In the Heart of the Forest - 30/01/2024 - Archie’s Extracts
Jan 31, 2024 23:15:21 GMT
Jaezred Vandree and Orianna Èirigh like this
Post by Andy D on Jan 31, 2024 23:15:21 GMT
On Conjuration Spell Permanence When Nature Magic and Scholarly Derived Magic Are Combined and Where Magical Resources For Said Magic Are Abundant
I recently spent time with a conjuration archmage, where I witnessed conjuration spells of a normally finite permanence endure for seemingly an infinite amount of time. The conjuration expert, Pandro the Powerful had a permanent conjuration of Mordenkainen’s Magnificent Mansion within a demiplane he made, where the door from the material plane was itself also a permanent conjuration.
I had suspected that for such spells which have a time constraint on their permanence - twenty four hours in the case of the Mansion spell, and one hour for the door access to the demiplane (the demiplane itself is permanent) - that increased magical energy from either; the caster or an abundant supply of the spell’s magical components, could increase the spell’s duration. In the case of Pandro’s spells, I assume the caster was chiefly the important factor to conjuration permanence. For my most recent endeavour, it was both the casters’ magical power, and the abundance of resources that led to conjuration spell permanence.
On the third level of the Beast Plane, Karasuthra, I along with fellow adventurers were able to cast a permanent Druid Grove more than once, and in addition a couple of Galdur’s Towers, five towers tall each. In the case of the Druid Grove, two druids and two wizards provided the casting power, whilst the shadowfell energy flowing within the dimly lit plain Karasuthra provided an abundant magical supply for the Creation spells I casted.
On the Material Plane, certainly within the Dawnlands, we have a treasure trove of casters; nature based, scholarly, but also musically based and eldritch empowered, and even naturally born sorcerers. We have the casters for adding new layers of magical security to our cities.
However, I have doubts as to whether the Material Plane could ever have access to an abundant supply of magical resources to fuel the magical power required for large-scale conjuration spell permanence. If we could source a magical supply, then we could afford better protection for our citizens.
On Witnessing the Vows of an Archwyrm’s Herald for the Second Time
Florian, my fellow human and druid adventurer friend, had lost his possum.
I ran into Florian whilst he was out looking for his possum in the city, and then again a second time when he asked if I would join him on an excursion to Karasuthra, where the archwyrm Meldrosa - one of the archwyrm ruler, Stellarum’s powerful nine archwyrm’s had informed Florian that Gigi (the possum) had been seen, of all places, in Karasuthra. Coincidentally, that same day, I had just finished reading a book from the Academy on the Beast Plain, and specifically on the Karasuthra, and was in the process of returning the book when I ran into Florian again.
We later discovered that poor Gigi’s reason for being in Karasuthra was due to an unfortunate magical mishap where the possum had intercepted a psychic message from Meldrosa intended for Florian on the matter of Florian becoming the fully fledged herald of Meldrosa. I found this mishap made an ancient archwyrm feel relatable, and at the same time it was disconcerting to see such a powerful being err on something quite simple.
Contrastingly, witnessing another adventuring friend become herald to an archwyrm and the ceremony involved was, yet again, an awe-inspiring event to behold. Once again I am impressed by being in the company of such honoured adventurers. I shall endeavour to help all the heralds seek a resolution to the archwyrm and primordial confrontation. But, it is chiefly they, the heralds, who will be crucial to the ancient rivalry’s settlement.
NB. Kavel once mentioned that the archdruid and king of Neuyeya, Messikammen, remarked more than once that, “the Dawnlands shits demi-gods.” Kavel himself being one of them. It does also appear that the Dawnlands attracts archwyrm heralds in plentiful amounts. I am aware of several other heralds, but the full nine is incomplete. I do not expect my own ancestry to surprise me with a connection with dragons, but I also wouldn’t be surprised to find the missing heralds all already walking the Dawnlands.
On My Partners in Karasuthra
Calla - My fellow scholar on the adventure, not for the first time, came up with a magical application for our shared knowledge of the same spells that I hadn’t thought of myself. The temple tower tributes we made using the Galdur’s Tower spell under Florian’s guidance were, if I do say so myself, quite wonderful.
Calla is very clever. I do worry, however, that she keeps secrets. I should enquire more about how she came about her varied magical knowledge. Especially the non scholarly magic.
Digs - My deceptively, extremely quick-footed kobold friend’s headstrong investigative methods have not changed since I last saw him in Fort Ettin and we discovered all was not what it seemed to be with the supply of food from McIntyre Meats. Digs’ caution-free method of testing the meats’ origin was as reckless as his unprotected attempt at lockpicking a magical door. To be fair to Digs, perhaps I should have spent more time with the Identify spell, which would have warned him of the powerful curse-based abjuration magic on the door. Fortunately for Digs, Florian was adept at the Greater Restoration spell, which reversed the increasing tree-like changes to Digs’ physiology at point of contact with the magic door.
I suspect Digs might be harbouring a traumatic experience with dragons in his past. If so, his composure, though a tad shaky, was impressive when face to face with the enormous, and mighty, Meldrosa - the ancient, jade archwyrm. The matter about dragons’ souls concerns me.
Florian - A very giving man, and one who, if they weren’t involved in adventuring, might do well as a therapist. I would be most fascinated to see how the magical tattoos Florian acquired as herald to Meldrosa will enhance Florian’s already impressive talents for nature magic.
Orianna - I was sorry to learn of Orianna’s recent housebreak and loss of the important archwyrm keys from her family home, but also the Academy. I offered to cast the Arcane Lock spell on the windows and doors of Orianna’s home, but she reassures me Stellarum has seen to this.
I was pleased to hear that Orianna was pleased with the new door Mendal crafted (with his divine artisan’s blessing and the Fabricate spell) for her. I was pleased both for her to have something nice after the horrors of a burglary and loss of highly important items. But also, I was pleased to see Mendal be giving with his talents. Whilst Mendal is, if you’ll pardon the pun, forging ahead with magical arms and armour crafting, his best crafting talents actually lie in tinkering and repair.
Toothy - I had never met Toothy before until journeying to Karasuthra with him. I can now verify what Kavel had told me, which is that Toothy is a deceptively very athletic and strong individual. Both Kavel and Toothy have unhideable physical signs of their strength, but even then their might, once demonstrated, is phenomenal.
It was warming watching the strong drow man enjoy his time petting the giant (and quite frightening) panthers accompanied by his boyfriend, Florian. In addition, it was good for me, as I am now certain that I can add giant panthers as well as giant owls to my repertoire of creatures for when I cast the Polymorph spell.
On Possible Future Adventures
Perhaps Calla and I should plan an excursion to other levels of the Beast Plane to buff up, so to speak, our Polymorph-able repertoire? I’m sure she would be amenable to such an idea, and a party of adventurers would offset the risk involved with sightseeing large and dangerous beasts.
There was a location on Karasuthra which we were unable to visit that I had read about, the Labyrinth of Fiery Doom. The location is said to be the home of a pair of lovers; a dragon and succubus. Whilst Karasuthra is abundant in shadowy energy from the Shadowfell, the region of the Fiery Doom is rumoured to be a part of Phlegethos detached from the Nine Hells and sent to Karasuthra. Some of my companions seemed quite enthralled with the idea of visiting the dragon and succubus lovers, especially upon hearing of the rumoured Phlegethos land detachment. I’m afraid for me, venturing into Phlegethos minor to impose on a couple during my sightseeing creature tour, does not appeal. I feel it would be too hot for me, and an unnecessary intrusion on a couples' privacy at the same time.