A grey witch wug is a term used in the realm of witchcraft to describe an individual who practices both light and dark magic. Unlike white witches, who exclusively focus on benevolent practices, grey witches have a more balanced approach to their craft. They believe in harnessing both positive and negative energies for their spells and rituals. The term "grey" in grey witch wug refers to the middle ground between black and white magic. Grey witches are not necessarily good or evil, but rather seek to find harmony and balance in their craft. They recognize that not all magic is 100% pure or impure and that both light and dark aspects have their purpose and can be used responsibly.
They recognize that not all magic is 100% pure or impure and that both light and dark aspects have their purpose and can be used responsibly. Grey witch wugs often incorporate elements of both healing and hexing in their practice. They recognize that sometimes, in order to bring about positive change or protect themselves or loved ones, it may be necessary to use more assertive or defensive magic.
The True Strength of Compounding in the Metallic Arts
This, my dedicated friend, is the last post in the Why I Love the Mistborn Trilogy series. This is post number twelve and I’ve been waiting over a year to talk about this particular subject.
Magic users in Scadrial, with a few notable exceptions, are evenly matched. A Mistborn from House Hastings would have the approximate strength of a Mistborn from House Tekiel. If we ignore outliers like Vin, Elend, and the Lord Ruler, a fight between Mistborn is a matter of skill. Even when considering Feruchemy, contests between magic users are more a matter of preparation and skill rather than raw magical power. If you save more strength or speed than your opponent and wield it better, you are more likely to win.
Compounding breaks all of that, adding further complications and possibilities to an already complex and versatile set of systems. Normally this is where I’d comment or “joke” about demon summoning or some such, but the Templars are closing in and I need to keep a low profile.
Don’t worry, they can’t find me if I’m careful. Before long these “keepers of justice” will have moved onto another neighborhood and we’ll have discuss why I love compounding and what you can learn from it. But first, you need to understand what compounding is.
Compounding is a Combination of Feruchemy and Allomancy
Compounding is a special technique through which the power stored within a Feruchemist’s metalmind is enhanced tenfold.
Feruchemy is a fascinating magic system in which a user’s true power comes from their ability to store specific attributes for use at a later time. Ordinarily, Feruchemy follows its own version of the conservation of energy. The power available depends on how much power you have stored already; you can’t even touch the power stored in another Feruchemist’s metalmind.
There are no shortcuts with Feruchemy… unless you’re a Compounder.
It’s kind of like… Oh wait. No demon “jokes.” This is more difficult than I thought… Never mind then.
Compounding occurs when an individual possesses both Allomantic and Feruchemical abilities for the same metal. By storing an attribute in a metalmind and then burning it with Allomancy, an individual can release ten times more energy than they stored.
**Spoilers Incoming**
We learn about compounding near the end of The Final Empire. It turns out the Lord Ruler somehow became both a Feruchemist and an Allomancer. Through his ability to compound Feruchemical effects, he gained immortality and a god-like ability to heal from wounds.
**Spoilers Over**
That is the official definition of compounding, but there other places in The Mistborn Trilogy where we see the power systems build atop one another for greater power.
Combining Hemalurgy with Allomancy
That statement might seem a redundant at first, given that Hemalurgy can steal Allomantic ability, but let me explain. And fair warning, this will involve a lot of jargon.
In The Mistborn Trilogy, anyone with the proper heritage can be born with the ability to burn one Allomantic metal (Mistings) or all of them (Mistborn).Someone can use a Hemalurgical spike to steal one power from a victim and grant it to someone else.
This second form of compounding comes into play when the two overlap. If someone already possessing an Allomantic ability receives a Hemalurgical spike with the same ability, their Allomantic increases beyond the abilities of others.
Let’s Simplify with an Example
Two of the Allomantic metals are copper and bronze. By burning bronze a Seeker can hear/feel pulses of energy when someone uses Allomancy nearby. A Smoker burning copper creates a nullifying field, called a copper cloud, which hides Allomantic pulses from Seekers.
It’s an interesting point of balance in the system. One power serves no purpose without the other, and together they lead to a magical stalemate. This generates some very interesting bits of character development and worldbuilding I’ll leave as a surprise for you.
The point is, nobody can pierce a copper cloud and detect the pulses hidden within… not without Hemalurgical enhancement.
If a Seeker or Mistborn, who can already burn bronze, receives a Hemalurgical spike filled with another Seeker’s power, the enhanced individual gains enough Allomantic strength to do the impossible and pierce a copper cloud.
It might not sound like much, but this is a big deal.
We see this compounding occur in multiple places throughout the books, including a Steel Inquisitor’s ability to see with spikes driven through their eyes.
Now you know the official and unofficial definition of compounding. Why is that so cool? Well–
The Templars seem to have found me so we’ll get back to that in a moment. Please excuse me.
*Three minutes of shouting and screaming later*
Well, that could have gone better. Now I have to terminate my experiments and move all the trans-dimensional communication gear. I swear, those guys had no sense of curtesy.
Anyway, where were we? Oh, right.
Why Compounding is Cool
Well… isn’t it obvious? Even with just the couple of examples I gave you, it should be clear that Brandon Sanderson did some clever things with the concept. I suppose you want more, huh?
