Argent Silvermage
First Post
Lessons learned: A short story about Diamondshard Glyphandar
Waking was always the worst part of the day. Dawn had not yet risen and Diamondshard Glyphandar hated this twilight. Darkness was never a favorite thing for him and even he thought that was strange, his people after all were from the shadow realm originally. He huddled in his cot with the only light coming from the Illumian symbols that were ever-present glowing softly about his head. Off in the distance the second bell of the morning ran telling him it was now an hour before dawn. This was the time of Dravot, the light bringer of Pelor. Or so it was now that the human had been accepted into the ranks of the gods. Glyf (as he was known by his friends outside Cabal Diamondshard) spoke a prayer to Aulasha the Librarian and hoped he never had to face the kinds of perils that waited outside the Cabal walls. He mustered up his courage and putting on a loose robe wandered off to the privy. Once done he marched straight to the barracks where he joined the rest of the neophytes in physical training exercises.
Many bruises later he returned to the students’ wing of the Cabal where he showered and changed. He let the water run down his body and caught a look at himself in the long mirror used to reflect and amplify their glowing sigils and provide light without a needed light source. He saw that he had gained a bit more weight and muscle mass. It looked good on him. His dove gray hair needed to be cut back to it’s normal crew cut and the bread trimmed, but his eyes were still as blue as the sigils orbiting his head.
He dressed quickly and downed a potion of cure minor wounds just to take the edge off his bruises. He looked good in his new leathers and loved the hidden compartments in his boots, good for keeping tools away from ignorant Halflings.
Glyf wandered up to the latest lecture on Incarnum and it’s properties. He was very interested in the workings of this “soul stuff” and the applications he could make of it in his chosen field of Artificer.
He came to the auditorium and entered. He sat next to his best friend Diamondshard Terras, a portly young fellow who was learning the magical properties of Shadow on a level that Glyf could only just grasp. “Your just in time.” Terras said. “We haven’t started the lecture yet.”
Two hours later the lecture was done and Glyf walked up to the presenter. The older elf looked at the young Illumian and said. “I see within you a far greater soul than you believe you possess child. I am Llandros Evenshoal. How may I be of assistance?”
Glyf was a bit taken aback by the elf’s forwardness but he spoke just the same. “Master I have been trying to work with the Incarnum but as soon as I can sense it around me it seems to drift away. Can you tell me what I’m doing wrong?”
“Not all souls are able to access the power of Essentia. I would hazard a guess that it is not meant for you.” The Elven elder stated.
Glyf looked as if he had been struck across the face. “I.. I have to learn to use soul magic. I’m an Illumian. I will succeed at everything I attempt. How can this be possible?”
“Child, you need to remember that no one being can do all things.” The elder said with a bit of pity in his voice, “Even the Gods have special areas of providence and lack control in other areas.”
He left Glyf sitting and walked down the hall. When Glyf looked up all he could see was the ribbons of power that trailed in the air behind Master Evenshoal and a sense that he was put in his place in the most gentle way possible.
Once back to his cell, Glyf and Terras sat discussing the lecture and pouring over Glyf’s notes on Alchemy. Eventually the dinner chimes sounded and they made their way to the main dining hall. Glyf smiled as he passed his mother Mystra who was sitting with the other Magi and his Father Gallion was deep in discussion with the other teachers. Neither of his parents stropped what they were doing to notice his entrance as was customary with his people, The type of familial ties that many other races have do not exist among the Illumians. Everyone raises the young equally and from an early age they are removed from their mothers and taken to their student dorms. There they are raised by both volunteer members of the Cabal and the teaching staff.
Dinner was finished quickly and the time came for discussion and individual training came on its heels. Terras made his way to his main instructor and Glyf made his way to the stables. A month ago Diamondshard Mystra’s brother (Glyf’s uncle) Hawthornseed Trillian who was a druid from another Cabal had gifted Glyphandar with a baby donkey for him to raise. As a child Glyf used to spend time at the Hawthornseed Cabal learning animal husbandry from Trillian. Lady, as he named her, was a very well behaved member of her species and seemed to adore the young Illumian. He brushed her and made sure she had a clean stall and feed. He spent an hour or so teaching her simple commands and then wandered outside the stables looking at the stars.
Before he knew it the final bells rang out and he jogged back to the students’ wing. He finished his chores and landed in his bed a bit harder than he needed. He closed his eyes and meditated on what the future would bring. Maybe his father would take him to Cauldron some day, but did he really want top leave the comfort and safety of the Cabal?
