Re: Non-Pentachromatic systems of Magic?
#3 by jamesfelicia - Sep 20 2023
I saw the Pentachromatic system as being an approach to magic that takes a more scientific or rational approach to the concept while not entirely separating from the holistic nature of it. It matches with the development of science in Europe, and science of course also had its influences on western esotericism. The same way the sciences get separated into subfields, they would separate magic in a similar way. The full spectrum, "white magic", separated into several different bands and closely looking into the uses of specific wavelengths to make use of their specialized functions. The importance of a holistic look into magic is undeniable though. Not all light is even visible, white magic studies are literally infinite according to Wolf PC. Hence we have white magic classes. In Wolf Hall the holistic nature of white magic helping in understanding the big picture is actually mechanically enforced with study in white magic making you less likely to fail at learning in all classes.
Now, for wild guessing... Iris Academy is the "most European of American schools" so I think it must deviate somehow from the European system. My guess is that the schools in Europe perhaps separated the bands of "White magic" even further. They might have a full rainbow of colors for the visible spectrum, with studies into "White magic" encompassing things outside of what is visible. This would make sense, the carryover of knowledge for Wolf PC would be easy this way, and Iris Academy really does not add much variety to the magic he would learn so of course Grabby criticizes this.
One thing I want to note about the pentachromatic system is that all of its magic is very straightforward and can be explained in some very simple terms. "This spell adds energy", "This spell removes energy", "This spell opens", "This spell closes", "This spell calls spirits to you", "This spell drives spirits away". And complicated spells are created by chaining one spell and another. "This spell creates fire" "This spell teleports" so... "This spell creates and teleports fire". It's logical and consistent.
Non-chromatic magic likely comes at this from a different angle, teaching magic that's a bit more finicky, and more specific. I can imagine spell effects like "This spell calms down felines" or "This spell invokes bad luck with violent actions" being things that the pentachromatic system would struggle to process efficiently because pentachromatic magic comes at things too logically. Maybe you need to calm a dozen angry cats but not accidentally mass calm your allies. A pentachromatic witch might need to cast a powerful and general "Spell of calming" multiple times. Inventing a new spell to only target felines would take up more mana because of how the logic of chaining simple spells works. They add more words to a sentence instead of creating new words entirely. A more specific spell from another tradition that already specifically calms down only felines would probably be more efficient, and could be cast on everyone surrounding you safely, but wouldn't be easy to find other uses for. We can talk about the pros and cons of both approaches all day, but a pentachromatic witch with lots of mana and creativity to match can accomplish almost anything.
As for St. John's Academy and "The Root", we don't have too much to go on but during classes Grabby specifically notes that the spell of "Silence" would not stop Pentachromatic students from casting their spells because they don't need noises as part of their magic. That does imply that it could work to prevent spells from students of other traditions. I recall a scene where Wolf PC rings the bell for the librarian Ms. Darden, who graduated St. John's academy. The bell's high-pitched sound hurts and he chooses to sit and watch the door, but she suddenly appears behind the desk having either teleported or messed with his senses somehow. (Or perhaps Wolf PC just dozed off cause it was early in the morning). I think we did get to see a little bit of magic here, and the bell may be specifically enchanted to inform Ms. Darden it had rung and who had rung it. A spell of silence might reasonably impact a part of this magic.
Wolf PC also gets zapped to sleep if he tries to sneak a look behind the librarian's desk. This probably has nothing to do with sounds. "The Root" is a blending of multiple traditions, so while some magic might work specifically through sounds, it's not likely that all of it does.
Sacred Smoke... we know very little about but we do know that their academy is selective about who they will allow in. A European noble most certainly would not be allowed to study there. I don't believe there's any information to find on how their magic works. They probably have good reason to keep their secrets hidden and nobody seems to make a big deal out of it.
Of course a lot of this is just my thoughts and observations. We don't have too much to go on and I hope others might share what they see.
