Neodym Winterclaw
Heir by Birthright to the Great House Winterclaw Neodym Winterclaw (a.k.a. Ned)
Just because you have to cast spells via objects, doesn't mean you can't still be a wizard, right?
Physical Description
Facial Features
Sharp, almost dragon-like facial features.
Physical quirks
His irises have a diamond shape similar to that of a dragon.
His skin has a subtle dragon scale pattern.
Apparel & Accessories
Wears a typical wizard hat, a monocle, a large crafted necklace and several rings. He also has a large book that is normally hung from his belt and satchel over his shoulder. The monocle and book are secured under his school robes via a chain.
(see character sheet for details on equipment)
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Born to a powerful magical family in his home culture, he was expected to carry on his family's legacy as a talented mage, but through all his magical tutoring and training, while he could summon the magical energies, he couldn't actually control them well enough to cast even the most basic cantrip. What he could do (and do very well) was channel the magical energy into objects, imbuing them with effects similar to that of a spell. Unfortunately, his parents saw these creations as a waste of time; toys and curiosities, and nothing more.
His parents got him enrolled him at Ioth Academy, being graduates of the institution themselves, hoping that he would come back with true a true wizard, worthy of his family name.
The staff recognized that his affinity for artifice was valuable, even if his parent's didn't. Despite the staff's best efforts, he continued to focus on using artifice to mimic the "real" magic that wizards and sorcerers like his parents practice. The Artifice class hasn't changed his view of being an artificer, but it has made him a lot better at it.
He likes to hang around students who he sees as role models for becoming a wizard, such as Kraius, as so can learn from them.
Education
Before Ioth, he received private magical tutoring focused on the direct casting of spells, from which he only learned some basic theory, but never learned to actually cast spells. He was able to nurture his gift for artifice on his own, however. He also received typical noble level education in mundane subjects, like history, Elvish, and social customs.
At Ioth, he took Elemental Studies, Runic Alphabets (he was really impressed by the way Alyx owned the teacher), and Artifice. He claims he took Artifice because it was so new and interesting compared to his normal magic, and it has let him be more comfortable practicing artifice more openly, but only because he can say the projects were done for class.
Thanks to the study habits he developed from his early tutoring, he is able naturally excel at his studies, and is, of course, a natural in his Artifice class.
Accomplishments & Achievements
He has been able to reproduce a limited number of spells using artifice in a way that, to a casual observer, makes it look like he is casting the spell like any other full spellcaster.
With a combination of runes and magic channeling wires and circuits that direct the flow of and manipulate magical energy, he has been able to create impressive magic powered devices that often hide their true potential.
Devices include
- Spellbook that preserves its contents against age, fire, and water damage, is secured by a runic combination lock, and can search, interpret, and display any information contained within on the inside cover.
- His first year crafting project was a necklace capable of producing a thunderous wave of sound that damages enemies and knocks over objects.
- His artifice class project was to reproduce the effects of bardic healing magic through pure magical infusion, something he's been successful at with arcane magic, but never bardic magic. He successfully taught himself bardic magic theory, magical string theory, primal music, and even a basic music theory over the course of developing this infusion, and was able to craft a ring capable of reproducing the effects of the Bardic Cure Wounds spell.
Failures & Embarrassments
The way his magical dragonblood heritage manifested in him made it impossible for him to control and shape magical energies into a spell like a 'real mage.'
Mental Trauma
When he left for the Academy, his father told him to come back a great wizard, or don't come back at all.
Intellectual Characteristics
Incredibly studious and book smart. Understands how magical energies are shaped into spells better than most wizards.
From a strictly magical standpoint he's like a savant - essentially incapable of normal spell casting, but gifted at artifice.
Morality & Philosophy
With enough study and skill, artifice can produce spells just like that of a wizard or sorcerer.
Taboos
Actually calling himself an artificer is beneath him.
He is hesitant to let anyone examine the magical items with which he casts his wizard spells.
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
He wants to live up to the expectations of his parents and his family legacy, which right now means being the best "wizard" he can be.
Savvies & Ineptitudes
For some reason, he is incapable of accumulating the magical energy needed to cast any type of spell, however this is offset by gift of being able to imbue magical energy into objects.
