Profiles in Magic, Volume 8 (book) - Revision history

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	[[Category:Book]]		[[Category:Book]][[page type is::book\| ]][[guild association is::moon mage\| ]]

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	==Profiles in Magic, Volume Eight==		==Profiles in Magic, Volume Eight==

	===[[Borrugar]] Steadfoot : Never Again ~~Helplessness~~===		===[[Borrugar]] Steadfoot : Never Again Helpless===

	PREFACE:		PREFACE:

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Maintenance script: New page: ==Profiles in Magic, Volume Eight== ===Borrugar Steadfoot : Never Again Helplessness=== PREFACE: Heritage Monographs, the official press of the Moonmage Guild, is proud to present the ...

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New page: ==Profiles in Magic, Volume Eight== ===Borrugar Steadfoot : Never Again Helplessness=== PREFACE: Heritage Monographs, the official press of the Moonmage Guild, is proud to present the ...

New page

==Profiles in Magic, Volume Eight==

===Borrugar Steadfoot : Never Again Helplessness===

PREFACE:

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

This installment of our ongoing series details the life and times
of Borrugar Steadfoot, the Merchant Magician. It is hoped that
the story of his triumphs and untimely death serve as a guide and
warning to young mages, as they face their own challenges in
apprenticeship.

Bourrugar Steadfoot, while not as well known as some of his
contemporaries in the turbulant decades just after the fall of
the Empire, was nonetheless a luminary of the magical world.
Known as "the merchant magician", Steadfoot was an unusually
shrewd and calculating olvi, concealing his brilliant strategic
mind behind a cheerful and sometimes frivolous demeanor: more
than one trader-baron found himself utterly cleaned out in a deal
with him, after being tricked into underestimating the bubbly
halfling.

The fifth child out of twelve, Borrugar's large extended family
traveled with a gypsy tribe through the wilderness of the western
provinces. Their nomadic life served them well in the rampant
chaos and danger of the post-Imperial period, and they rarely
stayed in a single place long enough to do more than fill their
wagons, water their steeds and move on. However, the gypsy life
did not sit well with the young man, and he often felt ignored
and lonely on the caravan route.

Befriended by the gypsies' soothsayer, a mystic who had herself
been raised by the tricksters of the Fortune's Path sect,
Borrugar discovered a way to both keep his complex mind occupied
and to finally gain the attention he craved: magic. He was a
quick and eager study, soon able not only to work the simple
cantrips he was shown, but to combine these elements into new,
more dazzling spells. Unfortunately, before he could truly begin
to exercise his newfound abilities, disaster struck.

While travelling through a forested glade some distance from
Zoluren's North Trail Road, the caravan was waylaid by fenrae
reavers. The merciless fae asked for no bribe or ransom, seeking
only bloodthirsty destruction. Small even for an olvi, Borrugar
escaped in the confusion and hid in the thick underbrush, able
only to watch. Years later, he would write in his journal: "The
helplessness, the utter helplessness as the fiends slaughtered my
family, was worse than any pain of sword or arrow. I had
illusions, and trinkets aplenty, but what good would they do me
now? Worthless. Then, when it was all over, to slink off
through the brush with my head bowed low and footsteps soft, as
if I were the guilty party, the interloper, fearing punishment?
I knew then, as I huddled beneath the cold, uncaring stars, that
I would never allow myself to feel this way again."

Escaping alone, he staggered up the road until he finally
collapsed with exhaustion. He was found by an elderly trader on
his regular route, who took the young man in and brought him to
an inn at the next stop. Hearing Borrugar's tale, and
recognizing that he was an exceptionally bright person, the
trader offered him a job to get him on his feet: he would
accompany the trader on his assignments, keeping track of
inventory, doing general clerical work and employing the tricks
his gypsy mentor had taught him on the way, using the positions
of the stars to divine the most favorable routes.

