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From the Journal of Veldin Bluehands
Posted: 08 Sep 2003 11:50 PM |
From the Journal of Veldin Bluehands
-Week one at the School of Arts-
I have been at the School only three days and they have set me to work in the gardens, since unlike many of the other students here I do not come from a family of great worth. I still say so be it. I have had to work harder in my life so far to achieve what I have and I will use that experience to work harder for my instructors here and be a stronger binder because of it. Working in the gardens is far from a bad thing in anycase, just looking at them makes my soul feel like it is touching the weave, as they are magical in themselves.
Out along GardnersRide is a splendid walk among the most magnificent collections of floral and vegetable gardens ever seen this far north. Despite the dappled and uneven sunlight that filters through the trees, even the most delicate flowers grow strong and full due to minor magics that enhance the lights effects on them; the magic and subdues the extremes of weather enough that most plants can survive the short season. Among the greater arrangements within the Gardens are the arcing trellises loaded down with the Crown's beloved green and gray thyr roses, the trails lined by blue-and-white Bards Ivy (which sways and responds to music by cupping its leaves as if to listen more intently), and many more rare and wondrous plants brought ere from all corners of the continent and beyond (such as the verly emotional violet moss that only reveals its lovely flowers when fawned over vocally and given water, or the flame ilies of the Calir, which only bloom in winter and almost seem to emit heat and fire when they do so).
I am sure this place will be a pleasent memory that I will not soon forget, but one is never able to know just what will seem amazing when you follow the path of of an education I suppose. Perhaps one day I will see the magics that hold this garden together as trivial bindings for my own apprentices to take care of while I attend to other matters.... listen to myself, no time to daydream back to my books.
-Week four at the School of Arts-
When I was final accepted and made my way to school I spent nearly the last of my coin to buy this journal, barely held together parchment that it is, and now I have gone three weeks without entering anything in it. I will have to remedy that and set aside early morning to write less this be a waste of money that I really did not have to spend freely.... well, this will have to wait that is Master Barli's voice....
.....Wonderful, it seems that my storage chest has had nearly all of its items stolen from it. I just do not understand it as I am perhaps one of the poorest students studying magic here and perhaps the only one who does not have the extra money needed to buy more spell components. Master Barli says that he will of course find out who did it but what happens while I wait for that to happen... I have classes to attended and can not bind anything except a few cantrips when I am suppose to be be pushing myself. Oh well, nothing to do but go to sleep and approch the problem with a fresh mind tommorrow.
-Week four at the school of Arts- (Following Day)
It seems a good nights rest has let my mind calm down a bit. While this robbery is certainly going to effect my standing in class as I will be very limited during testing, I have listed all the alternate components for the little magic I know and it seems nearly half of them can be found in the surrounding area free of any cost beyond spending a little time. It is just past sunrise now and if I hurry I should be able to leave by the north gate and collect what I need before my class of magic and ethics at highsun.... ....No time to write I am late, but I have what I need I think.....
.... Well, that was an unexpected event. Today in class it was suggested by a group of students that the ethics of magic are only brought into existance by those who use the greatest magics. I have seen these students before, all quite rich and very spoiled, and while it does not suprise me that they would think such a thing I was very shocked that they said it outloud in front of Master Barli. Strange they seem surprised that they spoke it outloud also, by the look on their faces, yet the conversation went nearly a half hour before Master Barli suggested that we test their theory.
Excluding himself of course Master Barli suggested that the class simply fight, using what we wish of minor trick magics or prestidigitations until only one student is left standing. That student would decide what was ethical for the day. This was quite a shock to me as we are not even normally allowed to bind magic freely until our second year at the academy. Still Master's words are law in the classroom so we began. While I am sure it pales in comparison to a true spellbattle to me the whole event was quite amazing with glowing lights and shots of colored smoke filling the room.
My own actions I feel were beyond what I am normally capable of but it seems that being forced to concentrate all last night on how my minor magic could be more useful... well it proved useful. I stepped behind a shelf in the first few second when everything was far to dangerous and within a few seconds half the clsss was already on the ground uninjured but quite disappointed in themselves. Following this time I set about trying to create a small bit of water at the feet of those who remained in the contest using a minor trick that created a small circle of fog about the size of my fists clasped together. Then I waited, and waited, until.. one of the two remaining students tried to choke the other with a small stream of smoke shot at his face to little effect. I however added to that a small spark inside the smoke that caused the young man to loose his balance. Finally it was only me and one other student. With only one trick left I summoned the symbol of Theus in front of his face, a fake spell that held no power, simply a cantrip illusion.. The shock of seeing it caused the young woman to stummble leaving me the only one satnding.
Master Barli however was soon to say something as I expected calling my use of the spell "Inappropriate and worthy of a reprimand." which caused me to nearly stummble myself until I collected myself and responded. "As the winner and controller of what is ethical for today, I have decided you should forgive me." He nodded, and you know I think Theus will forgive me.
-Week four at the School of Arts- (Three days later)
By Theus, I am dripping blood on the page still and my eye still burns terribly. Today while working in the gardens I was jumped by three students all dressed in black with masks, but stupid enough to wear shoes covered by lead from our alchemy classes. The first used a minor spark spell to distract me and the other two came from behind and started swinging. Still hurts. Nothing I could do about it as it was three against one and I am not so skilled that I could take all three. Thankfully one of the full time gardeners, a man who goes by the name Parl, came upon the trouble and chased the other students away before I fell into darkness. I still think they were trying to kill me.
Later in the day I met with Master Barli, who had three students already waiting in his office. As soon as I walked in I was quite aware of who they were, two brothers of a local minor noble and one of their friends who I know little about. Master Barli dismissed them as I walked in. I was told that matters had been taken care of, but later that day I saw them again and it seemed nothing had been done. I am not sure what to do, I suppose I will simply go to my room and then go to class tommorow.
