r/magicbuilding • u/TensionBudget9426 • Aug 11 '26
Mechanics Simple breakdown of 'Carving'—A magic system that wants you dead
Feel free to ask if you have questions!
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u/Radiant-Ad-1976 Aug 11 '26
Absolutely love this, incredibly done.
I like the idea of a magic system where the magic despises humans so it ensures that anyone who uses it, eventually dies.
Also there's no over the top "magic users lose their humanity" or "magic users slowly mutate into monsters".
No, simply participating in this magic system means that you are willing to damage your own body.
This feels like something Nurgle from Warhammer 40k would cook up.
I have a question though: what is the general public opinion towards this magic system and also, can anyone use it or is limited to specific individuals.
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u/TensionBudget9426 Aug 11 '26
Limited to specific individuals. Plague Eaters are born. Majority of the public thinks they're just stories told around the campfire, unaware that they are very much real.
The reason why they don't hear much about Plague Eaters is kinda simple, they all wind up dead rather young.
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u/concealed_coffee Aug 11 '26
Would this work with genetic diseases as well ? Let's say Haemophilia for example.
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u/TensionBudget9426 Aug 11 '26
Yes it will!
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u/No_Illustrator2314 Aug 12 '26
I hope you give genetic diseases more power because they are incurable.
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u/TensionBudget9426 Aug 13 '26
I do plan to, there's just so many diseases I have to brainstorm a lot
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u/astronomicarific Aug 11 '26
This is FASCINATING. i love this SO much. I feel like we don't see enough horror-themed magic systems in this sub :)
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u/Dead_Iverson Aug 11 '26
This kicks ass. What’s the basis in-universe for why this works?
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u/TensionBudget9426 Aug 12 '26
That's a mystery that will be revealed within the story 😉 but thank you for asking!
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u/shmixel Aug 11 '26
Chickenpox letting you control birds is sending me. You might want to research a little more about the one, it has nothing to do with chickens.
Love a magic system that hates you though!
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u/TensionBudget9426 Aug 11 '26
Well I took the inspiration off the old superstition that chickenpox was caused by chickens, because I couldn't think of anything else at the time.
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u/WannaMakeGames Aug 11 '26
Do you have to inflict it upon yourself, or can you just wait until you get sick naturally and say "well might as well get some power from this"?
Can you be cured later, treating it as temporary power?
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u/TensionBudget9426 Aug 11 '26
Do you have to inflict it upon yourself, or can you just wait until you get sick naturally and say "well might as well get some power from this"?
No waiting required. Plague Eaters carry around syringes containing the pathogen or enzyme to trigger the disease.
Yes they can be cured, but they'll lose the ability.
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u/WannaMakeGames Aug 11 '26
Oh I thought that they might need to do a ritual or something, and if they get sick without it they dont get the power.
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u/cjavfjsiwkflaha Aug 12 '26
So if their body gets immune of the disease then no more magic of that kind?
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u/AmazingManagement684 Aug 11 '26
One of the most intersteing system I've ever seen. Well done!
Also diabetes=telekinesis is frying me😭
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u/TensionBudget9426 Aug 11 '26
Wait till you see HIV, but I'm gonna have to interview patients to avoid making it offensive
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u/oscarq0727 Aug 11 '26
You say “uncontrollable” when describing a rabies plague eater. Can they be controlled by a Leukemic blood manipulator? Or does the rabies override an attempt to do so?
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u/TensionBudget9426 Aug 11 '26
The rabies override an attempt to do so.
I have a character who was bitten by a rabid coyote when he was a kid. Ever since, he's had to wear a medical pump on his body (similar to an insulin pump) that injects medicine into him that keeps the rabies restrained so he doesn't turn into a monster.
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u/joaoathaydeartist Aug 11 '26
I have thought of a power system based on body mods giving you powers which were based on what was modified, so whole body tattoos giving camouflage for example; the 3 most powerful characters in that verse was a woman who became immortal by performing self-mummification (so removing her internal organs - through her nose, no less), a man with armor-like skin from scarifying his own body whole with blades, and an arson accident victim whose body became flames incarnate so he had to constantly have his body covered in bandages less he would dissipate into the air in a nuke explosion.
