Category: Spell / Magic

#Lore 24 – Entry #104 – Sci-Fi Month II #13 – h@cKiNg == M@g1k

From the Personal Journal of Chiasa Charity Chiasakaniki, Systems Analyst and Programmer, IT Division, assigned UEF-04, Maharani Morgiana.

It’s a question I’ve been asked before, but not one I’ve ever really took time to think about.  I mean, how does one breathe?  You just do, right?  It’s basically the same with my magic.  Basically.  More or less. Kind of?

I know that’s not really a good answer, but my boss keeps hounding me about it, so I guess I should come up with some kind of answer that he’ll accept.  When that ticket came in for a printer issue today when he showed up asking, I was super stoked to go and deal with it, even if it was just a cable that came unplugged; shame it took me like two hours to make sure the department was in no danger of a similar issue happening again!  Safe now, not sorry later!

Still, my magic…I’m not the only kitsune I know who does this kind of thing, I guess it’s become something of a thing with those of us who prefer to live amongst the big cities these days.  It’s not really techomancy as the term is usually used, cause I’m not really repairing or enhancing or controlling machinery with it.  I guess…it’s like…more like, anyway…the enchantments and illusions we kitsune are known for, just in digital form? 

Ugh, this is hard to put into words.

It’s second nature to me, so it’s more instinctive, I think is the way to put it.  When I concentrate on a given task inside a computer system or network and then reach out with my magic as I work, I can somehow make it work on the code.  Like…let’s see…take a simple function to have the coffee machine brew up a cup of coffee every five minutes for an hour.  If I wanted to hack the coffee pot to say, double that rate for two hours, I just find my way inside and will it to happen.  If you were to ask an arcanist, I guess they’d say I “charmed” it into doing something it wouldn’t normally do.

Same way with ICE and security daemons.  If I encounter that kind of thing, I just “throw up an illusion” and hopefully it’ll believe it and go running off after it instead of coming at me, leaving me to slip in behind it and access the juicy bits and bytes.  Doesn’t always work, but most of the time it does; just depends on the system I’m trying to get into or the program I’m trying to modify.  And yeah…I have taken over a system or two before, just to see if I could, not that I was doing anything that illegal or anything.  “Domination” I guess is what an arcanist would call it.  Well, not the same kind of “domination” you’d find the clergy of Erisaya or Yurisaya practicing, but you know, the “mental” kind. 

How do I know which code to target, how do I see these “daemons” inside a system?  Well…I just do?  Guess that wouldn’t be good enough.  Okay, so…it’s like this, once I get into the zone after initially hacking in the traditional way, I just sort of…see it?  It’s like a VR interface I guess, but on a much smoother and less disorienting level, like pure mental imagery that overlays with the code and meshes with it.  I guess it IS kind of like my own personal VR system, just powered by kitsune illusion magic.  And when I look through these “goggles”, I see safe areas, danger zones, and active threats, like a targeting HUD in a starfighter, kind of, so I just know what to do and where to go.  It’s like jacking in directly for a cyborg with the right implants, just without any of the nasty hardware requirements. 

Kind of. I think. 

Is this making any sense at all?  Maybe not.  I dunno, I’ve never had to describe how my magic works before.  It just works.  Why is that so hard to comprehend?

Guess I need to explain my tails too…he’s asked about them about as much as the rest of it.  It’s a thing with kitsune; we don’t all have multiple tails, a tiny fraction of us have all nine, but everyone I know who can do what I do has at least three, like me.  Maybe I should refer him to the mythology on some world or another instead of trying to explain it myself?  I mean, it’s just how this is for me, like, completely a natural thing, so I just don’t know what to say.  My tails are part of me, they indicate a certain magical potency, and they get animated when I’m in the zone.  I just don’t really think about them that much when it comes to what I do.

#Lore24 – Entry #91 – Fantasy Month #31 – Draconic Disappearances

 

From the journal of Angeliqua “Goldeneyes” Cartacustos:

Finally, we return to a proper topic!  And no sign of any Yurisayan priestesses anywhere!  Yet.  I’m still on guard, and shall be for another several days, I’m sure.

Dragons.  They are an everyday sight in some form or fashion, for they are the primary symbol of the Empire. The very arcane magics wielded by arcanists across the face of Andyllion are based upon their legendary spellcraft, and the very language of the arcane is Draconic, or, to those who are capable, even High Draconic.  Supposedly the kobolds are descended from the dragons, and some even still possess a version of their legendary breath.

