Role

Chapter 2

The conjuration guilds throughout Thera are dominated by a culture of
secrecy. So much so that knowledge itself is a currency far greater than the
Sultan's gold. Early on, Serzajes observed that most of his seniors were
making easy mistakes that though taught and warned, it had been quickly
forgotten. Just as his uncle's warnings would have predicted, these careless
ones were adherents to one severe ideology or another. You have your lovers
of Order, who, everything in its place forget that it is not the perfect form
and alignment of symbols in the circle which contains the unbound creatures,
but its combination with the presence and magnetism of the summoner. Although
not necessarily worse off, the chaos mages in this guild put their complete
stock in fate and the strength of their own will to subdue an agressive
servitor. Such students will surely live a short, but exciting life.

These thoughts began to coalesce as he walked through the foyer of the Hamsah
Mu'tazz guild, observing the students and studying the artwork in silent
reflection.

"You are the el-Ermes boy, aren't you?" Serzajes spun around, too surpised to
be offended by the term 'boy'. The elder man turned away from the same mural
that Serzajes had been studying for the past twenty minutes. He nodded curtly
in greeting.

"I am, do you know my parents? How did ...", Serzajes was interrupted.

"Your uncle was a good man," Serzajes' face paled, the emphasis of the man's
words suggested more than a mere condolence. The man began walking towards
the entrance, past Serzajes.

As he moved by, he leaned in to whipser, "I've been meaning to speak with
you. Meet me at the Drunken Efreeti after sundown," and walked off.