The Damn Forum mkIII

381 AC (Krynn), 11 ST (Soreel); Imperial Palace, Soreel


“If that will be all, then, gentlemen, I think I’ve taken up enough of your time,” Zeva said with a small smile to the collection of military officers arrayed around the table. Almost as one unit, the men and women comprising the upper echelons of the Imperial military rose. The Empress stood and nodded curtly to her Defense Minister, who formally dismissed the meeting as Zeva exited the room.

Stepping into the corridor outside the meeting room, Zeva was instantly wary to see that her Chamberlain was not waiting for her. Instead, she was greeted by a hooded, diminutive form in robes as black as the void between the stars, carrying a gnarled staff. The Empress sighed and took her hand off the hilt of her sword without even realizing that it had been resting there.

“I see that my palace security still leaves a bit to be desired,” Zeva squinted at her visitor.

The figure pulled back her hood, revealing the cold, chiseled face of Karnea. “I wouldn’t go too terribly hard on them, old friend. The corridors of magic are much more difficult to guard than those of your palace.”

“I trust nothing untoward has befallen Emil? He would be quite difficult to replace.”

“I believe he ran off to find some guards. Surely they’ll be arriving presently,” Karnea replied.

“Well, surely you didn’t come all this way to simply accost me in my own hallway. Come along to my solar and you can tell me whatever news it is that you brought.”

The two women moved off down the corridor, encountering the guards summoned by the Chamberalin. Emil himself was nowhere to be found, but the guards were quickly stood down when they saw that their Empress was in no danger. Soon they arrived at Zeva’s solar, a combination sitting room/office that looked out over a courtyard. A serving girl was dispatched for refreshments, and the two old friends made small talk until the wine and cheese arrived and the servants were safely away.

“So all right then,” Zeva began, setting down her glass. “What is it that’s so important for you to cause a minor panic among the palace guards?”

Karnea took a long sip of her wine and sighed. “I need a favor, and by my reckoning you seem to owe me one,” Karnea told her host.

Zeva laughed sharply. “Is that so? Well, you’re probably not wrong about that. But tell me, what sort of favor can I do for an archmage such as yourself?”

Karnea sat back into the cushion of her chair. “Things on Krynn are getting bad. We’re hearing disturbing reports of a new knighthood, dedicated to the Dark Queen. This order apparently includes wizards sworn to the Queen herself, outside the purview of the Orders. War is coming.”

Zeva regarded her old ally skeptically. “I don’t know, Karnea. I’m not really looking to send the army abroad. We’ve got plenty on our plates here.”

Karnea waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, no, I’m not looking for sellswords or military support. I need to leave someone here with you, in your protection.”

“Aravis,” Zeva breathed.

“Indeed,” Karnea returned. “These rogue wizards are trying to recruit as many Black Robes as they can. If the Queen were to find out who Aravis’s father is, I fear that she would become a target for this new order.”

Zeva nods. “So if Aravis is somewhere the Takhisis can’t find her, you’ll have a much freer hand in dealing with them?”

“Exactly,” Karnea states.

“Then I don’t see that you have any choice. Of course I will watch over Aravis for you.”

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3 weeks later, Schallsea Tower, Krynn

“Are we really going to go on a spelljammer trip?” Aravis asked excitedly.

“We are,” Karnea replied. “I’m taking you to stay with an old friend of mine for a while.”

“I don’t understand…why would I need to go somewhere else?”

Karnea sighed. “I’ve told you. War is coming, and the Dark Queen will almost certainly be targeting us. I’ve already been approached by one of these so-called Gray Robes. Takhisis is trying to undermine magic as we know it, and the Conclave has asked all Robes to join together to defend it.”

“But I’m a member of the Black Robes now. I should be helping, too.”

“Yes, little one, you have passed your Test now, but this task is beyond one of your skill. Besides, if the Queen were to find out who your father is, she would stop at nothing to capture you. Having Nuitari’s own daughter in her ranks would bring the Order down.”

“What about the other girls, then, Selene and Kalana and the rest? Will they help you?”

“I will be releasing them all from their apprenticeships very soon, after I return from taking you to Soreel. They will choose their own paths, but I am confident that they will find themselves on the side of the Moon Gods, and not the Queen,” Karnea said with a tone of hopefulness. “Now, finish your packing. Zeva will no doubt provide you with much of what you need, but you should take what personal items you might want. I don’t know how long you’ll be staying.”

