There and Back Again!

Almost two years it has been, but Winswand's back! He wasn't trapped in the Dungeon Dimensions: just busy with the everyday hustle and bustle of Roundworld's Works and Days.

One thing that has changed in these eight hundred or so days is that Hex has become ever so nimble at painting and printing quality iconographs, and so much so that it is putting imps to shame. I mean, just look at the picture it was able to make of me with some relatively minor prompting:

This was rather marvelous! I had to follow it up with a close view of some of my trinkets, starting with the rings that adorn my fingers:

Not to make the picture too cluttered, I separated some of my other jewellery and the spinning ring for the next take:

I really have a preference for white/silver and blue, don't I? But it makes sense, being an Elemental Wizard.

Three other things I always carry with me are my backpack, my shield (both nick from Dave the Necromancer's stuff) and my snack pack. Again, Hex didn't disappoint: 

But that's enough nice pictures for a day! I hope to be bringing you interesting entries in the following days and weeks. I have to get up to speed and start re-exploring again, but I don't think many changes have taken place during my absence, though...

Brooms

The laft of the magically held artefactes we fhould mention be brooms, but truth be told, they are utterly ufeleffe to wyzards. They be not only fymbolick of witch magick, but quite useful to wart-wearing ladies as their main meanes of transportation to and fro, in a like yet diftinct manner to how wyzards womble about through portals and magical doores. Flying brooms requireth diftinct skills, fuch as fuelling the broom and having an outdoores perfon to direct it whilft flying. But, as hath been faid, thoſe be topics for a different volume than this one.

Wands

Amongft magically held artefactes, it is the lore of the flender and fhort wandes that hath been preferved the moft. To unleafe their magick, juft as the power of ftaves needeth to be invoked, and that of ringes to be twifted, with wandes one zappeth the intended target of the fpelles. Many and fundry be their uses, though moft of them be but playthinges for forcerers: the creation of permanent fources of light, the removall of charges from another artefact, getting rid of fleas, pickling itemes to prevent decay, healing, and dealing a moderate amount of elementall damage be but a few of the moft common.

Rods

Rods be another type of magical object that may be held, and of the fame familie as ftaves, albeit fhorter and fmaller than thefe, and never used for walking or fupport, but as ceremoniall fymbols of power and authoritie, or as maces to be employed in warre. Rod magick is an obfcure difcipline which hath been moftly loft, and in our dayes it is more common to encounter them in the handes of priefts, as fighting veffels for the rites of their gods. Yet fome magical uses for them remaine, as in the cafting of Wonker’s Wicked Wobble, for invoking runic crefcent wrenches, to change the coloures of the magical filver fountain penne, and for magical dueling or to grant acceffe to fecret places.

Staves

The fourth and laft type of magical itemes be thofe that muft be held to unleafe their magical potency, ufually carved pieces of wood or forged metal ftickes of differing fizes. Of thefe, ftaves be the ones we moft readilie affociate with wyzards. In the days of olde, they were used as conduits and receptacles of much magical power, but alas, in our declining tymes, moft of thofe artes have been loft. A ftaffe ftill proveth useful for the drawing of a magical octogram, a prerrequifite of fundry complex magical fpelles. And one magical ftaffe hath furvived from the dayes of yore: Frottjor’s, which bringeth in its wake wave upon wave of fierie bunnies from hell when its power be invoked.

Rings

Another magical item that can be worne are magical ringes, and skill in this arte determineth the ability to make, use, and manipulate them. The moft commonly used are the blue cryftal ringes of recall, which when twifted can teleport thee to random locations, and the different pink cryftal ringes (of power, vigour, and energie) that replenifh thy magical powers. Yet more exotick pieces may be found or made which protect from the onflaut of the elements and fumon treasure cheftes or rat minions to protect thee.

Amulets

The third type of magical itemes be thofe made to be worne by the user whilft used, and of thefe the main ones be ringes and amulets. Amulets are ornaments or fmall pieces of jewellerie that give protection againft evill, danger, or difease, and skill in this arte determineth the ability to make, use, and manipulate them. Though this arte is moftly employed by witches to imbue magical cryftal in the wyfe wyzards refort to fcrolles, it is not without its uses for us, as hyaline amulets may be made to protect from the rain, and the darkened filver ones famouflie fafe-guard their wearers from the dangers of conforting with demons.

Talismans

The fecond type of magical itemes are talifmans, which be artefactes that have been imbued with a meafure of magical fentience. This falleth into the fielde of witch magick, yet wyzards may ftill tap into talifmanic puiffancie for fome minor and fpecialifed skilles, fuch as the charging of magical circles for the fumoning of Death, invoking magical fires from devilifh weapons, or the carefull lifting and management of fpelles within a magical fpell cafe, infuring that each fpell is accounted for and ready to be fumoned forth when needful.

