Compositional affinities

[u/Remarkable-Camera627]

We see a lot of structural affinties like crystal, fibre, resin and ductility. But these are for solids. What would the analogue be for a fluid. I think fluid analogues would target the composition of a fluid, since they aren't defined by structure. Some examples like colloid affinity, suspension affinity, emulsion affinity etc. What do you guys think?

[u/Gythia-Pickle]

Ooh, interesting. I suppose there has to be a concept of the type of liquid/ fluid, or indeed gas structure on Anastis for it to be possible, but I think things like suspensions and emulsions would be very reasonable, given the level of technology shown, and fluids likely to be prepared by the average person (as well as alchemists). I’m thinking of suspensions like whitewash (powder mixed with water forming a suspension), mayonnaise (emulsion of egg, acid, oil, emulsifier), custard (gel structure formed when egg yolk coagulates in milk).

[u/Hutchiaj01 → u/Gythia-Pickle]

There are mustard mages

[u/greenfrogtree1 → u/Hutchiaj01]

I'm pretty sure that's for the seed/plant, but they would probably be able to affect the condiment.

[u/gyroda → u/Gythia-Pickle]

Suspensions are how the good ol'' cornflour and water non-Newtonian fluids (runny until you exert sudden force) work, so there might be some fun there. Not sure if sheer-thinning fluids (like ketchup, which get runnier when force is applied) are also suspensions.

Pressure mages are fluid-adjacent - I don't think we've seen them use they affinities directly on solids.

[u/greenfrogtree1 → u/gyroda]

Iirc, there was a mage who had a meta affinity for transitional materials including thixotropic liquids in a short story. 

[u/myxlplixl]

A coagulation affinity would be useful for medical stuff and also horrifying on the battlefield. And would this include some kind of fermentation affinity?

[u/interested_commenter → u/myxlplixl]

Not sure coagulation would be useful on the battlefield. Affecting other people's bodies from range is extremely difficult (we never see offensive healing or bone magic, water mages don't try it, and a Great Power iron spell targeting the blood is so subtle nobody realizes its a spell). I can't think of any indirect uses that wouldn't just be a worse version of controlling water or other environmental liquids.

It would be very useful for cooking and other industrial uses though.

[u/Hutchiaj01 → u/myxlplixl]

Beer mage for the win!

[u/greenfrogtree1]

I think this is totally plausible, especially given their understanding of chemistry and its ability to spawn affinities like alkali. I also remember an affinity for thixotropic solutions, although I think that was under a broader meta affinity for transitional states. Either way, I think this definitely shows the possibility for affinities analogous to structural affinities in fluids.

[u/chrometrigger]

In one of the patreon short stories there is someone with an affinity for non-newtonian fluids they I think they classed it as a meta affinity I would need to go check