Tag Archives: magic

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.”

Abra, Abracadabra! I Wanna Reach Out and Grab Ya!!

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Over the course of two weeks, Ezrin rarely leaves his cot. He is engrossed in two books and several scrolls. He occasionally finds a moment to speak with Alexis and to a lesser degree Ethelred about arcane weaves, auras, runes, gestures and invocations.

At some point, Ezrin retrieves an empty vial from his haversack, and removes a thin pair of gloves no one had noticed before, makes the gestures and invocations related to auguration of magical auras, and focuses on these items at length. When he is done he puts the gloves back on, they are barely noticeable, and he writes for a bit in one of his notebooks.

On another day, he raises the topic somnabulatory effects of certain enchantments, incantations and gestures, the impact of sand, crickets, and rose petals upon such.

A conversation regarding the use of transmutative and arcane imbuatative properties powdered silver, or “argentum,” as well as select transmutive incantations and gestures, with Ethelred continues off and on throughout the fortnight.

Ezrin makes frequent use of his crystals, several scrolls, incantations and gestures related to divination, aurgury and literacy of the arcane, and an adjustment of some sort to arcano-aura-auguracity incantations and gestures that seem to make it last longer then usual.

He is heard to mutter about atmospheric transmutations at length and practice several gestures and incantations that seem to related.

He makes frequent notes in one book, and regularly references another. Often mumbling about enchantments, mentalism, and somnabulation, or transmutation, aerotonomy, atmospherics, teleoration and anemonologistics. After ten days or so, he carefully writes three new pages into his “reference” book.

An hour or so after breakfast, a day or two after writing the new pages into the “Reference Book,” he performs incantations that seem to be related to teleoratory atmospheric transmutations, and then speaks “The stargazer climbed to the highest peak of the mountain, eager to gaze upon the night sky. She dreamed of one day traveling to the stars, of exploring new worlds and meeting strange and wonderful creatures.”

About two hours later, right on schedule, squire Perez enters the tent with lunch, looking even more confused than usual, and asks, “Did one of you say something about a stargazer who want to travel to the stars? It sounded like you were right next to me.” Perez looks over his shoulder to just outside the tent.

Ezrin smiles.

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.

The Unfortunate Stoners

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While the group is sorting through the treasures, Alexis talks to the group in general.

“We should pull those bodies out of the sulfur pit. While stone, the bodies might not be dead. It’s possible Clite, Telosh or… the axe guy are still alive in there. And Possibly even the bodies that are less complete. Perhaps if we pull out the old bodies the broken stone will become full bodies.”

“I wonder who the other two bodies are. Perhaps goblins from when Barra was here? An orc fellow of Yog’s? More kids who have come to the calling of the Sword Chaotic?” Alexis shakes his head in disappointment at that.

“What supplies do we have to pull them out?”

Oh what ever will I say….

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One of the many days working on the ballista Ethelred ask Alexis a question that has been on reds mind for a while now.

“Much have we spoken on what to do, or not to do, with regards to Telosh. When I do come before the Collegium, what will I say about my journey to magic. Not only is it directly tied to the story of Telosh, but it also has elements of a chaos birth, of feeling my way. And while I a more… Disciplined that Telosh I am still not… Legitimate. Ezrin has .ade it very clear that I am not… Right.. proper.. and that it will take some serious treasure to make things right.. or at least make them passable.”

May His Legacy Rest Peacefully

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Shortly after Ezrin joins the group, Alexis finds himself alone with Gustav and Ethelred.

“Just so we’re clear, we’re not saying anything about Telosh and his penchant for magic meddling. If you have any questions, say nothing and send them to me.”

Alexis makes it clear with body language that he’s talking about not talking to any member of the Collegium about Telosh’s use of magic.

Alexis looks between the two of them and then settles his eyes on Ethelred. “Is that clear?”

Alternate take: Spilled desires in the veiled world

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After asking Telosh about his theories on the forced bird connection, Gustav privately goes to Alexis for his opinion:

“What happened there. Why do you think Telosh forced a connection between me and the bird against my will? I didn’t want that troublemaking bird to follow me or rely on me for anything. Telosh already knew my feelings of the crow, Do you think he was possessed by a demon who cast spells against his will? Or did he let in the demon?”

Gustav seems to be seething thinking about it again.

“It seems like it might not have been his choice, but he wanted a connection between me and the bird before the possession. Maybe the demon stole his desires and spilled them all over the veiled world.”

Gustav looks at the crow which is cawing nearby and kicks a rock near it.