Kari Brokkr by Eyes of Sleeping Hollow
And no, you can’t just extract the magic without destroying what you're taking it from. The magic flows through all earth, we just borrow it for a time. — Kari Brokkr
Geomancy is earth-based
Literomancy: power over rock, the ground, and metals. The magic is usually applied to solids, but can on occasion deal with semi-liquids or particles in wind, such as quicksand, mud, sandstorms, and dust devils.
Manifestation
Typically, Geomancers start by having contact with the ground or substance they wish to utilize or manipulate. If the ground is a large continuous area, powerful Geomancers may affect many miles around them.
The spell runes must be written on the implement or spoken (physically or mentally, though the latter is more difficult). This type of magic is vibration and harmonics-based and most often uses strength, whether it be strength of body, mind, soul, or will. So, you'll see it manifested with low stances, sliding steps, and quick strikes, stomping, jabs, punches, kicking, shouting, or a determined look.
Since it is based on fast powerful movement, timing is essential. There can be no indecision in a Geomancer's mind for the spell to reach its full potential. They listen to the vibrations and harmonics of the earth and wait for the perfect moment to make their move.
However, Geomancy also lends itself to slow, patient rituals that take time, with multiple participants (usually directed by a Master) and slow, gradual shifts. This form of Geomancy also requires determination, in the form of dedicated focus and patience.
Effects include ripples, waves, a glow, flashes of light, cracking or breaking, and tremors. Colors witnessed range from cyan to Meles green.
Geomancy is most powerful in a fairly dry and solid environment. It is more difficult to affect very wet ground or fine particles.
Geomantic Law
Law of Geomancy
The energy and material used will be returned to the earth in the end, though they may be changed in form.
Corollary of Temperance
Pull only what you need from the earth.
Earth cannot be robbed. If too much energy is pulled and transferred into or through you, the Earth—she will extract it with interest and you will crumble to dust.
Corollary of Containment
Energy storage has a limit unless there's a magical barrier to keep it in.
Even powerful magic barriers will degrade over time and the energy in a crystal will return to the Earth. She is patient.
Corollary of Release
Energy released slowly is safe. Energy released quickly may explode.
Corollary of Harmonics
Multiple geomancy spells may be applied to amplify the effect if the additional spells' harmonics are an integer greater than the harmonics of the first, otherwise the additional spells will degrade the first.
Stone Magic Art Installation by Upklyak
Areas and Types
Key
Minimum level needed is listed before the ability/spell. Variations are listed below.
Beginner (Anyone may learn)
Advanced (Reserved for House Meles or a Literomancer that trains under a Meles Geomancy Master or if a shared power under the appropriate House's Master for that area.)
Master (Reserved for Geomancy Master if only the - is in front of the power/spell. A Geomancy Master may be a non Melesian)
Reserved (Epic level aspect, reserved for Meles royalty and Brocktrees if only the is in front of the power/spell)
New (As of April 12, 2026 - awaiting approval)
Exceptions and shared magic domains are noted.
Art
Cairn by Sean Stratton
Rock stacking
henges, cairns, shelters, ascertaining the properties of different earthen elements
Luminosity
imbuing rocks with light or a glow for festivals, living areas, art, and installations
Earth or metal shaping
arches, monuments, statues (like the badgers at Badger's Heart)
(Handheld-size articles are beginner level. Larger ones are advanced. Anything over 2 meters requires master level.)
Rock and mud slides
causing earth and rock to loosen and tumble down a slope (Subset of Earth Shaping, may also be used for war)
Literomantic Enhancement
Sand bath
allows caster or subject to cleanse themselves or another being with sand
Stone Runes by Freepik
Stone runes
for prophesies, direction, and to determine the way the magic in an area, stone, or metal wishes to be used. The use of runes in general crosses over to many different types of magic, but Geomancy's use is specific and, its practitioners claim, more accurate.
Henge magic
megaliths like Badger's Heart and other large stone constructions to be the center of a community (Meles is not the only House to have or use henges. Other henges may have been constructed with other means or with Meles assistance.)
They use the Earth's magic to protect the henge and those in it and to build a familial bond of those inside it (which returns harmonious magic back to the Earth)
To create portals or gates between the henge and another structure
Meles Badger's Heart henge at Winter Solstice dawn - concept art by Eyes of Sleeping Hollow
Summon Earth Elemental (rock or lava)
The specified type of elemental is summoned, but the caster must be able to convince the elemental to do their bidding. Requires excellent negotiation skills, patience, and determination to keep the stubborn elemental from returning to its home
Wall Climb
Create indentations in stone and earthen walls and cliffs to assist in climbing. The indentation may be modified to surround the hand, arm, foot, or leg for a secure hold if the climber needs a break (Subset of terrain modification)
Animate fossils
caster pulls the fossilized remains of a creature from the ground and controls the formerly living being like a puppet. Size of fossilized the creature caster is able to control depends on caster level. (If you want to control a mammoth or something larger, you’d better be a master.) Ability shared with House Sauropoda
Science and Engineering
Tunneling
mining, living, leisure, and working areas, water channels
(The most difficult to stabilize aspects are master level.)
Sense tremors
ability to detect movement of the earth or movement on it in the caster’s level of range. The highest casters’ can detect tremors about 100 miles away.
Architecture
artistic shapes, crafting building materials, clarifying crystal for windows—a focus on the shaping of the materials or building with stone or earth
(The most difficult to manifest aspects and make safe are master level.) Magical architecture may also cross over into different kinds of magic
Terrain Modification
raising sections of earth and lowering others to create mountains, plateaus, or valleys
(The largest aspects to create and make safe are master level and require multiple Geomancers. To work together with other Geomancers, one needs to be a master. But even a child beginner can create small "hills" where they play with their toys.)
