How magic actually works from an observer (Real Life)

Context

Last year I was on the train home from my nearest City. I sat down and found a strange name on the reservation screen. WillowWays (anonymous to protect identity). I google it, assuming it to be a first name I have never heard of. It's an Etsy seller who deals in spells like "Good Luck", "Sexual Endurance" and the most depressing of all, "Wage Security" (it would guarantee that you would make a living wage for the duration). I see this person left their stuff and their note book open. It had a series of sigils and runes I didn't understand. I thought they were doodles or letters of a language. Then Rowena (not real name) sat down and rang someone. The call was received and I over heard the following 

"Oh good, do you have my spell ready for tonight?" Client, Dublin accent, young woman and upper class

 "Yes, I just need a few details on the scope of the spell. You are looking for a same sex partner?" Rowena, Irish urban accent, unknown, working-middle class

 "Yes, ideally lesbian." 

Rowena then drew this symbol. I have recreated it from memory but it is not exactly like what I saw. The lines where equidistant from each other and each curve was concentric. They only used a ball point pen. My hands where shaking trying to remember it.  

The start of the spell Attract Lesbian 

Rowena then put the client on hold while they went to the bathroom for 10 minutes. Rowena then came back and asked for further details "How long do you want the spell to last?" While asking the question they got a hair from a bag and put it behind the symbol on the page behind the spell page where there was an indent from the pressure put on the pen. This hair wasn't Rowena's as their hair was dyed a cyan colour with black roots and this hair was blond. Unfortunately my stop arrived and I couldn't witness the spell further. 

Applying it to TTRPGS

This magic is more abstract, unclear and cannot be turned into a system. Magic Users in B/X are really powerful at level one as they know a spell, exactly what it does, how to target something with it and it's limits. If they find a spell they can learn the ins and out of a spell no problem. However there are weaknesses, like how the M/U can't stop mid spell, can't change the spell to fit the circumstances and has to be loud and move about. The game that gets closest to this is Cairn. Diagetic advancement being a core pillar means that where your next spell (if it even is one) comes from is a complete mystery. Spells have odd effects like the one I have shown earlier. It's already most of the way there just tweak the finer details. 

Practical Advice for GMs here, make magical items and creatures really weird. Magic inherently breaks the rules of logic and science so might as well go all in. Even in a high fantasy setting, highlight how magic is the exception to every rule. In settings where magic has a lot of mechanical weight, use flavor text and enemy reactions to show why magic is weird. Also allow the wizard to smoke that wizard weed mid spell. It will be fine. 

Clickables 

This post is part 1 of a 2 part series. I did later buy a spell off Etsy to solve a problem. 

Weird Writer has a cool urban fantasy GLOG she is working on 

Dream Shrike asks if AD&D is still popular 

Rise Up Comus casts spells based on the objects around him 

 

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