These rules apply to all Orcish magic: childhood, household/civilian, and professional military spells.
Mana capacity and spell costs
- Every Orc has a maximum mana pool ranging from 3–18. Mana is a resource pool, not an additional ability score.
- Every spell costs at least 1 mana. The spell description specifies its cost. No spell slots are used.
- Spellcasting consumes available mana first. If the cost exceeds current mana, mana falls to zero and the remaining cost is deducted directly from current hit points. Temporary hit points cannot absorb this cost.
- Hit points spent on magic are not restored by mana regeneration; normal healing rules apply. A caster reduced to 0 hit points follows the normal rules for reaching 0 HP.
Mana regeneration
| Activity | Recovery |
| Sleeping | 1 mana/hour |
| Resting quietly | 1 mana per 2 hours |
| Ordinary activity | 1 mana per 3 hours |
| Strenuous activity or combat | None |
Mana never regenerates above the character’s maximum. There is no automatic full restoration at dawn or after a long rest.
Recovery can accumulate across activities – e.g. 1 hour of quiet resting, 1 hour of sleeping, and then another hour of quiet resting will recover 2 mana even though the quiet resting was broken up. Fractional recovery of mana is rounded to the nearest whole number.
Activity classification is determined by the GM. Forced marching, digging fortifications, and combat are examples of strenuous activity.
Default spell procedure
- Unless a spell specifies otherwise, casting takes one action and requires the caster to be conscious.
- Individual spells specify range, duration, targeting, and any special limitations.
- Spells do not require material components, attack rolls, or saving throws unless specified.
- Spells requiring concentration follow D&D rules.
Spell education
Childhood magic is learned informally and varies by upbringing. Civilian magic reflects trades and personal interests. Professional military spells are taught through formal training. These categories describe education, not spell power.