Secrets of the Magister

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Secrets of The Magister

Ed Greenwood

"Of old, the mouths of Mystra made known to all who have Power, that by the blessing of the goddess, one mage shall be the Lady's champion, and master of magery. This one, called the Magister, does not rule, but rather wanderSamples the Realm files doing as desired, for good or ill, and in time is cast down by other mages, and the mouths of Mystra shall name a new Magister. Thus the Art shall live and grow, in strife and mystery, and never know the stifling yoke of law nor of authority. And the Art shall grow stronger, for magely ambition grows with skill-in-Art, and those waxing stronger will seek out incumbent weakness; from strif e-of-art shall come greater strength. In the proper choosing of an enemy, each Magister brings glory, and greater strength, to the office. And in the seeking of that office, each magic brings glory, and greater strength, to the Art." —Albaerum of Neverwinter, Sage The Wonders of Magery

" "Iis a lonely thing, to be Magister. All shadows have eyes. Death is never far off, and often charges at one. "Iis not an office for the faint of heart." —Aimer Galarthund Thoughts Before My Slaying

"He will be Magister. I know. I have seen the fire in his eyes." —The character, Ferlinus Fooldark, in the play Hearts and Daggers for Them by Sperrus of Athkatla Credits/Dedication

Secrets of the Magister

Credits Designer: Ed Greenwood Editor: Dale Donovan with Kim Mohan Cover Artist: Fred Fields Interior Artist: David Day Typesetters: Eric Haddock and Angelika Lokotz Graphic Designer: Tanya Matson Creative Director: Stan! Art Director: Paul Hanchette

Dedication To Julia Martin, who has served the Realms so long and well—and made a difference.

Thanks are due all who contributed ideas and desires about the Magister, in particular Eric L. Boyd, Grant Christie, Bryan Fields, George Krashos, Julia Martin, Bobby Nichols, Steven Schend, Craig Sefton, and Bryon Wischstadt.

Magisterial concepts: Eric L. Boyd, Grant Christie, Julia Martin, Steven Schend.

Campaign setting based on the original game world of Ed Greenwood.

Based on the original DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® rules created by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. Sample file ADVANCED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, AD&D, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, DUNGEON CRAWL, DUNGEON MASTER, MONSTROUS COMPENDIUM, and the Wizards of the Coast logo are registered trademarks owned by Wizards of the Coast, Inc. MONSTROUS MANUAL is a trademark owned by Wizards of the Coast, Inc.

All characters, character names, and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks owned by Wizards of the Coast, Inc.

Distributed to the toy, hobby, and comic trade in the United States and Canada by regional distributors. Distributed worldwide by Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and regional distributors.

This material is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. This product is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual people, organizations, places, or events is purely coincidental.

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620-11430 The Magister of Mystra 4 Selected Magisterial Spells 100 A Note about Terms 4 Alter Digits 101 Sigils of the Magisters 4 Plungesoil 101 Tasks of the Magister 5 Hand of Tentacles 102 Becoming the Magister 7 Irithra's Spelltouch 103 The Magisterial Duel 7 Shield of Chains 104 Question Duels 9 Gutsnake 105 Ascendance 9 Battlestar 105 Player Character Magisters 10 Ghosttalk 105 Powers of the Magister 11 Spell Trigger 106 The New Magister 11 Dispel Shunt 106 Personal Powers and Immunities 11 Scouring Wind 107 Spellcraft Abilities 12 Talking Stone 108 Spellcasting Powers 13 Transcribe 108 Active Powers of the Office 13 Greater Spell Trigger 108 Leaving Office 14 Jalensifer's Trident 109 Mystra's Choice 15 Lesser Cleaving 109 The Fate of a Failure 15 Obliviasphere 110 Rewards 15 Weavecall Ill Greentree Haven 16 Dweomerbanish Ill Adriyana's Garter 17 Lauthdryn's Cleaving 112 Crown of the Undying Flame 18 Weavestrike 113 Morglord the Gate 19 Wondercraft 113 Annath the Grell 19 Artifacts 114 Haunted Flagon 20 Magical Items 115 The Reborn 21 Blast-Globes 114 Shadowstaff 23 Gauntlets of Faerglamer 115 Tarsardar 26 Shimmaryn 116 Wingless Wonder 28 Talandor's Helm 117 Magisters Remembered 30 The Magisterial Campaign 119 Select Magisters Sample30 Th filee NPC Magister 119 The Magister Now 83 The PC Magister 120 Recent History 83 Mystra's Other Servants 121 Talatha Vaerovree of Innarlith 84 The Touched 121 Magisterial Magic 91 Pursuivant Arcane 122 Forbidden Spells 91 Aspirant Magister 122 Mantles 92 Weavespinner 123 Mantle 93 The Road of Stars and Shadows 127 Baldrics 97 Belorigar's Baldric 97 Combination Spells 98 Filverel's Doorward 99 Nerren's Guardlock 100 Dathchaunt's Deathbolt 100 The Magister of Mystra