And yet, true dragons have not been seen upon the world since before the Great Cataclysm.  Many who haven’t educated themselves in the matter assume they were wiped out during the Cataclysm, but in fact they were gone for a substantial period of time before then, perhaps for hundreds if not thousands of years.  There are lesser descendants of dragons in the form of drakes, but these are essentially wild animals in comparison to a true dragon, possessed of a fraction of the intelligence, none of the arcane ability, and the largest of them only reaching the size of a young adult dragon at best.

It would be safe to assume that the ancient dragons perhaps were aware of the coming apocalypse, given the timing of their vanishing.  Records and tales indicate that they were quite long-lived, filled with knowledge that we of this time cannot begin to fathom.  Certain historical records do exist indicating that when dragons once ruled the world, there existed alongside them great technological wonders that have simply been impossible to replicate. 

The question remains, however:  what happened to the dragons?  Given my study of the subject, I lean towards either of two theories being the most likely explanation.

The first theory is that the dragons simply left Andyllion, known as the Great Draconic Migration theory.  Records indicate that dragons were often revered or feared by the lesser races while they were here, sometimes worshipped as gods themselves, and were often responsible for ruling over many of the greatest civilizations, as the number of draconic ruins we have discovered may well indicate.  In the history as told by the civilized kobold peoples, who once served dragonkind as loyal retainers, there came a time in which their true-dragon masters began withdrawing from the world, relinquishing their leadership roles and pulling themselves away from the lesser races.  This was the case for the goodly dragons, at least; those of an evil nature were more likely to remain to plunder the remaining holdings of their now-departed enemies, ruling as tyrants and hoarding wealth, until their inevitable destruction.  Regardless, there are tales that have been passed down within kobold society in which they worked tirelessly for centuries, gathering up the wealth of their masters and relocating it into the great cities that were supposedly built for dragonkind.  Once these dragons had enclosed themselves within their fortified cities and withdrawn from the events of the world, there is little in the way of record as to what happened.

What there is, however, are many ruins that have been studied in past centuries which indicate the distinct possibility that the dragons had constructed some form of great arcane portals, which they used to travel to worlds or planes unknown.  Though long destroyed and dormant, these portals are, as recorded in various records, massive in size, easily able to accommodate the largest of dragons.  The information pieced together from various ruins have been used by modern-day arcanists to create the typical teleportation circles and short-range translocation spells currently in use, in fact, and though it is kept under the strictest of secrecy, supposedly the Emperor himself possesses a working example of one of these portals, which could allow him to travel to any part of the Empire, likely why there is a push for frequent expansion.  The Dragon Isles themselves, long sought after by treasure hunters, is rumored to contain the last of the great dragon cities, and perhaps it too holds one of these portals, maybe even still intact and working.  One can certainly dream.  Could it be that the draconic portals of ancient times were able to reach even further, to the very stars themselves?  Or into realms beyond, the elemental planes, the realms of the gods, the hellish abyss the demons call home, or perhaps worlds we cannot begin to imagine?  Perhaps.

The second theory to explain their vanishing is more esoteric, but nonetheless compelling.  What if the dragons never truly left us?  What if they are still here, walking amongst the lesser races, completely unaware of their true nature?  What if the dragons decided that they needed to change their very nature, to perhaps enter a period of dormancy for whatever reason that only they would know, and their essences, their draconic souls, were refined, changed, and diffused throughout the world and into the lesser races?   Could this perhaps explain the prevalence of draconic imagery and their remaining presence in our imagination even though thousands of years have passed since they vanished?

This is the Soul Transference theory, which posits that the dragons, foreseeing the coming apocalypse as an event they simply could not survive in their natural state (though one would be hard-pressed to imagine something as powerful as a dragon being unable to withstand what many lesser races managed to survive), and collectively worked to change the very essence of their souls.  Per the theory, dragonkind as a whole, or mostly so, for there are those records of evil dragons tormenting the lesser races for some many years following the draconic withdraw, somehow forced a rapid and unprecedented evolution into beings of pure energy, which was then spread across the planet and infused into the many lesser races. 

Though initially one may scoff at the theory, one must pause to consider the very nature of the dragons.  These beings were far more complex than simply massive reptilian creatures.  Their essence was closely tied to the very fabric of the magic that fills our world, as evidenced by their mastery over all forms of magic as we understand it; they did not perceive magic as we do, into distinctly separate types (arcane, divine, and natural), rather simply as the foundational essence of the world to be manipulated as they required, thus enabling them to use any form of magic as easily as another.  Perhaps it is our nature as “lesser beings” that we cannot fathom how this is possible, thus requiring us to separate our magics into distinct types, unable to make use of more than single form?  Their entire bodies, then, were filled with this magical essence, draconic life-essence, vitae draconis, if you will, which may explain how such incredibly large creatures were capable of flight and moving their massive bulk around at all, and without consuming a city’s worth of food daily.  What if the Great Cataclysm would taint the very essence of magic that sustained them, and would have essentially acted as a poison that would have doomed them to oblivion?

