1-3-4874, Thirdday
Today, the elders of light held council. It was agreed that the earthstone’s darkness could only be a horrible portent for the year to come. However, it was also agreed that nothing could be done at that time but wait for the delegation from the dark. Somehow, this dark portent has driven from our mind all thoughts of pride. While it is now like less likely that we will err on the side of pride, it now becomes more probable that we will slip on the side of caution. I fear there will be great destruction among the peoples this year. The land, I fear, will be scorched black by solstice.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Thursday, December 21, 2006
The Earthstone of the New Year
From the journal of Galdor, Wind Mage of Aurellentia
1-1-4874, Seconday
Today, as I stood in conference with other men of light before the Earthstone, bathed in its radiance, it slowly grew dark within its core before my very eyes. This is a dark omen, indeed, on the first day of the new year! As we stood gazing, as if bound by a spell, the lights that had once glimmered inside the now darkened crystal globe, turned dark, and radiated all the powers of magic that we hated and feared. And for good reason! Twice have they now rained chaos upon this innocent world. Now, they threaten thrice. However, not to our memories has the Earthstone ever gone dark. Not for the first or second mage wars, nor even when the circle was nearly completed in the second mage war. As a portent, I can foresee only disaster.
1-1-4874, Seconday
Today, as I stood in conference with other men of light before the Earthstone, bathed in its radiance, it slowly grew dark within its core before my very eyes. This is a dark omen, indeed, on the first day of the new year! As we stood gazing, as if bound by a spell, the lights that had once glimmered inside the now darkened crystal globe, turned dark, and radiated all the powers of magic that we hated and feared. And for good reason! Twice have they now rained chaos upon this innocent world. Now, they threaten thrice. However, not to our memories has the Earthstone ever gone dark. Not for the first or second mage wars, nor even when the circle was nearly completed in the second mage war. As a portent, I can foresee only disaster.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Travel to the Gate of Angrod
From the journal of Galdor, Wind Mage of Aurellentia
19-20-4873, Seventhday.
Today we completed our journey from Demlon to Angrod. We are staying in a small tavern just outside of Angrod, for I despise the twisted lines of the city, they conjure up before my mind's eye visions of the power of the mages of chaos of old. Ere we enter the city, I must complete my ablutions to my god and purge all thought of self, and greed, and power, for in this lies weakness. Thaldor held up well, as did Idril on the journey hence. All our powers have been slowly building. I know not whether this is from minor confrontations with the dark in which mages of light became proud and perished, or from the building energy of our gods. I know not which is better. I pray only now that we will retain power sufficient to sustain justice in this world.
19-20-4873, Seventhday.
Today we completed our journey from Demlon to Angrod. We are staying in a small tavern just outside of Angrod, for I despise the twisted lines of the city, they conjure up before my mind's eye visions of the power of the mages of chaos of old. Ere we enter the city, I must complete my ablutions to my god and purge all thought of self, and greed, and power, for in this lies weakness. Thaldor held up well, as did Idril on the journey hence. All our powers have been slowly building. I know not whether this is from minor confrontations with the dark in which mages of light became proud and perished, or from the building energy of our gods. I know not which is better. I pray only now that we will retain power sufficient to sustain justice in this world.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Combat
From the journal of Galdor, Wind Mage of Aurellentia
13-20-4873, Secondday.
Yesterday, a dark mage arrived to observe the village, and he and I locked in combat. The powers of the Dark Mages are indeed great. I could not have defeated him without the help of my new apprentices. His power lay in the dark god of fire. Upon confrontation, he drew a long jagged blade which glowed like a beacon. His hair and clothing likewise ignited. He sent torrents of fire at me which I either dodged or deflected with the power of the wind. I called the power of the wind to me and hurled great spells, powerful spells at him, to no avail. He was able to penetrate the great cyclone I called up to defend me, and avoided powerful gusts of wind. He seemed to grow in strength while I diminished. Thaldor, I think observed this, and struck him a great blow from behind with an immense stone. He fell then, and I pierced his heart with my blade. He left naught behind; his body was consumed, as if from within, by a great and searing flame. His ashes drifted away and he was gone. I have spent this day recovering from a series of minor gashes and burns, and shall tomorrow set off towards the great Angrod, with my two acolytes, who have agreed to accompany me to the great city.
13-20-4873, Secondday.
