A lot had changed since Su Ming's death. Korvus had put a great deal more emphasis on combat spells and Riven held nothing back. After he was well Korvus led the villagers in raids all across the mountainside, wiping out every goblin tribe in sight. He had lost a bit of his innocence and had become a far more serious man than he had been as a child. He was a bit reckless at times, but master Riven tutored him on the tactics of combat. His mantra became, "Strike first, strike hard, fade away", and he lived it.
By the time the goblins tribes were all extinct Korvus was 20 years old. He had gotten a taste for battle and wanted to expand his spell repertoire in order to be better able to do his job. He studied hard but his progress slowed. "You have reached a plateau son. It happens to all apprentices", Riven said with a somber tone that was unlike him.
"What...what does that mean master? What do I have to do", Korvus asked with steely determination.
"It is simple my boy." Riven said, putting his arm around the young mans shoulders. "It means...you are a wizard Korvus. It is time for you to seek your destiny."
"But master, I have so much more to learn, I..."
"You know everything you need to know to for now son. You need stimulation for the magical currents within your body to grow. A wizard can not learn EVERYTHING in a library Kor. You need to go seek out your own place in this realm. You are no longer an apprentice. Like it or not, you are a wizard." Riven walked with Korvus and they passed through the grand hall of art together without speaking.
When they finally sat in the arboretum Korvus said," Master, where shall I go? What if I need you?"
"Only you can know your path now my son. And you shall see me from time to time when I return to this world."
Korvus's forehead wrinkled as he tried to process what was being said. "What do you mean, when you return to this world?"
Riven looked to the sky and smiled a little smile as he looked back at the young man he now considered a fellow mage. "I to need to expand my senses. It is time I accepted my epic destiny. For me to do that I will have to move the tower into the primordial planes. Only there can I complete my understanding of reality. Don't worry", Riven said teasingly, "if I discover anything great I will come teach in to you."
They both laughed. They both sat in the comfort of the other person. And in the morning, they both made ready for the most important trip of their lives.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
The power of a wizard
First he felt pain. His head and wrists especially. Then the icy numbing cold accompanied by the sound of rushing water over his body. As Korvus became more aware of his body he longed to fall back into his torpor. He opened his eyes and realized the icy water was splashing up into his face. He was hanging from an iron ring set into the cavern's wall, tied by the wrists and submerged to the neck in a frigid cavern river. He looked about and saw dozens of goblins, perhaps 100 or more, encamped in the cave. Korvus rolled his head to his right and saw Su Ming. She looked ragged and her devastated face was accented by eyes that had cried so much that she had stopped producing tears. "Su...SU MING", Korvus called to try and get her attention. Shuddering and broken she looked up at Korvus. "We have to get out of here", he began, "are your wrists loose? I don't think I can squeeze my hands out of these manacles." Su Ming's face contorted in utter horror and she shook her head. "Don't worry Su Ming, we will get out of this. I just need to..."
"They took my legs", she interrupted in screaming fits. "That's why we are in the water. It stops the bleeding and keeps us fresh", she spat and suddenly looked as though she had made herself ill. "They are keeping us fresh so they can cut off pieces and eat us later." Su Ming gushed with fresh tears and groaned in physical and emotional agony. Korvus tried not to panic as he realized his body was so numb that his legs may well be gone and he would not know it.
One of the goblins heard the commotion and came over to investigate. It was one of the smaller ones and it squatted by the water and grinned to show its jagged yellow teeth and jaundiced eyes. It said something in its native language and lowered the spears tip to Korvus's face. He rested the iron spearhead on Korvus's cheek just under his eye and hefted the back of the spear up. Korvus could not tell what the goblin was saying but it was quite clear that he meant to jam the tip of the spear into Korvus's eye. "Oh NO NO no no! Please Please Listen to me, I can...I can get you something. Food, gold, magic, anything. Oh fuck me." Korvus begged earnestly and began to hyperventilate. Thats when the first explosion rocked the center of the cave and set the leather tents on fire.