Scrolls

The firft type of magical itemes are fcrolles, which be fpelled infcribed upon parchment, binding potent magicks within the confines of fimple paper. A fcrolle, though it may appeare unassuming, is a veffel for great power, conteyning a fpell that may either be caft directly or preferved as a memory ayde for the wyzard. When a fpell is fcribed unto a fcrolle, it lyeth dormant until such tyme as it be needful, whereupon its power may be invoked, thus releafing the fpell and removing it from the parchment. Howe'er, the handling of fcrolles is not without perill, for fpelles are capriciouf entities, prone to mifchief should they not be properly governed. Mafterie in this arte infureth that the fpelles remayne bound untill the moment of use, and that the wyzard may fafelie extract or activate the fpell without rifk.

Magic Items - Introduction

Magickal items be most puissant tools, by which a wizzard maye heighten his craft, grant himself warding, or gain access to mighty spelles. These artefacts doth fall into four principal kinds: those which maye be worne, such as enchanted rings, or amuletts; those which maye be held, like wands, staves, or rods imbued with arcane force; scrolls, wherein spells are writ, to be cast directly from the parchment without thee need of preparation; and talismans, small trinkets that have acquired a degree of sentience and can be attached to theyr owners for eksclussive use. To master the use of such artefacts is to ascend to greater heights in the mystical artes.

Even more wearables

Wizards are like magpies. I keep accumulating stuff, even though from a burden-wise point of view, I have to be more selecting about carrying it on me than I would like. Here are a few additions since last we spoke on this matter:

get morgana from every blorples

You get Fata Morgana from a pocket in Blorples.

> 

look morgana

This is a magnificent bronze ring.  Set with a central huge multi-faceted diamond that is surrounded by twelve huge star-shaped sapphires, the ring is a masterpiece that must have taken much skill and patience to craft.  The surrounding sapphires glitter gently in the brilliant light that the diamond gives off, causing the ring to look even more spectacular in its bronze setting.

Fata Morgana is a diamond ring.

It has the hazy octarine sparkle of a magical talisman.

Some time ago I used to have a fancy bronze ring for the casting of illusions, but I seem to have lost it somewhere, so I ordered a new one. Of course, being a wizard, it had to be the fanciest, gaudiest bronze ring I could order, something to put to shame normal finger bands of base gold. I cannot remember how much it cost, but you could probably buy a small country with that amount. No expense was spared.

look mistress

> This is a band of platinum with what looks like a stylised fish design on it.  A moderately-sized sapphire is set as the visible eye.

Koi Mistress is a fish ring.

It has the hazy octarine sparkle of a magical talisman.

I always take pride in showing off my belonging to House Sung, and a ring such as this is worn by the Lord, the Lady and the Young Lady, so I had to get one for myself.

get Sapphire Summoner from pack

You get a sapphire hilted knife from a pocket in an ornate bone backpack.

> 

look Sapphire Summoner

With a long, one sharp sided blade this knife is pretty much like any other knife, except it is quite a bit heavier.  The cause of this is the large sapphire which resides at the base of the handle, as well as the sapphires which have been crafted into the handle in circles all the way up and down its length.  While the handle looks pretty and quite intricate and delicate, the blade is a different affair, a dark and evil affair.

Sapphire Summoner is a sapphire hilted knife.

It has the hazy octarine sparkle of a magical talisman.

I recently rediscovered Kelleflump's Irritating Demon as a useful spell for finishing off badly damaged trolls (when they are strong, my sword is generally unable to get a dent on them). For some casts I was using a bone knife, but I made a search for the fanciest looking one I might employ, and this one turned up as an implement of a servant of house Fang, which I promptly and terminally persuaded its owner to part from. Had it deluded, too...

This pretty white gold pendant forms an elegant setting for a large trillion cut moonstone, highlighting its inherent beauty.

The moonstone pendant was a present from Urwan,  a Silver Star wizard. I have to try my own hand at gemsmithing as soon as I've been able to turn out good pots and nice rings.

I thanked Urwan with one of my fancy flutes, but was also able to use some nice calligraphy to express my gratitude. It is an art I never get enough chances to make use of, even though I have some very lovely tools with  which to do it:

get case from wardrobe

You get a red lacquer brush case from a large wardrobe.

> 

look case

This narrow cylinder, made from smooth dark red lacquer, is perfectly sized to hold a calligraphy brush safely and securely.  A smaller version of the shigeo cord found on a katana saya wraps around the case near its throat, and can be used to secure it at the waist.

