Tag Archives: Ethelred

Permission, But Only If You Say So

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To the most suitable secretary under Nardor-Threp, Head Marshall of the Collegiate of the Esteemed, Keeper of the Keys, Bearer of the Mysterious Inner Flame, and the most previous Patriarch of the old Sutheron Council,

It seems nearly-pretentious to take any time with the matter with which I write you today, but I thought it best.

During the treasure-hunting and fact-finding myself and my companions are currently undertaking we have been exposed to artifacts, mysteries, and strange fellows with strange magics. As one might expect, my very-clever engineering companion has nearly discovered some causal links within the pre-first circles of the greater materials sciences. For the time being my engineer explores in darkness, but it’s clear our understandings of the material sciences could benefit from his insightful nature, bestowed upon him from a relatively generous deity.

Sorry for such a trivial bit of minutia. Any rejoinder correspondence before spring would be appreciated if there is time. If not, I will endeavor to navigate as best as I am able.

Your humble fellow collegian,

Alexis Laelius, Adept, sponsee of Nardor-Threp, Bearer of the Mysterious Inner Flame, Keeper of the Keys, Head Marshall of the Collegiate of the Esteemed, and the Ultimate Patriarch of the old Sutheron Council

Clean the Rabbit .. Clean the Rabbit

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After categorizing the materials around the rabbit the next task it to actually source the desired material from the creature. Red turns to Gustav for help.

“Gustav can you help me with this rabbit. I want to use and save as much of it as possible. I have a desire to preserve the heart, the eyes, the ears. As well as use the fur, skin and guts. One paw I should keep, for luck… if there is such a thing.

I do not posses the skills with rendering an animal that you do. Can you please help me?”

Before the spell book arrives

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Notes. So many notes. Ethelred should have known. The warning signs were there. Both Ezrin and Alexis have notes. So many notes. For building in Aegier there was always plans, receipts, measurements, invoices. But those were are temporary. Sure his father had a ledger. But he didn’t carry it around, didn’t read over it at night.

Ethelred realized the proper book he order wasn’t going to arrive anytime soon. So he did what creators do, he made a temporary note book. Quarter master wouldn’t give him more than a few sheets at a time. But with some patience he gathered the materials to make a book, of sorts. Neither Ezrin or Alexis seemed too keen to let him take apart on of their books. So Ethelred has to improvise a bit. He used too little glue. Stitched to far from the spine. Didn’t use the right weight of leather.

But he was able to take notes. And it was a good thing as Ezrin had many words. Early on he decided to record the other magic users on the right side of the book.

On the left side he would keep his notes. Which at first were very few. But as he learned a bit more, reflected on the little magic he already could do, his notes grew.

In the back he began a list of material he had gathered. He made a few columns. He wanted to able to keep track of his thoughts, his uses and other opinions.

He kept a few pieces of paper loose. These he used to ‘capture’ Ezrins words. Then, later, he could review and copy into his notebook, the ones that still made sense and he could make reason of. He marked through the idea copied over. Left the one he didn’t quite get, for future talks with Ezrin.

After returning with Gustav from the woods with much materials an idea struck Red. He cleared a space in their tent. Stashed all this tools and such under his bed.

He laid the rabbit he had captured in what he considered ‘the middle’ of the area he had cleared. He got out all his materials. He worked tentatively. Looking over the object. Viewing the rabbit. Placing thing in an order than made sense to him. Sand above the head on the left. Stump of tree at it’s feet (which will become a bowl). Pile of rocks on the right. And so on with many such items.

For a moment, placing the moss, he pauses and looks about. Ezrin has opened his eyes to how magic is more subtle and more available than is obvious. Could this arrangement of materials conjurer forth some chaos? He steps back, and reflects for a moment. There is not intention to use magic in what he is doing. Contemplating the material, their connection, their power, their place, their utility… that couldn’t cause any issues… could it?

Red’s next idea is to start drawing connection between the materials. Sketch in the ground lines, circles and connect the materials to each other. But before he does this he will consult with Ezrin… reluctantly.

“Ezrin, can you help me for a moment. I have been collecting materials and as you can see have been started to… categorize and organize my thoughts. What I want to do next is start to draw connections between the materials. Once done I was going to sketch and copy these diagram onto a page and then add more notes.

But with all the talk of sigils and protection, and how excited and worried you were about my bowl of water… I didn’t want to make any mistakes here. Any advice how to do this type of work and not cause magical effects… I desire to use not power… just to study”

A collecting materials we go into the woods

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While out in the woods Ethelred ask Gustav some questions.

“Gustav, you have seen that Ezrin and I have been talking much… well Ezrin has been talking much about his take on magic. You clearly have some…. magic yourself.

Now, I see you shake your head. But… the berries.. the crows… the protection.. how the mantle fit you just so…

And the glade of trees, come on the glade of trees.. that wouldn’t let me climb them! Trees! you clearly had a hand in the effect, of that place.

Just tell me something of your understanding… of your connection with magic. Don’t let Ezrin be the only voice I hear.”

Collegiate Topiary Methodoly

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While Gustav and Ethelred are out collecting “materials,” Ezrin approaches Alexis.

