I. The Why of Wizardry

  1. Those first Touches of Magic

  2. What it Feels Like to be a Wizard

  3. Why We Endure

  4. The “You’re a Wizard if…” Quiz

  5. A Wizards Musings


-Those First Touches of Magic
We all come to follow magic for different reasons. Mine was a wonder at the dynamic powers of the elements. The way they are woven into anything and have the wild potential to be used for anything. I’ve mentored a few wizards in my time, and talked with many more about why they chose wizardry as they stepped from circle to circle until eventually they stood before Logan and took the first step down the path of Nadur. Some sought power, they thought the elements would give them strength over the horrors that would seek to harm the people of Temuair. A few wanted to be able to strike from a distance, war wizards some call them. So few ever know what it is to be a wizard. Many are drawn by curiosity for the elements, by the sense of sheer wonder at being able to mold the pure essence of the land into shape, bands of power. The natural beauty of the elements draws those with an artistic mind. Each element can be seen as color though their eyes, each color a part of a mural brighter than the heavens lights over the great Kasmanium Mountains. Like any there are the dark and light. Some have told me they want to learn the magics in order to kill; inversely many have said that through magic they could aid others. A wizard’s reasons for that first step are as multitudinous as the colors of Nadur. Yet every wizard feels the same feeling when they channel Nadur the first time. It wells up from within you and surges though your body. By strength of will and determination you drive this power from your hands, this first unification of Aisling and Nadur is a wizard’s first touch of magic and the beginning of their arcane path.
-What it feels like to be a Wizard
In their early days wizards walk a path of what some might call true power. They need not depend of the items they carry. Monsters fear their strikes, and their will is ample for their early magics. If only this was so thought the wizard’s path, but as a wizard approaches his third circle the path begins to move uphill. Small mistakes in your past begin to surface. Such as not enough spell practice, or not reading enough when you were young to increase your wisdom of magic. These small mistakes weaken you. Others see it but you still hide it. You don’t speak of it for fear your companions won’t want your aid in the hunt. You act like you still wield all your old power over you foes even though you know in your heart you are afraid of the elemental forces wielded by the monsters you battle. Wizards quickly find out who their true friends are as some find a hunt is simpler without a magic wielding companion. Spare time begins to add up as a wizard finds himself alone sitting on the rail over an ocean or sitting under a tree in the woods chanting their arcane words to themselves and channeling in isolation the power they were once so proud of. Doubt reaches a wizard’s mind at this point, you wonder if the arcane arts are really worth the price.
-Why we Endure
No one is really sure why a few Aisling souls stay with the path of wizardry even though this. It has something to do with the mystique of wielding the elements of Nadur, something about the calling, the legend of being a sage of the arts. Wizardry carries a legend with it of wisdom and power. Even if it is not there, so many, including myself are taken in by this legend and idealism. There simply is no other path for us. Each wizard finds his or her own way to deal with this though and to try and live up to their legend. Some famous wizards have turned to religion to sooth their troubles and occupy their time. While a short-term fix eventually many of them retire to teach a younger Aisling of the wonders of their church. More commonly many of us, myself included, turn to politics as a way to try and help. With so little true power maybe we can gain respect by this route. Probably the three most well know arcane/political crossovers are; Kedian, Xilan, and Etienne. Even political vigor is not always enough and more ways of earning the respect accorded the wizards of old is always sought. All these challenges seem insurmountable yet we carry on for our hope of respect, love of the fact that we are wizards. Maybe even nothing but the stubborn pride that we can fight against these odds while others are turned away.
10 Ways to Tell if You’re a Wizard!

I)                   You are resting in the woods before your next hunt.  What are you doing?

a)      Napping, people are going to come beg you to hunt with them in a minute or two.

b)      Throwing smoke bombs at people because you don’t need anyone to hunt with you.

c)      Walking around poking people in the bum with your Magus Kronos since you never got to hunt in the first place.

II)                 You’ve just reached a new level of understanding and insight into the world.  What new secret is now apparent in front of your eyes?

a)      The talent of how to strike with your blade just so that the wind force is pushed out into a wave striking your opponent from afar and gaining an easy victory over a monster.

b)      The final solution to negotiate a compromise between the mundanes and the Grimlocks for trade though Pravat Caves.

c)      The reason why your clothes are so nice.  You have to have something to live for after all.

III)              You have greatly pleased the gods.  They offer you one wish for the betterment of Temuair.  What do you wish?

a)      You wish for a great magical sword so that you might take control of all the corners of Temuair and unite it under your rule.

b)      You wish for peace and freedom from the evil tyranny of King Bruce and free rule of all Aislings and mundanes.

c)      You wish for a new staff that would allow you to shoot pretty flashy things and impress Aislings at the next Mileth Fair.