The goblin dropped his spear into the water as he spun to see what made the explosion. The center of the cavern was ablaze and the smell of seared corpses followed the fwoosh of hot air from the blast. A moment later and fiery stones, the size of a mans head, rained down from the top of the cave. The meteors crushed makeshift homes with incredible force and sent goblin warriors flying in all directions as the impacts turned the cave into an inferno. Korvus could see bright red robes in the distance and his eyes welled up in tears. "RIVEN! HERE!", he screamed until his voice cracked and his throat ached. The goblins were caught off guard by the power and suddenness of the attack but they gathered into a hoard and charged him. A well painted and wiser looking goblin shaman was motioning for them to separate and barking orders in goblin-speak but it was too late. Riven swiped his hand across the cave and a wave of acid appeared in the air and washed across the crowd. A sizzling hiss filled the cave as body parts dropped to the floor and dissolved. Sling bullets and crossbow bolts filled the now acrid air streaking towards Riven but before they could make impact a translucent red shield appeared in front of him and deflected the lot of it. Riven smiled as the now much smaller army descended on him. Korvus was straining his neck to see what was happening and then suddenly Riven was gone. The goblins stopped in their tracks uncertain what to do. They looked to the shaman and he barked more orders and pointed to where Riven had stood. The warriors grabbed oil flasks and threw them all around the wall where Riven had been. Torches were tossed and the whole area was set on fire. There were no screams, there was no Riven to be found. The goblins pressed closer to the flames to see if anyone was burning inside. From behind them came a simple word, "Stop". Riven's eyes were like black orbs filled with dark power. His single whispered word invaded their minds and left them stunned and unable to act or move. Riven looked up and reached for the air above him. Primal electric fury surrounded his body and then cascaded down from the top of the cavern like a vengeful god's wrath. Riven's closing spell fried the mass of them and sent the last stragglers running in fear of another blast.
Korvus wanted to cheer, he also wanted to cry, but he was too weak for either one. He saw Riven walking towards him, and then once more, he left consciousness.
"They took my legs", she interrupted in screaming fits. "That's why we are in the water. It stops the bleeding and keeps us fresh", she spat and suddenly looked as though she had made herself ill. "They are keeping us fresh so they can cut off pieces and eat us later." Su Ming gushed with fresh tears and groaned in physical and emotional agony. Korvus tried not to panic as he realized his body was so numb that his legs may well be gone and he would not know it.
One of the goblins heard the commotion and came over to investigate. It was one of the smaller ones and it squatted by the water and grinned to show its jagged yellow teeth and jaundiced eyes. It said something in its native language and lowered the spears tip to Korvus's face. He rested the iron spearhead on Korvus's cheek just under his eye and hefted the back of the spear up. Korvus could not tell what the goblin was saying but it was quite clear that he meant to jam the tip of the spear into Korvus's eye. "Oh NO NO no no! Please Please Listen to me, I can...I can get you something. Food, gold, magic, anything. Oh fuck me." Korvus begged earnestly and began to hyperventilate. Thats when the first explosion rocked the center of the cave and set the leather tents on fire.
The goblin dropped his spear into the water as he spun to see what made the explosion. The center of the cavern was ablaze and the smell of seared corpses followed the fwoosh of hot air from the blast. A moment later and fiery stones, the size of a mans head, rained down from the top of the cave. The meteors crushed makeshift homes with incredible force and sent goblin warriors flying in all directions as the impacts turned the cave into an inferno. Korvus could see bright red robes in the distance and his eyes welled up in tears. "RIVEN! HERE!", he screamed until his voice cracked and his throat ached. The goblins were caught off guard by the power and suddenness of the attack but they gathered into a hoard and charged him. A well painted and wiser looking goblin shaman was motioning for them to separate and barking orders in goblin-speak but it was too late. Riven swiped his hand across the cave and a wave of acid appeared in the air and washed across the crowd. A sizzling hiss filled the cave as body parts dropped to the floor and dissolved. Sling bullets and crossbow bolts filled the now acrid air streaking towards Riven but before they could make impact a translucent red shield appeared in front of him and deflected the lot of it. Riven smiled as the now much smaller army descended on him. Korvus was straining his neck to see what was happening and then suddenly Riven was gone. The goblins stopped in their tracks uncertain what to do. They looked to the shaman and he barked more orders and pointed to where Riven had stood. The warriors grabbed oil flasks and threw them all around the wall where Riven had been. Torches were tossed and the whole area was set on fire. There were no screams, there was no Riven to be found. The goblins pressed closer to the flames to see if anyone was burning inside. From behind them came a simple word, "Stop". Riven's eyes were like black orbs filled with dark power. His single whispered word invaded their minds and left them stunned and unable to act or move. Riven looked up and reached for the air above him. Primal electric fury surrounded his body and then cascaded down from the top of the cavern like a vengeful god's wrath. Riven's closing spell fried the mass of them and sent the last stragglers running in fear of another blast.