Aravis considered a shelf full of dolls that she had made. Shrugging, she picked them up and stuffed them into a sack with her clothes. “What is Zeva like? You said she was a friend, but you never talk about any friends.”

“Zeva is a powerful warrior, and the ruler of a vast empire. She is very stubborn, and idealistic, and has a very keen sense of justice. And she has a son close to your age. I imagine that you will get to know him better than you will know her.”

“Will I be able to continue my studies there?”

“Your magic will serve you there as it does here. The Moon Gods have no influence on Soreel, but your spells will work just as well.”

“I had better go get my books from the library then,” Aravis stands and heads for the door of her room. “I should go and tell the girls goodbye, too.”

“Don’t worry about that, little one. They will come to New Ports with us to see us off.”

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

384 AC


Karnea had been wandering the Market Ward of Sigil for most of the morning. She wasn’t necessarily looking for anything in particular, but she had a feeling that she would find something useful here before long. The Great Bazaar stretched out for miles ahead of and behind her, wrapping around the torus of the city above her as well. Slipping a hand inside her black Robe of the Archmagi, she hefted the coin pouch tied at the waist of her dress within. She frowned at its light weight, wondering if she would have enough to stay more than a few days before she was forced to retrace her steps to the portal back to her own demiplane (which thankfully seemed to be keyed to her person, as the creator of the demiplane).

The discovery of that portal had been both accidental and very advantageous. Karnea had been stewing in the house of her demiplane for six weeks after the end of the Chaos War on Krynn had caused the world to be cut off from the rest of the multiverse. All of her spells had ceased to function, and only a stroke of luck had led her to discover how to use the magic stored in enchanted items to power spells. It took quite some time to gather enough items together to fuel such a powerful spell, but when the portal created by Worldwalk opened before her, she almost threw herself across the threshold into her pocket dimension. Weeks of recovery and research had left her with the notion that she was not going to be able to open a portal of her own into Sigil, so less-direct means were going to be necessary. Then, upon opening a door to one of her storage sheds outside the house, she spied the landscape of the fabled city at the center of the multiverse. Never being one to turn up her nose at a lucky break, she cautiously stepped through the portal and immediately noted the landmarks around its place in Sigil. Over the course of several days, she determined that the portal key seemed to involve her actively thinking about the destination, whether it was her demiplane on the one side or Sigil on the other.

Now she found herself wandering the streets of the Bazaar, hoping to find the right shop to sell her paltry remaining enchanted items (but certainly not her Robe nor her staff). She had browsed through several shops already, receiving laughably low offers for the items she wanted to sell. The planar natives of the City of Doors always seemed to be eager to fleece a rube from the Primes, but Karnea had traveled here often enough to know better. Her accented Common marked her as a native of a backwater Prime, and until she knocked the rust off her Infernal and Celestial, she was not likely to get any good offers.

Karnea was considering returning to the inn where she was roomed when she saw a person apparently watching her from the window of a shop. Glancing at the shingle above the door, she noted that the shop, “Talia’s Provisions”, appeared to be a general adventuring equipment store. These types of shops rarely handled the kinds of items Karnea was looking to sell, but something about the person in the window intrigued her. She started to walk towards the shop, and the person in the window quickly withdrew, as if they knew they had been caught in the act.

Karnea entered the shop and stood just inside the door, allowing her eyes to adjust to the light inside. Looking around, she saw shelves of common equipment; ropes, lanterns, backpacks, map cases, waterskins, and the like. Racks of durable clothing of all sizes lined one wall, and white clothing for specialized climates occupied another section. What drew Karnea’s eye, however, was a large honeycombed case that appeared to contain hundreds of maps. Each cell of the case was labeled in small, precise handwriting, denoting the nature of the map. Near this case was a glass-topped display case with what appeared to be several items of magical power inside. She reached into the hidden pocket in the lapel of her robe to retrieve her spectacles, the Eyes of True Seeing, and put them on. The items in the case sprang to life, their auras showing the various enchantments laid upon them. Removing her glasses, she tucked them back away in their accustomed pocket when she heard a voice to her left.

“I’ll give you 300 golden swords [gold pieces] for those glasses of yours,” a female voice said in Infernal-accented Common.