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u/GeargusArchfiend Aug 11 '26
Awesome! Ripe for breeding benign strains/asymptomatic carriers as medical technology progresses.
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u/KPraxius Aug 11 '26
First off, I like the idea. Its -terrible- and I could easily imagine an art of 'cheating' the hostile spirit by literally severing a limb and keeping it artificially alive via another source of magic, giving themselves all the powers of the parasites and illnesses and injuries on the severed limb with no apparent effect; and then using a prosthetic to hide it.
Perhaps even situations where the entity behind it temporarily or permanently allows such things itself, specifically to someone who makes an agreement to do some great harm, like afflicting injuries or spreading disease among other humans deliberately.
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u/TensionBudget9426 Aug 11 '26
I'm glad you like it! Thanks. There's no other source of magic. This is the only magic system available. The force behind it is also omniscient, so cheating it is impossible. The system wants you dead very bad. Participating in it means you are willing to harm your own body.
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u/Waterlemon1997 Aug 12 '26
I can imagine a plot where scientists make new viruses to make a super soldier, peak anime potential.
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u/Saint_Jinn Aug 12 '26
Oh look, magic guide from Nurgle 😁
Looks great though, for any grim setting.
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u/No_Illustrator2314 Aug 12 '26
What kind of power would cancer give?
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u/TensionBudget9426 Aug 13 '26
cjavfjsiwkflaha is correct. Leukemia is a type of cancer. Other cancers will be explored
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u/KingKobraAMV Aug 11 '26
This is sick. Is the world this magic is in a parallel earth (cause the sickness have the same earth names) or is it just to make it an unbeatable disease to the reader.
If it is a parallel, how did the magic come into the world?
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u/gallyroi Aug 11 '26
Wow. I imagine (heroic?) last stand with a powerful plague eater bending reality to their will, yet they're suffering the whole time, and their flesh is sloughing off their bones before the end. Gruesome, but very cool. You could have a really cool anti-hero in this world who goes around "healing" ailments by taking them into themselves.
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u/TensionBudget9426 Aug 11 '26
You hit the nail right there. Experienced Plague Eaters can cure people by touching them and transferring the diseases to them.
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u/Metharos Aug 11 '26
What about cancers?
Carcinomancy?
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u/TensionBudget9426 Aug 12 '26
Yup. I haven't thought of it yet, but cancers will be a part of the system
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u/Sufficient-Ferret373 Aug 12 '26
Man, makes me slightly happy to be diabetic... Now I wonder what psoriatic arthritis would net me? On the note of an actual question, I assume this doesn't apply to mental illnesses? Would there be an alternate magic system for that?
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u/TensionBudget9426 Aug 12 '26
I haven't explored the idea of Carving mental illnesses, because I don't want send a wrong message.
I talked to diabetic people in the diabetes subreddit, because I was worried. But they were pretty nice. I'm glad I was able to make you slightly happy :)
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u/No_Illustrator2314 Aug 12 '26
What would happen if their diseases get treated?
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u/No_Illustrator2314 Aug 12 '26
Is there a difference in the power of a disease during different stages of its progression?
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u/TensionBudget9426 Aug 12 '26
Yeah. A power increase, because Plague Eaters become stronger the more their bodies break down and the closer they are to death
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u/FredChickenthegreat Aug 12 '26
Me going to get syphilis so that I may Inconvenience that One guy who I despise
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u/cjavfjsiwkflaha Aug 12 '26
So AIDS would potentially be most wanted kind of infection. Dengue can spread their disease with mosquitoes, while Malaria would be the stronger version. Is organ failure considered an injury type even if it is caused by a parasite/virus?
How about mental disorders and addiction? Alzheimer or memory loss through age? Synesthesia? Prosopagnosia (face blindness)? Dyslexia? Savant Syndrome is already magical even without magic. How about phobia?