Korvus wanted to cheer, he also wanted to cry, but he was too weak for either one. He saw Riven walking towards him, and then once more, he left consciousness.
Assault of Frost Tooth caverns.
Korvus knew after killing the minions that were fighting over scraps that the bigger meaner goblins may be ready and looking for him. He could see now that the path in the snow was leading to a rock face with a large cave in its side. He didn't need to follow the trail so he stepped off it and flanked the path in a parallel . After a minuet or two he saw a small patrol on the path. He thought he could sneak past them but the patrol saw him off to one side of a rock outcropping. They were a good 100 feet away and starting to charge. They didn't have any weapons that would reach that far so Korvus had time to unleash a magic missile and take out one of the three smaller ones with spears. After they reached the 50 foot mark two of them with slings stopped and launched globes of sticky fluid that trapped Korvus's feet to the rocks around him. As the two angry older brothers to the little goblins closed the second half of the distance Korvus spoke a power word of pure frost and the ice and snow under the charging goblin's feet erupted up and attacked them. They both tumbled to the ground covered in snow. Acting fast Korvus pushed himself to whip out another spell before anyone could act and conjured the scorching blast of flame that had obliterated the feasters back over the hill. He was not so lucky this time as he could see the two struggling to get up to their feet. More sling bullets rained down catching Korvus in the head. Blood poured from his scalp and made a mask of pain on his face. It was clear that he would not survive another hail of stones. He tried to move and pulled his legs from the goop. He ducked behind a rock and conjured an Acid Arrow and launched it at the two injured in front of him. The green liquid arrow appeared in front of him and streaked to its destination. It's impact split and covered not only the two larger goblins but also the little ones rushing past them with spears. The shield wielders screamed in agony but still lived despite all Korvus's efforts. The spattering droplets rained down on the last two small spear carriers , eating right into their brains and dropping them in their tracks. More sling bullets plummeted from the sky, one bouncing off the rocks Korvus was hiding behind, and one bouncing off Korvus's head. The world went hazy and Korvus felt light and numb. He dropped to his knees and watched as darkness closed in around his eyes. The two larger goblins reached Korvus as he collapsed in the snow. The two goblins fell into the snow beside him, acid holes eaten into their chests and still devouring them. As he left consciousness he heard the laughter of the slingers.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
And Monsters
Master Riven had been away on his vacation for 4 days. Korvus had finished all his chores and the studies left for him quite early and was without a doubt the most board that a 18 year old magus adeptus could be. He could have gone home to visit for the week but after his fathers death last year he found his visits with his mother to be a bit too trying to endure. His mother was living in denial that anything was wrong and had almost completely ignored that his father had even died. Whenever he went home for a Holiday he would try and get his mother to talk to him about missing dad, but she would just quote some famous Winterhaven philosopher about life, cycles and acceptance.
Instead he decided to use the scrying orb to see what was happening in the village. For the last year and a half he had been taking Su Ming to village festivals and escorting her to any event that happened to pop up. He desperately wanted to invite her into the tower but master Riven forbade any villager entering. He said it would be too much for them and may cause problems. He touched the orb and spoke the incantation, adding her name at the end and visualizing her face. Peering into the orb he could see her out on the snow cap. She was gathering Winters' Bite flowers for her family. The flower was used in many medicines and potions and was very hard to find due to its white color and ability to grow in the dense snow. He grabbed his cloak and decided to go join her. As he glanced over his shoulder at the orb he saw them. Frost Tooth goblin tribe. Su Ming walking with her eyes at her feet scanning the snow however, had not seen them at all.
