The Sources of Magic

Magic isn’t easy or free. If you’re a magic user in a Moonfall City Blues campaign you need to power it somehow. There are three common ways one can fuel their magic.

A bargain with the Celestials or one of their children. The bargains typically involve tributes, tithes, or strange requests and tasks. Sometimes it’s clear what the Celestial is getting out of the deal, other times it’s not. But ultimately, you’ll need to keep your patron happy in order to keep the magic flowing. Work with your GM to decide which Celestial is your patron, which of their Children of the Celestials you are in contact with and the nature of your bargain and what you must do to keep your power. As your tier increases the nature of this bargain might evolve to accommodate your increased power.

Moonshine, while a bit rarer than it used to be and currently illegal, is easier than you might think to get your hands on. Just a draught a month is enough to keep most magic users going, but heavy usage or more powerful casters might need it more frequently. This requirement is always considered to be safe Moonshine, but each additional drink carries with it the small risk of Addiction which could start you down the path of becoming a Lunatic. Work with your GM to describe what your safe Moonshine source is, and how you pay for it. As your tier increase you need for Moonshine will also increase (1xTier/month).

Finally, there are minor magics throughout the world. Things like the innate abilities of ancestries, or magic-like tricks or technologies which only rely slightly on the use of magic. These things generally fall into a legal grey area in the laws of Prohibition, but few of them are powerful or dangerous enough to warrant police attention… unless you are already doing something illegal or the officer is having a particularly bad day. If you use magical gadgets or natural abilities that are considered magic or incorporate magic, the police might look the other way, as it’s taking time to define laws and untangle society from this kind of magic, but don’t flaunt it.

Regardless of the source, as a magic user it’s your choice which source of magic you’re using. Your character might even change sources part way through the story! As a Wizard you could have a bargain with Luna which allows you to fuel your studied spells, as a Sorcerer your innate powers could be fueled by repeated Moonshine use. As a rogue, your shadowy spells might simply be minor, innate tricks or gadgets. Whichever path you pick it will have a narrative impact on you. It will generally be assumed that you can get the Moonshine you need, find gadgets, build devices, or otherwise fuel your minor magics with ease, or keep the bargain with your Celestial going.

That said, a narrative could lead to an interesting place where a shortage of Moonshine, or a change in your bargain happens. The GM will never completely cut you off from your magic without a conversation and a narrative reason, and a way to get it back that could be its own fun little side adventure. If they do go down that road, they’ll collaborate with you to tell an interesting story and make sure your character isn’t rendered useless.