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Sorcerers possess the ability to sense, generate, and manipulate energy; however, their abilities are largely limited to controlling energy that they/other sorcerers have created, and not naturally occurring energy. So a sorcerer can't extract energy from a natural fire and turn it into kinetic energy or turn a human into a Popsicle with a snap of his/her fingers (not really relevant to the question, but for the sake of clarity).

What long-to-medium distance methods of communication might these sorcerers develop, in a medieval-like society. I'm not referring to mere visual-range signals with pre-determined meanings or short-range auditory communication, say by amplifying sound waves, but actual exchanges of detailed information over larger distances.

Edit: A sorcerer's range for sensing energy is about 100 meters and half that in order to manipulate the energy.

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  • $\begingroup$ But if they had started the fire they could extract its energy? $\endgroup$
    – Ender Look
    Apr 2, 2019 at 13:00
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    $\begingroup$ Can they emit radio light? $\endgroup$
    – BMF
    Apr 2, 2019 at 13:36
  • $\begingroup$ @EnderLook No, that wouldn't be possible, even if the fire grew out of an initial application of a sorcerer's power. They are limited to manipulating/redirecting what they've created. @B M F They can emit all kinds of energy...so long as they have some understanding of it. This particular brand of sorcerery isn't purely intention-based. A sorcerer must have a working knowledge of what he is attempting to accomplish. $\endgroup$
    – Red Robin
    Apr 2, 2019 at 14:37
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    $\begingroup$ Via earthquakes, of course! $\endgroup$
    – Eth
    Apr 2, 2019 at 14:47
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    $\begingroup$ I added back the paragraph break your edit removed. I'm guessing you didn't mean to remove it, we were just working on the question at the same time. Questions are easier to read if they're broken up into paragraphs. If you really don't want it, change it back. $\endgroup$
    – Cyn
    Apr 2, 2019 at 16:39

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With radio, they could cause electrons in their local vicinity to vibrate at specific frequencies which would generate radio waves.

These waves would then span the distance between the two communicators at the speed of light. They could even manipulate the waves themselves to be sure they are moving in the right direction. So it would work just like a radio:

  1. The messenger manipulates the electrons which causes the wave. He then directs the waves to travel to a specific region.

  2. The waves travel at the speed of light to their destination.

  3. The receiver detects the waves and manipulates electrons in his area to decode the message.

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    $\begingroup$ That's pretty great. Exactly what I was looking for. How could the sender prevent (unwanted) others from receiving, though? $\endgroup$
    – Red Robin
    Apr 2, 2019 at 14:41
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    $\begingroup$ Well, if both the sender and the receiver were to be aware of a particular coding algorithm. Then, in theory, the waves could be sent in a modulated pattern (coding) this pattern could require a decipher to understand and without it would seemingly be random, useless pulses. $\endgroup$
    – Rob
    Apr 2, 2019 at 14:48
  • $\begingroup$ @RedRobin I take the back, it's simpler than that. The radio waves could be sent with normal audio but the language could be absolute garbage if you dont know how to speak it. So simply send the message in your own made up language. $\endgroup$
    – Rob
    Apr 2, 2019 at 14:56
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    $\begingroup$ @RedRobin Maybe 'language' wasn't the right word what I meant was a cipher. Similar to how the Zodiac communicated with his ciphers. If you have the cipher it takes 10 seconds to decode the message but without it it could be impossible. $\endgroup$
    – Rob
    Apr 2, 2019 at 15:09
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    $\begingroup$ @Rob -- if you want to get sophisticated, just grab some orthogonal Walsh codes and XOR them with the datastream you want to transmit ;) $\endgroup$
    – Shalvenay
    Apr 2, 2019 at 22:09
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I am going to steal Eth's comment to eternalize it as an answer:

Via earthquakes, of course! – Eth

This works regardless of the time setting. Medieval people would never understand radio but Earthquakes would be something really concrete to them. They could then develop some sort of wizard morse code, or better yet, use earth or stone golems as modems.

Some advantages of using this method:

  • Signals travel 2 to 8 km/s on the crust, and up to 13 km/s in the mantle. They also follow straight lines to the destination. That is not only faster than a messenger on a horse or mail pidgeon - it is faster than sound in air!

  • Very good signal-to-noise ratio (except for those living in the Andes);

  • Omnidirectional, so perfect for broadcasts and group chat;

  • Can be modulated and filtered by amplitude or frequency to allow for different channels, so that quake conversations don't interfere with each other;

  • Can double as a weapon if you don't like the recipient.

For anyone thinking this is a joke answer: seismic activity doesn't have to be something that shatters the Earth and damages buildings. Most seismic activity in the world is so weak we don't feel it. And the OP said at the start of the question:

Sorcerers possess the ability to sense (...) energy;

Toph and the republic era earthbenders from Nicklodeon's Avatar come to mind, with their seismic sense.