*Sigh* All right. Here we go.
It Only Occurs Where Systems Overlap
Allomancy by itself — creative and stunning
Feruchemy by itself — tactical and subtle
Hemalurgy by itself — powerful and disturbing
Each system has their own set of patterns and limitations, but compounding changes everything. It creates new patterns and relationships within the systems and the world.
This injects a delightful burst of extra flavor into the story. By pushing and exploring this more throughout The Mistborn Trilogy, Brandon retains the ability to show new aspects of the magic. There are so many options, he couldn’t explore them in a single series. Fortunately for us, we have the saga of Wax and Wayne and the promise of more series to come.
It Makes Me Think and Ask Questions
That’s one of Brandon’s many gifts. He crafts magic systems that pierce straight into my brain and refuse to dislodge. I can’t help but think and explore the system even after I’ve put down the book.
What would happen if a Steel Inquisitor burned a spike for power? Would it create an amplified burst similar to the loop with Feruchemy and Allomancy?
Does anything happen if you use Hemalurgy to give a Feruchemist additional Feruchemical power? Do their abilities stay the same, or can they now store a specific attribute at half the initial cost? Would this be a lesser version of the Feruchemy + Allomancy loop? Could they use the Hemalurgical spike itself as a metalmind, or is it already filled with power?
On and on these questions go. Power loops like this within your system can easily destroy the balance, but sometimes it’s worth it.
It Generates Some Incredible Plot Points
The Lord Ruler, for one. All his god-like abilities come from the Feruchemy + Allomancy power loop. Brandon took a broken part of his system and turned it into a feature. Like, a major feature. Key point of the entire novel, kind of feature.
And there’s more he does with this, so much more, but I want to leave at least some surprises for you in the series. For now, enjoy the concept and take yet another lesson from Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn Trilogy.
Explore Power Loops in Your System
Is there any way the magic can feed back on itself creating an infinite loop?
What will it break and how bad will it be?
Can you take the break and turn it to your advantage?
Remember how Brandon handled it. Throughout the series, he made sure the Protagonists never had full access to the power loops. Whenever they entered the story, they existed only to create additional problems and more daunting challenges for the main characters. There was a moment where the protagonists could have entered a power loop, but Brandon constructed the situation so they didn’t have the information or motivation to take advantage of the opportunity.
Be aware, playing with cracks in your system like this is dangerous. One misstep and you can break everything and make your readers frustrated rather than intrigued. I recommend cutting any breaks you find out of your system and fixing it all up nice and strong.
It’s safer this way.
However, they are careful not to cross into the realm of dark magic, which aims to harm or manipulate others. Grey witches may also actively work with spirit guides, deities, or energies from both the light and dark realms. They understand that different energies can provide different forms of guidance, protection, or assistance, and therefore embrace a holistic approach to their spirituality. Some grey witches may also focus on shadow work, which involves exploring and confronting one's own dark aspects or inner turmoil. This practice allows them to heal and grow on a personal level, as well as gain a deeper understanding of the duality within themselves and the world around them. It is important to note that grey witch wugs, like all witches, have their own unique ethical guidelines and practices. While they may embrace the balance between light and dark magic, they still adhere to principles of responsibility, harm reduction, and respect for free will. In conclusion, a grey witch wug is a witch who embraces both light and dark magic, seeking a balanced and responsible approach to their craft. They recognize the importance of both positive and negative energies, incorporating different aspects in their rituals and spells. Grey witches strive for harmony and personal growth, all while adhering to their own ethical guidelines..
Reviews for "Grey Witch Wug: Embracing the Cycles of the Moon and Magick"
1. Sophie - 2 stars: As an avid reader of fantasy novels, I was disappointed with "Grey Witch Wug". The plot was predictable and lacked any real depth or originality. The characters felt one-dimensional, and I found it hard to connect or care about their journey. Additionally, the writing style was choppy and lacked finesse. Overall, I found the book to be underwhelming and not worth my time.
2. Mark - 1 star: "Grey Witch Wug" was a complete letdown for me. The story was slow-paced and meandering, making it difficult to stay engaged. I found the main character to be bland and uninteresting, with no real development throughout the book. The world-building was also lackluster, leaving me confused about the setting and its rules. I ultimately couldn't connect with the story or its characters, making it a forgettable read.
3. Emily - 2 stars: I didn't enjoy "Grey Witch Wug" as much as I had hoped. The plot felt disjointed, and I struggled to follow the various storylines. The pacing was inconsistent, with long stretches of boredom followed by rushed and confusing action scenes. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to believe in the characters. Overall, I found the book to be a jumbled mess and hard to get through.
4. David - 2 stars: "Grey Witch Wug" failed to capture my interest. The writing style was convoluted and overly descriptive, bogging down the story. The characters lacked depth and their motivations were unclear. The magic system was poorly explained, leaving me with more questions than answers. Ultimately, I found the book to be a chore to read and struggled to find any enjoyment in it.
5. Jessica - 1 star: "Grey Witch Wug" was a huge disappointment. The pacing was slow, with little action or excitement to keep me engaged. The characters felt flat and lacked any real development. The world-building was minimal, leaving me with a lack of understanding and connection to the story. Overall, I found the book to be uninteresting and struggled to finish it.