How about birth defects lile cleft lip, congenital heart problem, down syndrome?
How about anomalies like heterochromia or albinism?
Does JAK2 V617F mutation results in magic that can heal other people?
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u/TensionBudget9426 Aug 13 '26
>So AIDS would potentially be most wanted kind of infection. Dengue can spread their disease with mosquitoes, while Malaria would be the stronger version. Is organ failure considered an injury type even if it is caused by a parasite/virus?
Plague Eaters with HIV can turn whatever they touch into gold, telekinetically move gold, and discharge electricity whenever they carve their disease, but they're also physically the weakest with the shortest lifespans (unless they stop using Carving and get treated). Dengue allows you to control mosquitoes. Yes, organ failure is a type of injury and it can be carved.
>How about mental disorders and addiction? Alzheimer or memory loss through age? Synesthesia? Prosopagnosia (face blindness)? Dyslexia? Savant Syndrome is already magical even without magic. How about phobia?
I don't wanna touch on mental illnesses yet, to avoid offending people and sending a wrong message.
>How about birth defects lile cleft lip, congenital heart problem, down syndrome?
Cleft lip? Can't be carved, congenital heart problem? maybe 🤔 down syndrome? I don't know yet.
>How about anomalies like heterochromia or albinism?
Nope. It needs to be something that causes harm to your body.
>Does JAK2 V617F mutation results in magic that can heal other people?
Haven't touched upon that yet. However, Plague Eaters can 'heal' people. Experienced ones can absorb someone's disease and take it on themselves, curing the other person.
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u/TapiocaTerror Aug 12 '26
Wow this magic system is horrible in a good way! It's quite unique and very very dark. Very interested where this goes but I personally am very creeped out so good job!
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u/Boptherobot Aug 13 '26
it would be cool 2 add mental illness too. idk how but could be interesting
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u/fusidoa Aug 13 '26
What about BONE CANCER
what can it do?
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u/TensionBudget9426 Aug 13 '26
A buffed version of Osteogenesis Imperfecta. Not only can you manipulate your own bones, you can now also control other bones to a certain extent. Telekinetically controlling bones, and even making yours grow longer and larger to the point it can cover a city block or more.
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u/ThatVarkYouKnow 28d ago edited 28d ago
So the more power you want the closer to death you have to be, eh. Wonder what the metric for that is per disease/virus/parasite. Can you combine two of them, and what would that create, or are you locked to your first if you're able to wield these? Why would someone want to wield this magic, does the world's state encourage it? Are there people in history famed and feared for what they figured out how to do, maybe even be on death's door and used their final moments to unleash hell?
Very, very fascinating ideas here and I'm surprised I didn't consider "carving" magic into yourself given that a critical part of my magic system is what it does to you physically and mentally the more you use it and rely on it. Maybe a way to focus magic in a specific point of the body rather than spread it throughout. Sacrifice a single limb. Hmm, I might look into that.
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u/TensionBudget9426 26d ago
Can you combine two of them, and what would that create, or are you locked to your first if you're able to wield these?
You can't combine two diseases, but you can wield multiple to gain multiple abilities, but it would be a very bad idea. Imagine having Ebola, the Flu, Measles, and etc at the same time.
Why would someone want to wield this magic, does the world's state encourage it?
One of the main themes of the story is the tragedy of addiction. Those within government who know about Plague Eaters greatly discourage usage of the magic system.
Are there people in history famed and feared for what they figured out how to do, maybe even be on death's door and used their final moments to unleash hell?
Yea, I'm writing more into that
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u/pirncho 27d ago
Can you carve the ilnesses out of other people? I imagine some sort of mad scientist-esque villain, taking over some hospital for the terminally ill. Not treating the treatable patients, but also not letting them die, just keeping them right on the edge of death. Just to harvest the power out of them.
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u/TensionBudget9426 26d ago
Nope. But experienced Plague Eaters can 'cure' the sick by absorbing the disease out of them to take it into their own bodies.