Thus, to retain their presence within the world, they conceived of Soul Transference, transforming themselves into the beings of pure magical energy that would merge into the lesser races.  This could explain why certain individuals are gifted with either a greater understanding of the arcane arts than others, why they are capable of learning what is known of High Draconic, or those who are possessed of a natural ability with magic that requires honing one’s instincts instead of long hours of study.  This could also explain why these naturally talented sorcerers eventually begin to develop some draconic features (scales appearing on their skin, claws and horns and the like).  This could likewise explain why some kobolds are much larger than others, and why these individuals have a more strongly draconic countenance and often exhibit greater control and power of their breaths, and their own efforts to reproduce children that possess these traits typically fail; perhaps there are only so many dragon souls to go around?

Though typically not associated with the theory, I hypothesize that certain individuals who have recorded frequent dreams of dragons in some form or another, may actually be reliving past-life experiences and memories of ancient times when they were once what we know as true dragons.  Perhaps this would also explain why some are so driven to explore the ancient past, and seemingly have the uncanny ability to locate lost relics with a “gut instinct”; dragons were known to acquire vast amounts of treasures, after all, and could supposedly know if a single coin was missing from their hoards, indicating some kind of link with objects of great wealth. 

Again, I could continue for some time discussing the intricacies of these theories, but I have duties I must attend, and I would not want to be late, lest Mother decide to step back into the gutter for her choice of tomorrow’s topic.  Perhaps I shall return to it later on; it is certainly one of the topics of which I most enjoy a spirited discussion.

 

#Lore24 – Entry #82 – Fantasy Month #22 – The Dulcitius Attaliates Expedition to Sharmourne

 

From the journal of Angeliqua “Goldeneyes” Cartacustos:

I was rather interested in the topic of expeditions to lost cities, however when Mother specifically asked about this one, and further specified that she wanted details about the leader’s frugality when organizing this endeavor, I was less enthused.  She certainly seems to be taken with this theme she’s gotten into her head as of late.

The great city of Sharmourne was another lost to the shifting landscapes following the Great Cataclysm, seemingly devoured by the churning earth, all traces wiped away.  Always a target for treasure hunters, Sharmourne was always something of an obsession for the scholar Dulcitius Attaliates, for his ancestors originated from the fabled city.  Though at the time a rather unsuccessful treasure hunter, his obsessive study of geography and historical records nonetheless led him to believe that he had puzzled out the likely location of the lost city.  The problem, as is often the case with treasure hunts, is finding proper funding.  Attaliates was not rich, and he had only a few of the lower nobility convinced when it came to actually providing money for his proposed expedition; he wasn’t possessed of a silver tongue, either. 

And so, perhaps born of his obsession and a generally frugal upbringing, Attaliates began what has become known by some as the “Trek of the Slave Scholars”.  Though there were only a handful of slaves in the expedition party, it was the equipment chosen by Attaliates that garnered the name.  As certain magical items are generally widely available at a relatively low cost thanks to their popularity by slave-owners within the Empire, Attaliates made the decision, regarded at the time, and still to this day by some, as a ludicrous one, to employ some of the magical accessories commonly in use on slaves to lower overall costs.

Perhaps having made use of charm spells and other enchantments, Attaliates somehow convinced his party of the benefits of such items, and the expedition was officially launched, setting out approximately two-hundred-thirty years ago.  Firstly, Attaliates insisted upon all members of the party making use of feeder gags once they had gone into the wildlands beyond the Empire’s borders, for palatable food and water were never guaranteed; while unappetizing and completely flavorless, the gags nonetheless provide all the nutrition required, pride and dignity be damned.  Due to having to wear the gags for a long period for their magics to adjust to the wearer and provide needed nourishment, I imagine this likewise greatly cut down on the number of complaints he received from his party.

Secondly, Attaliates employed longstrider boots obtained second-hand from a slave courier service; though worn and seemingly impractical (these particular items were hoof boots after all, made more for visual appeal), the enchantments nonetheless proved just as capable in the wilds, providing solid footing and enhanced endurance and speed.  Of course, elite scouts in the Imperial military often make use of boots with the same enchantment, but maintaining one’s pride came with costs that Attaliates simply couldn’t afford.  Thirdly, in lieu of pack animals, Attaliates’s party made use of pack-slave harnesses, which, while rather bulky and not conducive to wearing much in the way of clothing, nonetheless provided more than ample ability for he and his team to carry all of the gear they required, with enough magically enhanced carrying ability left over for what they hoped would be plenty of treasure.  Lastly, Attaliates made use of master rings and slave collars keyed to them, not for the punishments such devices can perform (there were no confirmed accounts of this function being employed, anyway), but for the magical tracking ability, allowing him and his team leads to know exactly where all members of the party were located.