Waking was always the worst part of the day. Dawn had not yet risen and Diamondshard Glyphandar hated this twilight. Darkness was never a favorite thing for him and even he thought that was strange, his people after all were from the shadow realm originally. He huddled in his cot with the only light coming from the Illumian symbols that were ever-present glowing softly about his head. Off in the distance the second bell of the morning ran telling him it was now an hour before dawn. This was the time of Dravot, the light bringer of Pelor. Or so it was now that the human had been accepted into the ranks of the gods. Glyf (as he was known by his friends outside Cabal Diamondshard) spoke a prayer to Aulasha the Librarian and hoped he never had to face the kinds of perils that waited outside the Cabal walls. He mustered up his courage and putting on a loose robe wandered off to the privy. Once done he marched straight to the barracks where he joined the rest of the neophytes in physical training exercises.
Many bruises later he returned to the students’ wing of the Cabal where he showered and changed. He let the water run down his body and caught a look at himself in the long mirror used to reflect and amplify their glowing sigils and provide light without a needed light source. He saw that he had gained a bit more weight and muscle mass. It looked good on him. His dove gray hair needed to be cut back to it’s normal crew cut and the bread trimmed, but his eyes were still as blue as the sigils orbiting his head.
He dressed quickly and downed a potion of cure minor wounds just to take the edge off his bruises. He looked good in his new leathers and loved the hidden compartments in his boots, good for keeping tools away from ignorant Halflings.
Glyf wandered up to the latest lecture on Incarnum and it’s properties. He was very interested in the workings of this “soul stuff” and the applications he could make of it in his chosen field of Artificer.
He came to the auditorium and entered. He sat next to his best friend Diamondshard Terras, a portly young fellow who was learning the magical properties of Shadow on a level that Glyf could only just grasp. “Your just in time.” Terras said. “We haven’t started the lecture yet.”
Two hours later the lecture was done and Glyf walked up to the presenter. The older elf looked at the young Illumian and said. “I see within you a far greater soul than you believe you possess child. I am Llandros Evenshoal. How may I be of assistance?”
Glyf was a bit taken aback by the elf’s forwardness but he spoke just the same. “Master I have been trying to work with the Incarnum but as soon as I can sense it around me it seems to drift away. Can you tell me what I’m doing wrong?”
“Not all souls are able to access the power of Essentia. I would hazard a guess that it is not meant for you.” The Elven elder stated.
Glyf looked as if he had been struck across the face. “I.. I have to learn to use soul magic. I’m an Illumian. I will succeed at everything I attempt. How can this be possible?”
“Child, you need to remember that no one being can do all things.” The elder said with a bit of pity in his voice, “Even the Gods have special areas of providence and lack control in other areas.”
He left Glyf sitting and walked down the hall. When Glyf looked up all he could see was the ribbons of power that trailed in the air behind Master Evenshoal and a sense that he was put in his place in the most gentle way possible.
Once back to his cell, Glyf and Terras sat discussing the lecture and pouring over Glyf’s notes on Alchemy. Eventually the dinner chimes sounded and they made their way to the main dining hall. Glyf smiled as he passed his mother Mystra who was sitting with the other Magi and his Father Gallion was deep in discussion with the other teachers. Neither of his parents stropped what they were doing to notice his entrance as was customary with his people, The type of familial ties that many other races have do not exist among the Illumians. Everyone raises the young equally and from an early age they are removed from their mothers and taken to their student dorms. There they are raised by both volunteer members of the Cabal and the teaching staff.
Dinner was finished quickly and the time came for discussion and individual training came on its heels. Terras made his way to his main instructor and Glyf made his way to the stables. A month ago Diamondshard Mystra’s brother (Glyf’s uncle) Hawthornseed Trillian who was a druid from another Cabal had gifted Glyphandar with a baby donkey for him to raise. As a child Glyf used to spend time at the Hawthornseed Cabal learning animal husbandry from Trillian. Lady, as he named her, was a very well behaved member of her species and seemed to adore the young Illumian. He brushed her and made sure she had a clean stall and feed. He spent an hour or so teaching her simple commands and then wandered outside the stables looking at the stars.
Before he knew it the final bells rang out and he jogged back to the students’ wing. He finished his chores and landed in his bed a bit harder than he needed. He closed his eyes and meditated on what the future would bring. Maybe his father would take him to Cauldron some day, but did he really want top leave the comfort and safety of the Cabal?
