Roger the Wyrd - the Magical System

Roger's quadrate

The primary magical system in my work-in-progress Roger the Wyrd is based on the elements. The Wyrdings are all individuals who are sensitive towards, and have some degree of control over, the four elements. Roger's formidable teacher at Norham Priory School, Miss Smith, explains this best (this is a rather edited snippet).

“In the fifth century BC Empedocles of Acragas formulated the four-part theory of roots. These roots are Air, Water, Earth, and Fire. All of the Universe is made up of these elements. Since then people who are insensitive to the elements and call themselves scientists have identified atoms as the building blocks of nature. But those who are what we call "sensitive" to the four roots, may also be able to manipulate them. As the world around you is made up of more than one of the four elements, it is by working together that you will achieve your greatest power. The word ‘conjure’ comes from this coming together to manipulate matter as a group. The four of you on each table are in what we called a quadrate. At each table there is an Earth sensitive, an Air sensitive, a Water sensitive, and a Fire sensitive."

 

Miss Smith with Felix.

The four members of the same quadrate tend to form friendships that last their entire lives. The eponymous main character, Roger, is primarily an Earth sensitive. As such he is a key member of the quadrate as Earth sustains and supports the other elements. Julia (Jules) is the Fire sensitive, and she relies on the Air sensitive, Felix. The Water sensitive is Irene, a distant relative of Roger's. Apart from directly manipulating the elements, Water also governs the emotions and Air governs the mind, so a trained sensitive in these areas can cause a lot of trouble if you do not know the signs of their manipulations. 

The Temple Church, London

There are two other quadrates in Roger's class, which collectively makes twelve, often called a "shilling", while two shillings made a "florin". Such a powerful conjuration would have a leader, known as the king penny. They would hold hands in a circle, which explains a number of round medieval buildings.

The Round Table, Winchester

A florin of Wyrdings working at Roger's school, with his grandmother as king penny, effected the change of weather conditions that enabled the Normandy Landings in 1944. One of many contributions of the arcane community to that conflict. Miss Smith had actually served in the war, but if she told you what she did, she would have to kill you.