Karnea turned towards the voice and saw a red-skinned Tiefling female before her. She wore loose breeches and a lightweight tunic, with a deep red cloak tossed over her shoulders. Short horns sprouted from her forehead above the black nothingness of her eyes. A short mop of artfully-mussed black hair complemented the horns, and a thin tail with a barbed tip twitched around her legs. She was several inches taller than Karnea and appeared to be well-muscled but lithe under her loose clothing. She smiled at Karnea, showing a white row of pointed teeth under full lips. The tiefling shifted her weight and planted her left hand on her hip, thumb forward, just in front of where a sheathed dagger hung from a braided leather belt. “Well, how about it?” she asked, eyeing Karnea closely.

Karnea tried to look surprised at the offer. “What makes you think that my reading glasses are worth 300 swords?” she asked in feigned innocence.

The tiefling squinted and took a step towards the black-robed wizard. “Because no one’s ‘reading glasses’ are enchanted so heavily as those spectacles are, berk.”

“If you know how magical they are,” Karnea raised an eyebrow, “then you should also know that 300 swords is a miserly offer.” Casting a glance about the shop, she returns her gaze to the shopkeeper, looking her up and down. “If I’m being perfectly honest, I doubt very much you could afford to buy them.”

The tiefling narrowed her eyes. Finally, she sighed. “You’re probably right. But a girl’s got to try, right?” Stepping forward, she thrust out her hand in an offer of a handshake. “Talia. This is, as you can probably guess, my shop. And who might you be?”

Karnea took the offered hand and shook it. “Karnea Dragonbane, late of Krynn. It seems that the world is in somewhat of a troubled state now, though, and I may be seeking new accommodations.” She shrugged expansively. “I’ve a few items of some minor power that I am willing to sell to raise funds, and can offer knowledge of a number of places besides my home plane as well.”

Talia sauntered around the counter and to the glass display case. “Well, as you surely saw, I don’t exactly have anything that one might call ‘powerful’, but I try to keep some useful items available for those that can pay.” She licked her lips and smiled at Karnea. “Naturally, I have to make some kind of profit off of what I sell, so the prices I can offer you might not be quite what you’re looking for. But I can tell that you’re not the average rube just fresh from the Primes. You’ve got a dangerous look about you, and you absolutely reek of magic. Judging solely on what I can see right now, I’d be very interested to find out what you consider to be ‘items of some minor power’.” Talia turned and walked back to the shop door and flipped the sign, declaring the shop to be ‘Closed’. “Perhaps you’ll join me upstairs for some wine, and we can discuss what items you might and might not be willing to part with, and anything else I might be able to talk you out of.”

Karnea considered the offer for a moment. A deal with an actual devil, she thought, or at least one of their spawn. She was confident in her ability to escape the shop if needed, and to cause this Talia considerable inconvenience if necessary. She cocked her head slightly to the right and gestured before her. “Very well then. Lead the way. I’m happy to discuss the items I have to offer, and perhaps any other…arrangements you might want to make.”

Talia led Karnea up a set of stairs at the back of the shop. At the top of the stairs was a cozy sitting room with a small fireplace, a pair of comfortable-looking overstuffed chairs, and a small table between them. A curio cabinet full of oddments caught Karnea’s eye; these items clearly had personal significance to her hostess, and some were likely to be magical as well. Hung above the mantle was an absurdly large bastard sword of impeccable craftsmanship. In a corner stood a rack with a set of very fine plate armor, embellished with infernal runes and styled to resemble a barbed devil. In another corner was a bookshelf with a number of interesting-looking tomes. Karnea stepped into the room ahead of Talia, who pulled the door at the top of the stairs closed and stepped past the diminutive wizardess, brushing her body against her in the process, despite having plenty of room to pass. The tiefling offered no apologies as she gestured to the nearby chair. “Please, make yourself comfortable,” she said as she drew forth a pair of crystal glasses and a decanter filled with a rich ruby-colored liquid. “I hope you’ll find this wine to your liking, it comes from Elysium, believe it or not.” She poured generous servings into both glasses and set them on the table. Unclasping her cloak, she flung it carelessly towards the corner with the armor rack, and it settled to the floor. Talia cast herself down into the chair, picked up her glass, and drank deeply.

Karnea watched all of this with a measure of amusement. The tiefling clearly seemed to be occupied with putting Karnea at ease, which automatically put her slightly more on her guard. Karnea released her staff, which remained standing upright next to the chair, and sat in the offered spot, arranging her robes about her. She watched Talia drink her wine first, before picking up the glass and holding it up to the light. The wine was a deep red, almost opaque, and had a fragrant nose. She took a sip and found it to be quite delightful, and took another, longer drink before setting it down.