To 'cast' a spell, he must develop and use a device that can reproduce the effect when supplied with raw magical energy drawn from his dragon blood. This requires a detailed and precise understanding of the way the spell matrixes control, shape, and transform magical energies that far surpasses any of the requirements for the classes, and even rivals some of the masters in this particular aspect of arcana.
Vices & Personality flaws
Has been instilled with the belief that being an artificer is shameful by his parents.
Personality Quirks
Feels uncomfortable with lying, but is good at "half truths" and "technically the truth"
Will start endlessly talking about something he knowledgeable in once he feels a little comfortable and he senses and opening, the apologize when someone has to shut him up, making him uncomfortable again.
Will write down any information (usually theory) about magic in his "spell" book for future reference.
Social
Contacts & Relations
Kraius - Pre-codex, Ned hung around him and admires his knowledge, dedication, and general wizard-ness. One of the only people in Kraius's group to stick around through the founding of The Codex, is now a friendly acquaintance with Kraius, which makes Kraius his closest friend.
Alyx - Admired the way he stuck it to the Runic Alphabets teacher, now looks up to him as one of the leaders of The Codex.
Athalor - That kid that torments Kraius, and dislikes him mostly due to peer pressure. If Ned could be bothered to form his own opinion, he would probably respect Athalor for both his charisma and the fact that he beat Kraius in a duel.
Garnet - That weird girl Kraius has a crush on.
Arianna - Vaguely positive opinion of her. Doesn't actually know that much, except for the usual rumor an innuendo.
Artificer Gang - Likes them individually, but the least weird one is the fairy, so it does nothing to make him want to stop pretending to be a wizard.
Lex - The weird loner girl that he's shared classes with several time. Likes her vibe, likes her horns. Tried talking with her a few times, finally got to spend some time with her while helping with her 4th year project. It was kinda hot.
Family Ties
House Winterclaw is headed by his father, a powerful and respected dragonblooded sorcerer, who is very stern and traditional. His mother is a skilled and powerful wizard who is more empathetic, but still accedes to her husband on most matters. Living up to his family's wishes is everything to him.
Religious Views
Worships the White Dragon [insert better name than "Arcticana" here]. Will often uses phrases like "By the White Dragon" and such to express surprise.
Social Aptitude
Not actually that bad, but he gets uncomfortable when talking to new people, and will fall back on being formal and polite. He has trouble feeling comfortable being casual around people. (Kind of like Simon Tam)
Mannerisms
Tends to become stiff when nervous. Prone to getting defensive, then talking himself in circles, and revealing the truth when pressed on a lie, just about the only lie he can maintain is that one that he's a wizard, but only because he's convinced himself of a broader than generally accepted definition of "wizard".
Hobbies & Pets
He pretends the eldritch cannon in the form of a drake he crafted is his familiar.
Speech
Educated, he was tutored as a small child by the finest tutors in his tribe.
Relationships
Wealth & Financial state
Family is about as wealthy as you can get without outright ruling a Dragon Tribe. They don't send him anything that isn't supposed to be related to his studies.
Magical energy of a sorcerer, gifted artificer, trying to be a wizard to please his parents. Let's just make the most of it.
View Character Profile
Alignment
Lawful
Honorary & Occupational Titles
Heir to House Winterclaw
Date of Birth
6847
Birthplace
Guluar Tribe
Spouses
Siblings
Children
Current Residence
Ioth Academy - The Ring - Tarselmoor House - rooming with Kraius
Gender
Male
Eyes
Pale Blue, somewhat dragon-like
Hair
White with streaks of black
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Pale, subtle scale pattern that is only visible from a distance in a few spots
Height
5' 6" and still growing
An urgent plea for assistance
Dear Father,
I hope this letter finds you well. I do not know what news of the Academy has reached you through other means, but things are happening here that do not bode well. There have been incursions by infernals, a battle with the sky father (you should see the staff I am making from the greatsword of a knight I helped slay in battle!), and now fey courts are holding some sort of games within the Academy as well (I have been teaching myself to craft with cold iron, so that I can stop them from distracting me from my studies). Some students have even abandoned the Academy, believing it safer to go elsewhere. I have also heard that Academy representatives recently tried to step in to try to defuse the worsening tensions between Brontha and one of the lesser tribes, but rumors of a coming war continue to grow.
