The Dresden Files > DF Books
Magical Tattoos
Griffyn612:
--- Quote from: jonas on March 18, 2018, 06:11:26 PM ---I disagree one could have a reservoir within a tattoo. From what we've see of the spell put upon his staff it had one reservoir because it was one whole object. The rings actually had separate enchanted pieces loosely bound together through a twine. I predict doing such a thing with a tat would place the reserve source upon the one already present, your own life force. Breaking it down into more is not a simple matter of redoing the spell it would seem...
--- End quote ---
Hence the "overly developed" part. I'm not saying it would be easy. The idea of channeling face-melting heat and bone-crushing pressure into your skin sounds like a horrible idea. But if you want to explore such potential uses of tattoos, we can at least consider methods.
Now maybe it's a combination of things. Maybe there has to be an external reservoir; a set of rings that touch the tattoo via the fingers, and the energy channels through that to the storage.
Or maybe energy can be dispelled from tattoos across the body like pressure release valves; spreading light and heat all over would be more bearable than having it focused on one spot.
Or maybe there's a way to have swirling tattoos pour into the person's reserve, like Harry drawing power in from outside. Or into the chakras, where we've power be pulled from before.
Or maybe the symbols themselves can have a limited ability to store some (but not a lot of) power.
Or maybe it can recycle the energy back into the casting. If it's a shield, then an advanced design would channel the excess back into the shield itself. It wouldn't be easy, but it might be possible.
Quantus:
Per WOJ the main danger of magic tattoo's is that the emotions of the bearer would change the Enchantments. There is also the ever-present issue with over-loading a spell which tends to physically damage the enchanted object. When harry overloaded his blasting rod it exploded, and his first shield bracelet nearly melted to his wrist. Imagine the mess if either had been literally carved into his skin.
EDIT: That being said, the primary danger to making a Soulfire based item per WOJ is that it would mean there exists an object with an actual chunk of your SOUL, which would be all kinds of dangerous if lost. But that's not an issue with a Tattoo, I am curious if having a chunk of your Soul would make a more or less stable enchantment.
zetadog:
the tattoos are used as a focus, like the stuff the wizards carve into their wands and staffs and belt buckles. like a mold for clay or molten metal. the wizard or sorcerers magic is the clay or molten metal.
or a simple electronic device: the wizards magic is the electricity.
exartiem:
Two major problems I see with tatts like that. 1, as Griffyn posted, one of the reasons for a blasting rod is to keep the fire away from the hand. If you release fire directly from the skin, you could burn yourself.
Two, skin is elastic. It stretches and twists. If you deform the sigils, would it alter or disrupt the spell? You would have to make sure your arm was in precisely the same position as when you got the tatt. Another reason for putting the spells on solid objects.
Azmodel:
Doesn't Harry tattoo protective sigils into his duster?
Granted, they're not foci for projecting aggressive spells such as a blasting rod, but lets set that specific instance aside and consider alternatives beyond the protection spells Dresden uses on his Duster.
Molly's wands that she uses to, among other things, focus her one-woman-rave spell showed no sign of exploding, nor even heating. In such circumstances, whilst tattoos may not lend themselves to great utility in all circumstances, they may have utility for some circumstances/spells and for some wizards.
I believe that tattoos could act as Foci for mental magic, protection, and other less energy intensive spells.
As to who tattoos them into you, that's a tougher one - Harry did his own work on the Duster, but I think most people would struggle to perfectly tattoo themselves, particularly on the forearms, further particularly on your off-hand. And it'd be a sloooooooow process without the use of modern (ie electrical) tattoo machines.
It's a nifty thought though...
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