Diagram

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Awakening ritual diagram, by Wildbow.

A ritual diagram or magic circle (not to be confused with "circle" used as a synonym for coven<ref>This wasn’t just Laird pulling something with people looking in. He was involving them. A coven -a circle-, getting involved. - excerpt from Breach 3.3</ref><ref>“You have a familiar, and a cabal,” Conquest observed.

“I prefer ‘circle’ to ‘cabal’.”

“Your concerns matter little to me.  You are a diabolist, few would deny that.  The diabolist’s circle is traditionally called a cabal.” - Excerpt from Subordination 6.4</ref>) is a geometric pattern drawn out as part of a magic ritual.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">“Something geometric.  There are two schools of thought in binding. There is like binding like, and then there’s binding with the antithesis. The former requires more raw power, but you generally won’t upset them so much. I say generally, but some beings like conflict, and there are any number of other rules.”

It was kind of eerie, to see that the driver had personality. Even to the point of geeking out about something. I said, “I think I saw something about that in the Barber’s entry, in my grandmother’s books.”

“I read that. Yes. Good memory. It’s easier to bind them with something that naturally opposes them. In this case, you’d want something geometric and man-wrought to oppose beings that are more disordered and natural by their intrinsic natures. Which is most things out there. The more powerful they are, the more you’ll want and need in terms of protections.”
[...]
I set to drawing out a border around the edge of the apartment.  Turning the apartment into a magic circle, or a magic rectangle, whatever. - Excerpt from Collateral 4.1</ref>

Symbolic Function

A circular diagram is preferred because it's inherently balanced, rather than "tilting" toward any one part of the diagram and accidentally making that the focus of the ritual.<ref name=":0">“Explain what you’re doing?” Verona asked. She sat on her heels, wincing and bringing her hand to her lower stomach as she did so, looking at the lines. “This is a magic circle?”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve drawn any diagrams,” Matthew said. “It might help to think of this as a stage. If you don’t spread things out evenly, it’s imbalanced, the stage tilts.”

“We were told, uh, one person shouldn’t do all the shopping,” Avery said. She had her hands in the pockets of her track pants. “Or bring all the things. Same idea?”

“Similar idea.”

“What happens if the stage tilts?” Verona asked.

“I… that’s complicated, and might not have a singular answer,” Matthew said, as he drew out a circle. “I could see a situation where the spirits look to one person in your group as the spokesperson or leader. One person ends up holding the cards or having more power, while the others are supporters. In the very worst case, the other two practitioners could be suppliers of energy or power for the primary figure. I wouldn’t worry, we’re well past that and into safe territory.” - Excerpt from Lost for Words 1.2</ref> A circle, even a simple one, can also act as a symbolic border for Binding or shielding something from outside connections; although the simpler and weaker the diagram, the easier it will be to break through.<ref>Subordination 6.4</ref><ref>Void 7.1</ref> Most types of Other have their natural, chaotic natures opposed by geometric shapes, making them useful for binding or repelling them.<ref name=":1" />

Heraldic Diagrams

Heraldic diagrams are employed primary in Item Crafting, and employ decorative borders, repeating patterns, and bold colours, sometimes in expensive and permanent materials. Tend to be simple and stable. They require enough power to activate that it's difficult to do accidentally.<ref name=":2">4.10 Bonus: Spell Notes #3</ref>

Examples of heraldic devices include:

• Embattled border - a thick, repeating border like a castle battlement. Much firmer border than usual; the default border in heraldic diagrams.<ref name=":2" />
• Raguly line - repeated lines projecting at a jagged angle from the primary line. Implies hazard and danger to the spirits. Can be used to designate an area as hostile, or for defences that are dangerous to push against.<ref name=":2" />
• Palissade line - similar to an embattled border, but pointier. Sacrifices defense in favour of making the diagram better at penetrating, such as imbuing an effect deep into an object or breaking through defences.<ref name=":2" />

Heraldic techniques are employed in the rituals to create an Alcazar<ref>“Standard Alcazar?  Regimented square?” [...] The serrated square border was the center of a diagram that got compass points marked out around it; long thin triangles with lines down the center sticking out of each side, smaller, filled-in triangles sticking out of the corners. Then notation, a circle to enclose it, a sun, moon, and star circle each with a ‘comet tail’, like they were shooting outward from the diagram, as celestial expressions for physical space, expanding.

After that, it was ten more minutes of adding small details. - Excerpt from Cutting Class 6.6</ref> and Escape Ropes.<ref name=":3">The circle was four fifths done, and the final fifth had been erased by ongoing remodeling.  It also looked like there was a void on the inside, where something was yet to be written. [...]

It was an argumentative diagram, calling out to outside forces.  The number 12 was emphasized in roman numerals, the number, and written out at three different points.  Then around the border, there were letters, a phrase yet unfinished in what was supposed to be a connecting circle, two blanks.  Short one or two letter blank, PETHEH, blank, DMANSR, then the first blank again.  There was no sun, moon, or stars, there were no coordinates, nothing to suggest there was a specific outer power, and the contents of the circle were vaguely key shaped, with symbols around the edges.

Key made sense if the plan was to escape.  Then the three symbols.  One like an open umbrella, but with three lines extending sideways to the blank spot.  One with four lines in parallel, one ending in a squiggle, one in a zig-zag, one in a hook.  One with an elongated rectangle, the space filled in.  There was meant to be something at the side of that rectangle, but it was mostly erased- only two lines stuck out at an angle. [...]

What the hell were you doing?

The lines at the edges were heraldic fortification.  Embattled.  The symbols and patterns that looked like they belonged on an old shield or flag were Heraldric practice, suggesting enchantment.  Was she trying to give herself and Verona an effect?  Calling out to a generalized force of twelve to imbue them with something, with this as the set location?

This had to be Path practice stuff, from the Garricks.  The argument, the gap, the vagueness.

No.  This wasn’t for them.

Verona looked back to the base of the damaged chimney.

Ropes.

She placed them in the blank spot.

This was a ritual to quickly create escape ropes. - excerpt from Playing a Part 15.8</ref>

Argumentative Diagrams

Diagrams employing large, complex, specific symbols.<ref name=":2" /> Used in calling to outside forces, as in Divine magic or Finder rituals. Often include sun, moon, and stars runes to provide coordinates.<ref name=":3" />

Appearances

• Awakening ritual
  • Bonds 1.7
  • Gathered Pages: 1
  • Subordination 6.2
  • Lost for Words 1.2
  • Pact Dice: Mile End - Essentials
  • Pact Dice - Blood Magic
• Chronomancy rituals
  • Breach 3.3
  • Sine Die 14.2
• Barbatorem's binding
  • Bonds 1.6 & 1.7
• Blake's binding of Laird & his familiar, Void 7.1

References

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