Magic: Sample Symbol Lexicons

Magic: Sample Symbol Lexicons

GURPS Thaumatology suggests symbol magic as one of the possible flexible magic systems. The caster inscribes symbols on a parchment, an object, traces them in the air, or constructs a symbol spell from the tokens he has, and activates it, producing the intended effects. This is a slow process. Each symbol has a base cost, but the book also provides other pricing guidelines, including just finding the most similar spell in GURPS Magic, taking its casting cost, and adding 1 or 2 points for extra flexibility.

Since I'm preparing for a game where I planned to use symbol magic alongside the vanilla magic and Sorcery, it's a good time to make some sample lexicons.

1.      Und-Rask

This is the oldest known symbol lexicon created by the dwarves of Stat-Und, the ancient kingdom of dwarves. The ruins of this kingdom now lie in the Savage Lands, but the knowledge of Und-Rask was found by the explorers and spread throughout the world. Sages hypothesize that not all Und-Rask symbols were found and that the ruins should contain the lost symbols.

Und-Rask is focused on artificial things, it is difficult and costly to affect living or undead things. Dun, the symbol of body, can only affect humanoid beings, such as dwarves, humans, elves, but not animals, dragons, or aberrations, such as the mind flayers – the ancient foes of the dwarves. This lexicon easily deals with shaping, moving, and protecting.

Name	Associated Word	Skill Difficulty	Base Energy Cost
Nouns
Dun	Body	Hard	3
Starl	Creation	Average	2
Do	Earth	Average	2
Rost	Fire	Average	3
Sud	Food	Hard	4
Saol	Magic	Very Hard	4
Sdo	Metal	Average	2
Paro	Spirit	Hard	3
Palt	Undead	Hard	3
Doro	Wisdom	Average	3
Verbs
Wos	Create	Very Hard	3
Tran	Destroy	Hard	3
Plor	Empower	Average	2
Sirf	Move	Average	1
Stur	Protect	Average	2
Nuur	Shape	Average	1

2.      Qualithar

Qualithar is the lexicon of the mind flayers. The symbols of this lexicons possess some mind-bending qualities. Qual, the symbol of master, affects the “master species” – the mind flayers, aboleths, neogi, dragons, and other powerful beings the mind flayers consider to be equal. Ith, the symbol of slave, refers to both animals and humanoids. This lexicon barely interacts with the realms of matter and spirits.

Name	Associated Word	Skill Difficulty	Base Energy Cost
Nouns
Luan	Artifact	Hard	3
Tvin	Earth	Average	3
Quis	Emotion	Average	1
Las	Energy	Hard	3
Lipu	Image	Average	2
Ver	Lore	Average	2
Qual	Master	Hard	3
Ith	Slave	Average	1
Ser	Space	Hard	3
Xot	Thought	Hard	2
Quos	Time	Very Hard	4
Verbs
Vulis	Combine	Average	2
Pou	Create	Hard	4
Quat	Destroy	Hard	3
Sel	Detect	Average	1
Quan	Dominate	Hard	3
Xun	Move	Average	2
Xop	Separate	Average	2
Plu	Shape	Average	2
Quiv	Transform	Hard	3

3.      Thuli-Vantu

Thuli-Vantu is a lexicon created by the forest-dwelling raptorans, but the gnomes that live in their lands also use it. It deals with natural things.

Name	Associated Word	Skill Difficulty	Base Energy Cost
Nouns
Uvi	Air	Average	1
Thuv	Body	Hard	3
Vati	Earth	Hard	3
Tiva	Food	Hard	3
Wast	Image	Average	3
Helu	Light	Average	2
Vehu	Magic	Very Hard	4
Pluev	Sound	Average	2
Vuv	Spirit	Hard	3
Tutlu	Water	Average	2
Verbs
Colu	Communicate	Average	1
Viuv	Control	Hard	3
Leat	Create	Hard	3
Wew	Move	Average	2
Tuvu	Protect	Average	2
Ettu	Sense	Average	1
Lutte	Weaken	Hard	3