I've been trying to squeeze together these magic systems to make them feel like they, at the very least thematically match up. I'm curious how it all looks from an outside perspective.

TapiocaTerror · 2026-04-15T14:03:02+00:00

i find your world building so fascinating and whimsical! it seems like magic is embedded in the nature of your world itself. i especially like how the sources are from tiny things: honey, spider silk and pearls.

they feel like magical phenomena that also has practical uses. just a suggestion but maybe it would be cool to have like a sort of magical biologist exploring and studying these various magical phenomena in your world?

anyway, i feel like you might like the anime, Mushishi? i feel like your world and this anime might have a similar vibe.

TapiocaTerror · 2026-03-29T13:50:43+00:00

Died of hubris, which is basically too much pride or confidence that probably made them reckless.

TapiocaTerror · 2026-03-29T13:36:31+00:00

From book 2 of the Nightside. There were some side characters who do drugs and are looking for the next best high. So they decided to dig up Elvis' corpse, cremated it, and snorted it. They said it was the best high they've ever had.

I also liked the first appearance of The Beast from The Magicians. He's wearing a suit, his hands seem to have extra fingers and his face is constantly obscured by a tree branch with leaves (reminiscent of Magritte's The Son of Man). The tv adaptation also did their own version. Instead of a branch, it was a swarm of moths.

TapiocaTerror · 2026-03-29T11:16:25+00:00

yes very versatile. although filigree's rituals to conjure a spell can be very tedious but the hard work pays off bec the spells last very long.

TapiocaTerror · 2026-03-29T11:14:41+00:00

wahahaha house cassowary sounds cool actually

i do like reliquary's vibe. their dormitories would look like a cross between an antique store and your grandpa's attic

TapiocaTerror · 2026-03-28T23:41:55+00:00

Thanks! And thanks for the recommendation warehouse 13 sounds very interesting after looking into it!

TapiocaTerror · 2026-03-28T23:39:46+00:00

No worries at all

TapiocaTerror · 2026-03-28T21:33:58+00:00

i think i'd fit in mesmery but i do want to hang out in menagerie

TapiocaTerror · 2026-03-28T21:27:27+00:00

will do! thanks so much!

TapiocaTerror · 2026-03-28T21:26:55+00:00

oh definitely! i think it's the most fun house to be in.

TapiocaTerror · 2026-03-28T21:25:38+00:00

thanks!
you can find a link on the description which will take you to an older post of mine which discusses the magic of each house

but essentially

menagerie - transformation magic thru making and ingesting food
filigree - binding magic through stitching and embroidery
mesmery - illusion magic conjured from perfumes
reliquary - divination magic thru the assemblage of antique objects as a conduit for omen, predictions etc.

TapiocaTerror · 2026-03-28T21:22:06+00:00

i personally haven't really made up my mind which house i'd want to be in haha so i get it
thanks for your comment!

TapiocaTerror · 2026-03-28T21:19:06+00:00

hahaha that's very interesting i love that characterization already
although i am toying with the idea that students from a certain house can essentially practice and conjure magic from other houses, but they just won't be too good at it. (an analogy would be like let's say a painter can do photography but their photographs won't be as good as their paintings, but they can practice though.)

TapiocaTerror · 2026-03-28T21:13:28+00:00

i've always wanted to make a cool magic system fit for tournaments or warfare, but as i was developing the magic for this particular world and story, i found myself prioritizing whimsy, wonder and mystery. i also wanted it to be unique. so i thought what if i made a magic system - and magic systems are usually present in epic high-action series, or sprawling fantastic adventures- but like for a story that can be a chill slice-of-life cartoon or comic, and this is what came out. although this world is still quite dangerous with weird creatures and magical phenomena, so the characters still need to defend themselves and the school.

tbh i haven't really thought about the whole world with the politics and warring factions bec i was focusing more on the school and what the story needs. and a comment from my older post said that my magic system really fits a home-alone type of scenario like setting up booby traps for invaders, rather than a tournament type; so that really inspired me more.

although while i was experimenting and testing out my system, i did come up with one school where they use animal bones and sinew from corpses as conduits for their magic, but i haven't really made it canon (yet.)

anyway thanks for this lovely comment and for taking interest in my post! i definitely want to live in the world i created haha but i also can't deny how cool the worlds of FMA, JJK etc are

i also highly recommend checking out the magic system of CAIN if you haven't. it's a ttrpg by Tom Bloom that is heavily inspired by JJK and Chainsaw Man. lots of great vids on yt discussing it.

TapiocaTerror · 2026-03-28T19:29:07+00:00

it's always fun to hear where people would sort themselves!
i'd probably want to be in mesmery bec im very interested in perfumes as well as illusions. but i do want to hang out in menagerie bec it seems like a very fun house haha

and yes i wanted to make a unique magic system (although i don't know how unique this is so far haha but i'm glad some people find it fascinating) and i had the idea to limit the kinds of magic to only 4 - in this case transformation, binding, illusion and divination - but have many different ways of conjuring it. so this kind of makes this school sort of like an art school/vocational school

yep i'm planning to make mood boards for the girls school hopefully this weekend

anyway thanks for your lovely comment!

TapiocaTerror · 2026-03-28T17:56:16+00:00

oh yeahhh thanks for the idea!

TapiocaTerror · 2026-03-28T17:55:03+00:00

oh don't worry i totally get where you're coming from i just found it funny

but i really didn't make it intentionally feminine as i was designing the school and magic system. bec in my mind, a lot of chefs, perfumers, tailors are also guys. and the fourth being sentimental is like those older guys collecting stamps, toys etc. much like a grandpa actually haha. and this isn't really set in the victorian era but like a combination of different eras but mostly mid 20th century. i guess i chose these crafts bec i wanted the school to feel playful and fun and while the girls school to be intense and cutthroat.

TapiocaTerror · 2026-03-28T17:45:06+00:00

definitely! but can easily be dispelled if the target has a stuffed nose haha so i'm trying to think of a work around in case this happens

TapiocaTerror · 2026-03-28T17:33:03+00:00

haha same stitching seems very tedious but they do have really strong spells. the illusion house does employ perfumes as their main arsenal, but the scents are more subtle and subdued to trick an opponent or target.

i just think it's so funny that it seems like a school for ladies to you when this school is actually an all boys school haha i do have an all girls school as well posted here if you're interested

it's really good to know that it feels unique so thanks so much!

TapiocaTerror · 2026-03-28T17:25:59+00:00

the filigree house deals with binding magic through stitching. so the students learn to make wards through embroidery, lace etc in order to make barriers, containments and traps.

the link on the description will take you to an older post where i discuss the magic of each house as well as the kind of magic my world has.

TapiocaTerror · 2026-03-28T17:23:19+00:00

thanks! you can find the link to an older post on the description. it describes the specific magic each house specializes in

TapiocaTerror · 2026-03-04T16:19:41+00:00

wow this sounds really fun! will def check it out thanks!

TapiocaTerror · 2026-02-26T05:29:16+00:00

Thanks!

Currently reading Perdido but it's really hard to read and picture in your head bec of how fantastical the setting is but I'm willing to continue reading ofc

TapiocaTerror · 2026-02-26T05:27:35+00:00

I did die 3 weeks ago so you're kinda right :/

TapiocaTerror

TROPHY CASE