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9.1.2 CREATION MAGIC VERSUS
GOOD AND EVIL
The next major questions to be answered concern the
cosmology and theologies of the settings. In many worlds,
there are powers that are definitely “Good” and those
which are most definitely “Evil”. In other worlds, where
the deities are less inclined to make explicit pronouncements,
their mortal followers in terms of organized
priesthoods may have their own interpretations of what
their deities would say. If magic generally is suspected of
being tainted with evil or diabolical associations (as is the
case in many historical eras), then creation magic will be
tarred with the same brush and its practitioners forced
into secrecy for fear of the Inquisition or local witchhunters.
Most GMs will adopt a cosmological compromise where
creation magic in itself is neutral but certain techniques
are likely to incur the wrath of the local authorities (religious,
secular, and/or thaumaturgical). For instance, the
grave-robbing activities of Reanimators to fashion their
Amalgams will inflame grieving relatives in most societies,
while their Living Amalgams will inspire horror in all who
view them. Changelings and bred Abominations, particularly
the more outlandish composites, are likely to be
viewed as wholly unnatural, even offenses against the
natural order of creation – humanity tends to be intolerant
of the different, fearing and despising them with equal
fervor. Section 7.1.2 discusses the ethics of imbedding
intelligence into Golems and Constructs. The GM must
decide which creation magics are deemed “evil” or “ambiguous”
(relatively or objectively) and communicate this
to the players. Those who wish to play PCs with “Good”
dispositions can then avoid the unsafe choices; those
preferring more ambivalent characters know the risks.
9.1.3 CREATION MAGIC
AND SOCIETY
The final series of campaign-level questions concern
the prevalence of creation magic and its impact on
society.
How much creation magic is there
Creators may be isolated scholars, pursuing their
magical research in relative solitude. Their creations are
individual masterworks of sophistication and the marvels
of fireside tales. Many will be Experimentalists in
motivation (see section 4.1), oblivious to the perils of
their work. Barring localized disasters where a powerful
entity goes rogue, there will be minimal impact on
society as a whole.
Creators may be employed as court wizards to fashion
Automata and entities on demand for noble and/or wealthy
patrons (as Royal Creators or Guild Creators, see section
4.1). Their proximity to the movers and shakers of the
world will bring creation magic to the attention of the
upper classes and the religious hierarchies. Appointments
as court wizards imply some tolerance by the major
churches or aristocrats willing and able to defy them. For
the employers, creation magic may provide loyal guards
and servants, “creature comforts” (pun intended), advantages
in warfare, transport, and industry, or even be a
status symbol. In some societies, “ownership” of entities
may even be reserved to the nobility. For commoners,
creation magic will normally have only an indirect impact,
and will be yet another advantage of the aristocrats
of which the peasantry may be jealous.
Creators may be sufficiently numerous and well established
to be organized into guilds (as Guild Creators,
see section 4.1). In wealthy societies, “ownership” of
automata and artificial entities will percolate down from
the upper classes. As the advantages of Automata and
entities become better appreciated, demand for them
will increase and the guilds will be pressurized to supply
those needs. Entrepreneurs will find uses for them in
prototype factories and the society will experience the
beginnings of a magic-based “Industrial Revolution”.
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