While dignity was certainly not a factor in the expedition, Attaliates managed to prove that he was not as crazy as some may have thought he was.  His obsessive research proved to be very accurate, and though it took several weeks to bear fruit, his party were ultimately successful in locating the ruins of Sharmourne, the bulk of the city’s broken remnants scattered through a heavily forested, mountainous region.  With the relics and treasures this first expedition managed to find, Attaliates was easily able to fund additional trips with much larger and more well-funded groups, and without the need for slave gear.

#Lore24 – Entry #80 – Fantasy Month #20 – Staff of Many Bindings

 

From the journal of Angeliqua “Goldeneyes” Cartacustos:

“Yes, that one,” Felaria said after she saw the look I gave her in response to the topic this morning.  She seemed quite amused, too, giving me that sly, smug grin she sometimes wears.  Sometimes I feel she’s got quite a sadistic streak within her, because it seems to me that she takes great pleasure in my humiliation, however infrequently it seems to happen.  Perhaps it’s simply a form of affection in dark elven society?  I’ll have to research that later; women in their societies do tend toward the submissive, and worship of Yurisaya is quite common, after all.  As for myself?  I’m not nearly as enthusiastic to bring up these memories, but if I must, then so be it. 

As the name suggests, the Staff of Many Bindings is an arcanist’s staff which is used for binding the target in various ways, simply or more intricately depending on the will of the caster employing the staff, usually not only restraining the target but also silencing them via some form of gag, perhaps even blindfolding them; these are quite effective against arcanists, priests, and druidic types as one would imagine.  The staves are not especially rare, at least within the Empire, as it is seen as more beneficial to capture targets for interrogation or enslavement than simply destroying them, though I’m sure such arcane creations exist elsewhere within the world.  I would be quite surprised were I to learn that major temples of Yurisaya wouldn’t have at least one, the same with Erisaya’s holy sites.  As I understand it, arcanely gifted bounty hunters also routinely employ these staves to capture their prey, if they are successful enough in their trade to afford one, of course.  Not infallible by any stretch of the imagination, one possessed of quick enough reflexes can avoid the conjuration of the bindings produced by the staves, and those who are particularly dexterous can still work themselves free given enough time to do so, though against your average person, these will prove quite effective in immobilizing them until properly secured.  The bindings themselves are magical conjurations, and while just as sturdy as their mundane counterparts, are just as vulnerable to the same methods of destruction (ropes and straps can be cut, gags can be tugged free, chains can be broken, given proper leverage, etc).

The particular staff Felaria referred to this morning belongs to one Regina Houslin, a noble-born arcanist of no small talent (even if said talents are greatly misfocused in my opinion) who visits the Great Library from time to time.  Mother seems to get along quite well with Lady Houslin, and both seemed to very much enjoy educating me on the nature of these staves.  Quite rigorously and repeatedly.  For an entire week I was used as a test subject for Lady houslin’s staff in the Library’s arcanum workshop as she fine-tuned the staff’s matrix and enhanced its functions beyond the standard version of the staff.  Mother said it was because of my reflexes and agility, but I feel that’s probably not the whole of the matter.  Houslin’s enhanced version of the staff featured an additional effect that she believes will quickly become commonplace, specifically that it instantaneously disrobes the target when the bindings are successfully applied; I’m honestly baffled that this hasn’t been an established feature of the staves since their inception. 

And yes, her experiments were quite successful; I spent much of that week quite naked and writhing on the floor or hopping around the workshop in various states of restraint.  I was also tasked with dressing up in various outfits of steadily increasing complexity and coverage during the tests; wearing layers of insulated, fur-lined winter clothing in the summer here is quite unpleasant.  Thank you very much, Mother; I’m sure the other arcanists visiting that week were quite thankful too.

That’s not all that Lady Houslin added to her personal staff, however.  She was quite specific that I should try the staff on her, and while initially excited for this chance at revenge, I was quickly humiliated once again.  She has placed a very secure enchantment upon the staff that has essentially turned it into a cursed item in anyone’s hands but her own.  Try as I might to bypass this feature, I was unsuccessful, and was subjected multiple times to having myself restrained in random ways by the staff.  Were I not certain the staff is not sentient, I would swear that it took pleasure in my suffering, for it quite often made itself part of my restraint when this feature was triggered.  “For ease of future transport,” as Lady Houslin said.

