherence can contain will burst, since the maximum load of a soul is set by the strength of the soul's coherence. In practice, most individuals do not maintain a magic load close to their maximum. The shape of the soul changes as the soul's magic load changes, usually inflating as the amount of points goes up.

Point: The fundamental unit of magic expenditure. It takes a minimum of 1 point to do anything with magic.

Raw Magic: Unordered magical energy of any court or no court, either in the environment or in containers. As long as it isn't being shaped into something else or into structures, it is raw magic.

Soul Coherence: The ability for the soul to hold itself together, built up by experiences that lend metaphysical 'weight' to the soul. A binding force that prevents the soul from rupturing under the pressure of magic inherent in it. This coherence can be rated per the amount of points it can stand. In most people the primary force of Soul Coherence is the sheer amount and quality of their memories and experiences. In creatures who have been over-bound the bindings can overwhelm the natural cohering forces, which ultimately results in the working portion of the soul being stunted.

Soul Load: See Free Magic Load

Soul Metage: The value in magic points of the ordered portions of a soul (i.e. the memories and experiences). Since souls are made of magic, these experiences and memories can be unraveled back into raw magic energy, or can be moved and grafted by soul manipulators.

Soul Volume: See Soul Coherence

Soul Weight: See Soul Coherence