Mason's Word, the

From ErrantryWiki

A sequence of concept syllables in the Speech which very concisely describes the structure and properties of stone, and which thereby enables a wizard to give stone varying levels of malleability and animation for varying periods of time. This is one of a spell subset which affects only the "mineral kingdom" or specifically nonorganic existence.¹

The short version of the Word (sixteen syllables) allows the wizard to "soften" the stone enough so that it can be moved through. (This simple change is caused by shifts in the subatomic structure of the stone's atoms.) The longer version (twenty-seven syllables) allows the stone to be briefly animated, taking on the appearance of life. If the stone has already been shaped to some purpose -- like a statue or a building -- the "living" stone will behave in ways appropriate to its initial restructuring.

The Word also works on compounds which contain stone (or a given stone's component elements) to a greater or lesser degree: so that, for example, concrete can be affected by the Word.

The Mason's Word is itself a simple version of a more complicated spell which "reminds" elements which once constituted stone -- like air -- of how it was when they were still in that earlier physical state, and recalls them briefly to that state again. (SYWTBAW et al)

See also: Food chain: Masteries: Master-words.

¹ It should be noted that on planets or in planes where the dominant life forms are nonorganic, this spell will not function the way it does on Earth, due to the local shift in perception of what constitutes "organic".