Yesterday, a dark mage arrived to observe the village, and he and I locked in combat. The powers of the Dark Mages are indeed great. I could not have defeated him without the help of my new apprentices. His power lay in the dark god of fire. Upon confrontation, he drew a long jagged blade which glowed like a beacon. His hair and clothing likewise ignited. He sent torrents of fire at me which I either dodged or deflected with the power of the wind. I called the power of the wind to me and hurled great spells, powerful spells at him, to no avail. He was able to penetrate the great cyclone I called up to defend me, and avoided powerful gusts of wind. He seemed to grow in strength while I diminished. Thaldor, I think observed this, and struck him a great blow from behind with an immense stone. He fell then, and I pierced his heart with my blade. He left naught behind; his body was consumed, as if from within, by a great and searing flame. His ashes drifted away and he was gone. I have spent this day recovering from a series of minor gashes and burns, and shall tomorrow set off towards the great Angrod, with my two acolytes, who have agreed to accompany me to the great city.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Blackened Ash
I topped the last rise to Demlon, and stopped as if dead before what had been a flowering vale, water still ran in a trickling rivulet down the center of the vale. Where the crops had been slowly ripening in the sun are now black, broken, charred. As yet, smoke still waves from what had been a pleasant farming community. Huge boulders from above Demlon had been hurled through the village, brown scars on the hillside above marked their passage. Bodies lay scattered as if Death had sowed them as seeds thus, but they would never rise. They had fallen for the last time, never to grow or flourish. As I stood there, I did the only thing I saw fitting to the horror that stood incarnate before me: I offered the souls of the dead to my god as we would honor fallen warriors from a great conflict. For thus I beheld them. As I stood their numb, I heard a sound behind me. I turned slowly, (now I recognize in pride of my new power) and beheld two youngsters from Auroch Hal. One was a boy, of slender girth and narrow chest, the other was a girl, who stood one dantra* higher than he, but was also slender. The boy had brown hair dusty from the road. He had an intelligent face, and was clever with his hands and body when training with the sword. He was known as Thaldor. The girl I knew less about. She had shining black hair swept from a high dark forehead, which stood guardian over a lovely face. I had seen her around, but she studied arms under a different combat master. I knew her name not. "Be strong" I said. After a moment I asked "Was this your home?" They nodded in assent. I took them under my wing. I hunted game from the local valley, but game was scarce, the noise and war had driven it away, but I did come up with two rabbits, which we roasted and ate. I spent as much time imparting wisdom to Thaldor and the girl (who's name was Idril) as I could, preparing them for the conflict ahead. They were both fourth year acolytes, trained in body, mind, and soul, still learning the craft of applying the power of the soul to the world around them.
*Dantra: about two inches
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
The Burning Vale
The solstice finally arrived. I departed from Auroch Hal and the wind mages there and set out for Demlon, a small village between Auroch Hal and Angrod. By foot, it is a two day journey from Auroch Hal to Demlon. Half way between the two my powers returned. Not piece meal or even fully, but four fold. I am many times stronger than I had ever hoped to be. I only hope that I do not forget myself in my new found power and slip during a battle or become proud. The new power from the wind God empowered not just my soul, buy my mind and body as well. New realizations dawned on me as I ran tirelessly towards Demlon. I have never heard of the mages bodies being energized thus by the gods. The souls, yea, but ne'er the bodies or minds. No; I err. The gods speak to my mind, and I recall a dusty tome in the library of Auroch Hal in the old dusty script of old:
Durring the first darke mage warre the warriors of light were weak. They had become proude, the gods didst not think it fitting to lende their powers to men who wouldst missuse it. Twas not till the second darke mage warre, when the men of light were pure of heart and soul didst the powere flow from above. Their bodies and mindes became imbued with powere. Yet we shouldst not long for this powere, for that is of the darke. Quoth Thantos, darke mage of death: 'When the gods grant us powere we shall rule I shall kill the people of Aurellentia.' We shouldst be careful of this powere, lest we become proude and losse it or become overbearing in battle and fall.
I read that during the training of my mind in my second year as an acolyte. A decade ago.
Durring the first darke mage warre the warriors of light were weak. They had become proude, the gods didst not think it fitting to lende their powers to men who wouldst missuse it. Twas not till the second darke mage warre, when the men of light were pure of heart and soul didst the powere flow from above. Their bodies and mindes became imbued with powere. Yet we shouldst not long for this powere, for that is of the darke. Quoth Thantos, darke mage of death: 'When the gods grant us powere we shall rule I shall kill the people of Aurellentia.' We shouldst be careful of this powere, lest we become proude and losse it or become overbearing in battle and fall.
I read that during the training of my mind in my second year as an acolyte. A decade ago.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Summer Solstice
From the journal of Galdor, Wind Mage of Aurellentia
4-20-4873, Fourthday
My superiors here at the temple to the God of wind have decided to permit my pilgrimage to the Earthstone, I must but wait until the solstice. I am needed here at the temple to train the bodies of the acolytes of my order. However, at the solstice all my acolytes are dismissed to help with the upcoming harvest and to spread the teachings of our God amongst the people of the land, so then I will have time free of duty to wend my way to Angrod. Loth am I to wait, feeling the disorder in the elements around me, the fire I write before, the stone beneath my feat, the wine in my horn, the order, the chaos, the life, the death, and the air around me. I am but a string in a chord of life, a note on the wind; I feel the wind, am the wind, I am moved by the wind. Thus must I wait: in a world drained of power, yet twitching with energy, as if disturbed by some power, distracted from their normal movements, dead to the world they power. Thus must I wait, thus must I wait.
4-20-4873, Fourthday
My superiors here at the temple to the God of wind have decided to permit my pilgrimage to the Earthstone, I must but wait until the solstice. I am needed here at the temple to train the bodies of the acolytes of my order. However, at the solstice all my acolytes are dismissed to help with the upcoming harvest and to spread the teachings of our God amongst the people of the land, so then I will have time free of duty to wend my way to Angrod. Loth am I to wait, feeling the disorder in the elements around me, the fire I write before, the stone beneath my feat, the wine in my horn, the order, the chaos, the life, the death, and the air around me. I am but a string in a chord of life, a note on the wind; I feel the wind, am the wind, I am moved by the wind. Thus must I wait: in a world drained of power, yet twitching with energy, as if disturbed by some power, distracted from their normal movements, dead to the world they power. Thus must I wait, thus must I wait.
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