Anneth looks astonished.  Not at all at the adorable little plot the nobles have cooked up, but at this mention of the Radiance.  Her attention is fully on Ember Rain, for they are now discussing more than silly affairs of a short-lived people.  She has the presence of mind to keep her mouth shut for the time being, though, addled as she is.

She nods at Rodrigo.  What does this fellow hope to use this "Seventh Magic" for?

01:04, Fri 16 May 2014: Anneth Mage-Singer rolled 10 using 1d20 ((10)).

Intelligence Check, to see if Anneth knows anything at all extra-ordinary about this Radiance.  Unless you, GM, want to roll this in private.   :S!

In the time period of this game, too much has happened for the Radiance to be a complete secret, but very few people believe half the tales told about it. The only justification for any of them was the Week Without Magic... when the magic ALL went away.

Talis was unconcerned with Ember Rain's motives.  His family trusted the eccentric Mage and so would he.  The Elf warrior smiled "When and where do we start?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:30, Sat 17 May 2014.

Rukao simply shrugged his shoulders at all this. He really didn't care to be mucking about with all this magic-- he really didn't know what to even make of it. He wasn't even aware there were supposed to be six magics, so a seventh... it all sounded like nonsense.

Still, a paying job was a paying job.

"Are you really sure we can't just take care of this Kalenko guy? If he's your real problem... I mean, it wouldn't take much. Just have a warrant issued to bring him in for questioning... I go get him, maybe an accident happens along the way... he trips and falls to the bottom of the local well and I forget to tell anyone for a couple days..."

He gave a soft groan. It really seemed like this 'seventh magic' was considerably more tempting than merely eliminating a rival over a mate.

"Look, I'm better at scaring, arresting and killing people. If one of these others has a clue about this stuff, I'd be happy to work as a bodyguard. But I'm not sure I can help much otherwise."

"The Fourth Magic is what most wizards agree is elemental magic... reflected by the four primary elements," Ember continues his story. "It's got a lot of power but not a lot of control."

"The Fifth Magic is arcane magic; again, reflected in the pentagrams often used for arcane rituals. Not as much power, but more control."

"The Sixth Magic is divine magic. Still less power but more control. Yes, I know it doesn't seem that way, but that's the way it works out. Immortals don't have power to spare as much as followers want, which is why it's usually about belief."

"The Seventh Magic... well, there isn't a lot of agreement on whether it even exists, and if it does, what its exact nature is. The theory, of course, following the other examples, is that there is less overall power, but the ability to control is much, much greater."

"As some of you may know, power magic manifests as such things as lightning bolts and fireballs, ice storms and teleports. Small things can be done, of course, but they require less control that way."

"To answer Rodrigo's question, what I hope to do with it is fix the Radiance... if that's even possible. That's assuming, too, that there really is something wrong with it."

"A bodyguard is precisely what is needed, Rukao, for others will be after this secret as well. And I won't pretend for a minute that retrieving the septagram pieces will be easy."

"If anyone wants to back out, now is the time."

Rodrigo listens to the mage, comparing what he's being told with what he's learned. Rain appears to be quite an experienced and powerful mage. Assuming there was something wrong, maybe he could fix it. Considering, he makes up his mind, and returns to his seat.

“Interesting, Magister. What are these septagram pieces you refer to? And what would be our reward for fetching them, if I may be so bold?”

After listening to the others talk of magic,'the radiance', and jealous lovers Durek finally has had enough and shakes his head.  Politely standing he announces;  "I'm not sure what all this 'magic' talk is about but bodyguard I do understand.  If Talis says we go then I go."

Anneth muses to herself aloud, "To find a magic.  It would be like finding the sound of a cat's footsteps!" Her look is almost one of dreaming.  But, with clarity, she regars Ember Rain and awaits any further information.

Kareth's ears perk up at the mention of Lady Houghton.
"Master Rain.... would you like me to return this necklace to the lady for you? I am sure it would be no trouble"

When the conversation turns to the Radiance, he cannot help his eyes glazing over somewhat.   Certainly the idea of many magics, each mightier than the last, would make a stirring theme for a song.   The details seem a bit involved but surely a lay audience would not nitpick.   He daydreams slightly, wondering if an Eighth Magic might someday be found, and how much it might be sold for....

In reply to Kareth Melphis (msg # 18):

Talis slapped the arm of his chair "Well, Gentlefolk, I came to Glantri looking for adventure and here I find it falling right into my lap.  I say enough talk let's find this 7th Magic and fix The Radiance!"

