Role

Chapter 8

So much time has passed, and at a ripe age of four hundred and seventy one,
I have decided to keep a journal.

Right now, let me tell you my progress with the spells. Of course, the
spells are the life of every invoker. I have gained the final seven spells
of each element, and they are vast in their Destruction indeed. Quicksand I
have seen ensnare helpless opponents, allowing me to destroy them at will.
Pillar of the heavens, it is such a thrill to watch the heavens themselves
respond to my arcane will, to watch bolts of lightning descend to strike my
foes. The geyser is a mighty, quick firing spell, most favoured at the inner
guardians of Empire. As for conglaciation, why, I can turn a harsh desert
climate into a blizzard with one tight surge of energy! And call upon rains
of stone to descend from the sky, though they strike foe and friend alike,
they stun much like boulders, on occasion. And my personal favourite, the
immolation, which evokes a continual channel to the plane of fire _within_
the hated foe itself, burning them continuously for long periods. Let them
stew in the wrath of the Phoenix, burn in the flame.

And good journal, I have found a home in the Fortress. It is not the same
as House Dunelain, indeed there are many creatures of other races that
inhabit it. While I was at first not quite comfortable with them, after a
while the brotherly ties allowed me to get closer to them. Some interesting
people in the Fortress - this avian, Amaranda, and this half-elf, Caradoc.
Apparently Amaranda is in love with Caradoc, and is in some sort of pain
over his rejection. He has vowed to remain celibate. Pah! Elves of House
Dunelain made no silly vows of celibacy, love does not detract from duty.

Then there is the holy knight, Solasarath, who I much admire, though he is
no High Elf but a Jade Elf. He is a most mighty warrior, and I cannot help
but feel a surge of confidence whenever he reports to the Fortress. Such is
the strength he offers. Amaranda, though, often travels with him to find
some trinket or other. While trinkets are certainly important to a mage in
the way of protection, but she might be spending too much time on it. She
spends most of the spare time on that. I would prefer to write in my diary,
or spend my time honing my spells. After all, equipment is not permanent. I
am rather comfortable with what I have. With my equipment, I am twice as
durable as without. That allows me to finish the Archmage by myself, with
a judicious use of wands, of course.

The dwarves, ah. Gumbldink stands out in my mind. They may be coarse and
rough, but they have spirit! It is indomitable, and I much admire it.
Bruggadon, Rulcorr, Obane, all stout warriors willing to fight. They wish
to construct a Forge within the Fortress. I am not opposed to that.
Indeed, the Fortress has been home to many dwarves, and a Forge would
certainly be to their liking.

Some of the warriors return home to families, when they retire. Myself, I
take up accomodation in the Fortress. I like sleeping in the Hall of Light
or reading some tome or other. The Fortress's grey and white walls fill me
with a sense of belonging, and a feeling of being protected. House Dunelain
had not the resources to build a home, and lived in the trees. It