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  • $\begingroup$ They would have to a find a way to distinguish their communication from all the background seismic activity, though. $\endgroup$
    – Red Robin
    Apr 2, 2019 at 15:45
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    $\begingroup$ @RedRobin "Can be modulated and filtered by amplitude or frequency to allow for different channels, so that quake conversations don't interfere with each other;" $\endgroup$
    – The Square-Cube Law
    Apr 2, 2019 at 15:58
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Maybe using the whole quantum entanglement idea. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_entanglement?wprov=sfla1 I think this would work with your rules of being able to sense and manipulate energy

They could have a system of manipulating the energy locally that would then immediately have an effect on the energy in another location. It's a loose interpretation of the principle, but seems close enough

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    $\begingroup$ This is a very elegant suggestion. +1 $\endgroup$
    – Alex2006
    Apr 2, 2019 at 13:43
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    $\begingroup$ There is of cause the small issue that no information can be transmitted via quantum entanglement. That would violate causality and might lead to paradoxes whiping out the universe. quora.com/… $\endgroup$
    – TheDyingOfLight
    Apr 2, 2019 at 14:09
  • $\begingroup$ That's a good point, and unfortunately I guess then my answer is no good. :( $\endgroup$
    – Dakota Dutko
    Apr 2, 2019 at 14:16
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    $\begingroup$ You can't violate Causality. There is a maximum speed of interaction in the universe and you can't beat that. That's speed happens to be the how fast light moves, but that is coincidental $\endgroup$
    – user22328
    Apr 2, 2019 at 16:29
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A wireless telegraph

Each sorcerer has a special box or slate they've created made of materials they can manipulate in color or light. Just very simple, like early telegraphs.

Now they can spell out messages in Morse Code. This code was not yet invented in Medieval times, but solely because there was no need for it. It would not be difficult to come up with a concise system for communicating digits. Morse Code uses 3 states: long, short, and off. That's all you need.

A servant on the receiving end could transcribe the incoming message. With the right buttons and levers, a servant on the sending end might be able to transmit the message, if the magic can work that way (if the sorcerer doesn't have to stand there and will each mode change into being).

A wireless teletype

A more sophisticated version could show letters on the receiving end. Single words, like a teletype, would be even better.

I'm imaging something like a Liquid Crystal Sheet only one made from materials available in the era and that uses manipulations of heat from below the glass to form letters. Glass was available in Medieval times, though it was expensive and not the same quality we are used to. But some magic may help in making clear flat sheets (about the size of a tablet).

enter image description here

Or perhaps an Etch A Sketch

If the sorcerers can finesse small lines that stay until the entire thing is reset, they could communicate some pretty complex messages. Etch A Sketch was a common children's toy back in my day. It uses a glass screen and aluminum powder. No electricity. You "reset" it by shaking the screen.

If your sorcerers can manipulate magnetic energy (and use iron powder), this could work.

enter image description here

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By using the Pen of Flame

Sorcerer A and Sorcerer B wish to communicate at a distance.

  • "A" conjures a flaming pen.
  • "B" senses that a flaming pen (as he has the ability to sense energy created by sorcerers).
  • "B" then creates a flaming pen of his own which "A" senses.
  • They each place the pen on a nearby scorchable surface
  • They exchange control over their flaming pens so that the other sorcerer can burn messages into being.

There are probably similar and simpler ways for them to do this, but if you're a sorcerer and can use a flaming writing instrument, why wouldn't you?

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  • $\begingroup$ I suppose that a perfectly valid response to the question I posed, but there's certainly a range factor that I didn't include in my description. Sorcerers cannot sense and control energy at any distance where your method might be useful. If they're close enough to do what you're saying, then they're close enough to shout. But your proposal could still have other utility, such as an intercom system. $\endgroup$
    – Red Robin
    Apr 2, 2019 at 15:43
  • $\begingroup$ @RedRobin Please revise the original post to include any limitations on distance (both for sensing and controlling), types of energy, and power that your sorcerers may have. $\endgroup$
    – Mathaddict
    Apr 2, 2019 at 15:47
  • $\begingroup$ It would also be helpful to define what you mean by "long to medium range" in your society. It may be vastly different if we're talking about thousands of miles instead of tens or hundreds. $\endgroup$
    – Mathaddict
    Apr 2, 2019 at 15:53
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Depending on how much you care about being overheard and how much of an issue efficiency is, you could use something akin to Morse code or tap code... with lightning strikes or something of equivalent brightness. Since this is the Worldbuilding SE, the fact that this would be literally awesome can't be ignored.

Quick search says that your average lightning bolt is five miles high... some quick math says you're going to get about 400 miles.

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