Text; UN: TheWizard

[tomatowizard]

Hello,

I thought maybe we should touch bases now that we're back from the fissure. There was some important things going on there that should probably be discussed.

First: The giant crystal in the basement. That thing was a vortex of magical power that I couldn't look at directly without feeling like I was staring at the sun. I didn't want to risk touching it, but I understand several other more

[She stops typing for a minute to consider how to phrase this other than "stupid and foolhardy"]

more risk prone individuals did touch it and were not vaporized on the spot, so I'd be interested in hearing what you thought of that.

Second: I did some reading in the library of Silvereagle Manor and was able to find some rather cryptic references to the basement crystal. I could find frustratingly little concrete data about it, but they did apparently think of it as an item of religious importance. It was referred to as "The Eye", and was apparently a way of communicating with the Planet. Or with "The soul of the planet". Both terms are used interchangeably.

Third: A question, rather than an observation. If I say the word "Golem" to you, what do you imagine? Because I felt like I was thinking of something a little different from everyone else.

If anyone else discovered any useful or interesting information in their explorations, I think it would benefit us all to share it here.

Sincerely,
Samata Mahto.
Wizard.

Comments

[have_hat_will_travel]

Well, yes. I don't have enough info to offer anything more specific than that.

My Arcana training is useless without enough to go on.

[tomatowizard]

That's fair enough. I just wish I had more details to offer but, as I mentioned, the research was frustratingly vague.

Arcana training being a formalized understanding of arcane theory?

[have_hat_will_travel]

Yeah. Most spellcasters who aren't using divine sources benefit from knowing the theory where I'm from, even though most classes actually cast very differently. Stuff like deciphering magical writing without setting it off if it is trapped is the realm of Arcana. There's a related skill called Spellcraft for correctly ID'ing spells and their effects during and after they're cast.

[tomatowizard]

We're getting onto interesting theological ground here. According to the church, ALL magic users originally came from the generals of Istavan's army during the great crusade, who were granted access to arcane power to reinforce their positions as commanders. So, in theory, all magic users have a divine source.

Except me, of course.

[have_hat_will_travel]

Given that, where I'm from, the most common source of sorcerous power is draconic or demonic bloodlines...

Well, it's obviously a very different world. But the likes of clerics do things very differently.

Never mind that warlocks, who get their power from pacts with usually-dark powers, are also Arcane. As are some various specialized casters. Then there's Divine magic, and the more obscure stuff like Incarnum.