Mother, if you’re reading this, I’m not delving further into the details; you saw quite enough during Lady Houslin’s visit, and if you require more, perhaps I can recommend some tawdry reading for you instead?

 

#Lore24 – Entry #77 – Fantasy Month #17 – Thundering Dawn

 

From the journal of Angeliqua “Goldeneyes” Cartacustos:

The long lost legendary holy sword, Thundering Dawn, the Searing Light of Lashana, the Scorching Terror of Demons and Undead, has been sought after by holy knights, exorcists, treasure hunters, historians, and many an Emperor for centuries.  The blade itself was forged during the years before the Great Cataclysm and first wielded by Melisande no Synstralia de’Rashnikova herself, founder of the Holy Order of Rashnikova, known for their dedication to the goddess Lashana and their mission to see demons, undead, and other such fiends and supernatural creatures driven from Andyllion. 

Though Rashnikova would survive the Great Cataclysm, her line supposedly still continuing to this day, in fact, in the form of the aptly named Brightblade family, her famous sword would go missing in the centuries following the upheaval of the world, and has remained but a legend since, though many stories of heroic knights, kings and queens, seekers of justice, etc, have been written in which this blade features prominently.  Some theorize that it was stolen by demonkind after its final wielder was slain, hidden away within the Horrid Abyss in order to corrupt its very nature, while others suggest that the blade still remains hidden upon Andyllion, resting within the heart of an ancient evil that will awaken should it ever be removed, while others still would believe that the blade lies safely within the treasures of the Emperor, and the very power of having it so close has been responsible for the continuing prosperity of the Empire.

Thundering Dawn was, or perhaps, is, a bastard sword of exceptional make, forged from the purest mythril supposedly collected from a fallen star sent by Lashana herself by a remarkable combined effort between the master dwarven and kobold smiths of the era.  Thusly forged, the blade was then anointed by the clergy of Lashana through dozens of sanctifying rituals and finally bathed in the “blood of Lashana” to infuse the sword with its legendary power before it was given to Lady Rashnikova as she led the crusade against the demonic incursion. 

Though a weapon of remarkable power against any bearing ill-intent to its wielder, in the hands of a dedicated champion of Lashana, the true power of the sword was brought to bear.  When drawn in the presence of the demons or undead, owing to its namesake, thunder would shake the skies, and the sword’s blade would radiate with the light of the sun, searing such creatures that would be caught within its radiance.  Only the strongest of demons or undead could survive more than a single strike from the blade as its holy energy would spill forth and burn them into ashes, those that were not driven to flee by its powerful aura alone, that is.  Those evil supernatural creatures who were slain by Thundering Dawn were supposedly seared into oblivion, their vile essences burned away permanently by Lashana’s justice. 

Though I certainly would like to believe that Thundering Dawn exists, or once did, I find myself leaning more toward the sword’s supposed power being the stuff of legends.  Perhaps there was a sword with that name, and perhaps it was in fact wielded by Lady Rashnikova, but likely its powers and exploits were greatly exaggerated through time as the stories were told and retold.  Still, I can’t deny that I do enjoy many of the tales involving Thundering Dawn, and were it to be found, I would very much like to lay eyes upon it at least once.

#Lore24 – Entry #76 – Fantasy Month #16 – Greatmother Magda

 

From the journal of Angeliqua “Goldeneyes” Cartacustos:

I’ll admit that I’m not as well-versed in the particulars of the orcish Badaxe clan as I should be, but they are a rather secretive lot, and very closely tied to the Emperor in significant ways, making up the bulk of his elite honor guard, in fact.  Gray Tiger has spoken highly of his people, and has shared many stories of them, but the inner workings of the orcs are still very much mysterious.  Yet, in spite of my lack of knowledge of the clan on a more nuanced level, I am familiar with the name Greatmother Magda. 

Magda is the eldest of the Badaxe clan’s shamans, ancient even by humanity’s standards, let alone the generally shorter lifespans of the orcs.  Though I haven’t seen or met her myself, she is reportedly frail and very much crone-like, but still regarded as tough as the stone of the mountainous clan-home itself and shows no sign of slowing down even with her advanced age.  She is always accompanied by her loyal guards, and rumored husbands, Scrumpy and Wurzel, who likewise are ancient, and are often seen to be guarding the gates to the clan-home.  Gray Tiger has mentioned many times when he had witnessed them covered in frost on the mornings following their vigils, yet they can still fight better than most warriors a quarter of their age. 