ew beings in the Realms are so misunderstood, despite numerous ballads, tales, and legends, as A Note about Terms the long line of mysterious wizards who have A successful career as a Magister is all about its holder held the title of "the Magister." exhibiting good judgment, but there is no other connec- Most civilized Faerunians know that the Magister is tion between the Magister of Mystra and the many judges some sort of specially anointed (by Mystra, the goddess (pronouncers-of-laws or criminal sentences) found in var- of magic) wizard, has special powers, and there is only ious cities of Faerun, including Suzail and Waterdeep, one at a time, a new Magister assuming the office when who hold the title "Magister." Nor are the Lords Magister the current one is slain (usually by the successor). ("Just Lords") of Waterdeep's past connected to the cham- The moment inquiry moves beyond these bare ideas, pion of Mystra. the disagreements begin. Opinions are so varied as to swamp any single tome, if set down in full; suffice it to say that sharply conflicting views about the Magister Sigils of the Magisters continue to be hotly contested to this day. The personal symbols of various Magisters appear Access to both Elminster and Laeral allows us to state throughout this book, and rarely vary much from those much more, and the results of the lore they have used by these mages before each became the Magister. imparted appear in this book. Some of the Chosen of There also exists, however, a sigil pertaining to the Mystra promote the belief that to understand the Magis- office and usable by any Magister. (Other mortals who ter is to learn what true mastery of magic is, and there- employ it—drawing it in any permanent manner, as fore, what every wizard should strive for. opposed to tracing its outlines for a few seconds in Briefly, the Magister is the personal champion of ashes or sand—are either feebleminded or struck blind, Mystra, but this does not mean "someone who fights by the grace of Mystra, for at least a tenday, depending for Mystra," in the way a warrior fights for his liege on their intentions when falsely using the sigil). It lord. The mightiest deity of the Realms, capable of per- appears below and at the top of each page of this book. sonally controlling all access to the Weave (the magical When rendered in color, it customarily appears as stars energies and bindings that flow in unending life of alternating white and silver on a field of deep blue. around Toril), hardly needs another wizard to hurl The stars on both ends of the array are silver. spells on her behalf. Rather, the office exists to promote "the Art" (wizardly magic) throughout the Realms, both through the tasks individual Magisters are charged with, and by the striving toward greateSampler mas- file tery of magic that competition for the office causes. Those raised in competitive, magic-strong societies (such as Thay, for example) see the office as a means of "becoming the mightiest wizard of all Faerun," using its special powers to slay old foes and potential rivals. Yet even brief reflection upon the magic-nurturing nature of the Mother of All Magic reveals to the thinking Faerunian that the view of the office as "the hammer to all other mages' anvils" must be mistaken. This book sets forth what it is to be the Magister, from the creation of the office after the Dawn Cataclysm by Mystra, wherein Azuth (the same Azuth who later rose to godhood) became the first Magister, down the long years to the present time. Students of Realmslore will find no exhaustive list of all the Magisters herein, for only Mystra knows the entire roster. Nor does this tome attempt to address all the unique magic employed by Magisters, for a library the size of that at Candlekeep would be needed to address such a topic. However, players and Dungeon Masters alike can glean much from these pages about the most important mortal mages of Faerun to use them in play. hile the office has no formal, written rules and are more likely to use it, rather than hoard it to constrain responsibilities, various Magisters have been others from magic use). Within this prime mission of the charged with specific missions (and placed office, there remains a lot of room for Magisters who revel under particular prohibitions) by Mystra. All Magisters in spell-battle to hurl magic that humbles or awes onlook- soon come to learn, one way or another, that they have ers with its effects. One Magister (Kurtal of Sreve) blasted duties to accompany their powers. These responsibili- a rival wizard's crumbling tower with magic that froze ties vary over time, and are a private matter between the tumbling stones forever in a shattered arc of stone, Mystra, Azuth, and the incumbent Magister, but can in halfway through their fall—as an ever-present lesson to general be said to follow certain principles. the locals of the might of magic. Magisters never repair or maintain the Weave (dealing Natural arrogance may lead certain Magisters into with "wild" or "dead" magic areas, for example) except political dabblings and public pronouncements, souring when charged to do so by Mystra, Azuth, or a Chosen. their relationships with others (even the deity they Magisters receive no salary, territory, stronghold, or serve), but in general, Magisters deal with the rest of the secular authority, and are strongly advised to keep clear world as follows. of politics. To most folk, the Magister is but a name and a set of Magisters should pursue personal goals of crafting colorful stories; one is seen in the flesh only rarely. To new magic, but also should hold themselves aloof from other mages, the Magister is a wary, elusive dispenser considerations of good and evil among mages and of useful magic and a careful observer of events. Com- magic use, considering instead the primary goal of their moners, mages, and clergy of faiths not close to the office: to encourage the ever-wider use of magic in deity of magic may aid, flee from, or attack the Magis- Faerun, and to promote its