7 Magical Circles

1-Force Field Circle

These, as long as they remain intact, can fend off ranged attacks with arrows and other weapons and all but the strongest magic or dragon fire. Chalk circles are the weakest, followed by circles of salt, enchanted fairy rings of fungus, circles made of rocks of fools gold, copper circles that are bulky and quite hard to carry, and lastly immobile stone circles based on ley lines, that can withstand almost anything hurled at them like a castle in miniature when properly enchanted. They do not provide protection against ghosts or the Undead. If an attacker gets near enough to disrupt the circle with a foot, the magic vanishes.

2-Undead Blocking Circle

These are enchanted against the Undead, and apart from immobile stone circles, the strongest ones are made of salt. Even a powerful vampire or Lich- lord cannot cross one of these, unless rain washes it away. The strongest of these can withstand almost anything , even an attack from a whole Undead army, whilst the weakest version, depending on what it is made of, merely fends off possession attempts by ghosts.

3-Demon Summoning Circle

These are designed to withstand the attacks of Demonkind, and if someone summons one of these, the integrity of the circle is paramount. One mistake here can make the summoner lose his or her life and soul. The most powerful are guarded by the State or by knightly orders to prevent misuse, and can summon and contain even an Arch Duke or Arch Duchess of the Nine Hells. The weakest can only successfully contain Imps. Even if the demon is successfully contained, their advice will often be either deliberately wrong or outright evil if followed, and any items gained will be cursed in some way. Even more than the Undead, demons hate humans.

4-Anti Scrying Circle

These are mainly used by military officers and political leaders to fend off magical Scrying attempts, to protect secrets that if leaked to the wrong people or the general public could get people killed, or ignite mass protests. Police and organized crime bosses use them too. They do not protect against physical attacks. The best can block the Scrying of an Archmage whilst the weakest can only brick a trainee wizard or witch.

5-Binding Oath Circle 

These are used in courtrooms to prevent perjury and perverting the course of justice, and to ensure that soldiers and officers remain loyal to their commanders. Weak circles only keep the spell going for a short time, whilst the strongest unless Spellbroken keep the loyalty spell going indefinitely.

6-Forging Circle 

Forging the most powerful magical weapons risks the magic created when forging damaging the blacksmith, or building up until it launches a random lightning bolt at whoever gets too close, or opening an unwanted portal to the Dark Beyond or somewhere equally unpleasant. A circle of this kind grounds the magic harmlessly into the earth, but prevents magic from being cast within its confines.

7-Magic Draining Circle 

There are times when a magic user becomes evil or mentally unhinged and needs to be captured, placed in one of these and temporarily or permanently stripped of his or her magic for everybody’s safety. It takes a coven of magic users or a single very powerful magic user to activate the power of this circle, and is a punishment not done lightly in most countries, as magic is so useful.