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Maintenance script: New page: ==Profiles in Magic, Volume Twenty== Mortom Saist: Knowledge is an Endless Sea ===PREFACE:=== Heritage Monographs, the official press of the Moon Mage Guild, is proud to pre...

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New page: ==Profiles in Magic, Volume Twenty== Mortom Saist: Knowledge is an Endless Sea ===PREFACE:=== Heritage Monographs, the official press of the Moon Mage Guild, is proud to pre...

New page

==Profiles in Magic, Volume Twenty==

Mortom Saist: Knowledge is an Endless Sea

===PREFACE:===

Heritage Monographs, the official press of the Moon Mage
Guild, is proud to present the twentieth volume in the
extended Profiles in Magic series. The information within
these volumes, painstakingly culled from transcripts,
magical scrying and field research, has been compiled by a
dedicated staff of scholars and Guild representatives.

This installment of our ongoing Profiles in Magic series
posthumously recounts the life and achievements of Mortom
Saist, esteemed Council Member, Guildleader and
politician. Arguably the most influential voice
representing the Moon Mage Guild, Saist's victories in the
political arena are unprecedented. His recent death is
indeed a grievous loss to the Guild.

===Chapter One: A Friendship Forged, a Friendship Lost===

Born in Therenborough to a wealthy family, Mortom Saist
was given a formal education which included topics typical
of a student of his well-to-do upbringing, such as
literature, poetry and economics. He excelled at all his
courses, but it was his innate ability to parlay and
abjugate that shined the most. Even at an early age,
Mortom was often the child who was able to defuse a fight
with only a few well chosen words - and occasionally the
one to instigate them with the same glib phrases. His
youth and early manhood spent practicing his ability to
subtly affect those around him, he soon rose to the head
of his classes, and achieved an excellent position working
for a merchant prince in Ilithi.

It was in Shard that Mortom finally met his equal in
argumentatives. Through chance, a young Halfling Moon
Mage named Kendadee entered one of the merchant's shops
while Mortom happened to be there for business, and almost
instantly, they engaged wits. Some say that it was
Kendadee who was the first to truly anger Mortom; others
claim the reverse. During his life, Mortom never
dissuaded any of the rumors on this initial meeting of his
life long friend, enjoying the attention and mystery it
created. One thing is certain. It was Kendadee who
formally introduced him to the Moon Mage Guild, and Mortom
fell in love instantly. At the age of twenty-six, he
joined the Guild.

Kendadee and Mortom were inseparable. Both were quickly
ascending the ranks of the Moon Mages, exalting in the
amount of lore and history of that Guild, and joyously
scanning the skies night after night. Aided with the gift
of foresight, both became even better at using their wit
and oratory. Yet despite their similarities, they were
still distinctly different. Mortom had a spoiled
upbringing, and had no shortage of vanity. Kendadee was
seventh in a family of ten children, and many were the
nights he had previously gone begging for food. While
Mortom's gift of persuasion was a natural aptitude,
Kendadee's was one born of survival. Occasionally, these
differences defined their areas of study. Kendadee -
having never cared for nor owned any fine possessions -
was more impressed with the lore of the stars. Mortom, on
the other hand, was infatuated with fine artifacts, not
only for the magic they contained, but for their
craftsmanship.

This driving desire of Mortom's often led him to the most
remote of areas in search of objects to sate his
fascination. More often than not, Kendadee joined him, if
only to support his beloved friend. During a particularly
violent storm in a nameless place far to the northwest,
Kendadee spotted a structure, lit by the flashing of
lightning just as the winds buffeted away the covering
vegetation. After pointing it out to his friend, they
guided the caravan toward it for shelter.

The structure proved to be an ancient library. Having not
felt the presence of the living in perhaps centuries, the
books therein were untouched, and many were rare and
exquisite volumes that had long been thought lost. Among
these tomes was one that Mortom had been seeking to locate
for years - a pre-Empire grimoire known as "Thee Mottl'd
Tyxte." Excited over this discovery, Mortom carefully
extracted it from its place on the dusty shelves and
proceeded to use various magics to test it for traps and
curses.