With so much of our family's legacy tied to the Academy, I feel we have a duty to aid the Academy during this trying time in any way we can, lest our family name be tarnished for doing nothing as the Academy falters. Perhaps you could call a meeting with the other chiefs and have a delegation of specialists sent to bolster the Academy's ranks, or to provide additional counsel. It would be a great opportunity to show the world the strength and cunning of our tribe, and your skills as a leader.
The Academy acts a beacon, drawing the schemes and ire of the demonic imperium away from our people and the other tribes. If it falls, then it will not be long before the other tribes begin to fall as well. In a few generations, the Guluar may be the last free civilization left, and though I don't doubt that some of us will be able to survive such a future, that is likely all we would be able to manage. Please do not allow such a future to befall your progeny.
-Neodym
___________________
Neodym V,
You are supposed to be learning MAGICS, not ARTS AND CRAFTS.
At least you are learning to make a good argument. I will consider your request.
Cobus IV
Head of House Winterclaw
Wrath of Boreas
Excerpt from "The Chronicle of Ned" by Neodym Winterclaw
The lightning struck just as Ned was wrapping up studying for the night. A moment later and the house was abuzz with activity, students running around trying figure out what was happening, caretakers telling students to stay in their rooms and being ignored. Ned stood in the doorway with Kraius trying to discern what was happening. The Academy under attack? The refugee camp was getting hit, too? Several students moving the halls were members of the Kisjan. One of them, the girl Ardath, stopped outside their door. She informed them that the Kisjan are organizing relief parties for the refugee camp and asked Kraius to call for official Codex support as well. Ned chimes in his support for the idea. "Those with power are obligated to use their magic to protect" Ned paraphrases tribal doctrine. "I'm going to go help regardless."
After some kerfuffle amongst the Kisjan leadership, they were split off into teams. Ned was in the largest group, which also had Ruby, Desious, Aoife, and Kallis. He recognized Ruby and Aoife from the tournament; Ruby had handled Lex quite quickly earlier today, but she was also looking tired.
As the group made their way into the refugee camp, Aoife used her squirrel familiar to scout ahead. Because looking through his eyes left her blind and deafened, Ned carried her in his bag of holding . They were immediately beset by the cold, but Desious was able to use a bonfire cantrip to keep the group warm. When they came across a collapsed building, Ned stepped into the rubble and was immediately able to tell there were people inside. Kallis moved in and started clearing rubble, helping the people into a clear area. As Ruby patched them up, they mentioned a sturdy building where they could take shelter not far from here.
The group, now with some refugees in tow, headed in the direction of the supposed safe house, pulling two more people from another collapsed building on the way. A thick fogged rolled in, but thanks to Sir William's scouting and Desious's blindsight, the group was able to continue onwards, albeit at a slower pace. They ran into another group of refugees that were also trying to make their way to the safehouse, but had gotten lost in the fog. When they finally reached the safe house, Sir William, via Aoife, informed them that there was a pair of wardens already at the safe house. The group, not wanting to deal with the wardens, got as close as they could without being spotted, then sent the refugees they had with them on ahead to the safe house. With almost a dozen refugees safe, the group headed back out into the fog.
It wasn't long before Sir William spotted a Knight of Terranimbus through the fog. After a bit of planning, the group group ambushed the Knight through the fog. The Knight was a tough opponent, able to shrug off many of the groups attacks, Ned used an artificer trick to superheat the Knight's sword, which didn't force him to drop the sword, but seemed to have an effect as the group managed to start landing hits on the knight. Overwhelmed, the Knight rocked the group with a Thunderwave, pushing Ruby deeper into the fog. As the group continued to wear down the Knight, he finally dropped his, glowing from the heat of Ned's spell. Ned used mage hand to whisk the sword of the knight's reach, then managed to stick the knight with a faerie fire, causing an eerie blue glow in the fog. This gave the group the advantage it needed to finish the knight off, with a final burst of radiant fire from Ruby, the Knight's charred armor fell to the ground.
The heat from the fire burnt away the fog in the local area, and Ned stepped into the clearing in the fog, with the former Knight's Skysteel Greatsword, still warm to the touch in tow.
