Semiotic Magic

Semiotics is the art of manipulating symbols that contain intrinsic meaning to engage with and change local reality in some fashion. The mediums and combination of mediums these symbols can have are endless: writing, drawings, materials, chants, songs, stances, dances, handsigns or any other pattern in the physical world. In effect, semiotics is the art of persuading the world.

Semiotics is accessible to anyone with the requisite training and materials. Nearly everyone practices semiotics to some degree, though the vast majority of practitioners are amateurs, common folk carving a ward against evil spirits on their door frame, making a crude charm for good luck, making a hand sign against evil or a potion or salve to ease aches and pains from the day’s labor. Local specialists of different cultures, like folk healers or hedge wizards are capable of more, but the most refined and powerful semiotics is practiced in the great academies of powerful nations and city-states.

Prosaic and High Semiotics

Semiotic craft diverges into two different strategies. The first is simple and strong. This involves a few simple symbols widely known with high levels of perceptual consensus. They take very little energy or skill on the part of the practitioner to produce, but are also very limited in power and utility. This strategy is termed Prosaic Semiotics by scholars. Most people simply call them Workings.

The second strategy is subtle and complex. This involves refining symbols to their purest and most stable form, often using symbols that are precise but abstract, then using them in conjunction to construct more powerful and varied usages. They require significant energy, theoretical knowledge and skill on the part of the practitioner. This strategy is termed High Semiotics or simply Semiotics. Those who practice the art are formally called semioticians, but different cultures and traditions have various names for these specialists.

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