It could sheathe a brush, pencil or pen.

The red lacquer brush case contains: an expensive ebony calligraphy brush.

It is in excellent condition.

> 

draw brush from case

You put down a wooden harp from your left hand and right hand.

You draw an expensive ebony calligraphy brush from a red lacquer brush case into your left hand.

> 

look brush

The handle of this paintbrush is made of dark ebony wood of exceptional quality, featuring a gleaming silver collar to ensure that the deep black bristles stay in place.  The bristles themselves don't seem to belong to any recognisable animal and are incredibly fine in texture.  They are held in place by a shining silver collar that complements the darkness of the wood perfectly.  This brush looks like it would be excellent when performing intricate, detailed work.

It is in excellent condition.

I also decided to change boots, as the previous ones were a tad heavy, even if they were very fancy and could sheathe a dagger. I've gone for standard, Artificer boots, which can also sheathe wands in case I find it necessary in the future:

These knee-high brown leather boots lace up the front with sturdy cord, and both the toe-caps and the low heels have been plated with steel for protection. The workmanship is solid without being too heavy, and there's enough room inside each to hold a wand conveniently to hand. 

It could sheathe a wand.

Finally, as I've started bringing down the Heavenly Storm Dragon, I find myself in need of a staff as a component. I already carry one stowed away into the pocket dimension of a sapphire ring, but as casting this spell takes like forever, using that one would only lengthen the process. And there's a very useful piece of confectionary that one can use for this process:

l staff in pack

This is, without a doubt, one of the fabled knobbed staves of wizardly lore.  The fine-grained shaft is inlaid with sigils and runes, and the glistening knob draws all eyes with its eldritch air of barely contained arcane might.  The air around the staff feels slightly greasy, and seems to shimmer and hum with potentiality.  It's also about six inches long and made of toffee.

The knob glimmers in octarine.

Water

Yn the fluid and ever-shifting discipline of Water, the learned mage doth wield command o’er the element of all that doth flow, mastering the subtle art of bendyng water by the might of arcane enchantments. With this gyft, mayhap the wizard calleth forth the waters to withdraw from his person, leaving him dry, or crafteth amulets which keep their bearer impervious to damp and wet, no matter the storm that rageth o’erhead. Yet beyond such simple charms, the adept mayst also summon the very skies, bidding the clouds to gather and bear his goods at his wille.

Fire

Yn the discipline of Fyre magick, wizards doth wield the very essence of flame, mastering yts control through the ancient craft of fpellwork. This mastery granteth them the power to conjure fire yn divers forms, from the smallest spark to a roaring ynferno, and to shape metal through the crucible of their magical flame. They may summon fiery creatures such as djinns, Salamanders, and flame-born bunnies, each reflecting the wild and untamed nature of fire. Moreover, Fire mages can call forth wondrous displays of magical lights and fyreworks, painting the night sky with colours bright and explosions most fair. The zenith of their power lieth yn the conjuring of the dreaded fireball, a deadly sphere of flame which doth smite their foes, reducing them to naught but ash and cinders.

Earth

In the venerable difcipline of Earth, the adept mage doth commande the fteadfaft and unyieldinge elemente of fton, foile, and all manner of folide matter. Through the ancient incantations of this schole, one may harnefs the primale power of the grounde beneath our verie feete, calling forth tremors and earthquakes to rend the earth afunder at wille. Such maftery doth alfo grant the abilitie to fafhion a skin of rocke about onefelf or others, offering protection as enduringe as the mountaines themfelves. Moreo'er, in the more advanced practife of this arte, a wizzard may forge a bonde with the noble metals hidden within the earth's bofom. By melding and fufing these metals with their verie flefhe, the sorcerer doth endowe their limbes with the strength, refilience, and properties of the metals fo joined.

Air

In the mystickal arte of the Air, verily doth a wizard gaine dominion o'er the ethereal elemente, the very breath of lyfe that doth surround us all. By mastering this subtle force, one maye wield the power to compelle the winds to dance at thy beck and call, invoking the fayrie Sylphs's aid in making thy weapons lighter. With but a whisper and a gesture, the skilled mage may cause the gasses to shift and swirl, shaping the verie atmosphere to their will. Moreo'er, in the deft hands of such a practitioner, the air itself may become a bridge betwixt the heavens and the earth, allowing the sorcerer to walk upon the verie sky as though it were solid grounde.

