The Arcane Laws of Caelthyr

Magic in Caelthyr is not one force. It is divided by origin, authority, and cost.

There are four supernatural systems:

1. Witchcraft (Authority-based)

2. Human Rune Magic (Method-based)

3. Miracles (Faith-based)

4. Chaos Alteration (Instinct-based)

You’ve defined the first three very well — I’ll lock them in and clarify edges.

I. Witchcraft — 

Authority Over Reality

“A witch does not use magic. She commands it.”

Bloodline Absolutism

• Every witch belongs to one bloodline

• Each bloodline governs one unique concept

• That concept cannot be replicated by:

  • Human magic

  • Miracles

  • Other witches

Examples:

• A Curse Bloodline cannot stop time

• A Time Bloodline cannot rewrite flesh

• Even gods respect bloodline domains

This is why witches were created as governors.

Superiority Principle

Witchcraft is:

• Faster

• Absolute

• Unconditional

A witch’s magic:

• Overrides rune magic

• Resists miracles

• Ignores natural laws

Only another witch, a god, or certain curse items can fully counter witchcraft.

Universal Witch Curse

Every witch, regardless of bloodline, can curse.

Curse Rules:

• Curse lasts until the witch dies

• OR until the witch kisses the victim

• Kiss from another witch:

  • Suppresses the curse temporarily

  • Never removes it permanently

Curse Nature:

• Not a spell

• Not an enchantment

• A binding declaration

Curses can affect:

• Body

• Mind

• Fate

• Identity

• Death itself

This is why witches are feared more than beasts.

Witch Limitations (Important)

To avoid witches being unbeatable narratively:

• Witches cannot:

  • Create life

  • Resurrect the dead completely

  • Directly negate another bloodline’s concept

• Bloodline magic often has symbolic rules

• Emotional instability weakens precision

II. Human Rune Magic — 

Magic as Science

“If witches rule reality, humans exploit it.”

Rune Foundation

Human magic works by:

• Collecting ambient natural magic

• Inscribing rune arrays

• Activating pre-built formulas

Key Rule:

Human magic must be prepared.

• Runes must be drawn, carved, engraved, or stored

• Spells have:

  • Charge time

  • Cooldown

  • Failure chance

This makes human mages:

• Flexible

• Predictable

• Limited in emergencies

Magic as Technology

Humans standardized magic into:

• Spell cartridges

• Rune engines

• Magic batteries

• Enchanted infrastructure

Result:

• Non-mages can use magic

• Mages become engineers

• Power is scalable, not personal

Frankensteinium Doctrine (Dr. Frankenstein)

A revolutionary — and controversial — breakthrough.

Rune-Augmentation:

• Runes fused directly into the human body

• Grants:

  • Superhuman strength

  • Enhanced speed

  • Reinforced organs

• Equal to beasts physically

Costs:

• Shortened lifespan

• Rune rejection

• Mental instability

• Permanent dependence on maintenance

Holy Empire condemns it.

Astra Polis mass-produces it secretly.

Weaponized Rune Magic

Weapons fused with:

• Rune cores

• Elemental circuits

• Anti-beast sigils

These weapons:

• Can harm beasts

• Can wound witches (rare)

• Often unstable

III. Elementalists — 

Contracts, Not Control

“The element chooses. The human obeys.”

Core Rules

• One human → one element

• Contract lasts until death

• Elemental spirit cannot be replaced

• Power grows with mutual understanding

Elements include:

• Fire

• Water

• Wind

• Earth

• Lightning

• Ice

• Ash

• Metal (rare)

Limitations:

• Elementalist cannot use other elements

• Overuse causes:

  • Elemental corruption

  • Personality drift

• Witches can sever contracts (bloodline-dependent)

IV. Curse Items — 

Artifacts of Broken Law

“Objects that should not exist.”

Origin

Curse Items are:

• Failed witch spells

• Fragments of dead witches

• Objects exposed to Vael’Tyrra

• Relics altered by chaos

Core Properties

Each curse item has:

1. One powerful effect

2. One absolute condition

3. One hidden cost

Examples:

• A blade that kills immortals — but only if the wielder loves the target

• A ring that stops time — but ages the wearer rapidly

• A mirror that shows truth — but erases memories

Psychological Impact

Prolonged use leads to:

• Obsession

• Paranoia

• Identity loss

• Madness

Some curse items:

• Whisper

• Choose owners

• Refuse abandonment

V. Power Hierarchy (Very Important for Balance)

At full potential:

1. Gods (absent)

2. Witches (bloodline mastery)

3. Beasts / Guides

4. Miracle-workers

5. Rune-augmented humans

6. Elementalists

7. Rune mages

8. Normal humans