Much has been written about the great discourses on terram in the first half of Laying the Foundations by Rollin (also known as Laying the Groundwork from early references in the text). Written during the creation of the walls of Lapidis, practically every work on Terram written in the last 100 years owes a great debt to this text. Looking to the shapes and properties of living stone to inform the magical applications of this form, Rollin created a new standard for seige craft and engineering. This began a line of inquiry that the order has found most fruitful. In the recent text called Veins of the Earth, Perry continues the work begun by his grand-parens.
In the latter half of his book, Rollin has outlined theories of enchanting magical objects that are among the clearest and most thorough that the order possesses. Perhaps inspired by the anonymous text, Rollin likens the magical work he describes to a series of knots in a string. Each knot having its own unique form based on the purpose to which it is put. Some knots tied to hold fast and tighten, becoming stronger and more permanent over time. Others, like a slip knot, are intended to hold for a time, then be released by the appropriate trigger. With the terram of the walls, Rollin identified what he calls the strands of magic flowing through stone, finding their attractions and repulsions and re-connecting these lines in the bulwark constructed through intricately tied "knots" of magic.
It has become a truism to say that Rollin named his text most aptly. But Rollin's detailed written record of the physical and metaphysical underpinnings of the work of the walls joins such texts as ab esse ad posse in being foundational to teaching aspects of magical theory in the order.
magical viens of stone
I like the concept of the magical viens within stone, it adds a wonderfully fluid undercurrent to the heavy magic of stone.
earthy stuff
I was inspired by some stuff Meg has been doing with one of her Criamon mages in our game. This mage sends tendrils of energy out via the metal in the land in a properly creepy & enigmatic way. And I'm working with a feng shui practitioner, so ley lines & such seem appropriate. Too bad dragons of the earth don't really fit the tradition.
Actually, Earth Dragons are v
Actually, Earth Dragons are very big in Gaetan (The Great Dragon, of whom the Evil Gods are children, and with whom the mages are libelously associated is a Earth Power). Also, the dragons of the Skulstorren (the mountains on the far side of the An valley from Isrillion) are the female counter-parts to the male giants of the mountains, and are definitely Earth Associated. I don't know anything about Tyrrean, Ventrian or Chaeronian dragons (Sarah would), which would probably matter more to most mages.
dragon country, cool
But that means that discussion of dragons wouldn't probably be kosher to the order, right? smacks too much of furrin gods. Though it is amusing that the locals call the wizards after them.