The day had been a long one and James felt exhausted. He lagged behind his three companions. Two Emerald acolytes also accompanied the group, with the glass lens carefully packed and suspended on a purpose-built litter. Elena noticed James’s struggles, and slowed to match his pace. She anticipated his question. “Sir James, we must visit the Astronomical College at night. Many of the acolytes will only now be rising from slumber. The business of Astronomical magic takes place in the darkness. Only then do the majesties of the Heavens reveal themselves. Here is the entrance,” explained Elena as they approached the massive entrance to the College.
The twin doors were about 4 meters square, made of a heavy metal construction. Overlaid on the surface of both doors was what clearly was meant to represent a star map, perfectly rendered. As he admired the work, James noted that he recognised the features depicted. Apparently, the stars of this world matched the stars of his own Earth.
James’s attention was drawn to a most curious sight. Somehow, as their group approached the entrance to the College, James had failed to notice the “guard” who stood watch at the entrance doors. Calm and stoic, a large dog sat upright and at attention, surveying the busy street. He appeared to be of the breed known as Saint Bernard in James’s world, but this Saint Bernard was dressed in form fitting soldiers armor, not unlike the armour worn by the Badendorf soldiery.
Elana reacted with great enthusiasm to the appearance of the armoured canine. “Saturin Waechter! How wonderful to see you! You know our esteemed Lord Gilderwood, and Theodorite Sister Celeste, but I would be most pleased to introduce Sir James for your pleasure,” and with that Elana extended a hand of acknowledgement towards James. “Sir James, Mage Saturin Waechter.”
As usual James found himself at a loss for words. Just when he thought that he might be getting a handle on this world, something would happen to restore his state of confusion. He responded in the only way possible. “I am honored,” replied James.
The canine Mage emitted a low growl, then a gentle, “Wuf!” and turned back his, (or was it her?) attention to inspecting the goings on of the busy street.
James noted that the doors were opening, and as he was able to see inside the building he became aware that all of the lamps inside were of limited intensity, and a dull red color. “They are expecting us, Sir James,” explained Elana. The group stepped through the doors and they closed behind the adventurers. Sir Gilderwood entered the entrance room confidently, crossing it and strode forward into the adjoining upward staircase, encouraging Elana, Celeste and James to follow him.
The climb looked to be a long one, so James took the opportunity to ask Elana to explain what exactly had happened at the entrance doors.
“Mage Saturin is a close friend of mine, Sir James,” stated Celeste as she climbed the staircase next to James. “Saturn Waechter is an adherent of the Lore of Animalia, one of our Empire’s most important magical disciplines. They possess no College in Badendorf, nor anywhere else. Practitioners of Animal Wizardry generally shun civilization and society, choosing instead to live in the wilderness and commune with the beasts of the wild. Mage Saturin represents something of an exception, choosing instead to study domesticated animals. Her totem is the magnificent Saint Luther breed of alpine war dogs.” explained Elana.
It took a while for James to digest all of this information, as the group continued to plod upwards. He attempted to consider the possibilities as to how the “Wizard” was also a dog. No one else in the party seemed to be surprised or confused by Elana’s statement but James could not quite make sense of them.
He was left with no other option but to ask the obvious question, “ But, how is it that Mage Saturin is a dog?” Both Oakleaf and Celeste turned gently and grinned knowingly in response to James’s inquiry. Elana responded, “ Ah! Indeed, Sir James, the Animal Wizard’s appearance would be confusing to one unfamiliar with such things! Let me explain: The Lore of Animalia inevitably leads its adherents on a path towards assuming the shape of their chosen animal totem. This “transformation” is the most prized of all magical achievements for such Wizards. Eventually, many choose to prefer their animal existence to their human one.” With that, acolyte Elana gently threw up her hands and sighed.
The group reached the top of the staircase, which ended at the entrance to a large domed enclosure full of remarkable machinery. Telescopes! Dozens of them. But instruments far more reminiscent of the era of Sir Edmund Hallley or Charles Messier, than telescopes that James had ever seen, all eerily lit by the diffuse light of the red lamps. Throughout the observatory young acolytes in flowing blue robes busied themselves with intense tasks. A much older and elaborately clad astronomer barked out commands to the acolytes, gesturing with his staff, topped with what appeared to be small brass telescopes.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Presently the elderly Astromancer noticed the arrival of Sir Gilderwood’s party. “Sir Gilderwood! How excellent for you to join us! Lord Himmel assures me that the seeing is of the most superior quality, this fine evening! The acolytes are most eager to open the observation dome, and begin their observations of the heavens!” explained the Wizard.