-Week five at the School of Arts-
It happened again, and only two days after the last one. This time there were four of them, and three of them held me down while the other summoned a small cloud of smoke that I nearly choked on. The only thing that saved me was that it was a simply cantrip rather than a true spell and it only lasted a short time. They kicked me a few time before they left. I went to complain to Master Barli and he said he would check into it, but he refused to accuse the same people without proof. This confused me because he figured out who it was last time without any trouble. I know it is the same people.
-Week five at the School of Arts- (Two days later)
I had to run from a group dressed in black today in the gardens while I was working. I saw them sneaking through some of the Thayan redbushes before they were able to get to close. Lucky enough I was able to hide in a tree before they caught up to me, because my ribs still hurt and I could not run very well. I mentioned it again to Master barli and he said he would look into it, again ignoring my protest that we already knew the culprits. Still, he gave me a few silver and told me not to work for the rest of the week. Later that day I saw one of the students with my blood on him.
-Week six at the School of Arts-
My room was robbed today, and just when nothing had happened for a few days and I thought it was over. I am not even sure if I should bother reporting things again after nothing was done the other times. I have started hiding what personal items I have left in my bedroll so I do not loose more than I already have.
-Week seven at the School of Arts-
I have not written for a week, as things have gotten worse and on most days I have had no patience for it, and I do not wish to complain. Today however things took an unexpected turn. While I had already been considering leaving what happened still shocked me. I was called into Master Barli's office to meet with him and upon entering I found no sign of him and in his place the head of the school. Yes, the town Advisor and school head and most powerful wizard I have ever seen in his robes adorned with symbols of Theus... as I write it here I almost do not believe it myself. He asked me to sit down, as I think my legs began to wobble just a little bit, and I did.
Quickly and with litte emotion he explained the political position of the third young man who had taken part in the first attack. It seems the man was the youngest brother of a Noble in the north involved in a prospective arranged marriage with a cousin of a powerful merchant. Much trade was to be had because of the marriage and it seems, at least to the school staying open, that such trade was to important to anger his family. I was angry as he told me this but I could not speak as I was frozen and it was still not my place to do so, I suppose it was a kindness he even told me himself. When he told me I would have to leave, I expected it as anything less seemed to not make sense to me.
All my lost items were on the table in front of us as we spoke and I was able to collect them before I left for my room. As I took a catalog of them I noticed that a few things had been added, but in a very subtle matter. Instead of twelve copper as I had stolen, I counted fourteen on the table. In place of three silver I found four. All my components had a little more than was there when I was first robbed and most of my clothing seemed to have been replaced with new cloths that looked exactly the same. On top of this I was not charged for what items students are normally not permited to take with them when they leave before graduation, this of course included my small folio.
I will leave within the hour for a room in a local tavern that has been set up for me. I will have to sleep on what to do not, and I need to write my father. I still have the spark for magic in me, and I love knowledge and books--however my training has ended and i still can cast no real spells regulary. I am not a mage...yet! I believe I will travel now to visit dome ruin I have heard spoken of in whispers within the school, as I have always excelled in archeology. Maybe those skills will serve me until i can raise the money to study magic elsewhere. |
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Re: From the Journal of Veldin Bluehands
Posted: 09 Sep 2003 12:07 AM |
bravo!
*applause*
great read.
Poki |
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From the Letters of Veldin Bluehands
Posted: 09 Sep 2003 05:38 PM |
Dear Mother and Father,
I hope you find yourself well, and that my letter finds you before rumors of my situation reach you from others. While my studies at the school had proved promising for the first month or so I have decided that I simply can no longer afford to expend the money needed to study and have the energy left to do that studying. I know you are disappointed with me and I can not blame you. Please consider my plans before you react to harshly.
I plan to take on full time work and see a bit of the world. I have signed on with a caravan, bound for the north and who knows after that. It is a long ride caravan that travels months in each direction and while I hate to leave without seeing you another chance like this may not arrive. Long ride caravan pay well, and this one pays very well and can help me send money back to you. I know you spent a great deal on my education already and I feel that I must return what I have taken.I still hope to continue my studies on my own for a short while and perhaps find a mentor somehwere, or maybe save enough money to pay for my own schooling. Perhaps I will put my other minor skills to use and earn more coin while I wait for something to happen.
Theus sees and watches
Veldin Bluehands |
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From the Letters of Veldin Bluehands
Posted: 09 Sep 2003 05:47 PM |
Dear Mother and Father,
I hope you find yourself well, and that my letter finds you before your worry overtakes you. The Caravan arrived in the north in a trade area without much trouble, the most exciting thing it seeing during its month on the road being a pair of giant tracks. From its destination I travelled alone a bit until I bought a ride to City of Paladins. The time alone was a bit stressful as I have not travelled alone before but I ran into little trouble besides some gypsy folk I easily avoided.
I quickly found a number of very helpful people upon my arrival in the city, it seems rumors of it being a madel of civilization are not exagerated--either that or I was lucky. I met two who seemed educated and helped me find a place to stay. Calmeir and Shaz'jen were their names and they while I was nervious when they approached me, they were nothing but kind and helpful--though I admit that the Shaz'jen seemed a bit strange and if he had approached me alone far away from the city guard I may not have stayed around.
I anycase, I have already thanks to these travellers find the location of two possible archeological sites. I am very happy as i had heard many existed in the north but i thought it might be longer before I found one. There appears to be a dig already in the Kobai desert if the rumors are accurate, and there is also an ancient city named Lynaem. I will have to read more on both of them.
Theus sees and watches
Veldin Bluehands |
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