Earth Drill
caster uses a rock as a spinning drill. The rock will be used up in the process. (Subset of part of terrain modification)
Fire Sand
agitates dirt or sand particles enough to heat them. If the caster’s ability is strong enough the particles may melt or catch on fire (Subset of terrain modification)
Bulldoze
caster flattens an area around them. The amount of leveling and size of area depends on the caster’s level. An Advanced user can flatten a hillock in 1 day. A Master can flatten a hill in a day, a mountain in 3. Epic level would be a mountain in 1 hour or less. (Subset of terrain modification)
Earthen Transmutation (also known as Alchemy)
converting one type of earth/solid substance into another
(Dangerous because it can give off or take in massive amounts of energy and heat. While technically possible, it is not feasible on a production scale. It's generally used on the fly for a small amount, such as converting a stone dagger to a stronger metal one.) Some forms of Transmutation also cross over into Fire, Water, or Air Magic.
Geo-explosives
utilizes the chemical properties of solid elements to create explosives, such as adding water to potassium (Subset of Transmutation)
War
Dirt/Sand cloud
kicks up a plume (or other shape) of fine dirt or sand particles that will hang in the air until it precipitates to the ground. It can temporarily block light and vision. May cause difficulties with breathing or troubles with eyes. Size and duration depends on the caster’s ability
Earthen secure
trap or secure something or someone with stone or earth
(Beginners can manage up to a foot deep, advanced users are able to put the thing or being deeper without harm.)
Earthen shield
causing the ground around the mage or another being or thing to rise up around them for protection
Stone Wards by Upklyak
Stone weapon
reshaping a rock into an instrument of attack and ensuring it's strong enough to do the damage needed
Stone projectile
The caster sends a stone (size based on casting level) hurtling in a specified direction
Stone ward
pooling energy from the earth into an area, carving a rune to hold it there and imbuing it with some form of protection or a barrier. It is believed that Queen Sable, while not a Geomancer, has also mastered a related language based technique
Earth thrust
Causing a section of earth to suddenly jut up into the air
Earthquake by macrovector
Rock claws
Rock (of caster’s choice) cover’s the caster’s hands and makes claw like protrusions that the user can fight with (Subset of Stone weapon)
Metal Claws
Like rock claws, but metal of caster’s choice. Requires higher level of casting than rock claws (Subset of stone weapon)
Rock or metal armor
like rock or metal claws, but armor is formed on the caster’s body. The result is heavy, so it’s generally reserved for the particularly fit or if the caster needs to remain in one place. (Metal armor requires a higher level casting ability than rock armor).
Earth rupture
breaking down earthen/stone/cement/etc. defenses or creating cracks in the ground or sinkholes
(This technique requires significant amounts of energy. Advanced users can break down or create a rift about the size of a car. Masters can create larger effects and sink holes.)
Liquification
the ground in an area breaks apart into small particles and behaves like a liquid (Subset of earthquake)
Earthquake
creating an epicenter for an earthquake and being able to direct its flow.
(Only the most powerful master Geomancers can accomplish this.)
The above is only a sampling of Geomancy's possiblities. New discoveries from Geomancers and research from the
Meles Library System will be added as they are discovered.
Known Variants In Other houses
Most variations of Geomancy known outside of House Meles are crystal related and not as broad in scope.
Crystals and rocks in Literomancy
Queen TaraFaeBelle has an affinity for them, though her main magic is ink-based. She often adds crystals or crystal dust to the inks she creates
She's inscribed gems and given them out
Squish's upgrade to Release used many gems
House Chiroptera also has a history of chiseling their literomancy into crystal or stone
The "Chompers" in The Cavern, which are animated stalagmites and stalactites that can act as weapons or portcullis doors, may also be considered Geomancy
Enchanted Amethyst
magic imbued amethyst to draw out its magical qualities - such as resisting or removing poison (originated in House Lapin. According to Queen Sable, she has done similar things with different types of gems as well, such as enchanting rose quartz to produce a calming effect, and so forth)
Magical Metallurgy
Sgt Bethany Black of the Houndstooth Company (Ailurus) is known to be able to transmute and refine metal specifically, but is not known to have ever used other forms of Geomancy
Magical Architecture
Princess Rowean of House Lapin regularly uses Magical Architecture, by gathering the materials needed for a build, and then literomantically directing them to assemble. This may be related to Geomancy practices.
History
Origins
Werebadgers and
Badgerfolk are believed to be the first to use Geomancy. The first recorded user of this type of Literomancy was
Kari Brokkr, the founder of the Meles clan.
Expansion of Use
Most aspects of modern Geomancy used to be reserved solely for the Meles Royal Family. The Literomancy school had only a few known practicing mages, because it was so powerful. The ability to create earthquakes should be known to only a trusted few.
After the disappearance of
Great Badger Darth Nikolas, his consort, and
Prince Galakrond a few years before, Geomancy was considered to be extinct because none of the younger Forgelings had mastered this school of magic. When Nik returned,
Princess ShyRedFox learned Geomancy from him.
But in 2025 Shy, while researching with Librarian Charlie in the
Meles Library System, discovered that Kari Brokkr likely had a group of Geomancers that helped him lift the ground beneath and around the
Badger's Heart henge to make a plateau and they were likely not all from his family.
She still worried that this Literomancy type might be lost if it's only kept to the Royal Line. With permission, she started teaching the
Brocktrees the magic after
The Sixth Word War.
That's awesome!
Thank you muchly! <3