“Begin the opening!” commanded the Astromancer and immediately, several acolytes began turning the hand cranks and controls which operated the retractable brass dome. Slowly but surely the elaborate metal gears and louvers pulled back to reveal the most magnificent of night skies. James realised that despite being present in this new world for weeks, he had yet to truly see the proper night sky. So near the Summer Solstice there were not many hours of darkness. Every night, it seemed, James suffered from the exhaustions of endless physical and mental challenges, leaving no energy for stargazing. And any glimpse he had of the night sky since his arrival was obscured by the haze which hung over cities, battle smoke or ambient light from camp fires.
But here, in Badendorf, situated in the heart of the Empire’s largest metropolis, the Astronomical College somehow enjoyed seeing conditions of the finest quality that James had ever witnessed. Cygnus the Swan was clearly visible, and looked to be flying the length of the Milky Way. Ursa Minor jumped out at him, even though it was close to the horizon. The sky was definitively black. How was this accomplished? Perhaps they had climbed the staircase so high, that the observation platform was above the obscuring haze of Badendorf. James looked up, and was amazed. Even the clearest night he had ever seen on his home island was no match for the clarity of this view. It was as if the Milky Way itself was casting shadows.
An acolyte invited James to one of the telescopes, “My name is Logan. Would you care to observe the view through one of our instruments Sir James? I have been led to understand you have a significant interest in the Lore of Astronomy”
“I would love to have a go!” exclaimed James, “Thank you for the invitation.” The young man, clad in robes and bearing a rock which glowed dull red, led James along the stone floor to what appeared to be the largest instrument on the viewing platform. A refractor, mounted inside a remarkable metal framework, holding the telescope which was nearly 10 meters long! ‘The objective lens must be the equal of the lens Sir Gilderwood used to perform my summoning’, thought James.
“Acolyte Meier is finding you the location of the Kranz Cloud,” explained Logan, and James realised that a second refractor instrument was being used as a guide telescope for the larger device. “Sir James, you may operate our telescope from this viewing liege,” explained Logan, pointing to a fully reclined leather long chair. James took his place on the chair and found the reclined position ideal for placing his eye up to the viewing eyepiece. The sound of running water emanated from a structure next to the telescope. The flowing sounds reminded James of a large water clock that occupied a meeting area in a London shopping mall he once visited with his family.
“The Kranz should be well framed for you, Sir James,” informed Logan.
“It is well framed. And a magnificent image to boot!” exclaimed James. “We call this the ‘Ring Nebula’, where I come from. I have never myself observed the central star, but it is clearly visible with this instrument. I can even see the structure in the ring!”
“I am glad the observation is pleasing to you, Lord James.” replied acolyte Logan.
The image was exquisite and James enjoyed several minutes able to view the intricacies of the nebula. The equatorial drive was extremely smooth and tracked perfectly. Given the apparent absence of electricity from this world, James wondered if the flowing water had something to do with the tracking mechanism. ‘They couldn’t be using a water clock to track the stars, could they?’ he pondered.
“Sir James, Lord Immelmann requires the use of the Grand Telescope. Would you care to join us with the other acolytes?”
“That sounds like a fine idea,” replied James, as he pulled himself upright from the viewing couch.
Logan led James away, down some stairs and into a hallway. A door was opened, they entered, and then a second door opened. Logan and James walked out onto a large balcony. The view was incredible. Stretching for miles in all directions the magnificent city of Badendorf stretched to the horizon. James observed streets lit with oil lamps, wooden carriages pulled by horses, patrolling military officers, and heard faint music rising from the public establishments.
“How does our observatory compare to those of your world, Lord James?” asked Logan deferentally. It seemed that everyone in Badendorf knew that James was not from this world, and wished to compare their world to his.
“We have larger telescopes in my world, but I have never had the opportunity to use one,” replied James. “Yours is the finest instrument I have ever had the pleasure to view the sky with. And that observation platform is first rate. I could spend the whole night there.”
Logan and his fellow acolytes all responded with pleasure to James’s compliments of their facility. “We would be most pleased with your company for the entirety of this observation night, Sir James. We can provide your party with rooms to rest once the sun returns in the morning. Lord Gilderwood has already made the arrangements.
Logan and James spent the rest of the evening using more than a dozen optical devices to observe the summer night sky. It was the best night of sky observation that James had ever experienced and culminated with viewing the rising crescent moon he was familiar with, together with the appearance of the blue moon he had noticed outside of Stalsburg. While the rest of the sky was familiar to James, this moon was not. The acolytes were amazed that this moon was not a part of James’s world. They named the familiar moon ‘Luna’, and the blue moon ‘Ragnar’. Ragnar played a central role in the practice of Astronomical Wizardry. Its position was calculated on an hourly basis by Astronomical Battle wizards, for example. Ragnar influenced weather patterns, battle outcomes and Demonic events. Or so the acolytes believed.
James never ceased to be amazed by this new world.