Fraying spells degrade things, weakening them and enhancing their flaws. Fraying spells can weaken targets under the Arcanum’s purview: damping a fire (Forces), sapping Strength (Life), or eroding the barrier between worlds (Death, Spirit, or others, depending on the worlds in question). They can also directly attack targets using the energies of the Arcanum: inflicting damage via the chill of the grave (Death), psychic overload (Mind), or a blast of electricity (Forces). Damage inflicted by a direct-attack Fraying spell is always bashing.
In Game:
Only rarely are Fraying spells covert in aspect, since they usually involve some rather spectacular effects. A few Fraying spells, however, may be cast with some degree of subtlety, and these spells are often prized by militant willworkers for both the spells’ lethality and their ability to be cast with reduced risk of a Paradox.
For the most part, Fraying attacks that actually create some kind catalyst for the damage they inflict cost a point of Mana, but this isn’t necessarily universal. Also, some Fraying spells can be scaled up, causing lethal damage with an appropriate Arcanum at four dots, and aggravated damage (which always costs Mana) at five dots.
Although Fraying spells inflict only bashing damage when used to cause direct injury, they rank among the most useful of offensive magics. Certainly, an Unravelling effect will bring an enemy down faster, as will an Unmaking spell, but such magics, used indiscriminately, can kill with alarming swiftness.
In addition to the grievous harm this sort of thing can do to a mage’s Wisdom, there are times when death isn’t the desired goal. If a malevolent spirit possesses a willworker’s friend, the mage probably isn’t willing to tear the victim’s body asunder to expel the entity.
In Story:
As the proliferation of the Sleepers, the eyes of the Fallen World, increases, growing exponentially, most Fraying magics (which tend to be vulgar in their aspect) become less practical, save under the most dire or most extraordinary of circumstances. Also, since most mages, regardless of order (or lack thereof) recognize the validity of the Duel Arcane to one degree or another, Fraying magics are likely less popular now than they have been at any point in the past.
Still, tradition, married to the good old-fashioned instinct to shoot the other guy before he shoots you, ensures that the Practice of Fraying will not stop being taught anytime soon.
Discerning mages maintain uses for the Practice of Fraying throughout their lives. Such spells are subtler than most Unraveling or Unmaking magics and, if used properly, don’t necessarily leave any obvious traces of injury.
Some of the most successful and respected of Sentinels first attempt to fulfil their duties through the use of Fraying spells, before resorting to more destructive powers. A well-prepared mage with a solid command of Fraying magics is more than the equal of even the most skilled hand-to-hand Sleeper combatant.