Korvus sprinted for the door to the tower, his mind racing for what to do. All the men from the village would be down the mountainside this time of day working and hunting. Master Riven should be back soon but there was no time to wait for him. None of the spectral servants in the tower were capable of combat. There was no one to ask for help. He knew she was as good as dead but had no choice but to go after her. He barked orders at a servant as he dashed out the door," Tell Master Riven to come find me." He began his run up the side of the mountain, the air biting into his lungs and his legs trembling from strain. By the time he reached the area where he had seen them there was nothing but scuffled snow. He looked around and found small bits of hemp rope pieces. "They had to tie her up", he thought, "That means she is still alive." He could see the trail where the pack was dragging her off. There was a slight red tinge in the snow every few feet. He ran along the trail trying to look ahead and spot them. "They can't travel as fast as me", he said speaking to himself out of a nervous need to feel like he was not alone," They have a prisoner to drag." Korvus was scared beyond words. He knew inside he was running towards his own death. He began to question his judgment,"Maybe I should wait for help", and then his motives,"Do I even like Su Ming this much?" "None of it matters", he said out loud," If I back down now I will be broken for the rest of my life. If I run now, I will always be a coward." Korvus pressed on as fast as he could, until he saw something in the distance.
The four smallest goblins had stopped and were fighting over a piece of meat that the larger goblins had left before pressing on. Korvus made a conscious effort not to look to see what the meat was in fear of it being a familiar arm. The wind was blowing against him. He knew that meant the goblins would not hear him as his strode up behind them and they were far too busy with the food to look up and see him. Korvus stopped 50 feet from the group and began to focus. The snow melted around his feet. Titanic eruptions of explosive fire, he recalled and mimicked Master Riven's words from 3 years ago. The gout of flames covered a 15 foot diameter circle. The rush of flames heated the mountainside, melting snow and creating a back draft that smelled of charred flesh and dead goblin. Small bits of cloth and flesh drifted in the air and settled around Korvus. "Well, now I'm sure they know I am coming."
Instead he decided to use the scrying orb to see what was happening in the village. For the last year and a half he had been taking Su Ming to village festivals and escorting her to any event that happened to pop up. He desperately wanted to invite her into the tower but master Riven forbade any villager entering. He said it would be too much for them and may cause problems. He touched the orb and spoke the incantation, adding her name at the end and visualizing her face. Peering into the orb he could see her out on the snow cap. She was gathering Winters' Bite flowers for her family. The flower was used in many medicines and potions and was very hard to find due to its white color and ability to grow in the dense snow. He grabbed his cloak and decided to go join her. As he glanced over his shoulder at the orb he saw them. Frost Tooth goblin tribe. Su Ming walking with her eyes at her feet scanning the snow however, had not seen them at all.
Korvus sprinted for the door to the tower, his mind racing for what to do. All the men from the village would be down the mountainside this time of day working and hunting. Master Riven should be back soon but there was no time to wait for him. None of the spectral servants in the tower were capable of combat. There was no one to ask for help. He knew she was as good as dead but had no choice but to go after her. He barked orders at a servant as he dashed out the door," Tell Master Riven to come find me." He began his run up the side of the mountain, the air biting into his lungs and his legs trembling from strain. By the time he reached the area where he had seen them there was nothing but scuffled snow. He looked around and found small bits of hemp rope pieces. "They had to tie her up", he thought, "That means she is still alive." He could see the trail where the pack was dragging her off. There was a slight red tinge in the snow every few feet. He ran along the trail trying to look ahead and spot them. "They can't travel as fast as me", he said speaking to himself out of a nervous need to feel like he was not alone," They have a prisoner to drag." Korvus was scared beyond words. He knew inside he was running towards his own death. He began to question his judgment,"Maybe I should wait for help", and then his motives,"Do I even like Su Ming this much?" "None of it matters", he said out loud," If I back down now I will be broken for the rest of my life. If I run now, I will always be a coward." Korvus pressed on as fast as he could, until he saw something in the distance.
