The Good, Part I

[Fin]

“The Good, Part I”
By Fin Myastin

He sat behind a stone desk overlooking a pentagram, scratching away at a sheet of parchment. His script has come a long way since returning to the continent. Spending so long at sea made him rusty as the salty air cracked his only quill about a month into his last voyage. Now he was back on land and able to practice properly again, and honestly, he preferred the oaken floors of his study to those of a rolling ship. It was easier on his stomach, too.

A sure hand guided the tip of his pen as an almost perfect circle formed, carefully drawn with a nail and string. Fine lines connected points on the circle, revealing an inner shape. He needed to make sure there was an exacting quality to this, as it was to be sent to the court mage of Mercadia, and first impressions were important. Allies were important at such a delicate time.

“Larissa Aylomeinne,
Court Mage of Mercadia

I am honored to have received your correspondence. I have been conducting research on a ritual to purge the undead currently present on the grounds of the compound, southeast of the Freeport of Tilverton. I have studied the depth of the magic present, and, with your assistance, I may be able to follow through on this ritual. Success here may enable deeper research into the nature of anchors.

My primary source for this work has been “Magic Primer: Theory” by Zankin De’Vir, which implies that Aether is everywhere, so to speak. I am viewing this as an alternate dimension. This adds to the traditional directions of “left/right”, “up/down”, “forward/back”, and an element I am currently referring to as “weight”, which can push things closer to or farther from Aether. At the center of this rests an anchor, which allows the point (or points, as we will explain later in this correspondence) to leak Aether into this material plane with different effects.

It is my hypothesis that we must “lift”, in a sense of the word, the anchor, weakening and eventually severing its contact with the Aether. There are several steps necessary for the success of any such attempt. We must narrow down the ritual's location, gather the appropriate reagents, and channel sufficient energy into the conduit to reach the anchor.

First, by using the aetheric form of a pentagram as a conduit, we can lower the energy threshold required to reach the anchor. Thankfully, an additional boon is the site's relatively low amplitude compared to what I’ve found elsewhere on the continent.

Fig. 1: [A schematic of a pentagram, drawn with exact lines and fine circles outlining each point.]

Second, due to the anchor's necromantic nature, I need specific reagents to ensure success. These come in two specific forms- reagents (or catalysts), and foci. Foci (or focus) are defined by the nature of their synthesis and help concentrate the energy. Should we learn how the site was created in the first place, say if it were by a specific mage, then at least one focus relating to that individual would be invaluable to the ritual.

Fig. 2.1: An Example of a Focus [A power crystal is sitting in the center of a 3-dimensional flat plane, its lines are perfectly squared until they move toward the center of the crystal, where they drag out downward, creating a recess beneath.]

Fig. 2.2: An Example of Reagents [Nettlebloom and Kingsfoil depictions are situated in two simple bowls]

Finally, while there is no true ‘center’ in the material world where the anchor resides, there may be one or more areas where the anchor appears to influence our plane. The most obvious place would be the site in question, but with especially strong anchors, they may have alternative sites, either nearby or far away. Coordination on these sites may require broadcasting gems, but I do not believe this initial site will require such measures.

Fig. 3.1: [Two spheres sit nested one inside the other, with a recess bringing the surface of the outside sphere closer to the inside sphere.]

Once you have read this, and if you seek further documentation, I will be happy to provide it. In the meantime, I will prepare a separate correspondence with the materials I have gathered so far.

Yours sincerely,

Fin Myastin
Mage of Tilverton
Proprietor of Magical Menagerie”

[Harlander]

A reply to Fin's letter comes quickly, penned in the court mage's ever-precise handwriting.

Magister Mystatin,

My thanks for your detailed analysis. It is clear that you are quite expert in your grasp of magical theory.

I do not know how well-versed you are in the recent history of Tilverton. As such, I will provide a brief overview. Some time ago, an organisation - a cult, to be blunt - known as the Cabal established itself in the vicinity of Tilverton. Their leader was one known as Zomactelonyvarix, and their stated aim was to prove the compatibility of the necromantic arts with civilised society. For a while, it seemed they might meet with success. In fact, it could rightly be said that it was not necromancy in particular that lead to their downfall.

Suffice it to say, should the remnants of necromantic workings linger in the environs of Tilverton, it is highly likely that they are leftovers of the Cabal's work.

After the Cabal's end, certain items associated with their magical practice have come into the possession of the Kingdom of Mercadia. Under supervision, it may be possible to apply these to the solution of your problem.

If possible, I should like to accompany you to the site in question and examine it more closely.

Regards,
Larissa Aylomeinne

[Fin]

After some time, another letter arrives. Its script is carefully drawn on the page with a much more hurried postscript after Fin's signature.

Larissa Aylomeinne,
Court Mage of Mercadia

Thank you for your gracious and knowledgeable response. Since my last letter, I have come across many documents and accounts that have been corroborated by the brief history you gave. The arcane disturbance certainly seems to be a remnant of this “Cabal”. The site in question was once the administrative office and residence of Helena the Reclaimer, apparently the mayor of Tilverton at the time. Before this, it operated as the Consortium’s hub in the area.

I would certainly appreciate your company at the site. It is not a particularly dangerous place, but having you present to examine the premises and discuss a potential ritual location would be quite helpful. I am almost finished with my preparation at that end.

I would like to visit Edana to discuss the necessary details of the fieldwork in person. In the interest of thoroughness, this visit may offer a chance to view any relevant artifacts that could provide further insights. I will send a carrier pigeon with available times to your address as quickly as possible.

Yours sincerely,

Fin Myastin
Mage Scholar of Tilverton
Proprietor of Magical Menagerie

PS I would also be very happy to share with you several volumes of theory I am collecting and plan to publish, as well as further plans where I may be able to use your assistance. I have struggled to find much on Arcane theory present on the continent- I believe there is an obvious solution to this issue.