Not So Gentle Introductions Part II

After the council finished I headed directly for Arch Magus Balthzeer’s tower.  What the hell was he thinking sending me on this venture? The King wanted this creature alive not in an urn! I found it hard to believe Arch Magus Balthzeer was this stupid after all these years I have been under him. This time I didn’t care who knew I was coming. As I approached the tower I had my magma sphere cast which kept those pesky vines at bay.  I was completely incased in flames and molten rock. The gargoyles melted and became part of my shield as they attempted to subdue me. I walked into the main floor study and chanted words of demonic orgins to erase all the rune traps on the floor walls and ceiling.

Balthzeer sat behind his desk calm as ever and spoke forcefully. “I knew you would be mad Arch Magus Coridan but I would really watch the spells you go throwing around during your trip as Croff is as religious as they come. And I’m sure he would have a hard time working with someone who spoke such vile words.  Come now old friend let us chat over some tea shall we?”

“You think a chat over tea will fix this underhandedness? If you wanted to get rid of me I sure you know a million other easier ways then sending me to this death trap of an isle with a quest about as possible as taming a phenoix or ruling the heavens!”

“Now, now, Coridan would I the one person who has covered up your indistretions and took your side every time your temper blew as a kid really send you to your death?” I was hoping you thought more of me then a teperary ally by now,” Balthzeer said with a nuturing tone.

“Let us sir and discuss this trip and why I chose you over every other Arch Magus shall we?” Bathzeer gestured in front of the fire place to a seat next to his.

I walked over and mumbled the incarnation to disperse my shield as it retreated into the fire place. It caught Balthzeer off guard as he leaned back in his seat. “What an interesting shield. Was that Fire Giant and Draconic you spoke? Balthzeer squinted his ears as to hope to hear it better.

“Umm never mind to the topic at hand. It is quite simple you see Coridan your job is not to capture this beast it is to bring Kozak, Croff, and Raddect back alive with you. I knew the only way this quest had a chance of success was if each Master of their respected art sent their most skilled and valuable men. And the only way that would happen is if someone could garentee their safe return. Since you are the only one I know capable of this in the entire kingdom I told the king I would make it so for his wish would be fulfilled. I knew you would come directly here with the will to burn down everything around you.”

“You old fool, has your age given you a wish to meet death sooner? Next time why not ask me before hand as you know I still owe you a great debt for buring my parents for me. One we will now considered paid in full I might add. Well I best be heading to gather my gear and supplies as three days is barley enough time to research what all might come in handy!” I stood up and started walking towards the door.

“You youngsters are always in such a rush. Coridan I insist you sit back down and finish your tea as I have already prepared the four books you would need as well as some other items I will be loaning you on one condition; you bring them back to me.”

As we sat there and drank our tea I have never noticed how much the old man enjoyed my company until this moment. It was like he was savoring each minute as it would be his last moments with me. And for good reason this could rightfully be our last chat for he knew what he had gotten me into and was worried. So worried in fact he had made a brand new enchanted red robe for me. It was enchanted with the highest of physical protection spells along with magic enhancing inscriptions down the sleeves and the inscriptions where in an old tongue that I even had to ask about.

“Don’t worry about the words Coridan maybe on my death bed ill pass you a hint, an old man can’t give all his secrets away now can he? Oh and one last thing. By request you should appear at the practice grounds tomorrow at day break to, let’s say learn how to interact with your party.” Balthzeer said as we stood up and walked down the stairs to the tower.

“Is there any other surprises I should know about old man?” I chuckled but im sure he could tell that I still wasn’t all to pleased with being thrown to the wolves like this.

That night seemed to fly by before I knew it I was standing in the practice grounds next to a nine foot ogre, a two foot dwarf, and a Centaur of eighteen hands. The king was so kind to capture us an armored belguwin to hone our skills on. This massive creature was close to a giant beetle with plant like tentacles. Needless to say not an easy catch, and at the same time not too much of a threat either. That is if you leave it alone.

Croff walked forward and started casting protective wards on the two melee types and him self, making sure not to catch me inside of his area spell. Kozak inherently stepped between Croff and our prey and Raddect took up Croff’s left flank. I was where I was supposed to be a few steps behind Croff. It was a relief that no one was still wet behind the ears and it appeared each already knew the part they where to play in this party. Which is something we all noticed as was made apparent when Kozak turned his head and nodded to me.  That being said at this point there was no need for this little exercise.