“So, what is such an obviously-powerful wizard from a complete backwater Prime doing wandering the Great Bazaar, looking to sell trinkets?” Talia asked, twirling her glass by the stem and eyeing the curiously standing staff next to her guest.  “You mentioned some sort of trouble there, but Krynn is such an out-of-the-way world that we seldom hear of any news from there here in the Cage.”

Karnea gave Talia a broad rundown of the recently ended Chaos War on Krynn. She did not go into particular detail of her participation, but did mention the resultant loss of magic, the alteration of the positions of the stars, and the new, single pale moon that replaced the former familiar three moons. She spoke broadly of her difficulty in transporting herself off the planet back to her demiplane, which intrigued her host visibly. Talia wanted to ask more about this demiplane, but held her curiosity until Karnea finished her tale.

“Obviously, I couldn’t open my own portal to Sigil via spell, but was fortunate to find that one had spontaneously opened from my demiplane to here,” Karnea finished. She drank the remaining wine from her glass and set it down. “And that brings me here to you.”

Talia picked up the decanter and poured each of them another glass. “And doesn’t that make me the lucky one,” she purred. “I think there’s a lot you aren’t telling, but I cannot help but be fascinated by what you are.”

Talia asked her questions of Karnea over another glass of wine, and Karnea answered as vaguely as she could without being truly opaque. The second glass of wine turned to a third, and the subject shifted to Talia. Karnea learned that Talia was skilled with swords as well as sorcery, and had spent a number of years adventuring the Great Ring before retiring to a life as a merchant here in Sigil. Talia proved to be nearly as evasive as Karnea when it came to the details of her travels and her companions, but provided a coherent-enough timeline nonetheless. By the time Talia finished her tale, the decanter was emptied, and the light through the windows had diminished with the coming of evening.

Talia glanced out the window and noted the time. “Ah, but it seems that we have yet to discuss what you came to sell, and it is getting to be dinner time. Won’t you stay and share a meal?”

Karnea stood from the chair. “I wouldn’t want to impose,” she began. “Perhaps I can return tomorrow to discuss business matters.”

“Nonsense,” Talia protested. “Stay for dinner, and we can see what you have to offer while we eat.”

Realizing that her hostess was not prepared to accept a refusal, Karnea shrugged. “Very well then. I’ll dine with you and show you what I have to offer.” Untying the belt of her robe, she began to take it off. “Is there somewhere I might hang this, or is it customary to just throw one’s clothing to the floor in your home?”

Talia flashed a wicked grin at her guest. “Oh, things do tend to get strewn about the place sometimes,” she said as she disappeared into the next room.

Karnea hung her robes carefully on a peg near the door and followed the tiefling into the next room, which was a small kitchen and dining area. Talia struck a flint on a steel rod to spark the wood already laid in the belly of the stove and then began bustling about with preparations. Karnea sat at the small dining table unprompted and watched as the tiefling spitted a hen that she pulled from a storage chest in the corner, rubbing it with oil and salt before placing the spit inside the stove. Closing the front of the oven, she wound up a curious-looking device attached to the side of the stove, which she explained would cause the spit to rotate slowly for the next half hour. “It was made by an artificer friend of mine who spent too long in Mechanus,” she said.

Soon enough, the chicken was cooked, and Talia carved it onto plates. Another decanter of wine was produced, this one a golden color and smelling of oak and apples. Talia joined Karnea at the table, and they ate. Karnea produced a pouch that hung from the belt of her dress, and emptied it onto the table. Talia noted that there seemed to be many more items coming out of the pouch than seemed to be able to fit.

A handful of rings glittered on the table. Several small carved figurines of animals and fantastic creatures were mixed in with a few gemstones. Two wands joined the loot, as well as a short metal rod. Talia waved a hand over the collection and watched as the magical auras of each item glimmered.

The tiefling leaned back in her chair and took a long drink of her wine. “You certainly are full of surprises, aren’t you?” she chuckled. Setting down the glass, she inquired as to the functions of each item as Karnea patiently explained their uses. By the time they were done eating, Talia had learned what each of the dozen or so items were.

“Well,” Talia began, pushing her plate back, “I will tell you two things about your trinket collection. One,” she held up her index finger, “I want all of them. But, two,” she raised the next finger, “I can’t possibly buy all of them.”