availability and utility. ter out of fear, but only the few Magisters who love to Fearful of attack, many Magisters become reclusive, see fear in the eyes of others customarily reveal their skulking figures, suspicious of all beings who approach office when dealing with such individuals. them, while others travel Faerun ceaselessly, spending The Heralds respect the office of the Magister, and their days seeing and doing. The ways in which wizards some Magisters deliver fragmentary notices or reports of fulfill the office vary widely, but Mystra ensures that important magical events. To many rulers, the Harpers, their actions are always useful in the drive to constantly and most other organizations with far-reaching interests, further magic. the Magister usually remains invisible, avoiding these The office itself keeps some glory-minded mages from groups when possible, and disappearing when his pres- wantonly smashing towers, mountains, realms, anSampled their ence fileis revealed. fellow creatures by giving them another goal to strive To the churches of Mystra and Azuth, the Magister toward: the goal of becoming the "Supreme Mage." So is a figure to be welcomed and assisted when he the office serves as a valve for rebelliousness, arrogance, appears (and proves his identity by use of the sigil of independence, and the need for personal achievement the Magister). among such-minded mages. The clergy of Savras and Velsharoon are unfriendly to Some love the powers of the office, and some misuse the Magister, and their deities seldom have dealings them; Mystra sees to it that the latter do not last long. with the champion of Mystra—but they also seem to fear One power known to many wizards is the Magister's the Magister to varying degrees, and so many simply ability to temporarily ban spells Toril-wide (discussed in ignore him, as they do the Chosen of Mystra. the "Powers of the Magister" section). What few wizards The servants of Savras the All-Seeing One believe that choose to believe is that all uses of a Magister's powers the independence of the office is unwise, and not to be must be in accordance with the underlying mission of encouraged. (However, a sorely wounded Magister the office: to spread and promote the use of magic. found by Savrathans will be kept alive, even healed as A Magister's rise in experience level while in office is in much as possible, and taken to clergy of Mystra or Azuth direct proportion to the new magic he devises and gives as promptly as possible.) away to others, and encourages others to develop on their The clergy of Velsharoon the Vaunted seek to bind own. Magic that feeds on or dominates other magic (such or disable, but not slay, Magisters who come within as the spells dispel magic and spell engine, wild magic their reach, and imprison any Magister they defeat in effects, or the like) is the only exception to this rule. dark crypts, usually chained (with manacles that bear That's not to say a Magister facing attack from a pow- harmful or magic-inhibiting enchantments) and erful archmage must aid that wizard by giving him more drugged to prevent spell use. Thus they demonstrate magic—in fact, the cause of spreading magic use is almost the power of the Velsharan faith, and the "rightful rise always best served by taking magic from those strong in of his power over Mystra, the Empty Glory." Mystra it, and giving it to those of lesser accomplishments (who has caused imprisoned Magisters to burst free under such circumstances, and even to shatter crypts and Sages have uncovered an old saying that resurfaces accompanying temples when unwise VelsharaSamplen clergy oftefilen regarding the Magister: "Azuth encourages and tried to bring a Magister under their power by trans- Mystra affirms." This holds true in particular for the forming their captive into an undead. personal magical creations and projects that Magisters The relationships of individual Magisters to Mystra, undertake. Mystra gives her approval and praises her Chosen, and to Azuth depend in large part on the results without hinting that her judgment of a Magis- character and particularly the arrogance (if any) of the ter's service rests largely on such achievements, but particular Magister. If the Magister attacks, scorns, or Azuth the High One actively teaches, cajoles, and attempts to trick or coerce any of these parties, a distant upbraids Magisters into achieving personal magical relationship results. Friendship and trust are met with growth. Azuth appears often to Magisters, giving the same; all of these entities regard Magisters as gifted advice far more often than some of them appreciate children, to be politely and even affectionately encour- hearing it. Mystra is seen more seldom, but "the weight aged and guided, so long and so far as each Magister of her regard" (a heavy, charged feeling of being desires it. A genuinely receptive Magister (as opposed watched) is felt more often and more keenly by Magis- to one who thinks to feign love and cooperation—a ters than by other wizards. deception all of these beings readily see) will be aided, The greatest tragedy of many Magisters' careers is the rescued, and empowered into swift rises in personal severing (which most of them see as necessary) of their capability; such a one is Noumea, the Reluctant Magis- existing relationships with patrons, fellow mages, ter of recent note. friends, and loved ones. Many attempt to conceal their Mystra rules the Magister (though she does so identities while in office to avoid such rifts, or assemble lightly), dispensing commands, rebukes, and occa- caches of magic as gifts to benefit their lost friends. A sional encouragements on a sporadic, distant basis, but few even arrange to die at the hands of a friendly suc- the god Azuth is the Guardian of the Magister, and cessor (even a lover), but most Magisters see this as pass- serves most of them as a confidant and "wise old ing a death sentence on to the person who slew them, uncle" sort of adviser. and thus arrange to be slain by their enemies.