We quickly confounded by my flaming arc wall cutting off any retreat. Raddect had entangling barbs wrapping around its eight legs and torso. And Kozak knocked it out with the blunt side of his axe in one blow.

“Well I don’t guess anyone is hurt?” Croff said with a joking tone.

Kozak finished cracking his knuckles then holstered his giant great axe across his back. We all stood there for a few moments staring at each other till Kozak broke the silence and informed us that he would be leader of the group and if there where any objection now was the time to settle it. Croff shrugged, I cared less, and you could tell that Roddect was hesitant to settle the leadership role the way the Ogres do. I mean Kozak stood eye to eye with Roddects a feat not many could attest to.

After I made it back to my home I finished looking over the contents of what Balthzeer had prepared for me and added a few touches of my own to the spells and tactics that might come on handy. Then I started to look over the lore of the isle. Before I knew it, it was time to depart.

That morning the King bestowed us all with a charm of safe travels. He had the finest ship in all his armada accompanied by two of the fastest war ship awaiting us at the Harbor.

“Captain Rumstow make haste on this journey and bring back my ships in one piece.

Kozak, Croff, Roddect, Coridan, Let the Captain command his ships and all of his men. But do no hesitate to tell the Captain if you need support he is here for you as are MY SHIPS. Understood?

“Yes M’lord.” Most of us answered in unison. But you could tell that the statement was directed towards the Captain.

The last of our goods where loaded on the ships the Captain approached us at the aft of the ship and said “you might as well make your self comfortable. It will be a full cycle plus one to the outskirts of the islands. One rule for you lot if your sea legs are weak puke over the edge and not on my floors. And one last thing feel free to anything aboard this vessel except the RUM got it?

Not So Gentle Introductions (Part I)

It hadn’t been three weeks in my new position of Arch Magus that I was already getting fed up with the politics that it came with. The sly old fox had this all planned out. Not only did it slow down my research it added many of dauntless tasks into the mix.

There where public appearances at every major event I was expected to attend now. Be it weddings, duels, tournaments, balls, and the most maddening was the council. A group of forty wealthy nobles, a handful of high ranking generals from the army and shadow corps, the now thirteen Arch Magus, and the king all sitting in the Ballad Chamber Room talking in circles and accomplishing nothing.

To add to my delight were the countless noblemen wanting to introduce me to their daughters. The ugliness, stupidity, and shear boredom of each of these snobby women I was introduced to almost made me wonder how the (enter race here) had survived for so many generations. Hmm, I guess it’s not always survival of the fittest, but one would think that evolution would have breed out some of these jean pools by now.

But on this day during the council meeting Arch Magus Balthzeer and King Keldar had put together a scheme to get me on a certain wild goose chase. King Keldar stood at the front of the council and beseeched the strongest and most well fit from each of his High seats for a journey to Younfeelpe Island. This quest will be to find if they existed and bring back a feelpe for him as a mount.

Legend has it the feelpe is a cross between a solid white rhino, an eagle, and panther. They are said to be the most precise hunters with there quick dives agile turns and cuts and armored scale like feathers they gave their prey no chance to know what was coming or ability to escape. Speaking of escape no one has ever returned from the island.

General Gremmik was quick to appoint Kozak as the warrior for this task. High Priest Infestelia offered the services of Croff for the healing duties. Arch Magus Balthzeer appointed none other then me shocking …. And to round out the party a Glade master Dawnspring chose Raddect as the Ranger.

“Fine, Fine, choices,” The king proclaimed! “Take three days to muster what you will need and set your affairs in order then come to the castle four days from now at a pinch past dawn and I will see you off from the harbor.”

As I stood there next to a dwarf, Ogre, Centaur I knew this would be a long journey.  One I hope we will return from.

Relentless Father Time

Time waits for no man. That’s why I am glad I am an ELF!!!