Borrugar accepted, and stayed with the man for nearly a decade,
as their fortunes grew. When the old trader finally passed on,
he left Borrugar the fruits of their labor: a thriving company
based in the city of Riverhaven, grown strong from risky shipping
and exploration projects. Suddenly gifted with not only a small
fortune but an ongoing legacy, he put his money to use in
constructing that which he'd dreamt of since childhood: a stable,
permanant home. Concerned about security to the point of
paranoia, his glorious mansion had one odd twist: nobody knew
where it was. Though he certainly lived in Riverhaven, and the
building -- gigantic, said those who had seen the interior -- was
there as well, those who attempted to find it or even follow
Borrugar home found themselves oddly unable to pinpoint exactly
what they had seen, or where they had seen it. His artifice in
illusion had never been put to such a bold-- or, perhaps,
subtle-- use. It is worth noting that his home presumably still
exists to this very day, but it will not be found on any maps of
the great city.

It was not long before ennui began to set in; while his material
needs were satisfied, and there was something of a challenge in
outwitting his business rivals day after day, the true calling of
his heart had gone unanswered. Realizing what he needed to do,
one spring morning he underwent the lengthy trip to the nearest
Moonmage guildhouse, there to enroll himself as an apprentice at
the age of seventy-three. He was accepted, and barely slept for
the next five years, alternating his business pursuits with
intense magical studies.

Using his knack for seeing and manipulating the core elements of
spells, he was quickly out-performing mages with twice his
experience. Among his early achievements was a refinement of the
magics of Aura Sight, for which he was noted in the official
rolls of the High Council... And netted him a considerable
advantage when trying to negotiate with mundane competitors.
Once he graduated as a magician in his own right, his interests
turned to works of enchantment.

Most of Borrugar's works were unique, permanant enchantments on a
large scale, done for friends and patrons; one classic example
is the Everflowing Fountain in the courtyard of the Zoluren
baronial mansion, where crossed ivory dolphin sculptures pour an
endless river of pure water into a seperately-enchanted basin,
which in turn magically evaporates the water before it overflows.
The fountain is still a popular sight for noble visitors to the
province. It is interesting to note that his most popular
contribution to Moonmage lore, the Ivory Chalice of Borrugar (the
original Satiation version; later versions employing the sigils
of Revelry and Desire were created by his successful apprentices,
the latter as a practical joke), was essentially a smaller
version of this device.

In a vein less dramatic but far more useful to his magical
colleagues, one of Borrugar's greatest creations were the Chimes
of Disruption; despite the foreboding name, the purpose of these
huge, enchanted windchimes was to imbue an item with powerful
sonic energy, disrupting its physical structure enough to easily
introduce enchantments and spells into its core. While they
proved incompatable with many experiments (the sound pitch
sufficient to shatter items of weak material and even injure
their bearers), all of Borrugar's devices involved the Chimes as
part of their creation, and his apprentices followed the same
tack.

The location of Borrugar's original set of chimes is unknown at
this time. It is believed that, prior to his death, they were
passed on to his close friend Suniyetsu as a housewarming gift.
Suniyetsu, a mistress ranger, used them to keep an infestation of
dangerous cougars from her remote forest sanctuary. As she
vanished from the records of history not long after the gifting,
not much more can be said.

Borrugar, sadly, and like so many before him, fell victim to the
magic he loved so dearly. The key to his undoing was an ongoing
obsession with a grimoire of pre-Imperial sorcery, the infernal
tome known to scholars as the "Arte of the Black Cockatrice". He
had first come across a fragmented, partial translation of this
elvish text in the library of Throne City, and this was the main
source from which he had been able to reconstruct the power of
auric sight. Tidbits of dark secrets enticed him into yearning
for more, and he hired a team of scholars and researchers to find
a complete edition of the book.

After dead end upon dead end, a copy was indeed found; legend
holds that it was located in the dank catacombs beneath a
Tezirite monestary, clutched in the withered grasp of a high
priest's mummy. While still fragmented and ruined by water and
oils in spots, it was the most complete version of the book known
to be extant upon Elanthia. His own translation abilities honed
by years of practice, Borrugar locked himself away and set to
deciphering the tome's mysteries.

Friends close to him-- a small tribe of Fortune's Path gypsies
who he had invited to share his home, in return for serving as
bodyguards-- later wrote that he had attempted to create
something he had read in the cursed grimoire, an enchantment he
referred to as "the Mithricine Key". Great apparatus were
constructed, and elaborate, dark rituals prepared to this end.
On the final night, the climax of the enchantment, Borrugar bade
his servants to stay outside his laboratory, and to not venture
in, no matter what they heard. The evening was later recounted
in the journal of an anonymous housemaid [Moonmage Archives,
Throne City Guild, 315:42:12] as:

"Twas not a sound that came from that door or past it, nor
nothing of sight, but Roberto who is frazzuri among us said that
he read something lively awful in the night sky. He drew the
tokka, looked at what he'd set out, and quickly pulled the cards
back together without showing any what was there. He burnt the
deck later, after we opened the door, like he told us to do right
away.