As the fog cleared and the group caught their breath and debated whether to return to the sphere or head deeper into the refugee camp, a massive bolt of lightning struck the path that lead further into the camp, ending the debate. They had done plenty that night, and so the group returned to the sphere triumphantly, Ned carrying the Skysteel trophy on his shoulder.
Skysteel Greatstaff design notes
The following oddly specific notes have been scrawled Ned's design book with the title: Potential Uses for the Skysteel Greatsword
Reform the sword into a staff - Twist blade into helix, modify hilt. Embed energy storing gems. Inscribe with glyphs and spell matrices - natural affinity for magic relating to air/storm/flight/cold?. Add filigree along helix that draws energy from flowing air and stores in gems to recharge - requires initial charge to work? Kallis interested in helping.
The staff has 10 -? charges. While holding it, you can use an action to expend 1 or more of its charges to cast one of the following spells from it, with a spell save DC of 15 where applicable: Fog Cloud (1 charge, cast at 2nd level for 1 additional charge), Levitate (2 charges), Thunder Step (3 charges), Fly (3 charges, cast at higher levels for 1 additional charge per level), Warding Wind (2 charges), Snilloc's Snowball Swarm (2 charges), Sleet Storm (3 chargers), Ice Storm (4 charges). -can all these fit?
The staff regains charges when Ned uses an action to expend a spell slot to restore 1 charge per level of spell slot. If it has at least 1 charge, it can also regain charges by extracting latent energy from the air, restoring 1d4 charges per day at dawn and 1d4 charges when exposed to a natural light wind or 1d6 charges when exposed to a natural strong wind up to once per hour. - not sure how well this will work
Weird Night
Middle of the night, I'm working copying notes into my book, I don't even notice when Kraius gets up to check the door, but then he gets my attention and tells me Master Untermauler is going around with a group of wardens, rounding up students.
So we're talking, trying to figure out what's going on, he thinks it might have something to do with the group of students he ran into in the Undercroft last year, when the daariv di qidir Garnet shows up to visit him *while invisible* and clutching at something that didn't show even when I turned See Invisibility mode on on my monocle, at least I assume something was there, and that she wasn't just actually going insane. She didn't even remember me from the Codex meetings, which is probably a good thing since it means I'm less likely to get caught up in whatever jekip di botofix she gets up to the way Kraius did. Naturally, I obliged when she wanted me to not listen to what she was saying.
Unfortunately now that she was here, I was involved anyways, and had to help hide her away while Kraius bailed her out. While he was talking circles around one of the wardens, I saw her messing around with whatever she holding, so I tried switching on Detect Magic to at least try to figure out what she was seeing, and you know what I saw? Nothing. And I mean nothing nothing, like less than nothing. There's so much magic in Ioth Academy that Detect Magic always shows you something, but not this time. It was like, looking up at the night sky on a clear night when Realta wasn't out, and thinking you saw spot that was somehow darker than the rest of the sky.
After Kraius got rid of the warden, Garnet started talking about leaving again. He wanted her to stay, of course, but she was insistent, so I decided to activate Disguise Self on my hat and lend it to her to help her out with whatever it was she was planning. Helping a fellow Codex member and all that, right? Besides, she really wanted to leave. Plus, I had to tell Kraius about what I saw.
I think I'll start designing a new hat, just in case. Maybe something lined with fur.
Experiments with Chronomancy
The classes this year have really inspired my ability to create new spells. I finally feel like I'm catching up to Kraius in terms of the level of spell I can utilize. While flipping through old notes, I found a draft of Lexali's report for the project I helped her with last year, and it got me thinking, can I reproduce Chronomantic effects? How hard can it be?
I pulled out an old pocket watch that I disabled (deliberately! I didn't break it, I just didn't want to risk the ticking bothering anyone) and started implanting a spell matrix into it, based on the notes I had. Actually, the first thing I did was modify it so it wouldn't tick when running. When I started studying the kind of matrix involved, it soon became obvious that this wouldn't be simple. The energies involved were completely different, and much harder to replicate. The energy that would come out of the transformers was unstable, not in a dangerous way, but in a way that made it difficult to utilize reliably. Still, I thought it best if I added a fail safe to the matrix, if the energy flow were to ever become too unstable, it would cut the flow. As for the unstable output, maybe that could be useful somehow? I needed to see what effect it would even have. I infused a basic contact energy projector into the watch so it would only affect someone holding the watch, and since (as I'd recently learned) the items I'd been infusing spells into only work with my magical energy, that meant it would only ever affect me.