Kendadee urged Mortom to wait until they had brought the
library's contents to a more hospitable - and less remote
- location before beginning study. Such was Mortom's
obsession that even Kendadee's impressive skills of
persuasion were of no use. As the storm ravaged the
outside of the library, Mortom began to read.

What occurred next is unknown, as Mortom was the only
survivor and was loath to speak of it. With Mortom's
death, we may never know what really happened that night.
Upon morning's breaking, a saddened Mortom stepped from
the steps of the library, a now partially intact version
of "Thee Mottl'd Tyxte" under one arm, leaving behind not
only the remains of his best friend but those of the
entire caravan's crew, horses and yaks. A month later, at
the memorial services for his dearest comrade, Mortom
spoke these now immortalized words:

"Scholarship is limited by our physical bodies, as well as
how much our minds can take, yet knowledge is an endless
sea that we try to navigate with our frail forms. It is
that task, the eternal quest for information, that we as
Moon Mages undertake. As vast and limitless as the star-
filled sky is the lore that is available to us."

"We seek to fill our minds like a crystal glass is filled
with wine, but is this not tantamount to disaster if we
seek this to all exclusion while our hearts are already
filled with love and friendship? Our lives are too short
to destroy what little joy and value we find in our
years."

"I speak not of giving up the fight for truth and
knowledge, but today I am remembering my dearest friend,
Kendadee, at this ceremony. I can not claim to have even
a fraction of the available lore to humanity, but I can
claim to have known camaraderie. To have known joy and
love. And I can claim that I have lost that in exchange
for one minute increase in knowledge I have gained."

"Dear Kendadee, my friend. I would trade all that I know
to have you here if only to let you berate me for failing
you so. Dear Kendadee, may you walk among the stars until
I am there with you again."

The tome which Mortom had recovered was placed under high
security at the Palace in Throne City, and he refused to
even stay in the same room as it, such was the pain of
losing his friend.

===Chapter Two: A Life Turned Calm===

Though Mortom Saist never developed another friendship as
close as the one he had with Kendadee, he and Erzebet
Crowther became fast friends. Having always been
suspected of having some Tezirite ties, this came as no
large surprise to anyone. A changed man since the library
incident, he still occasionally joined Lady Crowther on
her forays to excavations and research sites. After one
particularly large expedition, however, which Grandmaster
Taramaine himself had joined, Mortom suddenly announced
his refusal to join another Guild-sponsored trip. Despite
being still young, Mortom stayed true to his word, and
effectively retired from such journeys, staying in Shard
and devoting his time to studying politics and magic.

His talent with oratory helped most assuredly in this
regard, and some rumors claim that he had the ear of the
Ferdahl when it came to judgments on the Moon Mage Guild
even though he had no official status as a Ilithi
politician. Still, no one can deny the man's skill with
words, and he was often asked to sit in on sensitive
debates - sometimes in the guise of being merely a scribe
- and consulted by the Guild representatives before any
decisions were made.

Years passed, and Mortom was eventually offered a position
upon the Council of Moon Mages. He refused, without
explanation nor elaboration, but immediately took to
private chambers to consult the stars. The next day, he
requested and was given a Guildleader position, and took
up training students in the Great Tower in Shard.

Even in his status as "semi-retired," rumors abounded
about the Guildleader. One was due to his penchant for
mirrors, and he often kept several near his desk. While
not unusual for someone having always been known to be
rather vain, one of the more popular tales was that this
selection of mirrors were in fact fragments from Tezirah's
original scrying device. So widespread were these tales
that occasionally a daring Thief would steal one, hoping
to make a few extra coin from some greedy Moon Mage.
Whether these mirrors truly were scrying devices is
unclear, but considering the lack of security and Mortom's
general nonchalance regarding their time-to-time loss,
this is unlikely at best.