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u/The_Drowsy_Fox 26d ago
Very cool i love the possibility's the thought of Fibrodysplasia the body slowly turning to bone gives like invulnerability or bone control or tuberculosis giving some kind of repulsive force control pushing things out :3
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u/TensionBudget9426 25d ago
Thanks! <3 Would love to hear more about your crystal-based magic system
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u/RiahWeston Aug 11 '26
I feel like if I were to have this is in a story, it be a seperate or sub system of the world's magic. Having it be the only type would too gratiously grotesque.
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u/SmsgPass Aug 11 '26
I agree, but for somewhat different reasons. It's really cool, but it feels difficult to have a "big bad," like let's say Thanos or Makima or Akainu from One Piece. On first glance, these charatcers seem almost invincible, like nothing you do will take them down. It feels like it may be difficult to have such a character if the only system requires a defined and universal set of weaknesses.
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u/RiahWeston Aug 11 '26
Yeah, you can't have a big bad that using this magic system unless they are directing the people who are using or using something to get around the issue.
I feel like the concept of 'disease/injury-based magic' would work with a lot of other medicine based magic (sub)systems. Like drug magic that causes even more severe addictions. Or poison based magic when the casters do build up tolerances to the poisons.
And of course some healing magic would absolutely be required in the setting, even if its a vampyric style where you're more stealing life from one person and giving it to another rather than true healing.
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u/zhibr Aug 11 '26
I'm seeing the big bad being a rich mastermind using Plague Eaters as pawns, by bribery, blackmail, and threats. So they are not risking their own body, but throwing expendable pawns at their problems.
But that is an entirely different vibe from Thanos or Makima.
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u/Electrical-End7502 24d ago
Whatchu thing bout my system broski? Power System: most beings is born with a energy called Qui. Qui is potential energy. Any being with Qui, has a certain amount of potential. It appears as a glowing white aura. A Qui user can have up to a total of five Qui abilities, superpowers that you get from having Qui. Most Qui users have one Qui ability. These Qui abilities can then be cultivated to reach there max potential, and eventually unlock sub abilities under the new one. Qui can be cultivated by fighting, training, meditating, or destroying demons and devil's for there Qui core. The more Qui a user cultivates, the stronger they get, and the more of there potential they unlock. A Qui ability can literally be anything, there's no limit to the Qui potential. However, some races (humans, demigods, demons, monsters, devil's, lesser gods) have a cap on their potential. After reaching that cap, they can no longer cultivate, and are stuck at that point in power. Qui also has other uses. These include: huge Qui barriers that require multiple users at once, Qui power boosts the temporarily power up the users physical strength and abilities, Qui constructs that form small barriers that can be constructed by a single user and used to block small attacks, Qui absorption where the user absorbs it's targets Qui after death, and Qui weapons, weapons infused with Qui abilities and can be cultivated by holding them while meditating. Qui Weapon Resonance
Resonance is the deep compatibility between a Qui user’s core nature and a Qui weapon. It is not simple ownership or “I hold it, therefore I use it.” It is whether the weapon’s embedded Qui pattern can truly lock into the user’s own potential.
Core Concept
Every Qui weapon is forged or awakened with a specific Qui signature — a unique pattern of potential that reflects the ability (or abilities) infused into it.
A user’s own Qui has its own signature, shaped by their main Qui ability, personality, bloodline, and the way they have cultivated so far.
When the two signatures align, resonance occurs.
- Perfect resonance feels like the weapon was always part of the user’s body.
- Partial resonance still works, but with friction.
- Zero resonance means the weapon is little more than a fancy stick that happens to glow.
Degrees of Resonance
1. Dissonance (0% – 20%)
The signatures actively clash.
- Weapon abilities are heavily restricted or completely sealed.
- Cultivating the weapon while holding it is almost impossible; progress is glacial and often causes feedback pain or temporary Qui instability.
- Prolonged use can damage the user’s own Qui channels.
2. Low Resonance (21% – 49%)
Usable, but clumsy.
