#mboiuna

So this is  my headcanon about Brazilian wand magic. Since the creatures aren’t well-known outside Brazil, I have the info on the wand core then a blurb about the real-life folklore behind it. 

I’m still developing my headcanon for the wood part of the wands; I’ll post about it once it’s finished.

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Unlike European wand cores, which can cause harm to the “donor” (such as in the case of dragons, for example), Brazilian wand cores are either bartered for or freely given. The only exceptions are in the case of the Mula and Cuca, although care is made that the extraction not permanently injure or debilitate the “donor”. Though heartstrings could also be used, their use is traditionally (and more recently, legally) forbidden. 

We know from some wands crafted by early European arrivals that heartstrings of Brazilian magical creatures make exceedingly powerful wands, however the practice was considered taboo by Indigenous Brazilian magical beings (sorcerers included), as it is considered wasteful and needless when less harmful methods satisfy the wandmaker’s needs. As such, uses of heartstrings were not tolerated and severely dealt with, leading European-Brazilians to cease such practices fairly early on.

Due to the less hostile nature of how wand cores are collected in Brazil, Brazilian wandmakers enjoy a much wider array of wand core options. It has been theorized that Brazil’s propensity for strong wands may be linked to the wand cores being freely given.

It is also worth noting that Brazilian magic performed by Indigenous sorcerers uses a form of wandless magic which may or may not use objects infused with what Europeans would recognize as wand cores and wood to help focus and channel the magic. 

Wand Cores

NOTE: All of the following creatures are extremely intelligent and/or dangerous and can be deadly if not approached properly. 

Iaras, Sacis, Curupiras and Caiporas are ranked as dangerous in that they deserve respect, not that they are overly violent per se, and are only classified as beasts at their own request (much like centaurs and sirens in Europe, though Curupiras participate much more actively in human governmental institutions by comparison).

Iara hair strand or scale - Powerful, particularly good at charms, not half bad at offensive spells either. Slightly temperamental. Not overly loyal but not prone to accepting a new owner either.

About Iaras: Overall very similar to European sirens and mermaids, especially since the influence of European culture to the myth. They have green hair and live in rivers rather than the ocean, and sit on rocks singing and brushing their hair to lure men to the depths of the river. 

Saci Pererê hair strand - Temperamental and unpredictable. Extremely good at transfiguration and spells having to do with deceit or travel (apparition, concealment of things, etc). May work well for those other than its owner, but it’s a bit of a Russian roulette gamble, as the consequences of a claimed wand with a Saci hair core rejecting a new user can be severe and… unfortunate.

About Sacis - Trickster figures and universally recognized by Brazilians as the icon of Brazilian folklore and culture. They look like a young one-legged black boy who wears a red cap. Extremely powerful, they’re generally benevolent in the sense that they don’t intentionally seek out to hurt people, but as their chief concern is amusing themselves, they can often pull tricks that are harmful without intending harm (e.g. making the milk go sour, thus causing someone to go hungry). They travel by way of dust clouds  and mini dust tornados. Kind of vaguely similar to a mix of a genie and a selkie,as you can capture them, take away their cap, and they’ll have to do your bidding.

Curupira tooth - Extremely good for protective spells (both defensive and offensive), very loyal to its owner. Least likely to accept the use of dark magic. Second rarest wand core.

About Curupiras: The Brazilian icon for environmentalism, they look like a boy with his feet on backwards and hair made of fire (I’m pretty sure that it was originally intended to be a metaphor for “he’s a ginger”, because gingers are so rare in Brazil I legit thought the Wealeys’ hair colour was like an anime-style thing where they have funky hair ‘cause they’re magic). 

They are harmless and neutral when you need to take from the forest for survival, but utterly terrifying forces to be dealt with when you take beyond your fair share. They’re basically like immensely powerful forest spirits that protect the balance of nature. You really really don’t wanna piss one off.

Caipora hair strand - Particularly good at hexes, jinxes and offensive spells at large. Not opposed to dark magic. Due to the temperamental nature of the core, its loyalty ranges from fairly flexible to fiercely loyal based on the individual wand (loyal wands also happen to be excellent at defensive spells as they are fiercely protective of their owner). While it is not entirely known why the wand loyalty can vary so wildly from wand to wand, recent studies suggest it may be due to a mix of the core-wood personality combination as well as the personality of the individual donor.

About Caiporas: Similar to the Curupira, they’re humanoid forest beings of extreme power. While Curupiras are neutral unless angered, Caiporas are often portrayed as more malevolent in nature. 

Cuca scale or hair strand - Particularly good at hexes, jinxes, and offensive spells at large. Most prone to accept dark magic use. 

About Cucas: The  Cuca is  basically the Brazilian boogie man. Usually portrayed as an alligator with hair on its head. Cucas are always female.

Mboiúna scale - The rarest and most powerful of wand cores. In this sense it is not unlike phoenix feathers used throughout Eurasia, although that’s where the similarities end. 

Mboiúna cores are rare mostly because few are willing (or able) to approach these gigantic water snakes to collect a scale or two (or rather, to approach them and survive), as well as because they are also prized ingredients for potions and certain kinds of Indigenous wandless magic. Full-grown male mboiúna are the size of a female basilisk, while females can easily grow to twice the size of males.

venham pra bahia (que ta uma merda tb)