“Alexis Laelius, I seek your counsel and advice as a fellow member of the Collegiate of the Esteemed, an initiate of the Third Circle, and as a part of your team.”

Ezrin pauses to guage Alexis’ acceptance of these terms.

“I am concerned about Ethelred’s… unique and intuitive approach to magic. You have discussed a former colleague that brought much chaos and danger to you and the rest of the group through even more chaotic attempts at magic, so I know you are aware of the immediate dangers, but given your unique entry in the the Collegium, perhaps you are not fully aware of the strict prohibitions on teaching magic to the uninitiated? The sanctions and penalties for which tend to start with expulsion from the Collegium at the least severe.”

Ezrin pauses for a moment and looks meaningfully at his hands and waggles his tongue just enough to make his meaning clear.

“Of course, transgressions can sometimes be forgiven, if the results are… productive for the Collegium, and the infractions themselves are not too… well-known, publicly or within the Collegium…”

“So, to the counsel and advice I asked for. How do I move Ethelred’s education forward and best pave the way for us to return to the Collegium? Do you have any insights from your own admissions experience?”

After the Light has Lit a Bit

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After the lessons in light have ended the very next morning Ethelred brings up his next interest in magic.

“I have seen how there are ways to sense the world around you through sense beyond the ones given at birth. For example Ezrin you have been able to sense that items contain magic. Alexis you have been able to detect the location of objects.

My naive sense would be these two detections are connected. I have some ideas on how I could sense where at type of material is located. But I have little idea how to tell if some item contains within it something more that just the basic materials.”

Then There Was Some Kind of Light….

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During a breakfast after a few days of resting in the tent Ethelred addresses Alexis and Ezrin.

“I have been thinking much about new possibilities for manipulating matter. Many times I have seen Alexis bring forth light using a copper coin. From the limited time I have closely observed this happen his mechanism is clearly outside of my abilities. I am interested in the role the copper plays in bringing the light forth.

Ezrin do you have the ability to make light without normal fuel? Clearly creating light with wax, oil or woods is trivial. But I have been looking over the various supplies I have gather and I sense there is a way to bring forth light, but I need some guidance to make it actually happen. Seeing another non God way, as Alexis does, would be very helpful.”

Hazards of the Trade

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Shortly after Alexis gives Ezrin the two priceless potions from sometime around the second age, Alexis sits down with Ezrin.

“You’re new here, and I worry you have an orientation towards treasure hunting that is not shared with the Crimson Calling. The speed with which you wanted to bundle up all the artifacts in your supplies. The clear frustration around being robbed of treasure. These things worry me, and I will share where my fears come from. You have come to us recently, but the Crimson Calling has been around for years and dealt with many treasure-obstacles, and I consider myself very, very, fortunate to have made it this far.”

“While I have always led the Crimson Calling, I have claimed virtually none of the artifacts from our adventures, even though it is my right as the leader. In our first major find, only Gus and Red walked away with priceless items of power.” Alexis gives a shrug clearly showing that this doesn’t bother him.

“Significantly later, on a quest from a powerful patron, two of us were perverted by a powerful magic item and had to be subdued to finish our quest. It is for the best we did not keep that item.”

“One of our previous companions suffered from artifact-avarice such that he stole from us in the night and wandered off with a significant fortune. He has since spent, drank, or gambled all of it and is in a very lonely place.” Alexis looks clearly sad about this last part.

“Another time, one of us succumbed to an item of power beyond comprehension and enslaved most of the rest of us. Thankfully our close bonds allowed us to overcome this item.”

“One of us stumbled upon madness, possibly in the presence of several powerful forces/items/powers, and unleashed a threat to this whole area. The two wyverns that were spotted were part of that madness, and we were fortunate that we were able to prevent many, many, more dark creatures from flocking to this area.”

“Related to the madness I just mentioned, one of us carelessly touched the creation (mentioned earlier) without thinking about the consequences and unleashed a minion of a dark power. A being of corruption and lies. There are still times I wake up in a sweat seeing that corrupted being.” Alexis shivers at the thought.

“More recently, we had someone with us who had learned secrets to use our magics against us. Gus was most affected by this using-our-magics against us, possibly given how magical he is” Alexis looks towards the holy grove for a moment.

“These are the cautionary tales we three live with every day. This is why we don’t see all treasure as equal. Why all power isn’t to be sought with the same ferver.”

“But you know we don’t eschew treasure. You know of the Mithril Lord, who was created because the Crimson Calling pooled our treasure to make sure he would be rewarded for his time with us.”

“And even those that try hard, but fail, we still attempt to reward if we can. Before you, we have traveled with many others. At one point we had the son of a rich man join us for the ‘glory’ of it. And even though he nearly got us killed by the giant, we still rewarded him with a trophy head for his future tales of glory with us.”

“We have refused to work with powerful forces that do not align in treating magics with the sort of care we know is important. They are not our enemies, but we have to go our separate ways. And you have the same question in front of you now Ezrin. Will you embrace the Crimson Calling, even if it means you may never see any magical treasure of your own, or will you strike out on your own for treasure that you may study from, learn from, and grow rich off of?” Alexis looks relaxed but expectant for an answer.