Vances

A Vance is an exemplary caster of spells. Vances know that spells are living things in their own right. They vibrate, squirm, and seethe. To learn a spell is to master it, like one masters a dangerous beast or—perhaps—like one makes an interesting friend. To study a spell is to ask it to inhabit you, like a spirit. And only a fool would put something dangerous into themselves, right? To cast a spell is to expel it from your mind and soul (unless you know the secret of grasping onto it even once cast). Vances use complex formulae and intricate words and gestures to tame the inherently wild and dangerous natures of unmastered spells.

Perhaps the most mathematical and studious of the vislae, Vances cast powerful, predictable, and reliable spells. Vancian spells have a mathematical and linguistic intricacy to them. This precision is displayed visually in the game with a special set of cards of varying sizes. These cards offer all the spell’s details, and also indicate how much of a Vance’s mental capacity is required to hold it. All the various spells fit together in a diagram like pieces of a puzzle, arranged as the Vance sees fit. Swapping out one spell for another is easy if they’re the same “size,” but if they are different, some monkeying with the arrangement might be in order. Of course, Vances can, over time, increase their capacity and hold more (or larger) spells in their arrangement.

A spell held in a Vance’s mind/soul can be cast with no cost to the Vance, or they can expend energy to retain the spell in their repertoire to keep casting it.

The Vancian Order is very traditional, with a strict hierarchy. Player characters can become more and more influential in the order if they gain the support and trust of their fellow Vances and master some or all of the key disciplines.

Players who enjoy a flexible but defined sort of character will enjoy playing a Vance. It’s the most like a traditional “wizard” or “mage” of all the orders, although such terms have long fallen out of favor in Satyrine. The element of arranging the spell cards on the diagram is appealing in both a visual and a tactile manner.