"Where do we start, Master Rain?" he asked.

Kareth still has the necklace.


"Some seven hundred years ago, a wizard who called himself Veritas claimed to have discovered the secret of the Seventh Magic. He thought this would be a discovery that would change the world. Instead, he became the target of numerous assassination attempts."

"He decided to ensure his discovery would not be lost with his death, so he created the Septagram. When one of the assassins finally succeeded, the Septagram was also broken into seven parts."

"That's the tale that's been told ever since. Supposedly, the assassin sold the parts to different people, and only told this tale upon his own death bed."

"As you can imagine, people have been searching for these parts every since."

"Anyway, you've probably all seen a pentagram before--a five-pointed star with interconnecting lines inside a circle. The septagram is similar, it just has seven points."

"I was told by a friend that he'd acquired one of these pieces... that's what got me started on my own investigations."

"Alas, he disappeared a week ago on his way to Fenswick."

"So that is the first task for you... find out what happened to him, and perhaps recover the first piece of the Septagram."

"Does that interest you?"

"I suggest we retrace his steps on the road to Fenswick.  Can you offer us anything in the way of supplies for our journey?"

"Yes, you can have whatever supplies you feel you will need," Ember answers Tarith. "I can even provide horses if you want."

Rodgrigo, feeling a mite uncomfortable, says, "Magister, what shall be our reward for this effort?"

Kareth nods at Rodrigo's question and clears his throat expectantly, looking at Magister Rain expectantly.

"Is the adventure not enough?" Ember laughs in mock astonishment. "If solving the mystery itself does not satisfy you, what then would you want? Gold? Magic? Perhaps just being owed a favor by a Mage of Glantri would suffice!"

"Pray tell... what do you think a suitable reward would be?"

Rodgrigo perks up. "I wish to learn this new magic!" Then he settles somewhat more soberly, and adds, "But of course, we'll need to cover our expenses while we're on this quest, and that will take gold."

Anneth opens her mouth to protest Rodrigo's words, but can only crack a smile as the conversation continues quite comically and, well, reasonably,  without her interjection.

"I'm satisfied at the prospect of going down in history.  And to think I just threw a dart at a map!"

"So when do we start?  All this talking is getting us no where."

"Yes, yes, Onward and upward!"

Ember furnishes you with supplies and horses, if you want them.

Otherwise, an hour sees you outside the city and riding north.

The man's name was Fando the Sage. He was elderly, with long white hair and beard, and he walked with a limp.

He was traveling by wagon with his apprentice and two personal guards. There was still the occasional raid by orcs and such.

Where he was going in Fenswick or who he was meeting Ember doesn't know. He does know that Fando was looking for a second piece of the Septagram.

Just about anyone could have known he was going to Fenswick. Supposedly he has a niece that lives there.

He's from Glantri, but it's hard to say who knew he had a piece of the Septagram, even if anyone believed him. As far as Ember was aware, not even Fando's apprentice, Donk, knew he had a piece of the Septagram. Doesn't mean he didn't know.

Since he was looking for the next piece, he probably didn't have any specific return date. It would depend on what he found.

Ember had gotten a message from his niece, Corrina, that he hadn't arrived.

Rodrigo rode along on his fine new horse, enjoying the fresh air as only an elf could. Looking to Talis, he confided, “It's nice to leave the city, isn't it? While I enjoy my comforts, nature brings us all back to our roots.”

Once well away, on the main road that a wagon would stick to, the elf kept an eye on branching trails and roadside features. Sharing his thoughts, he announced to the group as a whole, “I've been thinking, maybe Fando had an intermediate objective upon his trip to Fenswick, perhaps a ruin or another sage he wished to visit. And then after, perhaps he had things to do in Fenswick as well. So if we keep our eyes open, something may catch our eye that a wagon could've approached. And subsequent investigation may pay off. Of course, he could've been assaulted at an inn or roadhouse.” He shrugged. “He may even have encountered bandits or creatures that captured or killed him. Regrettably. We'll need to keep an open mind for evidence of that as well.”

Fenswick is northeast of Glantri City, but the hills keep you from getting there directly. You have to follow the river north before heading east through the valley.

At his age, Fando wouldn't have fared well on just a horse, thus the wagon, and thus sticking to the road.

The route to take is north to Taterhill, then go east to the ford. Once you cross the river, it's a short distance south to Fenswick.

Rodrigo knows about Fenswick, as it's nearly a neighbor to the north of Belcadiz.

"Let's follow his route.  Those of us that are more keen eyed can keep an eye out for tracks."