When I was done, I ask Kraius to observe the test with Detect Magic. I held down a button on the watch and channeled magic into it. The motion of the watch hands started to become erratic: 3 seconds forward, 2 seconds back. The average passage of time was still the same, but it was no longer smooth. When I looked up Kraius, his head was cocked to the side. He told me to try moving around. I took a step forward, waved my hand around, pretended to bob and weave in place like I'd seen people doing when they were practicing dodging. Everything felt and looked normal to me, but Kraius said that I was jumping around, it reminded him of the Blur spell. I released the button and the effect ended. Kraius confirmed that there were no residual energies around me, and said that the watch appeared safe to use, but that I should maybe stick with illusion magic to cast that spell.
Tactical Doctrine of the Guluar Tribe
The ranks of the Guluar Army, or Horde as some have come to call it, are divided into three tiers.
The Nomadics, The Regulars, and The Elite.
The Nomadics, in both combat in their day to day, rely heavily on their domesticated animals, particularly horses, elk, and riding wolves. In expeditionary armies, The Nomadic forces consist entirely of light cavalry, primary mounted archers. They organized into squadrons according to their clan of origin and it is typical for larger clans to field multiple squadrons when called up in force. Each squadron is led by a lesser spellcaster, who has the privelage of riding a dragon horse. Clans are expected to provide their own squadron leader, but in times of need, these can be provided by the great house they swear fealty to.
The role of the Nomadics in the order of battle is primarily as skirmishers. They will ride into no man's land and harass the enemy formation with volleys of arrows. Each squadron rides as a group, but separately from other squadrons. The squadron leader does not actually dictate the path of the squadron, that is the job of the lead rider. The squadron leader rides behind the lead rider and uses their magic to protect their squadron from enemy arrows and magic. The goal is less to inflict damage upon the enemy, and more to consume their resources in the early phases of the battle. Ideally the enemy can be goaded into breaking ranks and pursuing.
If the Nomadics are the meat of the horde, then the Regulars are its backbone. The Regulars fill their ranks with the most skilled and capable warriors from across the nomadic clans. Each great house is responsible for forming and equipping at least one column of regulars. Most Regulars ride powerful dragon horses into battle, though riding bears can also be used. According to legend, the horses were a gift from the Great White Dragon to the most powerful families that would go on to found the great houses of Guluar. What is kept from most is that these dragon horses are actually a crossbreed between dragons and horses, the exact methods of how this is done is a closely guarded secret, known only to those responsible for maintaining the breeding program. Dragonscale is the traditional armor material for regulars and their mounts, however it is not unheard of to use steel when the supply of dragonscales is low. Command structure of each column varies between great houses. Though ultimate command rests with the head of the house, in combat they are not always readily available to give orders, thus a commander is appointed to the command and lead the column in their sted. Often the column will be divided up into smaller sub divisions for increased flexibility on the battlefield.
In battle, the Regulars are the heavy cavalry. They will often wait for as long as necessary for the right moment to charge the enemy lines.
When the Regulars charge, they are commanded and supported by The Elite. The Elite are the best sorcerers of the great houses. Each great house fields a single white dragon in battle. A majestic being with serpent-like body, massive claws, and shimmering white scales. Half a dozen or more sorcerers, all from the same house, will ride on the back of the dragon, front-to-back in order of family precedence and typically spaced out with 30 or more feet between them. They are provided with seat saddles for longer journeys, as well as ropes and harnesses that allow them walk part way down the side of the dragon's body to achieve a better vantage point from which to impact the battle below.
In a pitched battle, doctrine calls for the Regulars to form up in sight of the enemy, but out range of spell and arrow, with the Nomadics behind them and the Elite circling overhead. Without delay, the Nomadics are commanded to ride forward, utilizing gaps in the Regulars formation to begin harassing the enemy.
Less disciplined enemies will break ranks and attempt to charge the Nomadics, making them extremely vulnerable to a charge from the Regulars. In such battles, the Elite will move to strike at the back lines of the enemy formation. The shock of back lines under fire and front lines in disarray is often all that is necessary for the enemy to quit the field.
