Magic Blog: March 2004
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March 3, 2004
I read the Books of Lore from cover to cover before my casting, but still the Evil Empire thwarted my purpose. I am ashamed to admit the recklessness of what I then did: I entered the Realm of Darkness itself, and plucked arcane lore from the very grimoires of the hidden Sourcerers themselves. Thus could I finally fulfill my quest, and finish my Sending. Although weakened in the presence of the Dark One's instruments, the charm holds good.
March 4, 2004
Today the Concubine of of my step-son brought forth a daughter of the Blood Royal. I had twenty prisoners from the Realm of Darkness sacrificed in celebration and in the hope of appeasing the angry gods. But I have little hope.
March 5, 2004
Poring over more old mouldering grimoires this morning, I came across a more powerful charm than that which I invoked after my foray into the Dark Tower. Its invocation leaves me less weakened, and my subjects equally well protected. But for how long? I must think of how to hide these notes from prying eyes. I believe I know a way to make them invisible to the lackeys of the Realm of Darkness and yet legible to my loyal subjects. I shall mix the potions forthwith.
March 6, 2004
The gardener brought me some cherry twigs in a vase. In a few days, the buds should open, and spring will come to my chambers before it reaches the outside world. Should I live that long…
March 7, 2004
As my knowledge of the arcane lore increases, I find myself revisiting the spells I cast of yore, and strengthening them with my new knowledge. But will that knowledge suffice when the Enemy strikes?
March 8, 2004
We beat back the dragons, but only with horrendous losses. The forest is burning as far as the eye can see. Even in the fortress, with damp rags jammed into the cracks around every door and window, the air is smoky and foul. If we are lucky, the dark lowering clouds above us will put out the fires and cleanse the air. If not, we will all suffocate. The knowledge of my failure will then at least die with me, but what of my subjects? They do not deserve such a fate. They deserved a better Lord.
March 9, 2004
We found the old fool's diary next to his stinking body. Just for fun, we perverted the Charm of Concealment on it so that what he wanted to hide is revealed and what he would have open to all is hidden. To us, all is revealed in any case.
March 10, 2004
It was a plan born of desperation, but it worked! Now I have time to think things over, it occurs to me that the Stench Charm was an unwise detail in my Spell of Seeming Death: if they had not been so intoxicated by their own supposed victory, they would have realised that the decay of our corpses could not possibly have progressed so far in such a short period of time. But they are all dead, now, slaughtered while drunk on our finest wine. The Charm of Concealment is no longer needed. I shall leave it as they left it, in memory of their defeat.
March 11, 2004
Work continues on clearing up the devastation. I called Fanghorn, my dragon, and flew far and wide across my realm, south to the mountains and back. All is peaceful, all is calm, all is safe. He caught a wild bull around midday and grilled a haunch for me with his breathfire. Splendid!
March 12, 2004
Far beyond and far inside, over and above where the bat's eyes hide, the screaming owls and the dying runts, the spiders run on the maidens' hair, the enemy dies in black despair. Amen.
March 15, 2004
How dreary are the dungeons! The prisoners are fewer in number now that we have released the harmless spies and killed the others, but still the plight of those that remain disturbs me each time that I must see it. Today we had to torture a new arrival to find out his crime. He would not tell whatever we did, and so we left him in chains to think over his wrondgdoing and, if he is lucky, change his mind. So I must revisit him in a month. The stench is not the worst of it: the screams give me migraine.
March 20, 2004
The rain drips down outside the windows. The dragons are restless in the damp. Their handlers make excuses and unrealistic promises. After a lifetime tending dragons, a dragonmaster must know that on a wet day it takes twice as long to awaken a dragon and persuade him to fly. And yet there he stands, a picture of helpful deference, and says: "Oh yes, my Lord, Fanghorn will be ready in an hour." I set my Charm of Reminding for two hours, for I have learned the value of these words.
March 22, 2004
Long did I pore over the parchments, setting the arcane signs in their proper order and pattern to unleash the awesome power of Number. Some say the Kabalistic lore is dry and lifeless; some deny even its power. But, by the thirteen stars of the brim of my hat, this day's work shall bring a rich reward!
March 26, 2004
Long ago, in the grey times before the attack and our victory, I entrusted the sword of my ancestors to an old man who lived on the edge of the forest, hiding its whereabouts with a powerful Spell of Obfuscation. I now find that the spell is so powerful that I cannot myself remember where the old man lives, and must pit my power against … myself.
March 28, 2004
Casting my eyes in the Glass of Seeing, for the first time I may glimpse myself. The clouds of Unknowing are dissipating around the castle, but are yet not gone: only the High Tower is as yet visible.