They began a delicate back-and-forth of negotiations, during which each of them discovered the limits of the stubbornness of the other. Over the course of the next hour, they emptied the second decanter of wine and started on a third before finally coming to terms on a consignment arrangement. Talia agreed to display the items Karnea offered in exchange for a percentage of the sale price. Talia bought one of the wands and the rod for her own personal collection, and paid somewhat more than she truly wanted to.

By now, it was truly late. Karnea mumbled about needing to get back to the inn, and rose somewhat unsteadily due to the effects of so much wine. Talia nearly tripped over her tail while standing, as well, asking Karnea where she was staying. After learning how far away Karnea’s rooms were, she shook her head emphatically. “You’re certainly in no condition to travel that far right now,” she said as she stroked Karnea’s arm. “And I doubt you could cast Teleport right now, either. You’ll have to stay here.”

They stood facing each other, both of them slightly unsteady in their inebriated state. Talia’s tail curled around Karnea’s leg, and they were both holding each other’s hands. Karnea pursed her lips and cocked her head slightly. “If you insist,” she said.

Talia leaned forward and kissed Karnea’s lips. She pulled back an inch and breathed “I certainly do,” and kissed her again.

Located in the central Barren Hills on Schallsea Island in the New Sea, Schallsea Tower was mostly completed in late 362 AC to serve as a base of operations on Krynn for the archnecromancer Karnea Dragonbane. Its remote location provided Karnea with the solitude she sought for extended studies, while still providing ample space for apprentices and others interested in the study of the magical Art.

The tower was a simple round structure, 20 stories (approximately 240 feet) tall and just over 100 feet in diameter. The structure extended an additional 5 stories underground, providing cellar space for storage and the containment of a pair of large elemental beings that were harnessed to provide heat and running water for the entire structure. Unlike the Palanthas Tower of High Sorcery, which featured a central spiral stair, the central column of Schallsea Tower was hollow and contained pipes for water and steam, as well as the main chimney flue for the fireplaces situated throughout the tower. The stairs were a stacked flight system contained in a section on the south side of the tower, with doors to each floor on the landings at each level. The top two floors of the tower were Karnea’s personal areas.

The 19th floor consisted of her personal bedchamber, a sitting/dining room, a reception room for private meetings with students or guests, and a storage area where some of her more personal items or power were kept.

The 20th floor consisted of her personal study and library, and a very large workshop/laboratory that was enspelled to provide an area to practice the casting of dangerous spells in relative safety.

Below these floors were private apartments for up to 8 apprentices, a main library provided for apprentice study and spell work, two fully equipped laboratories for student use, casting rooms for spell practice, dormitories for non-wizard tower staff, a large kitchen and food storage area, and an additional dormitory area and armory for a small contingent of men-at-arms.

The First floor contained a central reception hall for greeting guests and newcomers to the tower and a central dining hall for congregations of all the tower’s residents.

Karnea originally intended to have the tower completely occupied with staff and apprentices, as well as a small group of men-at-arms to patrol the area around the tower and provide physical security for the grounds. Unfortunately, events on Krynn kept her from realizing these goals, and she only had 4-5 apprentices in residence at a time, with a small support staff and none of the fighters she had planned on having.

In the Year 383 AC, the Summer of Flame leading up to the Chaos War, the tower came under attack by a contingent of Gray Robes from the Knights of Takhisis. The Gray Robes saw Karnea as a threat to their objectives, as Karnea had already actively worked against the Dark Queen in previous adventures. When Karnea successfully defended the tower against the first wave of attackers, a subsequent group of Gray Robes came with extraplanar assistance. Unable to withstand the onslaught of the Abyssal creatures summoned to serve the Queen, Karnea opted to destroy the tower to eliminate the threat. Karnea released the spells of binding, holding the enormous fire elemental and water elemental captive in the subbasements of the tower. Their resulting enraged combat with one another caused an explosion which brought the tower down in a massive collapse, destroying the Gray Robes and their summoned assistants in the process. Karnea herself retreated from the tower immediately prior to its destruction, carrying only her personal items with her and abandoning the rest to the rubble.