Wiser armies will stand their ground, and respond only with arrow and spell fire. This will test the Nomadic's squadron leaders ability to defend their squadrons. Once it is deemed that sufficient resources have been expended upon the Nomadic squadrons, or the squadrons' losses have become so great that they are at risk of breaking off, the Elite will call for the charge. In such cases The Elite will strike the enemy front lines will disrupting spells before the charge impacts, reducing the ability of line to absorb the charge.
The armies that think themselves clever will attempt to a feinting charge, with the intent of reforming their spear wall moments before the Regulars impact upon them. Such tactics are easily spotted by the Elite, and they have counter measures prepared. It is difficult to transition from a convincing charge to a spear wall on icy ground.
Terrain manipulation is one of the favored and most effective tactics of the Guluar when fighting against the outside. Dragon horses are able to traverse icy terrain without issue thanks to their clawed hooves, while regular horses are equipped with special horseshoes that afford them traction on ice. Against foes that attempt to stand their ground, icy terrain can be combined with a chilling winter gale that will literally push open holes in the front line that can be exploited by the Regulars.
Against better equipped armies, the Elite have several combat tactics available to them. If there is a single entity on the field that posses a significant threat, the dragon can circle overhead while the sorcerers rain spells down upon it. Against particularly large enemy formations, two or more dragons will fly overhead in a line abreast formation, with sorcerers bringing down spells on either side, such spells from each dragon is able to cover the area directly under the adjacent dragon, leaving no blind spots in the bombardment.
It is no great secret that battles are won and lost on morale more so than actual casualties inflicted. The combined effect of a solid cavalry charge, especially into an disorganized enemy, and the sorcerers wielding magic from the backs majestic white dragons is enough break any army's morale. This is the ultimate core of the Guluar war tactics.
4th year project - Re-Creating the Healing Beat
The thing about trying to make it look like you're a wizard when you are, by everyone else's definition, an artificer, is that it's really really hard.
Well, for most people that is. Ned spent his entire childhood studying arcane spell casting to try to make it work for him, so when he infused his first arcane spell into one of his rings, he didn't find it nearly as difficult as his artifice class would later make it sound.
Bardic magic is a completely different matrix.
Sure, he could have tried to pass off one of his older rings as a 'new' project for his artifice class, but Ned doesn't lie. . . well, not when it comes to academics. Besides, he wanted the challenge. Over achieving is in his blood - literally, according to his parents.
First he needed to actually learn about bardic magic, but by the White Dragon, if talking to bards, especially Darina, about bardic magic isn't the most frivolous endeavor in the Four Kingdoms, then Ned sure hasn't found it. If it wasn't for his deep understanding of how arcane spell casting works, he probably wouldn't have been able to decipher any useful information from them. (13 insight)
Second he needed to hit the books, but not the books available at the Great Hall, since none of them were about Bardic magic, that isn't covered for another few years or so. One request to the librarian later and he had every book he needed about bardic magic - Magical String Theory, Primal Music Theory, and a selection of songs by the legendary bard Lu'Shio, known for their healing effects. (16 investigation)
Turns out, while he did need to make a completely different circuit for energy shaper, the output was almost the same as he'd used for the thunderwave he'd built into his necklace. He pulled up the schematics he used for that, scaled down and duplicated the projection generators, and then added a modulator to each so that with the proper input, it would create a resonant harmony. For the modulator to work properly, the energy input had to be patterned properly. This could only be achieved if the base energy itself was clean, not chaotic like most sources of arcane magical energy, including his own.
Ned spent much of free time trying to solve this puzzle. A series of perfectly clear crystals to store and release magical energy, with each crystal smoothing the flow slightly could purify the energy input. Though this would allow the his modulators to work, the output effect would be bland and ineffectual. The smooth, pure flow had to be rearranged to create one that was more... pleasant? That's a strange way to describe magical energy, but it's what the book said. Ned analyzed the energy patterns in the Musical String Theory book, dissecting them down to their component elements. This he could work with. Carefully crafted crystals, each with a specific design could alter a portion of the energy flow, then could be mixed to create the correct "timbre" as the book called it. This would be sufficient for his ring to work.
Several hours of trial and error, swapping crafting, and recrafting crystals and finally he was confident he had achieved his goal.