Elemental Methods - Introduction

 

In the realm of elementall magick, the forces of fyre, earth, water, and ayre forme the foundation of all creation. Each element pulfeth wyth its owne energie, a primall effence that shapeth the world and fuelleth the magick that weaveth through all thinges. Fyre burneth wyth paffion and tranfformation, its flames confumynge and renewynge. Earth is the steaddye pulfe of lyfe, the groundynge force that nurtoureth and protecteth. Water floweth wyth intuifion and adaptabilitie, carvynge paths and connectynge all thinges in its endleffe cycle. Ayre is the breath of inspyration, the invifyble force that moveth freelye, carryynge thoughtes, dreamf, and pofibilities. Together, these elements be the keyes to unlockynge the myfteries of the unyverfe, their pow'r boundlesse and ever-prefent for those who dare to wield them.

Magic Methods - Introduction

In the auncient arte of magick, the methodes, or meanes, whereby a spell is wrought be as needfull as the wordes or artefacts therin employ’d. These meanes, which do governe the manner of casting, be divided into foure distinct sorts: mentale, physique, spirituall, and elementall. Eche sort doth pertayne to certayne actions a caster must taketh during the working of magick, and the mastery of such meanes is essentiall to the success of any spell. 

Mentale meanes do concerne the inward motions of the minde in the casting of spells. They requireth deepe concentration, vivid imaginacions, and the discipline of thought. The sorcerer muste banish all distractions and fasten their thoughts upon the desired effect with great intent. Forsooth, when casting an illusion, the mage’s abilitée to conjure a cleare image in the minde doth weigh heavilie upon the spell’s successe, as its power dependeth on mentalle precision. Such meanes do form the foundation of enchantments, mind-bending spells, or other workings of a cerebral nature. 

Physique meanes doe involveth the sorcerer’s skil in performing certayn bodily actions, whether by gesture, movement, or the handling of artefacts such as staves or talismans. Some spells do requireth intricate hande-signes or solemn paces, which do channel magick through the body into the world. Strength and nimblenesse be needed, for if the hande doth tremble or the body do falter, the spell maye faile. These methods be of especiall import in the working of battell-magicks, where swiftness and precision of movement can determine the spell’s fate. 

Spirituall meanes are those by which the caster doth commune with minds, soules, or spirites. This maye involve calling upon spectres, communing with the departed, or joining minds across vast distances. Spirituall meanes be needed in divinations, necromancie, and any spell that do touche upon the unseen realms of the soule. A caster muste hath a keen sense to navigate these mystic forces, lest they be led astray. 

Lastly, elementall meanes are those by which the caster doth bend and wield the foure elements—earth, aire, fire, and water—whilst casting their spells. To worke with fire, one muste command the flames, to worke with water, one must guide its course. Mastery of these methods unlocketh the path to great magicks of the natural worlde, such as storm-making, geomancie, and other conjurations drawn from the elements. Thus do these meanes stand as the pillars of all magickal arte, and a mage, aspiring to might, muste learn to wield them all in harmonie, blending their powers to forge spells of great wondrous potency.

As three of these methodes were covered in detaille in Woddeley's primer, we fhall studie and explaine here only about the latter, the magick of the elementes.

Magic Points

How much power can a wizzard tappe before he exhausteth his arcane strength? This bee determined by the magick points he posseseth, which a trained caster hath the abilitie to see, through focussinge in their mindes eye, as a sette of points lyinge upon a magickal lattice whych doth shimmer with pulsating octarine light. Cultivating this skill wyll increase the bounds of a mage's magickal puissancy , for yt ys to grasp the ebb and flow of magickal power, ensuring that a wizzard is alwayes prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.

Special Spells

Yn spyte of yts name, thee skille of Special Spelles doth not engage wyth the castinge of esoteric spelles, but rather yt governeth various unique and sundry commands and capabilities that extend beyond the traditional boundes of spellcasting. Maftery of the Special conjurations influenceth how many fpelles a wizzard may commit to memorie, and ys crucial in taming the unpredictabilitie of magickal scrolls, ensuringe they do not flee from one's graspe, and in capturinge fpelles, makinge them readie for later use. This fkill alfo bestoweth the power to safely store and retrieve a magickal staff from realms beyond, callinge it forth only when needed. In sum, this bee an arcane art that governeth the subtleties and nuances of wizzardrie, allowinge those who mafter yt to command their magickal tooles and resources with unparalleled expertise.

Miscellaneous Spells

In the diverfe and verfatile difcipline of Mifcellaneous Spelles, a wizzard or witch doth cultivate the abilitie to caft fpelles that falle outside the realmes of pure Offense or Defense. This fkill governeth the power and casting speede of a wide array of magickes that serve varied purposes, from the subtle to the wondrouse. Whether yt be the arte of levitation, the conjuringe of illusions, the craftinge of potions, or the fummoning of familiars, all such fpelles find their potencie and efficacie rooted yn the maftery of Mifcellaneous magick.