Shortly after the destruction of the tower, the end of the Chaos War came, and the subsequent theft of Krynn by Takhisis caused the end of High Sorcery. Karnea returned to the ruins of the tower to gather enough of the remaining magic items she could find in order to power her escape from Krynn, retreating first to Sigil and then to her demiplane to recuperate from the battles of the war. She would not return to the ruins for many years, after the conclusion of the War of Souls and the return of Krynn to its rightful place in the multiverse. The forty years of neglect ruined many of the exposed books, and looting by treasure seekers and other (former) wizards desperate for the old magic during the absence of the gods led to many of the wondrous items kept in the tower to be lost forever...


List of students at Schallsea
Karnea's first student was a Wild Mage named Analis Faithor. She was loyal and intelligent and served Karnea for many years until one day, Analis departed the Tower and sought to step from her Master's shadow. She operated in New Ports, founding a school before she disappeared completely into obscurity, reportedly coming back into view during the early 5th Age.   

Karnea was next approached by the Dark Elf Selene Moonshadow. Selene became an apprentice and brought with her a small group of younger students (All girls) who lived in the Tower of Schallsea. Selene was a head Student and soon became a Teacher over time when Karnea was away. In all, the girls were with Karnea at the Schallsea Tower for twelve years.       

Karnea's Daughter, Aravis, spent her first sixteen years of life here.
 
Original ages when the Girls arrived at Schallsea Tower.
Analis b.348 n. 75 Human First Apprentice

b.= Date Born
n.= 423 AC

Kentommen of when elves are officially recognized as an adult elf at 100 years old.

Selene 96 b 276 n.147 Silvanesti was born in Silvanesti
Kalana 85 b 287 n. 136 Silvanesti was born in Silvanesti
Hestia 73 b 299 n. 124 Kagonesti was born in Southern Ergoth
Inari 68 b 304 n. 119 Silvanesti was born in Silvanesti

Vorena 16 b 356 n. 67 Human born in Bailfor 
Raina 13 b 359 n. 64 Human born in the Plains of Dust

Eastern Ansalon
Blood Sea
Blood Sea Tower of High Sorcery


Karnea sets down her wine glass and puts away her journal, sighing wistfully as she recalls her meeting with Coryn. She brushes a stray lock of pale blond hair from her face and places the tip of her index finger on her thin lips. Her fingernails are well manicured and painted after the fashion of the wealthy women of the Soreelian capital, though Karnea’s fingers alternate black, red, and white nails in homage to the Krynnish gods of magic. She resists the urge to bite the nail, an unfortunate habit from her early youth in Limbo. The Demon Sym frequently chastised her for the damage she caused her fingers, one tiny reason why she hated him then as she does to this day. 

Leaning back in her chair, she reaches beneath the desk and pulls a silken cord near her knee, causing a silver bell to ring two levels down at the door of her newest pupil, a Khurish girl named Azura. Selene of Tarsis discovered her and began her tutelage, but Karnea saw something in her that convinced her to take her on as a full apprentice, something she hadn’t done since Kalana. Rising from her chair, she picked up her robe from the hanger and dons it, arranging the folds just so. “Can’t let the new girl see the Mistress of the Order and the Tower out of uniform,” she mutters to herself with a sardonic chuckle.

Much more quickly than Karnea expected, a soft knocking comes at the door to the study.  Good, Karnea thinks, this one shows a sense of urgency.

“Enter,” Karnea calls, just loudly enough to be heard through the door.

Azura enters. She is a young, olive-skinned, dark-haired girl of obvious Khurish ancestry, a beauty that Karnea had always been jealous of. Her robes are plain, as befits a learner of her station, and she averts her gaze from her superior as is the custom of her people. She clears her throat briefly and barely above a whisper says, “I am come, Mistress. What do you require of me?”

Karnea sits back down in her chair, motioning to the single chair across the desk from her. “Sit.” When her student has taken her seat, she continues. “We have not yet had the opportunity to truly become acquainted. Tell me about yourself. I wish to know more of your past, so that I may properly direct your future.”

“Of course, Mistress,” Azura said, shifting uncomfortably in her chair. No matter how she changes her position, the chair remains just…wrong. It would be unseemly to criticize her patron’s furniture so soon, but perhaps later she might mention it. “I come from a modest family of apothecarists from the Mikku tribe in the city of Ak-Khurman on Khur coast. I grew up and learned Sorcery from a school that opened up. I found I had an affinity for casting it. Malystryx The Red razed our city. We went and lived in the Desert among the tribes.