Slipping the ring on a finger on his right hand, he noticed for the first time the cut that he must have gotten on a hard edge of one of his jeweler's tools. He clasped his hands together, pressed the band of the ring into his left hand, and focused some his magic into the ring. The runes around the edge of the ring danced and he felt a pleasant, massaging vibration flow into his left hand and spread throughout his body, where it started to amplify itself inside him, morphing into a healing beat. With each pulse of the beat, the cut on his hand shrank until only the subtle scale pattern of his skin remained. (Nat 20+6 arcana)
Relieved and exhausted, Ned pushed aside the stray tools on his desk, laid his head down, and fell asleep, content in the knowledge that he had successfully infused a bardic spell into a ring and was sure to earn another A+ grade. Though the results may have lacked the aesthetic elements of typical bardic magic, it still worked, which was technical marvel.
If he was going to fully realize the implications of successfully mimicking one type of magical energy with another, it wasn't going to be tonight.
A letter home
Dear Mother and Father,
I hope you are both well. I am coming up on the end of the 4th year here and wanted to share with you what I have accomplished this year. Enclosed is a functioning duplicate of the ring I crafted as my capstone project for Artifice class. With an input of magical energy, it is able to produce the Bardic Cure Wounds spell. The instructors asked me several questions to test my understanding of primal music and magical string theory and how I was able to reproduce it. I think they were impressed I was able to master those theories so well with just self study! I even overhead one of them mention discussing my project with others from The Spire. I hope this makes you proud.
With love,
Neodym
_____________________
The following reply is translated from draconic script:
Neodym V,
The ring doesn't do anything. I sent you there to learn magic and become powerful, and they praise you for making useless trinkets and listening to music! When I attended Ioth Academy, we focused on important things! Is Untermauler still there? I can't imagine he'd let such nonsense happen under his watch! I'm tempted to call a war rally and ride down there with an army to set Ioth straight in person!
Regards,
Cobus IV
Head of House Winterclaw
P.S. Mother greets you.
[dictated but not read]
Ned's Evening at the Gala
Ned attended the Gala primarily out of an obligation to the Codex. He put on his finest robes and wizard hat, sent to him by his parents. They were primarily white, with bold green trim and highlights in various shades of blue. Under this he wore a blue undershirt that Hildegard told him would bring out his eyes. He's not quite sure what that meant, but he's clueless when it comes to fashion so did it anyways.
Most of the night was spent with Kraius, which consisted in no small part of listening to him complain about Athalor, before moving onto other topics. Despite the social nature of the event, Ned inevitably started talking about the intricacies of how spell matrixes shaped magical energies in greater detail than anyone, save maybe Kraius, had any ability to truly appreciate at any opportunity he found.
As the Gala started to wind down, Ned split off from the group, but did he see Kraius catch up with Athalor and Arianna? What was that noise? "I should go see what's going on"
Magical Ned-ture
6851
Ned's particular form of magic is unusual to say the least. He was born to a long line of dragonblood sorcerers, and indeed inherited the dragonblood from his father, but while he can tap into this source of magic, he couldn't accumulate it in any quantity without using a focusing object to direct it into, and he was never able to shape it into a spell. It was almost as if the magic Ned was tapping into couldn't, or didn't WANT to be shaped by a typical spell matrix. It was only after yet another fruitless magic lesson did Ned finally have a breakthrough, of sorts...
"AGAIN!" shouted the tutor "focus on the orb!"
Neodym Winterclaw brought the small crystal orb up to eye level and stared at it intensely. His blood tingled as the magical energy flowed into the orb and started to glow with a prismatic white light.
"Shape the magic! Just like your hand!"
Neodym held his other hand up, open, next to the orb and opened and closed it into a fist a few times. The light in the orb danced slightly, then with a flash, was gone. He slumped down.
"Enough..." the tutor sighed "how can you call yourself a mage when you can't even cast mage hand? We're done for today."
As the tutor got up and left, Neodym, still on his knees, brought the orb back up again, his blood tingled as he filled it with energy. He focused on the orb, on the magic inside the orb, trying to bend it to his will, to make it do... anything. The light within the orb danced, almost like it was mocking him and his inability to affect it. Neodym glared and hurled the still glowing orb across the room.
