Jakorosin Darksbane wrote:
I understand the 'feeling welcome' part, but it doesn't really seem to have a practical purpose.
Although adding to the things this magic can do doesn't seem like a bad idea, I'd differ about whether it's practical or not in its simple form of creating a welcoming and peaceful atmosphere. No soldier is at his best without the refuge of a peaceful and home-like home to retreat to at times. Strength and wisdom is always increased by happiness and rest. I think that even if hearth magic was just the ability to make a home more peaceful, more welcoming, and more happy, it would be very practical indeed.
For instance, and this is different from Aldara's idea, but similar in way: in 'Luna Veil' some of the characters become 'gods', and one of the women is described as being like twilight, and as giving rest to everyone who was with her. This was a very powerful attribute, and not just in low key situations – it was most valuable in the battle climax.
Similarly, I think the bits I like best about the hearth magic idea are the parts where it is simplest – the lullaby bit, and the feeling of the home, and the goodness it gives to the people.
On other aspects, however, I would say that perhaps something along the lines of the Scotch sort of 'second sight' could be interesting? Perhaps in a different form, but along that idea, maybe.
The instance that brought it to mind as being the sort of thing that might work as a kind of hearth magic was a bit of MacDonald's story 'The Portent'. I'll quote some bits... but you can read the entire piece about it
here, in the chapter named Margaret. The young man named Duncan needs to know where a woman he loves, named Alice, is, and Margaret is either Duncan's Godmother or old nurse... I can't remember.
"Kiss me, my bairn; I need strength for what I am going to do for your sake."
I kissed her.
"There now!" she said, "I am ready. Good-bye. Whatever happens, do not speak to me; and let no one come near me but yourself. It will be wearisome for you, but it is for your sake, my Duncan. And don't let the fire out. Don't leave me."
I assured her I would attend to all she said. She closed her eyes, and lay still.
...
Margaret lay as still as death. But having been accustomed to similar conditions in my Alice, I believed I saw signs of returning animation, and withdrew to my seat. Nor was I mistaken; for, in a few minutes more, she murmured my name. I hastened to her.
...
Janet left the room directly, and Margaret motioned me to a chair by her side. I sat down. She took my hand, and said,
"Duncan, my boy, I fear I can give you but little help; but I will tell you all I know. If I were to try to put into words the things I had to encounter before I could come near her, you would not understand what I meant. Nor do I understand the things myself. They seem quite plain to me at the time, but very cloudy when I come back. But I did succeed in getting one glimpse of her. She was fast asleep. She seemed to have suffered much, for her face was very thin, and as patient as it was pale."
"But where was she?"
"I must leave you to find out that, if you can, from my description. But, alas! it is only the places immediately about the persons that I can see. Where they are, or how far I have gone to get there, I cannot tell."Maybe that could give you some inspiration?
I really like your idea of hearth magic. It's so endearing and interesting at once.
