Perhaps one of the most difficult of the arts of magic to master is artificing, the creation of magical artefacts. Far from all magical artefacts stem from the work of mages, many are created through the works of extraordinarily skilled craftsmen, for example, blacksmiths whose swords can cut through steel with the same ease it cuts through flesh, Alchemists whose strange items and potions are the envy of many, the amazing automatons of the Teslans and so on. Certainly the skills of a mage at this art may be enhanced by knowledge of some crafts, but it is hardly a necessity.

Artefacts are usually broken down into five categories: power sources, items with certain spell like effects, items intended to sustain certain environments, items intended to transform one type of energy to another and containment vessels.

Vital to the creation of artefacts is the use of Sigils and Prime Words. These two serve as power sources for lesser magic items and ways of channelling energy and containing energy in some of the larger items.

Simple Magic Items

These are the most basic magic items, the ones that people usually think of when they hear of magic artefacts. They are simple items with spells written into their very fabric. Usually they draw on either the Numen of the person using them, or they draw their power from other sources. Though they can potentially be very powerful items, their size usually means their power source is relatively limited. They usually serve a single function, with some serving several. An example of a simple magic item would be the Ring of Therean, which rendered the wearer invisible as long as he wore it.

Containment Vessels

These vessels are intended to contain power sources or extraplanar entities and spirits. They can take on many forms but are relatively simple of construction. Sigils, true names and prime words serve to power the containment itself; the more powerful the entity inside the vessel, the more powerful, difficult and intricate the vessel needs to be. The containment vessel is often a part of larger magic items which are powered by whatever entities are trapped inside these vessels.

Power sources

There are quite a few artefacts which may be used to power spells. Creating such items, however, is one of the more difficult things a mage can do. Often power sources require at least one extraplanar item or entity which serves to produce the power necessary. From there the power source also needs to contain this energy and transform it into a useable kind of energy. The heart of the Fire Giant Eld, for instance, makes up the core of the Eye of Fire, a coveted vessel which is said to be constantly on fire. The ceramic vessel which contains the fire giant’s heart is a piece of art in itself, laced with wards of cold and secret signs designed to keep the heat of the heart from escaping. In addition, there are outlets on the vessel where the energy may escape along with spells woven to turn the energy into something a mage can use.

Transformers

Transfomers are magical constructs which transform energy of the surroundings into a more useful form. These can be anything from spells which translate the heat of a volcano into a circle, creating a power source of sorts, albeit one dependent on the environment, to the murder machines known to have been created by certain necromancers which are fuelled by constant sacrifice.

Sustainers

Sustainers are advanced pieces of magical machinery which require a constant flow of energy. Typically they maintain a spell which causes a certain effect in the environment, such as creating a field which causes spontaneous regeneration or which makes those entering it confused. Often sustainers are used as an alternative to the use of Enclosing in cases where appropriate Ley Lines are unavailable or not powerful enough.

Replicators

A replicator is a magical device which shapes magical energy into a certain spell without the need for the oversight of a magi. Replicators are usually made to accumulate a certain amount of energy before creating a spell.