IV)              Today is your first day as Burgess of your wonderful city.  What new law do you pass?

a)      You pass a law putting bans on begging to teach young Aislings to earn their own way.  That and your tired of people asking you to remove their scars.

b)      You pass a law saying begging isn’t really that bad.  That is how you got to office anyhow.

c)      You could care less about begging. You pass a law to keep all the peasants from lifting your robes up with their sticks to see if you’re wearing pants or not.

V)                A vicious looking draco comes charging at you teeth barred, what do you do?

a)      You stand your ground pulling forth your mighty blade and slashing at the draco so foolish to challenge you.

b)      You run behind the warrior cowering for fear of having your legs bitten off and attempt a spell to help your blade-swinging friend into battle.

c)      You do your best impersonation of a rock and hope that the draco just won’t notice.

VI)              As the sun dawns of the Kasmain Mountains what are you doing to prepare for your day?

a)      You sharpen your blades and don your armor as the rays of sun shine off your beautiful steel plate making you shimmer to rival the dawn.

b)      Your crawling out the back door of a crowded tavern and returning home with a new purse the enterprise of the dark hours ended for now and tis time for you to rest.

c)      You don’t do anything until about high noon when you roll out of bed demanding your morning cup of Kavara ((reference to a lore I wrote, to keep things easy just say Coffee)) and griping about why the sun doesn’t wait for old sages.

VII)           Vile criminal!! You have committed a crime against the city of your birth.  What was your wrongdoing?

a)      Thou vile summoner have brought forth daemons to wreak havoc upon our good city.  To the Sgath pit with yee!

b)      Dark heretic, your own voice condemns yee.  Speak of these other words to Sgrios and see if he has an ear for your kind.

c)      Oh evil one, you have been tried and found guilty of the despicable crime of loitering within the city walls and complaining.  Enjoy the darkness of the pit!

VIII)         You have just painted your greatest work in art.  What beautiful painting do the other Aislings look upon?

a)      A grotesque depiction of a battle smeared with blood and smoke.

b)      A perfect life like depiction of the great heroes standing around in the east woods being bored and swinging swords at each other.

c)      Well…it would have been nice till you tripped and it fell into the mud….We wizards call it modern art.

IX)              Ah, the Mileth Fair, What are you looking forward to most about the fair this Deoch?

a)      Sumo wresting!!  Big men and women, in their undergarments, throwing each other around in the dirt.  What else could possibly inspire the Aisling soul?

b)      The songs of the great artists.  Listen to the melodious voice of Keegan the bard and apple grower.

c)      Fair what fair???  Humm, never heard of a fair…No one tells us anything!   Where is my Kavara!

X)                Your greatest writing has been approved by the gods!!  They love it!  What is the title and subject of your work??

a)      “Big Burly and Black”, a sword slinger’s views on tiny pieces of Dubhinad.

b)      “How to Hail Heaven” ((or “Kalling Kaldath Kollect” but that looks funny)), exactly what to say to your deity for the most favorable results.

c)      “Weird Whys of Wizardy”,  a long introspective writing about nothing in particular, but still giving a feeling of being a wizard to the reader.  ((I hope))

 

 

 

 

And here’s how wizardly you really are.  Add up your points and look at the scale.

Each A) is worth 1 point, B) 2 points, and C) 3 points.

 

10-15 You sword swinging hero! You’ve been wearing armor behind our backs!

16-20 Your getting waning toward the wizard’s star

21-25 Grab your Kronos and get in a robe and they might mistake you for a priest

26-30 Ahhh, grab your Kavara and join the arcane circle brother of the elements

 

 

-A Wizards Musings
This is just a short poem I wrote one day while sitting in the east woods with some fellow mages. They chanted quietly to themselves while my charcoal wrote on paper and the quiet sounds of nature secluded our robed group from the hustle of the hunters.
Why must a wizard stand-alone?
His staff, a lone companion
Surrounded by his role
Shrouded by an elemental aura
And a shadow of loneliness
A wizard knows few
An apprentice that knows not
The trial that stands before them
Perhaps a love, true of heart
Innocent of plight,
They stand strong for us
We know the illusion
Cold hands stand in dark circle
New power sought, new source
Call out hope and seek
Nadur will answer
We will hunt again

Well I hope ye enjoyed my writings on nothing in particular. Maybe now is where I tell you there is nothing in particular to being a wizard. It is a state of mind achieved only by relaxation, a willingness to take life as it comes, and a good sense of humor.

May Nadur guide your path good people, mundane and Aisling alike. Good night and good marrow for I'’ hard to get rid of. Overall good day fellow wizards at heart.

~Larsius Vespers
Demagogue of Rucesion
The Emerald Mage