Hey all! Attached here are two things: the 1.732 update (very minor typo fixing stuff and some lore revisions concerning what Sidhi is) and a short post on TALISMANS, the first "high-tech" of Hingsajagra!
Hingsajagra's First Technology: Talismans
In Hingsajagra, talismans are anything with mystic inscription written upon them.
In this world, writing down inscriptions that have a particular quantum frequency is an observable, replicable, material reality. This is why chanting the proper mantras in the proper order summons intramaterial phenomena.
The same goes for talismans. The first piece of technology came soon after the first humans wrote on cave paintings, huddled in dark caves, hiding away from the superior tribes of the Deities and the Devils, and the vast garden of bio-engineered xenobeings that dominated ancient Hingsajagra. They wrote the mystic utterings. And in their inscription, they found language. And in their language, they found writing. And in their writing they found magic—a nugget of the intramaterial.
The first Autocrat Class were the wizards—those shamans and sorcerers who have perfected the craft of creating and performing these talismans. They used these talismans to dominate others, but only insofar as to further their goal of becoming a Deity or an Immortal.
When the Warrior-Kings began using this talismanic technology for tremendous, unending violence, the Wizards knew that their domination was about to end. And ever since then, the technology of the oppressed class became the Talisman.
Larger, more impressive technological feats were made from combinations of talismans, electrical currents, and magnetite currents. These became known as Mantra Grids or Talisman Grids.
Any person can take a piece of blessed paper, blessed wood, or blessed stone and inscribe the sacred incantations of a magick over it, and then perform the mudras before breaking the incantation. This is the most basic form of magick and anyone can do it. Wizards and sorcerers—especially those enthusiastic about the trajectory of technology—offered to create Talisman Wafers, upon which complex incantations and sutras and module nodes would be inscribed, allowing for the mass production of magitek and hildemej (war magick).
Not every single thing is built off of talismanry—too much logistics and too many wizards need to be trained for that. Talismanry has become a sixth branch of modern engineering alongside Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, and Manufacturing. Talismanic Engineering is a very dangerous and difficult branch to enter as well, as it requires not just knowledge in everyday technology (which are built off of talismanic prototypes), but also requires highly specialized knowledge of intramaterial paraphysics, Akashic Sciences, and requires some modicum of Mystic Art knowledge.
It must be noted that one does not need to be a Cultivator to perform Magick in Hingsajagra—it is treated as a Science. Specifically it is an Occult Science. The Occult Sciences include astrology, akashic sciences, intramaterial paraphysics, external alchemy, talismanry, ceremonial magick, and natural magick. They work in tandem with Rational Science to glean a greater understanding of Hingsajagra. Any other “Occult Science” outside of the ones listed above are considered to be Left-Handed Sciences that can only be obtained from those willing to teach you… or requires an active Cultivation Womb.
Much of the modern world is built off of the advances electrical engineering and phenomenal physics, but took the earlier talismanic versions of these technologies as blueprints. However, far more advanced technology—such as info-terminals and thinking machines and battlecasters that directly interface and harness intramaterial energy—use talismanry. In a sense, more “experimental” or “bleeding-edge” technology is considered magitek, powered by talismanry. While everyday industrial technology is powered by the rules of classical physics.
Crafting A Magick Talisman
These are the procedures for crafting a talisman that houses or bears one of the magicks that you know. Not all talismans hold magicks within them—many of them hold other, more miscellaneous effects.
To craft a talisman, you need an assortment of Blessed Items (Blessed Paper, Wood or Stone) appropriate to the Strain it requires to cast the magick.
Four Blessed Items fit together to create a diagram is called a Mantra Grid.
Four Mantra Grids stitched together is called a Mantra Array.
Four Mantra Arrays stitched and formed together to create the shape of the magick is called a Mantra Formation.
Minor Strain — Requires a Blessed Item.
Moderate Strain — Requires a Mantra Grid.
Heavy Strain — Requires a Mantra Array.
Overwhelming Strain — Requires a Mantra Formation.
It must be noted that a Blessed Item fills up one Carry slot. Meaning a Mantra Grid fills up 4 Carry slots. An Array fills up 16. A Formation fills up 64.
Many thinking machines are made up of multiple Mantra Formations. Data Talismans and other talismanry that connect to Thinking Machines are lighter due to there being a thinking machine they are attuned to.
After inscribing the Talisman, the talisman-maker must bleed herself and fill it with Sidhi. She must take on the Strain it takes to have cast the magick in the first place, and bind it to the talisman. This is a 1/4/16/64 hour long process. Multiple people can pitch in to cut the Strain needed accordingly. (Two people can force an overwhelming strain against 1 person to be heavy strain against two. Three can force it to be Moderate Strain against three. Four can bring it down to Minor Strain). Any more than four cannot bring it to below Minor Strain.
Afterwards, the talisman is complete. By performing the mudras and then destroying or tearing the talisman, the effect of the talisman triggers, as if she had cast that magick at that time.
You can inscribe any Magick from a Mystic Art upon a talisman in this way.
Some Talismans
Here are 6 Talismans you might want to wield to survive in the world. These talismans all take up one slot, and are not as powerful as real magicks. They are calibrated intramaterial effects created by exorcists and alchemists of the Internal Elixir Sect.
1 — Data Talisman
Cost: Anywhere from 500mag to 2,000mag depending on the seller.
A talisman made from an obsidian or porcelain slate. Has a writhing, active moving interface that looks like the painting emblazoned or glazed upon the material moves on its own. Has a typing component and can inscribe information into it. Often used to connect to thinking machines to interface with data within.
Can be used to manipulate arrays and data infrastructures that are controlled or powered by thinking machines. Can also be used as a notepad. Can show data gathered from other places—in Hingsajagra, data only has one file-type.
2 — Armor Talisman
Cost: Around 500mag, higher if the talisman-maker or wizard needs to inscribe it or sew it into clothes
A talisman showcasing the might of Kij Dakmala. When sewn into an Attire Piece, grants that Attire piece 1/2/3 Armor (depending on the Armor Talisman Grade). If torn apart or ripped apart, grants you an invisible shield against the next attack, letting you automatically Block that attack.
3 — Ice Exhalation Talisman
Cost: 500mag
A talisman with repeating sutras of the Enlightened One That Died In The Mountains. Tear or rip apart and then toss. It explodes in a 2hx burst, encasing all within it in an explosion of insta-freeze.
4 — Kinetic Force Amplification
Cost: 1,000mag
Experimental magitek. Upon destruction of talisman, an orb of intramaterial information erupts. The first thing that moves through this orb has their velocity and kinetic force amplified 200x fold, without deleterious or negative effects upon the one that moved through.
This means mundane physics will apply onto anything collided with, but not with the one whose had their force and velocity amplified, unless they wish.
Any damage from this amplification is raised sixfold.
5 — Self-Negation Array
Cost: 2,500mag
Upon destruction of talisman, the destroyer becomes a silhouette. Unable to be recognized. Additionally, any footsteps become silent, and any sound by the user becomes muffled. Lasts for 10 minutes.
6 — Ritual Binding Coil
Cost 5,000mag
Must be torn in half. One half can be implanted onto one thing, and the other can be implanted upon another. Anything that happens to one thing also happens to the other. After something happens to both things, the talisman falls off of both objects or entities.