The four smallest goblins had stopped and were fighting over a piece of meat that the larger goblins had left before pressing on. Korvus made a conscious effort not to look to see what the meat was in fear of it being a familiar arm. The wind was blowing against him. He knew that meant the goblins would not hear him as his strode up behind them and they were far too busy with the food to look up and see him. Korvus stopped 50 feet from the group and began to focus. The snow melted around his feet. Titanic eruptions of explosive fire, he recalled and mimicked Master Riven's words from 3 years ago. The gout of flames covered a 15 foot diameter circle. The rush of flames heated the mountainside, melting snow and creating a back draft that smelled of charred flesh and dead goblin. Small bits of cloth and flesh drifted in the air and settled around Korvus. "Well, now I'm sure they know I am coming."
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Maidens
He was 16 when he first saw her. She was new in the village and was the most striking mortal Korvus had ever seen. She reminded him of the fairies or the Eladrin in the feywild. She seemed in his mind, as perfect as humans could be in beauty. Her hair was a black that shined in the sun with a blue hue. Her eyes were slightly turned up in the corners and her cheekbones were pronounced and sharp. He had learned that she was orphaned and had come to the village to live with relatives. She was from a very far off land and her exotic look intoxicated Korvus's young heart in ways that made serious study imposable.
Korvus leered, slumped over, into the scrying orb with his face resting on his left hand and his right hand touching the crystal's surface as though to reach through and stroke her hair.
"SO! my young adept", Riven blurted from behind korvus in a way that made the young mage jump like a man caught stealing," I see you have mastered the scrying orb. Have you copied the incantations to use the orb into your spell book yet?"
"Yes, er, no. I mean... I have the ritual mastered, from your books...I just uh. Well, I haven't actually transcribed it completely yet. You always say that you should master a ritual..."
"What I always say Korvus", Riven sternly interjected," was that a good mage masters a ritual AS he transcribes it into his book. You are long past the days of needing repeated trials before copying."
"Yes master", was all Korvus could muster and his dejected tone came from the knowledge that master Riven was correct. He had mastered the ritual after one reading. All he needed to do was copy it into his book but every time he tried he found himself looking at her image.
Riven sighed and came to sit by the boy. "You are not applying yourself Korvus. You could be progressing much faster if you took the time to copy my notes. You are welcome to use my books and my library, but one day you will want to go home and you will not have access to all this. You need to think of your future lad."
"I know Master Riven, believe me I AM trying. But, I have been getting distracted", he stammered quietly.
"Yes", Riven commented a bit chidingly," and I can see why." The master peeked into the orb and looked at the girl gathering fire wood. "She is quite striking lad. A man could do worse to be certain."
Korvus blushed and gawked at Riven searching for something to say. "Master I..."
"Have no fear Korvus, there is nothing wrong with a young man finding a woman appealing. I am suprised you are so embarised. As I recall you were not shy about watching the Eladrin pairing parties in the feywild cities."
"That was different master, it seemed natural when they did it." Korvus looked down at his shoes and muttered,"They were confident, open, honest. When I look at her I feel no confidence and all I want to do is hide and...well, spy on her."
"Lad, we have a great deal to speak of today. I have forgotten that i was not just raising the worlds greatest adept, I am also raising a young man. Come, lets have some wine and chat."
Korvus leered, slumped over, into the scrying orb with his face resting on his left hand and his right hand touching the crystal's surface as though to reach through and stroke her hair.
"SO! my young adept", Riven blurted from behind korvus in a way that made the young mage jump like a man caught stealing," I see you have mastered the scrying orb. Have you copied the incantations to use the orb into your spell book yet?"
"Yes, er, no. I mean... I have the ritual mastered, from your books...I just uh. Well, I haven't actually transcribed it completely yet. You always say that you should master a ritual..."
"What I always say Korvus", Riven sternly interjected," was that a good mage masters a ritual AS he transcribes it into his book. You are long past the days of needing repeated trials before copying."