He watched as the orb skipped on the floor leaving a small shower of sparks and then landed neatly in the back of a toy horse drawn cart. The light in the orb seemed to form tendrils to where it touched the cart, and the toy glowed briefly and began to move. The horse began to hop on stiff legs, the wheels on the cart turned as the cart rolled forward. Neodym thought he could even hear the creaking of the wheels. The cart blindly rolled forward a few feet, towards the wall of his room. Neodym stared in awe as the toy rolled, getting up too late to catch it before it hit the wall. As the horse ran head first in the wall it let out an distinct whinny, stopping Neodym in his tracks. He knelt down and watched as the horse and cart continued to helplessly hop and roll into the wall. Just a moment later, the light in the orb faded completely, and the cart became still and quiet once again.
"MAMA! DADA!" Neodym ran through his home to the common room where his parents were. "I made a magic! Look!" He held the toy cart in his hands and filled it with magical energy, then placed it on the floor and beamed with pride as it rolled forward.
His father watched for a moment then huffed under his breath, "whelp" and walked off.
His mother forced a simile and knelt down beside him. "Sweetclaw, you don't 'make a magic' you cast a spell, and that's," she gestures at the cart rolling across the room, "that's not a spell, that's a toy."
Neodym's face fell at her words.
"Now, go pick it up. You can try again for real when the tutor comes back tomorrow."
"Yes, mama" Neodym skulked over to pick up the cart, and then trod back to his room. Over his shoulder he heard his parents talking.
"He'll learn, I'm sure of it."
"He better"
Lacking Heir
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Neodym was born to the respected and powerful Winterclaw family. In his particular tribe, political power lies in a handful of families, where magical ability is the most prized asset. The family with the most powerful mages wields the most influence and prestige. Traditionally dragonblood is the source of this magical power, but powerful wizards are also accepted as a way to bolster these ranks. The Winterclaws are one such family, with Neodym's father being a respected dragonblooded sorcerer and head of the house, while his mother a talented wizard. Thus, it was almost scandalous when it was discovered that not only was Neodym seemingly born without the gift of magical dragonblood, but an aparent lack of any ability at all to control and shape magical energy into useful spells, despite the best tutors his father could hire. If he hadn't inherited his father's sharp, dragon-like facial features, some might have even questioned if his mother had been faithful. Yet, even with no doubts about his parentage, his mother was still deeply affected by his lack of magical ability, with some blaming her for her son's lack of magical talent.
Life at the Academy
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With his father's last words to him ringing in his mind, he was determined to be as great a wizard as he could be, or at least look like one. If there was one thing he noticed about his parents', and especially his father's reaction, it's that appearances were more important than truth. He focused hard on his studies, determined to turn his magical tinkering into something that he could use to mimic the spell casting of real mages. Though a few teachers tried to convince that artifice was just as legitimate as another other field of magical studies, that didn't matter to Ned, he had to "be" a wizard. Though being social was of secondary importance, he did take notice and start to hang around the more successful wizard-looking students, and ended up being one of Kraius's followers, though he could the number of times they actually had a direction conversation on one finger.
Second Chances
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Feeling desperation at the idea of the heir to the Winterclaw house being a magical dunce, Neodym's father contacted Ioth Academy, where both he and his wife had trained and in fact met. The Academy's representatives were initially skeptical, as his description of his son made it seem like he had no magical ability at all, but humored him with a visit out of respect for his status as a 4th generation alumni of the Academy. Where Neodym's father saw failure and embarrassment in his son's magical tinkering, the Academy reps saw potential, and agreed to accept him. Before he left, his father told Ned he would come back a great wizard, or he would not come back at all.
Growing up
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Between frustrating and seemly fruitless magical tutoring, Neodym liked to play and tinker with his toys. After one particularly frustrating lesson of failing to control the magical energy he had summoned, lashed out at toy cart in frustration, filling it with magical energy and causing it roll around his room on it's own while making creaking noises. When he showed his parents, his mother tried to be happy for him before explaining that it wasn't a "real spell" and that he should focus on proper magic, while is father just huffed and walked off. As time passed he continue to magically tinker with his toys, his prized piece a simple mechanical dragon that breathed (not very hot) fire, but his parents' (and tutors') opinion of his magical tinkering never improved.
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