===Chapter Three: Adrift on an Endless Sea===

Short weeks before Mortom's death, he requested an
audience to speak. The Moon Mage Council was more than
pleased to give him this, and gave him this opportunity at
Council Member Jonela DeRaeis' coronation.

"My peers, comrades, students and teachers. I have had a
long, grand life. Through that life, I've held in my
hands some of the most powerful artifacts Elanthia has
ever known. I have gazed upon the fondest of friends,
though they are lost to me now. I have taught some of the
most promising minds that the provinces have to offer. I
am thankful for all of these things."

"Time yet turns for me, as it does for all of us. Tiv, I
thank you for your knowledge of herbs and health, but even
that will not suffice forever. I have to say that I look
good for my age, but that is as much illusion as any
conjured veil of magics. Most Humans are not so lucky to
reach this number of days that I have. My days left are
limited. Knowing this, I wish to use a short moment to
bid farewell while my health still permits me."

"Lady Erzebet. To you, I must speak fondly, for nothing
less would do. You are a wonder, Lady, and do the
Crowther family proud."

"Tiv, my longtime friend. Your humble ways are a lesson
to us all."

"Finally, to you a handful of words, Gylwyn. While you
were not my student nor my daughter, I am as proud as any
teacher or father could be. You will do this Guild an
honor as long as you are among its members. I entrust you
to remember my last wishes."

"When my time has come, I will find myself free of this
eternal search for knowledge, adrift on an endless sea.
Perhaps I will even see old Kendadee again, and I find
comfort in this. Think not ill of me when I am gone, my
friends."

Indeed, not long after giving this farewell address,
Guildleader Mortom Saist passed into death within the very
halls of the Guild he'd served for so long. Gylwyn was
present at this sad time, so it can not be said that
Mortom died alone. A man of vanity, his last request was
to be preserved within a magical sarcophagus, keeping him
lifelike and forever staring at the stars which epitomized
his life long quest for knowledge.
[[Category:Book]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:50, 3 November 2007
Line 1:		Line 1:
	==Profiles in Magic, Volume Twenty==		==Profiles in Magic, Volume Twenty==

	Mortom Saist: Knowledge is an Endless Sea		[[Mortom]] Saist: Knowledge is an Endless Sea

	===PREFACE:===		===PREFACE:===
Line 7:		Line 7:
	Heritage Monographs, the official press of the Moon Mage		Heritage Monographs, the official press of the Moon Mage
	Guild, is proud to present the twentieth volume in the		Guild, is proud to present the twentieth volume in the
	extended Profiles in Magic series. The information within		extended [[Profiles in Magic]] series. The information within
	these volumes, painstakingly culled from transcripts,		these volumes, painstakingly culled from transcripts,
	magical scrying and field research, has been compiled by a		magical scrying and field research, has been compiled by a
Line 22:		Line 22:
	===Chapter One: A Friendship Forged, a Friendship Lost===		===Chapter One: A Friendship Forged, a Friendship Lost===

	Born in Therenborough to a wealthy family, Mortom Saist		Born in [[Therenborough]] to a wealthy family, Mortom Saist
	was given a formal education which included topics typical		was given a formal education which included topics typical
	of a student of his well-to-do upbringing, such as		of a student of his well-to-do upbringing, such as
Line 34:		Line 34:
	subtly affect those around him, he soon rose to the head		subtly affect those around him, he soon rose to the head
	of his classes, and achieved an excellent position working		of his classes, and achieved an excellent position working
	for a merchant prince in Ilithi.		for a merchant prince in [[Ilithi]].