"Yes master", was all Korvus could muster and his dejected tone came from the knowledge that master Riven was correct. He had mastered the ritual after one reading. All he needed to do was copy it into his book but every time he tried he found himself looking at her image.
Riven sighed and came to sit by the boy. "You are not applying yourself Korvus. You could be progressing much faster if you took the time to copy my notes. You are welcome to use my books and my library, but one day you will want to go home and you will not have access to all this. You need to think of your future lad."
"I know Master Riven, believe me I AM trying. But, I have been getting distracted", he stammered quietly.
"Yes", Riven commented a bit chidingly," and I can see why." The master peeked into the orb and looked at the girl gathering fire wood. "She is quite striking lad. A man could do worse to be certain."
Korvus blushed and gawked at Riven searching for something to say. "Master I..."
"Have no fear Korvus, there is nothing wrong with a young man finding a woman appealing. I am suprised you are so embarised. As I recall you were not shy about watching the Eladrin pairing parties in the feywild cities."
"That was different master, it seemed natural when they did it." Korvus looked down at his shoes and muttered,"They were confident, open, honest. When I look at her I feel no confidence and all I want to do is hide and...well, spy on her."
"Lad, we have a great deal to speak of today. I have forgotten that i was not just raising the worlds greatest adept, I am also raising a young man. Come, lets have some wine and chat."
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Smells like teen spirit.
"I AM ready master Riven! I have mastered every cantrip known to magedom and I have mastered all the rituals you have given me." Korvus paced after Master Riven who was trying to escape his pursuing apprentice. "OK, maybe I don't have every ritual for my level memorized or copied into my personal book, but I can cast any of the effects from your own journals. At this point its just a matter of transcribing notes from your books."
"Then be happy child, at the mere age of 15 you have mastered all of the mystic world. You can go home now and become a master mage." The dripping sarcasm of Riven's tone was injuring but ultimately only an attempt to dislodge Korvus from his argument.
"Cantrips are wonderful shows and exhibitions and, as you have told me a thousand times, rituals are the bread and butter of a wizard's repertoire. But! if I can't evoke practical defensive spells I will hardly be considered a real wizard and you know it!"
"Defensive spells you say? I'm sorry, but I thought we were talking about the power to cause TITANIC ERUPTIONS OF EXPLOSIVE FIRE! I had no idea you were looking for defense." Riven stopped in the middle of the stairwell and looked chastisingly at his student for trying to phrase his sentence in a way to underplay the importance of the conversation.
"Master", Korvus began slowly as he met his master's critical gaze,"You have taught me time and again that prior preparation and ritual can move far more mountains than a ball of fire. So the power level of what I am asking can not be the issue on the table here. All I am asking is for some common powers that I can use at will in case I need something at a moments notice. Why are you holding me back from what I have seen you do a thousand times?" Korvus peered with honesty at Riven and awaited with a patience you can only learn by dealing with eccentric arch mages.
"Because Korvus", Riven said quietly,"as soon as you teach an apprentice to store magic within themselves for use at a moments notice they hop on a horse and run off on some fool's errand. Its the last door to open before the intoxication of adventure pulls them from their studies and gets them killed in a dungeon half way across the planes." Riven looked hard at Korvus and dissected him with his wizardly stare. "You have it in you. That crazed sense of adventure. Whether I show you or not....sooner or later you will be off in a cavern trying to steal a dragon's spell book or talk a mind flayer out of his mind blast techniques." Riven's face softened and Korvus saw the door into his masters heart.
"Well if I am to be off doing such foolish things surely you would not send me off unarmed and unprepared", he giggled as he rubbed his hands together and chided his master.
Riven took a deep breath and smiled as he let it out. "OK, in the morning you learn to throw the magic missile. After you master it I will teach you to conjure frost and fire."
"And if I learn all these things well...?, Korvus probed.
"And if all goes well", Riven finally conceded," we will summon the fire lord and bind you an elemental contract. After that, once per day or so you will be able to call forth a Flaming Sphere!"
"YES!", Korvus yelped in glee," I promise master, I will not leave you after I know these secrets. I will not leave your side till you say I am ready." Korvus's enthusiasm comes under control and he touches his master's robe. "And I promise master, I will never be far. Even after you send me off on my own. I owe you everything Riven. I will not forsake you."