Magda herself, as a shaman, is in close contact with the spirits and in tune with the natural world like few others but is further renowned for her talents of farseeing and prophecy.  Many have sought entry into the clan-home to seek her wisdom, though few have been successful as the orcs tend to charge a hefty price set by Magda herself in return for her services (though at least a few accounts exist in the records of individuals who she has allowed to see her for as little as a few copper pieces or a seemingly worthless bauble).  She has frequently been spotted within Draconis Magna at the Imperial palace accompanied by her guardians and members of the elite orcish Black Guard, and the Emperor has long relied upon her guidance.  Though I could not pull any specifics from Gray Tiger, he has at least confirmed that Magda is well-versed in crafting curses as well and will not hesitate to lay one upon any who would offend her or her people. 

The current clan-chief, Mantok Badaxe, likewise holds her wisdom in high regard, as is proper for a wise orcish leader, I’m told by Gray Tiger.  Heeding her advice has led to further gains by the clan outside of their ties to the Emperor, and led to newly established settlements for the Badaxe orcs around the Empire, and, as slow as it is, greater acceptance in general society by humanity and, however begrudgingly, the elves and dwarves. 

I cannot, however, get confirmation from Gray Tiger on the nature of the rumored dour prophecies given by Magda in recent years.  These have been kept very well under wraps by the Emperor, and may in fact have world-shaking implications, though whether these are kept hidden to ease the potential for panic in the populace or in an attempt to circumvent them, I can’t honestly say.  Perhaps one day soon I will have an opportunity to meet Magda myself; she has visited the Great Library on a few occasions, though before my time, so there is always a chance.  Though I would certainly value the chance to meet her, I cannot help but be afraid of what I may learn of my own fate, should she deem me worthy of sharing such knowledge.

#Lore24 – Entry #74 – Fantasy Month #14 – Bookish Bulwarks

 

From the journal of Angeliqua “Goldeneyes” Cartacustos:

If Mother thinks she’s getting a long entry on this topic today, she’s got another thing coming.  What can I really say to fill a page when it comes to bookish bulwarks?  Not that I have time to waste, of course; I will be tending to General Kormides within the hour and I overslept after all of the preparations I put forth yesterday.

Well, to put it quite simply, these are special frames, typically composed of forged iron or steel, which are built with a reinforced face that serves as a quickly accessible shield, thusly named because the frames themselves are meant to be secured around larger-sized books.  These bulwarks are generally employed by traveling scholars who frequently venture into hostile areas and may not have time nor inclination to properly store their tomes when a battle breaks out.  While a bit bulky and more awkward than a standard shield, with proper training, these bulwarks can be employed with the same effectiveness as a standard shield.

Variations on the design exist of course, and within the Order, it has become something of a custom for us to craft, or at least, to design, our own variation on such a thing, for when we venture out from the Great Library, we are expected to properly detail our journeys.  Some examples exist in which the bulwarks have been crafted from mythril to lighten the burden, while some of the more talented arcanists amongst us have adapted Rings of Shielding to work with the premise, instantly creating a shield of magical force that encompasses their tome with a negligible change in weight while offering equal, if not superior, protection, as a standard shield. 

I’ll finish by saying that I am at once fascinated and horrified by the concept of bookish bulwarks.  While they are certainly practical from a specialized usage standpoint, the idea of using a book as a shield just sits wrong with me.  Granted, there have been many instances on record in which a book, even small ones, have saved the life of an individual from a sudden dagger strike, or been used as a weapon of desperation, but still…to mistreat a tome in such a way?  It just seems counter to our goals, but, I suppose, pragmatism wins the day in the end. 

 

#Lore24 – Entry #70 – Fantasy Month #10 – Dragon-blown Glass and Metal

 

From the journal of Angeliqua “Goldeneyes” Cartacustos:

 

Ah, a lovely topic today, for I rarely have cause to delve into the arts, for certainly the dragon-blown crafts of the kobolds are certainly art.  I say of the kobolds, but the nature of dragon-blown glasses and metals are, as the name suggests, originally the domain of the ancient dragons themselves, preserved through the ages by their dedicated servants who remained after they vanished from the world.

Though many would proclaim the dwarven smiths to be the best craftsmen around, a strong case exists for the kobold master artisans to be considered equals in such praises.  Though far rarer than dwarven craftsmen, the kobolds’ draconic heritage grants them quite a unique advantage when working with certain materials, namely metal and glass.  I can only surmise as to the truth of the matter, but the general enmity that exists between dwarves and kobolds, at least those within and around the Empire, may have its origins in the ongoing argument over who can craft better weapons and armor; the kobold master glassmakers have a decided lead in that area, while the dwarves remain the best stonemasons upon the face of Andyllion. 