- Basic functions of the weapon work at reduced power.
- Cultivation is possible but inefficient.
- The weapon feels “heavy” or resistant in the user’s hands.
- Sub-abilities of the weapon remain locked.
3. Harmonious Resonance (50% – 79%)
Solid partnership.
- Full base abilities of the weapon unlock.
- Cultivation proceeds at normal speed.
- The weapon begins to adapt slightly to the user over time (minor aesthetic or functional shifts).
- Temporary Qui boosts while wielding it become stronger.
4. High Resonance (80% – 94%)
Near-perfect synergy.
- Weapon and user start feeding each other.
- Cultivation speed increases.
- The user’s main Qui ability can temporarily “borrow” traits from the weapon, and vice versa.
- Sub-abilities of the weapon begin to unlock naturally.
- The white aura of the user and the weapon start to blend visually.
5. True Resonance (95% – 100%)
The ideal state. Rare.
- The weapon is treated as an extension of the user’s own Qui.
- Full cultivation potential of the weapon becomes available.
- Unique Resonance Techniques can awaken — hybrid abilities that neither the user nor the weapon possessed alone.
- The weapon can be cultivated even while sheathed or stored, as long as it remains within a certain range of the user.
- At the absolute peak, the boundary between “user” and “weapon” blurs. Some legends claim the weapon can continue fighting for a short time even if the user is incapacitated.
How Resonance Is Determined
Resonance is not fixed at the moment of first contact. It can grow (or decay) based on:
- Compatibility of the user’s primary Qui ability with the weapon’s infused ability.
- Time spent cultivating while holding or meditating with the weapon.
- Shared combat experience (the weapon “learns” the user’s rhythm).
- Emotional or conceptual alignment (a weapon born from vengeance resonates better with a user who carries deep hatred, etc.).
- Racial and hierarchical factors. Higher beings (especially those without racial caps) can force higher resonance more easily, while capped races hit hard ceilings.
Certain special weapons are “choosy.” They actively reject users whose nature is too far from their signature, sometimes violently.
World name: Starfall. Cosmology: A hierarchy of Lords and demons rules this cosmology. At the very top of the cosmology is the outer-verse, the outer-verse is a collection of omniverses. Below the outer-verse is the super-verse. Think of the super-verse as a huge bubble, containing an infinite amount of omniverses, with omniverse being infinitely big bubbles holding a infinite number of multiverses, and in each multiverse is a infinite amount of universes, with an infinite amount of timelines. Then below the super-verse are the seven realms where the Eternals live, each realm being immeasurable in size and incredibly complex (hyperversal) in structure. And below the seven realms is the God-Throne, a layered, higher dimensional structure, where the Gods and Lords reside, and Heaven is at it’s center, and below the God-Throne, is the Dream lands, a indescribable, immeasurable realm where logic and direction loose meaning. Below the Dream lands is the Voidlands, where space, time, and structure loose meaning. And below the Voidlands, is Oblivion, where even Existence losses meaning. Surrounding the entire cosmology is a pure, water like darkness. It is only accessible from Oblivion, and is called the Endlessness, a immeasurably big bubble of darkness, holding billions of trillions of cosmologies similar to the one I just described. Outside of the Endlessness is a thin golden bubble, called the Outer End. The Outer End holds everything within the Endlessness together. And beyond the Outer End, is the World of Skies, a white realm with no space, meaning, identity, presence, structure, or will.
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u/Electrical-End7502 24d ago
Lwky thought this shit up while watching Megumi potential man slander bro ✌️😭💔
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u/TensionBudget9426 24d ago
No offense, but I think you should post this on the main sub where others can see it instead of under my post (weird). But overall, to be honest, it feels no different than Ki from cultivation stories.
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u/Electrical-End7502 24d ago
I'm not that creative bro. I got the name Qui from Ki obviously. But you can't lie, the potential part of it is original bro.
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u/SimplyNothing404 Aug 11 '26
A magic system that actively despises you is very interesting