The days come and go in the blink of an eye. It seems for every one thing I accomplish on my list of things to learn or do I add forty more. I will never have enough time to accomplish all the things I have or will have my hands in. This compulsiveness of always staying busy is unhealthy says the elders of the academy. I need to face what it is I hide in these books from. This one fear is expressed on all of my evals to the Arch Mage. The evals worries me very little, as the Arch Mage understands why I find solitude hiding in the Great Library.

It was my second year at the academy when I learned how precious time really is, even for elves. It was barely morning when I had gotten the word that my parents where dead. Two guard where sent to escort me to the funeral that would be on the following full moon to allow me  time to get home to pay my respects.  On the carriage ride back to my homeland I question the two guards who where sent to accompany me home why I deserved so much protection? How two elves as strong and young as my parents had passed so early in their lives? I really don’t think the questions ended for the whole three day trip to the old woods. Alas they never answered any of my relentless questions, come to think of it the last words they spoke where to the Arch Mage saying I was to accompany them back home. Their silence drove me mad but I held my composure.

I will preface this with the Arch Mage knew me well by this point. As from the night I followed him to his tower till this day I had spent every moment he allowed to picking his brain. So with the news he had gotten he knew what I would do when I found out.

I arrived in Wolven Valley early the night of the full moon. This was to be the place my parents would return to the circle of life. I walked up to the two huge stumps left from the great red woods they had cut down for the passing of my parents. My Father and Mother laid on the stumps peacefully with an expression on their faces that they knew they would be leaving the world at the same time and this brought them contentment. This calmed the fire raging inside me until the elders a hill away spoke in the wind not knowing I had arrived yet.

The wind whispered as it did when I was young heading out to hunt with my father. The message this time was not much different.  "Make sure Coridan doesn’t find out about his parents death being ordered by the elder council."   As with elvish custom you state what was not to be spoken from this point on in a last whisper by the High Seat of the Council. Here is where the flame inside me raged giving the elders awareness of my presence.

“The details are irrelevant you old fool, for you have already said to much.  I warn those that murdered my parents you are as good as dead. Protecting them is an intangible thought! And those attempting to stop me from be rectifying this dishonor are as good as dust!” I shouted across the wind as I couldn’t stay quite any longer the rage had its grasp on my mind, emotions, soul, and the bottomless amount of power within.

 I didn’t even notice that the guards that had escorted me had already been burnt to asunder from my fire shield. As I walked into town my anger grew into rage and my rage into hatred.  The guards and archers feeble attempt to quash my assault ended many lives needlessly. I was consumed with blood lust at this point and not even the ocean could put out these flames. The oldest town in Keldar burned to the ground that night along with generations of elves.

From this, the stories that spread around the survivors is if you ever do wrong to another of your kind the elf with burning eyes and palms who is encased in blue and red flames will come and justify your injustice ten fold as a cleansing flame of a phoenix. So be kind to your fellow elf as we are all linked in this circle and rest assured what comes around goes back around.

Oh, surprised there where survivors? So was I, But remember earlier I told you the Arch Mage knew me well. He managed to get to town before I did. He saved most of the young elves and the some of the others who had nothing to do with the conspiracy to kill my parents for their position in the council. Let it be known he save as many as he could before he had to start protecting himself from the cords of flames streaming from the rage of my assault as no matter how strong you where none where safe. And he knew the only way this helix of fire would calm down was if it burnt itself out.

I woke up back at the academy knowing exactly what I had done.  I had my hands bandaged and a salve on my chest to help with the minor burns. Nothing was ever spoken of that night between us as I knew he kept me from ruining the rest of my life and no one at the academy but us knew what had transpired.

For the next seven months all I heard from my peers, mostly the females, was why did I cut my long silver hair it was so beautiful.  Id just smile and say, “I honored my parents passing with my most prized hair that they passed to me woven in a eternal knot that binded their hands together forever in death.”  

Blind Addictions Part II

As I was frozen, burned, and electrified by the gargoyles. At the same time the Arch Mage was chanting spells that penetrated my mind. The psychological torture was almost unbearable. It felt like millions of shattering a mirriors inside my head. I saw visions of my power being drained from me. Dreams of my innate fire abandoning me in my hour of need, many others came when I would fall unconscious. The Arch Mage wasn’t holding back in the least. As time passed the assault progressively got worse. This was one of the worse situations I had ever been in during my two hundred some odd years. It was horrible he was breaking me down physically, mentally, and as the night continued my anger level was rising rapidly.