Kobolds, by their very nature, are capable of a very limited form of draconic breath, the nature of which is determined by their particular draconic heritage, and they have adapted the draconic method of crafting using that breath in their work.  The masters of the art have trained themselves to such a degree as to have a much greater and more potent form of breath than the average kobold and exhibit a much more finely-tuned control of that breath, using it to alter the very makeup of the material which they are crafting.  Though one would assume a fiery breath is used, any form of kobold breath can be adapted using their secret techniques, from icy cold, to acid, to lightning and even the rarer variations, each having a unique effect upon the items crafted, which will inherit some of the elemental nature of the breath that forged them.

As to the nature of dragon-blown glass, it is exceptionally more resilient than standard glassware, able to survive drops of several feet without chipping or breaking, lasting for many centuries and having been known to survive even shipwrecks and collapsing buildings in some cases.  Further, depending on the nature of the breath that forged the item, it will maintain an essence of that breath, and display unique properties.  A dragon-blown teapot crafted using a fiery breath, for example, will keep its contents piping hot for hours, whereas a carafe blown by a cold breath will keep its contents cool for hours, even in the heat of a desert environment.  Many of the most rare and delicate arcane ingredients are stored in dragon-blown bottles and jars, and the best arcanists use dragon-blown alchemical equipment.

When it comes to dragon-blown metals, standard iron and steel weapons tend to retain elemental properties of the breath that forged them, meaning that they will either resist that particular element in the case of armor or a shield, or produce an elemental effect upon a strike from the weapon (a wound caused by a weapon blown by an acidic breath would cause an acidic burn upon the flesh, for example), making these weapons highly sought after when dealing with the likes of trolls and other rapidly healing creatures, or those that have an elemental aspect to their nature, or in areas where magic is unreliable or nullified.  When used upon other metals, such as mythril, the effects are heightened, or may be entirely different depending on the nature of the forge, and the metal is generally made more resistant to damage and erosion.  It is not unheard of for multiple kobold master smiths to combine their efforts into single items of great power, blending or altering the effects of their breaths in astounding ways.  Supposedly one of the armors favored by the Emperor himself was forged by kobold smiths centuries ago.

I should also note that some examples of true dragon-blown glasses and metals still exist, but are exceptionally rare and worth kingdoms, basically priceless.  Though likely never to see the light of day again, the Emperor is known to have at least three examples of these crafts within his personal collection, handed down from the very start of the Empire.  Rumors abound that one can still find such treasures hidden within the Dragontail Isles, but the ancient magics still keep explorers away from the archipelago, aside from the Tip of the Tail, a small island commonly called Cypress Isle due to the abundance of such trees growing there.  If I’m not mistaken, there are also examples of such ancient crafts found across the seas, held within the city of Arcavarlon.

 

 

 

#Lore24 – Entry #68 – Fantasy Month #8 – Hoe of Destruction

 

From the journal of Angeliqua “Goldeneyes” Cartacustos:

 

I’m not certain how Felaria decided upon this topic, for it was certainly an obscure one that I barely recalled, but then again, she has memories spanning multiple centuries whereas I’m barely into my twentieth year; she was likely there at the time it was created, perhaps even had firsthand knowledge of it for all I know.

Despite what the vulgar argot may imply upon hearing the name “Hoe of Destruction”, this is not actually a prostitute with destructive tendencies, nor is it something with demonic origins, or so the legends say.  As odd as the name sounds, the original Hoe of Destruction was a powerful magic tool, literally a modified gardening tool, which was fitted with a much wider and heavier blade than normal, reinforced and somehow balanced to be used as a weapon, not unlike a halberd.  It is unclear as to whether the weapon was forged by someone in particular, or if it was simply shaped through raw magical manipulation, but credit to its creation goes to Odegast the Defoliator, known thusly due to his rather vocal disdain for the elves and fae creatures of the wildlands beyond the southern borders of the elvish stronghold of Nymphanos.

Some seven centuries ago, Odegast, a powerful arcanist of the age, developed a strong enmity to the afore mentioned elves of Nymphanos, though the nature of the dispute is unclear, and may have been entirely one-sided, though I cannot recall specifically if I’ve ever heard any tales or read any specific texts on the subject.  Regardless, the accepted fact of the matter is that Odegast began harassing the elves and their sylvan allies in the region, using his not-insignificant magical talents to destroy many of their food-producing settlements.  When he was nearly killed by the elvish arcanists in retaliation, he went silent for a time, plotting revenge and vowing to right the wrong that was done to him (whatever that may have been; it is entirely possible, and perhaps very likely, that Odegast was in fact insane). 