Riven smiled, a soft gesture, with eyes that both believed a young mans words and at the same time knew a boys fickle heart. "I know son. I know"
"Then be happy child, at the mere age of 15 you have mastered all of the mystic world. You can go home now and become a master mage." The dripping sarcasm of Riven's tone was injuring but ultimately only an attempt to dislodge Korvus from his argument.
"Cantrips are wonderful shows and exhibitions and, as you have told me a thousand times, rituals are the bread and butter of a wizard's repertoire. But! if I can't evoke practical defensive spells I will hardly be considered a real wizard and you know it!"
"Defensive spells you say? I'm sorry, but I thought we were talking about the power to cause TITANIC ERUPTIONS OF EXPLOSIVE FIRE! I had no idea you were looking for defense." Riven stopped in the middle of the stairwell and looked chastisingly at his student for trying to phrase his sentence in a way to underplay the importance of the conversation.
"Master", Korvus began slowly as he met his master's critical gaze,"You have taught me time and again that prior preparation and ritual can move far more mountains than a ball of fire. So the power level of what I am asking can not be the issue on the table here. All I am asking is for some common powers that I can use at will in case I need something at a moments notice. Why are you holding me back from what I have seen you do a thousand times?" Korvus peered with honesty at Riven and awaited with a patience you can only learn by dealing with eccentric arch mages.
"Because Korvus", Riven said quietly,"as soon as you teach an apprentice to store magic within themselves for use at a moments notice they hop on a horse and run off on some fool's errand. Its the last door to open before the intoxication of adventure pulls them from their studies and gets them killed in a dungeon half way across the planes." Riven looked hard at Korvus and dissected him with his wizardly stare. "You have it in you. That crazed sense of adventure. Whether I show you or not....sooner or later you will be off in a cavern trying to steal a dragon's spell book or talk a mind flayer out of his mind blast techniques." Riven's face softened and Korvus saw the door into his masters heart.
"Well if I am to be off doing such foolish things surely you would not send me off unarmed and unprepared", he giggled as he rubbed his hands together and chided his master.
Riven took a deep breath and smiled as he let it out. "OK, in the morning you learn to throw the magic missile. After you master it I will teach you to conjure frost and fire."
"And if I learn all these things well...?, Korvus probed.
"And if all goes well", Riven finally conceded," we will summon the fire lord and bind you an elemental contract. After that, once per day or so you will be able to call forth a Flaming Sphere!"
"YES!", Korvus yelped in glee," I promise master, I will not leave you after I know these secrets. I will not leave your side till you say I am ready." Korvus's enthusiasm comes under control and he touches his master's robe. "And I promise master, I will never be far. Even after you send me off on my own. I owe you everything Riven. I will not forsake you."
Riven smiled, a soft gesture, with eyes that both believed a young mans words and at the same time knew a boys fickle heart. "I know son. I know"
Monday, August 25, 2008
Going Camping
Servants rushed about making preparations for the final activation of the portal as well as gathering provisions and packing them into back packs for the trip. There was an electric sense of excitement in the air that over powered all other feelings. There was a wild look in each person's eyes and whenever someone passed by the inscribed circle they could not help but look over at its majesty.
The circle itself was a permanent inlay of silver set directly into the marble floor, but master Riven had preformed the ritual early this morning to activate its powerful latent magic. Now the silver inlays glowed an electric blue and projected a round curtain up into the air that created a cylinder reaching the ceiling. The light cascading up from the floor seemed not to glow so much as flow up and around the boundary like water that had forgotten which way to fall. Deep in the center of this magnificent display was a fractured and blurring vision of a far off green hill.
Korvus was looking over his pack and tightening the straps to keep the load from off-setting. A spectral form floated over to him and began to assist in the work when Korvus shewed him away. "I have it servant. I'm 13 now. I don't need help with my own pack", he said with an indignant tone. He knew the spectral servants were not smart enough to do anything besides find and do basic jobs but he was certain that it should be clear even to them that he was practically a man now. Korvus whisked the back of his hand through the misty substance of the servant's body and it dissipated and flowed a few feet away before reforming.
