The next morning Isa was back at the temple. Aggar, the young male acolyte who had first greeted her, opened the door. “Is Ealda available? I--”
“Yes. Come with me.” He lead her downstairs to Ealda’s office. The lighting was better today, and Isa could see that the bookshelves in the high priestess’ office went floor to ceiling. She expected to see one of those rolling ladders that fancy libraries use, but there was no visible means for retrieving books from the top shelves.
Ealda stood at a small table studying a piece of paper. “Isa, you’ve returned. Very good.” She nodded at Aggar who hurried away, closing the door behind him.
“Sit, please.” Ealda pointed at a chair as she sat down. “We have talked about magic, you and I, but we have not talked about magic.” Her eyes seemed to bore into Isa’s head.
“No?” Isa managed weakly.
“No. I don’t know the caliber of wizards that you have met, and I fear that you have seen naught but parlor tricks and brutish displays of aggression. There are, truth be told, fanciful magic spells. Pretty spells and spells that make chores easier. Any half-wit mage can cast those types of spells.” With a wave and a word Ealda made a ghostly hand appear beside her. She sent it racing to the top shelf of the case behind her. A moment later it was back with a book in hand. It laid the book on the desk and broke into a dozen pieces, which each floated away into nothing.
“That spell - mage hand - is a conjuration spell. We talked about the arcane traditions yesterday. The 8 schools of wizard magic, if you will. Abjuration, Conjuration, Divination, Evocation, Transmutation, Illusion, Enchantment, and finally Necromancy.”
“Should I be taking notes?” Isa reached for her bag which held her notebook.
“Have you changed your mind? Do you wish to join us and study the traditions?”
“I don’t think so. Not right now, anyway.” What Isa wanted to say is, Will it get me 5,000 gold? Because otherwise it’s a waste of time.
“Very well.” Ealda rested her hand on the book that the ghost hand had brought her. “Then before you look at Tinero’s spellbook, I will offer you just the slightest context. Acolytes - new adherents to Fazar’s ways - once they have sufficient magical foundation - will focus on a single arcane tradition to study. Some choose Illusion, others Divination, still others Necromancy. All the traditions are open to them. They have but to choose the beginning. Over the course of their study, they will chose 4 schools to study and master. 4.”
Isa nodded.
“In past times this was not so. In past times acolytes and young wizards received no guidance in this way, and so someone could spend a lifetime with one arcane tradition, focusing on one school only.” She paused. “Surely you see the flaw. Magic can burn holes in your mind, Isa. And a little bit of wear, well that’s alright, because a little bit allows you to cast certain spells with, well ease is perhaps too strong of a word. Let us say that a sufficiently learned wizard can cast a few spells almost at will, with little preparation.”
“And that’s because of these holes? In your mind?”
Ealda held up the hem of her red robe. “Imagine that the mind is a piece of fabric. Too much wear in one spot and the warp and weave is broken. Just the right amount of wear creates a soft, comfortable article of clothing, one that you return to again and again because of the comfort and familiarity.”
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
The high priestess slid the book on her desk toward Isa. “Gerry Tinero spent his entire scholarly life studying conjuration, and it drove him mad.”
Isa picked up the book. “This is his spellbook?”
Ealda nodded. “One of them.”
“Like, how mad?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Was he barking at the moon mad or just like, paranoid delusional mad?”
A strange smile crossed Ealda’s face. “Your America must be an odd place.”
“It is,” said Isa. “You don’t know the half of it. So, OK Gerry was crazy, and studying too much magic caused it. But I’m just looking at his notes. I’m not gonna try any magic.”
“I chose his last spellbook for you, since you are keen to understand the gate spell.” Ealda gestured at the door. “You may take it to the library.”
“Are you sure? You don’t need to keep it locked away down here?”
“Heavens no,” said Ealda. “Tinero is a cautionary tale for our newer students. The study of Tinero’s spellbooks is often a requirement. I can think of few better warnings to students about the dangers of delving too deeply in one tradition.”
Spoiler: Isa's Character Sheet
Name: Isa Chamberlin
Race: Human
Height & Weight: 5ft 6inches / 120 lbs
Class: Fighter Level: 4
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Background: Stranger in a Strange Land
Hit Points: 26 AC: 15
Current Hit Points: 26
Combat: +5 to Hit
Weapons: Scimitar +1 (left hand) 1d6 +4 (slashing) / Quarterstaff (right hand) 1d6 +2 (bludgeoning)
STR
11
0
DEX
16
+3
CON
11
0
INT
13
+1
WIS
13
+1
CHA
12
+1
Saving Throws: Str and Con +2
5
Acrobatics* (Dex)
1
Medicine (Wis)
1
Animal Handling (Wis)
1
Nature (Int)
1
Arcana (Int)
3
Perception* (Wis)
0
Athletics (Str)
1
Performance (Cha)
1
Deception (Cha)
1
Persuasion (Cha)
3
History* (Int)
1
Religion (Int)
3
Insight* (Wis)
3
Sleight of Hand (Dex)
1
Intimidation (Cha)
3
Stealth (Dex)
1
Investigation (Int)
1
Survival (Wis)
Special Attack: Two weapon fighting. When you engage in two-weapon fighting, you can add your ability modifier to the damage of the second attack.
Class Features:
Second Wind - On your turn, you can use a Bonus Action to regain hit points equal to 5 + your fighter level. Short or Long Rest before you can use it again.
Action Surge - On your turn, you can take one additional action on top of your regular action and a possible Bonus Action. You must finish a short or Long Rest before using it again.
Martial Archetype: Surgical Fighter
3rd level - Clinical Eye: Spend 1 combat turn studying your enemy and learn one of the following: if the enemy is equal to or stronger than you in strength, dexterity, or constitution. Can spend up to 3 turns to discern all 3. Can be used outside of combat as a free action - spend 1 minute to learn all three.