 I still had four hours before the silence spell or any of the others that I had cast would wear off. I had to think of a way out of this situation. A way to let the Arch Magus know I wasn’t here to harm him. Was this fear? I started to what you would call panic. But here is what seperates the great men from the average, we take the reins and take a hold of the issue. "Adapt or go extinct Coridan." 

I remembered the thorn that was in my arm, this allowed me to formulate a course of action. I pulled the thorn out of my arm and started to create a seal on what was left of my robes. Writing with my right hand proved to be very difficult as the seal I was attempting to create had very little margin for error. And to make matters worse I was writing with  thorn tip dipped in blood, not the greatest of ink. I timed the shock of cold and heat blasts with the small needles hitting me as the Arch Magus’s traps continued to harass my senses and nerves. I think I even passed out a few times due to the rapid cooling of my body temperature. Being who I am I used my internal flame to keep my body at a regulated temperature which solved the stupid freeze ray. When I was finished with the seal to break the silence spell. I figured I had one chance to survive this.

I only had one usable arm thanks to the vine trap earlier so I couldn’t activate the seal and cast a spell at the same time. But I had already thought of a way around this. I added some forbidden text I had came across years ago to dispel the restraint runes I was standing on. Also inscribed an old elvish phrase that confuses golems, lets just hope it works on gargoyles. Now I only had to worry about the Arch Magus’s response.

It was now or never. I timed the pressing of the rune to the timing of the flame trap for obvious reasons. As I pressed the rune I had created it activated with a shear blue light and a loud screech.  My invisibility dropped and as I expected the Arch Magus threw a spell worthy of his level. I narrowly escaped it by using the flame from his trap to create a deflection wall to bend his spell to the other side of the room. I was lucky that both these spells where the same level or that could have hurt.

Laughter broke out. The Arch Magus was very happy with himself.  “Coridan what a surprise,” he grinned knowingly.  I was confusseled, angry, tired, sore, but I was alive so I was relieved. The Arch Magus started to walk towards his shelves on the wall he pulled a few items off of the shelves and started to mix them together in his alchemy set sitting on his desk.

“So Coridan I realized that the only way you would understand what you where after was to allow you to complete this journey in full circle.”

Speechless I thought how did he know.

“Let me guess how did I know is what you are thinking right about now? Well let me explain, you observed your entire class, most of the professors and a few people in high positions with the spells I placed in that book for you.” The Arch Mage grinned as he started to mix some ingredients together.

“What I want to know now is if what you learned tonight was the same conclusion I came up to many years ago?”

Astonished by what I was hearing I gathered my thoughts. “I have come to the conclusion that we each have our addictions or seductions that directly or indirectly affect the road or choices we make in life. Some we can see, others lead us blindly through our lives. The addictions that lead those blindly are the dangerous ones. The ones that drive me make me excel ahead of those called my peers which is fortunate for me.”

The Arch Magus smiled and began walking towards me with a salve in his hand. “ I was hoping you would say that. Also I hope this brought to light that we all need to put all of our addictions aside once in awhile and stop to enjoy life, as you only get one my young Coridan.”

Now as I walk through the hall I try not to pay any attention to these irrational thoughts projected at me. As we all have our addictions, mine just happens to be endless nights in search for lost secrets hidden in the books of the great library.

Wayward Urchins

Every fifteenth day I have to give a class on the basics of the element of fire to our second year students at the academy. This not only tries my patience its pointless for none of these want to be wizards have the core to use a flame to its fullest.  I already find this class a bother as I walked through the door.

On a side note I have done this class for two years and each class is pretty much the same. There is always a brown nose, jester, spoiled brats, and the few who are strugglers trying to make it. But this is the first time I had a class this unruly.

As I walked into the room I cast anti magic aura on the classroom without even a thought.  “Another typical class let me guess. Its fire magic so let’s drench the professor with water then turn the floor to mud so he is wet and muddy for the rest of the day.” Hmm and for sure there was a bubble of water on the ceiling and runes on the floor. The student who failed to make eye contact was the one who drew the pour excuse for a rune trap. And the student in the back room struggling to keep the bubble on the ceiling was concentrating so hard she almost passed out.