So, he devised a most insidious method of revenge, and created the Hoe of Destruction.  A single tool or weapon alone would not be enough, however, so he refined the design and created many weaker versions of the defoliating tool, the magics within them cleverly concealed and difficult to detect, and had them distributed amongst the lands around Nymphanos.  For a time, the population could not understand why they suffered such a blight that led to famine in the region, but once it was discovered what Odegast had done, vengeance was swift and brutal.  Odegast’s lair was stormed and despite his significant defenses, he was eventually slain.  The original Hoe of Destruction was supposedly clutched in his hands until his dying breath, and then thrown into the sea and lost to the waves. 

The weapon itself, along with its lesser versions, had the ability to kill plant life when used as a gardening tool, poisoning the soil and the plants themselves, causing them to rot and die.  The magic of the original weapon/tool was also supposedly effective against plant creatures as well, dealing more severe wounds that supposedly caused infection and rot quickly upon being struck.  Since the weapon has been lost, and the records from that era are lacking, it is uncertain as to whether this is entirely accurate.

 

 

#Lore24 – Entry #64 – Fantasy Month #4 – Bands of Grounding

 

From the journal of Angeliqua “Goldeneyes” Cartacustos:

 

Perhaps this is Felaria’s way of grounding my expectations of travel?  It would certainly fit her sense of humor.  Was I a bit too hopeful yesterday, a bit too eager to explore?  Perhaps I was; I did speak a lot about lands beyond the library, perhaps too much, though I heard no complaints from the others, and Gray Tiger was quite fascinated with what I had to say.

Anyway, Bands of Grounding, also known as Grounding Bands or mana-siphoning restraints, while a bit on the archaic side in terms of aesthetics, are no less effective at their intended purpose, restraining those who are capable of casting spells and constantly draining their energy reserves so they cannot cast spells, even with the use of their hands and mouths.  At the core of the design of these items are heavy-duty shackles and collars, often stout enough to restrain even the strongest of orcs, beset with numerous iron spikes, and multiple attachment points for chains and locks.  Securing even one such band to a spellcaster can result in diminished casting ability as their most powerful magics are siphoned away and their overall capacity for magic is reduced.  A full set of these restraints (consisting of bands on ankles and wrists, and a collar around the neck) will completely nullify even the most powerful spellcasters in minutes. 

Some observations regarding the design of these devices: 

1) The spikes, while instrumental in safely discharging the captured arcanist’s magical reserves, can be harmful to an overly animated arcanist or to those around them, should they know how to defend themselves without the use of magic, as was told to me by Gray Tiger, who has witnessed such things himself during his time training within his clan in the capital. 

2)  These devices are typically made of the densest metals, and/or with little regard for their overall weight and bulkiness; many spellcasters are physically weak due to long years of study, and thus encumbering them will further hinder their abilities. 

3)  The use of chains on the bands is entirely optional, and usually serves only to further restrain the wearer or secure them in place for transport or incarceration. 

4) The older designs of the Bands of Grounding had separate locks, which proved to be a security risk for spellcasters capable of picking locks, and though still in use in some distant regions of the Empire, have been replaced by the newer design, which rely upon spell-coded locks, their individual keys kept secured in another location until needed, or by the newest modification, which creates a kind of magnetic seal powered by the wearer’s own magical reserves, only removable by a separate control device.  As an additional security feature, the keys on the more modern designs are attuned so that if one restrained by the Bands attempts to use the keys, on themselves or others who are contained within the bands, they will receive a severe electrical shock, stunning them and causing a significant amount of pain.

5) A significant portion of the wealthy of the Empire often have sets of these created without their mana-siphoning enchantments as decorations for their kerryn slaves, perhaps with more refinement to the design, as something of a fashion accessory, some in silver or gold, or even encrusted with jewels in the case of the exceptionally wealthy.  The audacity of the wealthy nobles and merchants who make such displays is truly staggering.

Speaking from my personal experience with these devices during the course of my training, the feeling of having your magical reserves siphoned away is unsettling, leaving you with a distinct numbness within.  Given the high mobility style of swordplay I’ve adopted, the additional bulk of the restraints made it quite awkward to mount a proper defense, and I wound up poking myself several times with the spikes as I tried to move about, much to Filaria’s amusement, I might add.  I certainly could not think of a more insidious way to restrict magic users from using their abilities.