"Are you ready to go Korvus?" Riven asked as he strode triumphantly into the room basking in the portal's light.
"Aye master, I am ready, but my certainty is a bit diminished by the fact that you STILL haven't told me where we were going", Korvus fired in a playful and artificially annoyed tone.
"Young apprentice, I told you everything you needed to know to calculate our destination last night", Riven teased,"Have you not figured it out with that amazing mind of yours yet?"
Korvus hiked up his pack and did a wet dog shake to scurry the spectral servants as they helped push up the load. "All you said was that we were going to progress my studies in zoology and gave me that arcane formula. I looked in like a MILLION books in the study and I couldn't find it ANYWHERE. SO, I have no clue where we are headed."
"Well my good boy", Riven began as he squatted in front of the boy, "today we are going to where the all bright magic flows from. Where every creature of legend awaits us in nubers too great to be held by our reality. Tonight Korvus, we sleep in the Feywild." There was no hiding the boys expression. All the angst in the middle kingdom could not hide the shock and awe on his face.
A long silence and an unintelligible muttering of lips later Korvus was finally ready to ask," How do we begin Master?"
Riven stood and outstretched his hand in the portals direction. He took a deep breath and the air in the room shifted and whisked as though he had inhaled the entire room. With deliberate and distinct practiced effort Riven spoke the final word of the Portal Ritual. "That's the simple part my boy, simply follow me", and with that, Riven stepped into the light and was gone in a bright blue flash.
"Wow", Korvus muttered with open admiration,"I am SO going to learn this one day."
The circle itself was a permanent inlay of silver set directly into the marble floor, but master Riven had preformed the ritual early this morning to activate its powerful latent magic. Now the silver inlays glowed an electric blue and projected a round curtain up into the air that created a cylinder reaching the ceiling. The light cascading up from the floor seemed not to glow so much as flow up and around the boundary like water that had forgotten which way to fall. Deep in the center of this magnificent display was a fractured and blurring vision of a far off green hill.
Korvus was looking over his pack and tightening the straps to keep the load from off-setting. A spectral form floated over to him and began to assist in the work when Korvus shewed him away. "I have it servant. I'm 13 now. I don't need help with my own pack", he said with an indignant tone. He knew the spectral servants were not smart enough to do anything besides find and do basic jobs but he was certain that it should be clear even to them that he was practically a man now. Korvus whisked the back of his hand through the misty substance of the servant's body and it dissipated and flowed a few feet away before reforming.
"Are you ready to go Korvus?" Riven asked as he strode triumphantly into the room basking in the portal's light.
"Aye master, I am ready, but my certainty is a bit diminished by the fact that you STILL haven't told me where we were going", Korvus fired in a playful and artificially annoyed tone.
"Young apprentice, I told you everything you needed to know to calculate our destination last night", Riven teased,"Have you not figured it out with that amazing mind of yours yet?"
Korvus hiked up his pack and did a wet dog shake to scurry the spectral servants as they helped push up the load. "All you said was that we were going to progress my studies in zoology and gave me that arcane formula. I looked in like a MILLION books in the study and I couldn't find it ANYWHERE. SO, I have no clue where we are headed."
"Well my good boy", Riven began as he squatted in front of the boy, "today we are going to where the all bright magic flows from. Where every creature of legend awaits us in nubers too great to be held by our reality. Tonight Korvus, we sleep in the Feywild." There was no hiding the boys expression. All the angst in the middle kingdom could not hide the shock and awe on his face.
A long silence and an unintelligible muttering of lips later Korvus was finally ready to ask," How do we begin Master?"
Riven stood and outstretched his hand in the portals direction. He took a deep breath and the air in the room shifted and whisked as though he had inhaled the entire room. With deliberate and distinct practiced effort Riven spoke the final word of the Portal Ritual. "That's the simple part my boy, simply follow me", and with that, Riven stepped into the light and was gone in a bright blue flash.
"Wow", Korvus muttered with open admiration,"I am SO going to learn this one day."
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