But this class unlike other classes this class ignored my rant as I entered the room. Just as I noticed a kid in the back off the room stood up and declared they where taking the next three days off.  The class seemed to all agree some with nods others with smirks.  “Really and what makes you think I would allow that?”

“Listen here old timer, do you really think we need “basics” we made it into the academy. And not to be rude but it’s not like your going to be able to teach us all tied up.”

“So you all feel this way?”

 At this point two young half elves attempted to tie me up.  “Hmm, I see.”

I held back as much as I could still burned the two young half elves pretty bad. More of the class started to try to subdue me as there class mates where crying in agony. The runes “they” prepared became handy most of them where sealed to the floor. The few others coward as my fire shield turned started expanding.  That left me with the smart allic and the young wizard trying to keep the water bubble from snapping back on her. I went ahead and muttered the words for a water prison to take care of her, arg I hate water magic such a waste of power.

“Now I didn’t catch your name youngster, allow me to tell you mine. Good morning class I am Magus Coridan and I’ll be teaching you fire basics today. TAKE YOUR SEATS.” My Shield and eyes burning deep crystal blue.

He started shuttering “yo you your Coridan?”

“So you’re not only undisciplined, rude, and unmannered bully, but deaf also?”  I reared back to teach this urchin a lesson in bulling.

With all the commotion a few other professors came storming into the room. Shouting for me to calm down throwning up protection spells on my target. I let my fire shield down and the professors started to take care of dispelling the mud rune and tending to those with burnt flesh.

"Magus Coridan, you really need to learn restrant. They are just kids!" Magus Katree scorned me shaking her finger at me.  

Later that night I was summoned to the Arch Magus’s chambers to cover what all went on in the class. The conversation turned into one of the kids these days being very undisciplined and having no manners. We came to the conclusion with the fathers off to war for the last ten years and the mothers having to support the home the kids where left at home to there own devices. The Arch Magus and I agreed that we are becoming soft as a society and that we need to get back to the honor and morals that where instilled into the generations before us. But with such a melting pot in Kaldar whose morals code should we use as a Trolls morals are a lot lower then that of a High elf.

The last thing we agree upon was this would be the last time I taught basics class. The students are not prepared for a lesson of this level at this point in there young mage careers.

Diversity Divided

Chronicles of truth Chapter I

It was a two month trek back to Kaldar. My troops where exhilarated to be home after a little over a year at war. As we entered the city my men all headed off in different directions. It hit me at this moment that my regiment all lived in different parts of the capital. They all are the most skilled of their race hence being in my regiment. But when they reached the gate they all went back to where the majority of their race lived. This concerned me, concerned me so much as I reported the details of our journey to the King I brought up this as well.

"My Lord we have returned victorious. Your plan went off without a hitch. We managed to conquer the capital in three fort nights and with limited injuries no casualties."

As he praised our job and restated how this was the last piece of the puzzle needed for the security of the kingdom. After about an hour of reports and orders of what we where to do next the king asked if there where any other concerns before we departed for the feast.

Most Generals and Lieutenants sat quietly as they fear looking weak in front of each other. I took this opportunity to bring up the issue hindering us within our own capital.

"Yes M'Lord, There is something I would like to bring to your attention." The king was beginning to stand as I opened my mouth. He sat down and raised his eyebrows interested as most wouldn’t opened themselves up for jabs from the whole war council.

"Magus Coridan what is on your mind?" As the king spoke the council grew quiet again.

"My lord, as you know in five years my regiment has never lost a soul. My regiment is made up of some of your best warriors, clerics, and archers in your entire realm."

"Don’t forget yourself Coridan as a regiment is only as strong as its leader."

"Thank you M'lord. As my regiment entered the capital this morn, I noticed that the Ogres, Trolls, Dwarves, Elves, Humans, Barbarians, Half Elves, Minos, and Centaurs all went to different parts of town. This disturbs me deeply my lord. You have spent years uniting our kingdom yet we are still segregated inside our own walls. The reason my team is so strong is because we are united as one not divided into small groups. May I be as bold to say this cant bode well for the kingdom and we need to work on making a unified kingdom?"