	It was in Shard that Mortom finally met his equal in		It was in Shard that Mortom finally met his equal in
	argumentatives. Through chance, a young Halfling Moon		argumentatives. Through chance, a young Halfling Moon
	Mage named Kendadee entered one of the merchant's shops		Mage named [[Kendadee]] entered one of the merchant's shops
	while Mortom happened to be there for business, and almost		while Mortom happened to be there for business, and almost
	instantly, they engaged wits. Some say that it was		instantly, they engaged wits. Some say that it was
Line 84:		Line 84:
	exquisite volumes that had long been thought lost. Among		exquisite volumes that had long been thought lost. Among
	these tomes was one that Mortom had been seeking to locate		these tomes was one that Mortom had been seeking to locate
	for years - a pre-Empire grimoire known as "Thee Mottl'd		for years - a pre-Empire grimoire known as "[[Thee Mottl'd Tyxte]]." Excited over this discovery, Mortom carefully
	Tyxte." Excited over this discovery, Mortom carefully
	extracted it from its place on the dusty shelves and		extracted it from its place on the dusty shelves and
	proceeded to use various magics to test it for traps and		proceeded to use various magics to test it for traps and
Line 143:		Line 142:

	Though Mortom Saist never developed another friendship as		Though Mortom Saist never developed another friendship as
	close as the one he had with Kendadee, he and Erzebet		close as the one he had with Kendadee, he and [[Erzebet]]
	Crowther became fast friends. Having always been		[[Crowther]] became fast friends. Having always been
	suspected of having some Tezirite ties, this came as no		suspected of having some [[Progeny of Tezirah\|Tezirite]] ties, this came as no
	large surprise to anyone. A changed man since the library		large surprise to anyone. A changed man since the library
	incident, he still occasionally joined Lady Crowther on		incident, he still occasionally joined Lady Crowther on
	her forays to excavations and research sites. After one		her forays to excavations and research sites. After one
	particularly large expedition, however, which Grandmaster		particularly large expedition, however, which Grandmaster
	Taramaine himself had joined, Mortom suddenly announced		[[Taramaine]] himself had joined, Mortom suddenly announced
	his refusal to join another Guild-sponsored trip. Despite		his refusal to join another Guild-sponsored trip. Despite
	being still young, Mortom stayed true to his word, and		being still young, Mortom stayed true to his word, and
Line 158:		Line 157:
	His talent with oratory helped most assuredly in this		His talent with oratory helped most assuredly in this
	regard, and some rumors claim that he had the ear of the		regard, and some rumors claim that he had the ear of the
	Ferdahl when it came to judgments on the Moon Mage Guild		[[Ferdahl]] when it came to judgments on the Moon Mage Guild
	even though he had no official status as a Ilithi		even though he had no official status as a Ilithi
	politician. Still, no one can deny the man's skill with		politician. Still, no one can deny the man's skill with
Line 167:		Line 166:

	Years passed, and Mortom was eventually offered a position		Years passed, and Mortom was eventually offered a position
	upon the Council of Moon Mages. He refused, without		upon the [[Moon Mage Council\|Council of Moon Mages]]. He refused, without
	explanation nor elaboration, but immediately took to		explanation nor elaboration, but immediately took to
	private chambers to consult the stars. The next day, he		private chambers to consult the stars. The next day, he
Line 192:		Line 191:
	audience to speak. The Moon Mage Council was more than		audience to speak. The Moon Mage Council was more than
	pleased to give him this, and gave him this opportunity at		pleased to give him this, and gave him this opportunity at
	Council Member Jonela DeRaeis' coronation.		Council Member [[Jonela]] DeRaeis' coronation.

	"My peers, comrades, students and teachers. I have had a		"My peers, comrades, students and teachers. I have had a
Line 215:		Line 214:
	Crowther family proud."		Crowther family proud."

	"Tiv, my longtime friend. Your humble ways are a lesson		"[[Tiv]], my longtime friend. Your humble ways are a lesson
	to us all."		to us all."

	"Finally, to you a handful of words, Gylwyn. While you		"Finally, to you a handful of words, [[Gylwyn]]. While you
	were not my student nor my daughter, I am as proud as any		were not my student nor my daughter, I am as proud as any
	teacher or father could be. You will do this Guild an		teacher or father could be. You will do this Guild an