“When the gods returned, one of the three sisters of the sky, Nuira (Nuitari) visited me and showed me what power really was. The dark wizard Selene found me and took me to the Tower of High Sorcery. She was my patron and prepared me for the Test of High Sorcery. I took the Test; I then took of the Black Robe and Selene took me to her school in Tarsis, for about six months, until she brought here."

Karnea notes with interest Azura’s family background as apothecarists. Herbalism and potion brewing were always a keen interest of the Mistress, and having a student with a similar background would make it easier to relate to one another. The fact that she was chosen by Nuitari played greatly in her favor as well. Karnea’s right eyebrow arched slightly as she pursed her lips. This one will do for now at least.

“Very well, parmo-wen*. For the time being, you will remain in the quarters you have been given. When you are not studying, you will be responsible for ensuring that the common spell components in the storerooms are fresh and regularly replenished. Additionally, you will begin to organize the scroll shelves in the main library. I’m afraid that they are quite chaotically stored, and this makes finding the proper scroll difficult. While you are doing this, you will bring to my attention any scrolls you find pertaining to the removal of curses. I have a…friend…in need of assistance in such matters."

“You will find that I am perhaps a different kind of teacher than those you are accustomed to. I do not consider you my personal servant; you won’t be responsible for fetching my tea, or laundering my smallclothes. Tasks such as these have no bearing on your magical aptitude. I do, however, expect you to learn. The Art may be power, but knowledge itself brings another kind of power, and if you are to be successful, you must learn to wield both. I do not take students lightly, and those I have instructed have become quite powerful. I have very high expectations for you, parmo-wen, and I do hope that you will live up to them.”

Azura’s heart pounds in her chest. The Head of the Black Robes has taken her on as an apprentice and has already entrusted an important task to her. She shifts in her seat uncomfortably once again and says, “It will be always as you desire, Mistress. I shall not fail you.”

“You may go to your tasks now. I will summon you at my need.” Karnea waved her hand in dismissal, and Azura stood to leave. As she approaches the door, Karnea calls after her. “From now on, you needn’t knock at my door before entering. I will always know that it is you when you come to me. We will meet every other evening for dinner, for now, to discuss your studies and your adjustment to your new surroundings, starting two evenings from now.”




parmo-wen* elven word for little-one

Esteemed Highmage Jenna, Mistress of the Order of the Reb Robes, Master of Wayreth Tower,

My Friend,

As you mention, I am in fact influencing events with the burgeoning minotaur presence on Ansalon. As the minotaur wizards primarily cleave to the ways of the dark Gods, I feel that it is within my purview to monitor the situation and bring any of the minotaurs willing to hold to the laws of High Sorcery into our fold. Obviously, if any were to choose the ways of either of the other Orders, I would not be opposed...because we are, after all, all Brothers (and Sisters) in the Magic.

As you are no doubt aware, the Order of the Black Robes recently met in High Sanction at the Tower of the Blood Sea. While I shall certainly not discuss with you all of what was discussed at this moot, I can tell you that we discussed the matter of the Primal Sorcerers at length. Going forward, it is the policy of the Order of the Black Robes that any Primal Sorcerer encountered will be offered a single opportunity to join the ranks of High Sorcery, and if they refuse they will be marked as a Renegade and they will be destroyed. I have appointed Sarus of Khur as the chief Renegade Hunter in our Order. He has been charged with the conversion or destruction of not only Primal Sorcerers, but also Warlocks, Wild Mages, and other Renegades. It is now the official policy of the Black Robes that all Renegades must be cleansed from Ansalon; it is my hope that you and Coryn will institute this policy in your respective orders as well.

Regarding the question of the identity of this mysterious Wild Mage protecting the Primal Sorcerers...if it is in fact my former apprentice, I can only say that while Analis has always been a willful and headstrong pupil, her grasp of the Art is considerable. I will endeavor to reach out to her and determine the truth of the matter. It would grieve me to destroy her, but if that is the will of the Brothers, then that is what must happen.

I look forward to meeting with you and Coryn soon, as I feel we have much to discuss in terms of policy for the Order as a whole. I shall not presume to dictate to either of you as to how to manage your affairs, but I feel that we would gain much from understanding the policies of the other Orders. In the interest of maintaining our lines of communication, I thank you for the gift of this earring; I wonder if you have bestowed one on our mutual Sister at the Tower of Nightlund?

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require my aid prior to our next meeting. Until that time I remain

Your Friend,
Karnea Dragonsbane, Mistress of the Black Robes and Master of the Tower of the Blood Sea