Alchemy, elemental air, elemental earth, elemental water, shaping, transmutation

Matter is an Arcanum concerned with lifeless material, the building blocks of the world. Through use of this magic, a mage gains control over raw elements and complex alloys alike. The Matter Arcanum encompasses everything from a simple puddle of water, to a chunk of uranium, to a plank of wood, to the most intricately structured polymer.

Those mages who set out to control the enigmas of Matter are often not what others would consider “people-friendly.” Many enjoy the static predictability of base materials, as opposed to the rampant chaos engendered by primal energies or living beings. These individuals are often as reliable as they are routine-oriented and many of them are capable of seeing beauty in places that others simply don’t know to look. They prize solidity, stability and conformity and a good number wish that human beings were as readily pliant as the objects with which they work (a condition they believe would make the whole world a much easier and more rewarding place to live).

1. Initiate (Knowing/Compelling/Unveiling)
2. Apprentice (Ruling/Veiling/Shielding)
3. Disciple (Weaving/Fraying/Perfecting)
   • Plasticity [Weaving, Instant, Transitory, Vulgar, Cost: none]: “Sculpt the Material Form” [Dexterity + Crafts + Matter] – Through the use of this spell, it is possible to render any reasonably homogeneous material malleable for a time, even materials that are normally completely inflexible (such as ice, coal or lead crystal). While a substance is under the effects of this spell, the material can be molded by hand (or with magic, if the willworker chooses), creating truly fantastic shapes. The mage could, for example, draw amber like taffy and work it into a spiderweb or push an enemy’s hands and feet into concrete, knead any gaps shut and leave her trapped there, as though the concrete had originally been cast that way. At this level, the mage must touch the targeted object (although he can do so using forceps or other tools). With Matter 4, he can cast this spell at sensory range. The spell renders hard materials about as soft as very stiff clay, and as easy to sculpt by hand as a mass of butter. The object’s Durability determines the ease of the spell, levying penalties on the roll on a one-for-one basis. Wood (Durability 1) is easier to warp than reinforced steel (Durability 4 or higher). In the case of objects with mixed materials, use the highest Durability. Once cast, the effect takes place in the subsequent turn. If the mage attempts to create something complex or artful from the substance, an instant Dexterity + Crafts roll might be called for. Once the Duration expires, the object returns to its original solid state, but retains whatever shape it is currently in. This spell does not alter an object’s Durability or Structure. While a bank vault door can be made to bend inward, it cannot be broken any more easily than before.
4. Adept (Patterning/Unraveling)
5. Master (Making/Unmaking)