The Mutable forms
Nature of Transformations in druidic magic
This piece of literature includes the work and fasignations of Transmuter Wizard Helia Ilthiar. The Mutable forms is a tome that describes usages of Transmutation magic used by the Drui of Islenor as well as disects and analyses the used magic and it's purposes and speculates about possible derivative usages for the magical practices.
This book is currently highly districted is Empire of Islenor and banned in free circulation due to political and ethical concerns by the Royal Academy of Knowledge of Tel'Taurn Tal by the court of the Emperor Alathar Thelirme.
Purpose
The tome exists as a documentation of Helia Ilthiar's meticilous studies, observations and theories about transmutation magic she authored and collected during her investigation to existing literature and her own visits and research in the islenorian Drui communities between years 3991 - 4035, published in 4039. The book was writen to create wider conversation about alternative uses transmutation magic and present theories going beyond the accepted paradimes used to understand the inner workings and purposes of transmutations of the time.
"We, as living things, exist in the continuous process of transformation. We grow, we live, we die, our bodies deteriote to the ground; we learn, we develop, we get ideas, we get stronger - Magic, if anything, well used and masterly handled can feed to the progress, and maybe, if even for a fleeting moment, it might get us to taste the possibility of perfection."
With her work, Helia was hoping to gain more funding and chance to further research and cultivate her ideas to great new magic.
Historical Details
Background
Helia's studies focused on different ways transmutation magic is used among the druids of Islenor, and the methods that could possibly be further cultivated to be used in other instances. Her research include lot of documentation about different types of tranformations from humanoid to animal and the different ways these transmutations effect the senses, thoughts and capabilities of individuals and the usages of those forms. She describes druidic blessings that give brief alterations to one's physicality or mind, as well as details how those differ to more typical academic usages of similar spells.
The most tantalising or upsetting part of the research goes to permanent transmutations, including very upsetting deep dive to particularly horrifying curses, likely originating from the lands of the Fey, and now used by druid elders in most dire circumstances; something deeply forbidden and frowned upon among her fellow scholars. Helia found the implications of these spells most fasignating, and ponders if the principals of these methods could be used to create permanent transmutations to augment person's capabilities and behaviours permanently and thus cultivate a better self, an upgrade of being for an individual. Her enthusiasm would, however, turn out be even more controversal than she originally anticipated and publishing her musings stamped her as a troublemaker in the Royal Academy of Knowledge of Tel'Taurn Tal.
Public Reaction
Work of Helia started gaining critisisms as soon as she let her first drafts to be read by her peers. Her willingness to deep dive in more controversal topics and forbidden magic was seen as a dangerous obsession, that could kill her career. Yet, Helia believed that a broader scholarly community would understand her noble intentions and engaged with her ideas with a common interest of societal improvement.
This was not how things turned out.
Helia's work was ostracized every step of the way, and barely even published at all; and once she did get it to the public by pulling few favors, she became a target of political bullying campaign. Her intentions were questioned, as hewr sanity and morality, and Helia would soon find herself in a situation where she knew that she was not safe in the Empire anymore. To protect herself, she ended up fleeing to Silver Shore Island in early 4044, and she was taken in by Silver Shore Academy of Magi. She got a possition as the head Professor of Transmutation in the Academy of Magi year later.
Poor Helia. I kind of understand why people were kind of concerned by her deep diving into the forbidden magic, though.