Sympathetic connection

Space allows a mage to manipulate, destroy, and create from nothing the occult bonds of sympathy. It is through sympathetic connections that Space mages can affect targets remotely, no matter how far away they are. A Space mage with a strong connection to a place can scry or teleport there, and a mage with a connection to an enemy (such as a piece of their hair, or a treasured possession) can work spells on them from the comfort of their own Sanctum.

The concept of sympathy is a complex one, and the libraries of the Orders contain volumes on the subject, but briefly:

Two subjects may become sympathetically linked when they share a strong emotional, physical, or mystical connection. Naturally-occurring links are sometimes permanent, but just as often fade over time: a brief but passionate love affair’s link might fade within a few weeks of the breakup, while a murder weapon retains links to both killer and victim for years.

Sympathetic links manipulated with the Space Arcanum echo from the Supernal to the Fallen, wreaking subtle but long-standing changes in the subjects. Sever a man’s link to his husband and the relationship cools and grows distant. Create a bond between a woman and a gun, and she’ll find herself thinking about it, dreaming about it — and left to their own devices odds are good woman and gun will cross paths.

This isn’t precisely mind control, or even an expression of Fate magic: all Space can do is manipulate the connections, not control reactions or guarantee outcomes. Maybe the chilled couple seeks counseling and repairs their relationship. Maybe the woman tells herself she’s being crazy and deliberately ignores thoughts of firearms. The point is that playing with people’s sympathetic links has a real, tangible effect on their lives. The Wise look askance on those mages who endeavor to cull their own sympathetic “vulnerabilities” with good reason.

Most spells dealing with sympathy use the connections themselves as the spells’ subjects, and are Withstood by the links’ relative strength — deeper bonds are more difficult to affect. Mages with Space 2 or more can also use links to cast other spells on subjects not within sensory range, by routing their magic along the lines of sympathy using an Attainment. In order to cast a Sympathetic Spell, the mage needs a Sympathetic Connection and a Sympathetic Yantra - something that represents their target. This can be a piece of the target (their blood, or a lock of hair), a picture or drawing of them, or even their sympathetic name.

The weaker the connection, the greater the Withstand to target someone through it, so targeting someone that you've never met is much more difficult than targeting your closest friend. Conversely, breaking or altering a connection is harder the stronger it is. The connection of a casual coworker is easier to steal or destroy than the connection between lovers.

Connections are broadly categorised thusly:

• Weak Connections are those of casual acquaintances, momentary interactions and disposable objects.
• Medium Connections are those between friends and family, and significant mementos like wedding rings or a favoured weapon.
• Strong Connections are extremely intimate - lifelong partners, a mage and their dedicated magical tools or a murder weapon.
• Connected ties are between things that are metaphysically one - a mage and their soulstone or familiar, or a recently severed limb.