The King cleared his throat as he interrupted me, "Coridan, as always your insight or foresight is well thought out. And I see where this concern could lead to civil war or the kingdoms end. I also would like this integration inside our kingdom. Not only in our militia, but in our academies, markets, smitheries, and every other aspect of our kingdom this need to happen. Could you imagine what we could learn from each other, the advances in weapons, war tactics, agriculture, health, architecture, arts, science, education, and even food would be astonishing. But how to change old roots without killing a tree is the question. It is a QUESTION I want the answer to immediately."

"Advisor Balshim, this will be tasked to YOU. Do not let your king or kingdom down! Ill make sure Coridan checks in on you from time to time." The king stated in a threatening tone as the advisor glared at me for the stress I had just put him under.

"Master Jontee make this a priority also; give Advisor Balshim any intelligence needed to make this endeavor successful!"

"Financier Wilkens stop all payments to other foreign programs. Let’s take care of ourselves before we take care of other kingdoms problems. Although do it with a grace that will keep our relations in good standing."

"If there is no further business Coridan, I am starved lets head to the feast!"

After the king had finished speaking I knew how highly I was regarded by the King. My thoughts where consumed by how could I use this to my advantage. With these changes that where to come the flow of old magic and knowledge into the Great Library should be substantial.

Adapt or go Extinct

The Beginning of the Chronicles of Truth chapter I.

Change, We fight it with all our might, yet its part of life. We must change as the world around us does or we find ourselves extinct. It takes a major event or a turning point for someone to change. Why must humanoids fight change to such an extent that the entire race may go extinct? Is it not wiser to concede in defeat, then to be wiped from existence? For heavens sake, when we showed up outside your city walls you had to be able to foresee the near future. We had already had one of your own assassinate your King and Prince during the Prince’s wedding. Then we show up not six hours later has the puzzle not fallen together for your kind yet? Ahhh, There I go again, thinking that everyone is able to use there sense of survival they where given by what ever petty god they worship. So here is where I ask myself is it better to live and be a slave, or die. Change is naturally hard to accept.

In the era of the thirteenth Dynasty on the coldest day of the year we sit in camp. Our objective complete and our kingdom had finished secureing the southern lands. I find myself surrounded by troops hovering around my fire pit for warmth. I hear the men whispering amongst themselves about the same old nonsense. Some about their spoils others about how they cant wait to see their kids. One conversation unparticular caught my elvish ears. The fire burning in my fire pit warming them all the way to the bone unlike the other wizards fires which barely is able to knock the frost bite off them. If I were to ask them they would all tell me they would join my regiment for this sole reason. Reading the true intent on their faces it’s for their safety. They all know my troops always return home. I have never allowed anyone to oppose me or my men. And to those that tried to stand in my way burn to asunder. For this reason I have the smallest regiment in Kaldars militia and one of the most elite.

Sitting here waiting the dawn brings me to many thoughts and questions. The Arch Magus asked me before we departed for this battle. “Do your men follow you in fear or loyalty?”

“Hmm....I guess as long as they follow me it concerns me not. For they are all temporary allies in the game of life.”

Why my King sent so many troops to conquer such a petty race of Humanoids makes me question the intelligence of the one I call King. Is he really worth serving? What is the Arch Magus after with his questions. The old man is clever and the King is young. Hmm I wonder if our day to adapt or go extinct will come in our lifetime.

The Spark ( FICTION )

As for what you are about to divulge into,  here is the warning that must preface it. The chronicles you are about to read is what went through the mind of Coridan, the Archmage during his reign. He wrote these to serve warning to mankind if they ever walked down this path again.

Seven thousand years ago Coridan saved this planet you stand on now. A few of those times he almost destroyed it in the same instance. Not only was he feared, he was sought after and in some cases worshiped. And when Coridan vanished the Gods wiped the mortals minds of his existence and with it took the ability of magic. Only these few chronicles remain of this record and they are locked away throughout the world. For some unnamed corpatrations fear, hmm corparation, I better say religons, fear these legars getting into the hands of someone like me.

As my nature is blunt, cold hearted, and to the point,  reading these pages didn't bother me. But if you are easily offended or still naive to the world as it truly is, you might want to move on. For I am not translating these chronicles for my health or for you to whine about how cruel the tale is. The translation is to open the populaces eyes before its to late to see that where we are heading, The end of all.