Magic

Magic exists in Valdaria, but player characters cannot cast it. The Absence of Soul you carry cuts you off from spellcasting, so an unaided attempt to work magic comes to nothing. An effect can still reach you through another source, such as an ally's spell, a shared ritual, or a divine being.

What still works

The restriction applies to casting, not to magic itself:

• Magic items work normally in anyone's hands. A flaming blade deals its fire damage, and an item effect does what its description says.
• Elemental damage from gear and ammunition works as described on Combat.
• Enchanting is open to you. Laying an enchantment into an existing item is forge craft resolved through the Arcana channel rather than spellcasting, as described on Crafting.
• NPCs and creatures can use whatever magic they have, and their magic can be turned to your benefit when they choose to help you.

Attempting it anyway

When your action reads as an attempt to cast magic, the game pauses and offers up to three rewritten actions that pursue the same goal without magic, drawn from your character's skills, the gear you carry, and what is present in the scene. Picking one continues your turn with that action at no extra credit cost, and your roll carries over. You can also keep the original attempt, which fails.