"Maestro Borrugar was there, just like he said he would be. We
had to pull back right quick, because the smell was like three-
week carrion, and the sight inside wasn't nothing for the
children to see: he was sitting there in his chair, plain as
day, except his limbs weren't fitting together like they were
supposed to, not at all. The downs were in up places, the ups
were in down places, and some things we didn't find till later.
He was all mixed up. Among us there wasn't no question about
what had done it to him, the question was how it had been done
WITHOUT MAKING A SINGLE SOUND..."

Details of Borrugar's burial and afterwards are sketchy: it is
believed that he was put to rest on his private estate, which in
turn was given over to the gypsies who had been so close to him
in life. As for the Arte, a formal Moonmage tribunal
requisitioned the tome as soon as the story came to light,
seeking to keep it in a safe place at the guild stronghold: a
thorough search of the mage's laboratory and libraries failed to
find it, and scholars believe one of Borrugar's apprentices or
colleagues must have stolen it shortly after his death.

Despite his tragic death, Borrugar Stoutfoot's legacy lives on,
through a lifetime body of work to rival many an archmage. His
early years in the guild are an inspiration to striving
apprentices-- and his untimely end is a sober warning.
[[Category:Book]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:21, 3 November 2007
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	==Profiles in Magic, Volume Eight==		==Profiles in Magic, Volume Eight==

	===Borrugar Steadfoot : Never Again Helplessness===		===[[Borrugar]] Steadfoot : Never Again Helplessness===

	PREFACE:		PREFACE:

	Heritage Monographs, the official press of the Moonmage Guild, is		Heritage Monographs, the official press of the Moonmage Guild, is
	proud to present the eighth volume in the ongoing Profiles in		proud to present the eighth volume in the ongoing [[Profiles in Magic]] series. The information within these volumes,
	Magic series. The information within these volumes,
	painstakingly culled from transcripts and field research, has		painstakingly culled from transcripts and field research, has
	been compiled by a dedicated staff of scholars and Guild		been compiled by a dedicated staff of scholars and Guild
Line 38:		Line 37:

	Befriended by the gypsies' soothsayer, a mystic who had herself		Befriended by the gypsies' soothsayer, a mystic who had herself
	been raised by the tricksters of the Fortune's Path sect,		been raised by the tricksters of the [[Fortune's Path]] sect,
	Borrugar discovered a way to both keep his complex mind occupied		Borrugar discovered a way to both keep his complex mind occupied
	and to finally gain the attention he craved: magic. He was a		and to finally gain the attention he craved: magic. He was a
Line 47:		Line 46:

	While travelling through a forested glade some distance from		While travelling through a forested glade some distance from
	Zoluren's North Trail Road, the caravan was waylaid by fenrae		[[Zoluren]]'s North Trail Road, the caravan was waylaid by fenrae
	reavers. The merciless fae asked for no bribe or ransom, seeking		reavers. The merciless fae asked for no bribe or ransom, seeking
	only bloodthirsty destruction. Small even for an olvi, Borrugar		only bloodthirsty destruction. Small even for an olvi, Borrugar
Line 75:		Line 74:
	as their fortunes grew. When the old trader finally passed on,		as their fortunes grew. When the old trader finally passed on,
	he left Borrugar the fruits of their labor: a thriving company		he left Borrugar the fruits of their labor: a thriving company
	based in the city of Riverhaven, grown strong from risky shipping		based in the city of [[Riverhaven]], grown strong from risky shipping
	and exploration projects. Suddenly gifted with not only a small		and exploration projects. Suddenly gifted with not only a small
	fortune but an ongoing legacy, he put his money to use in		fortune but an ongoing legacy, he put his money to use in
Line 119:		Line 118:
	province. It is interesting to note that his most popular		province. It is interesting to note that his most popular
	contribution to Moonmage lore, the Ivory Chalice of Borrugar (the		contribution to Moonmage lore, the Ivory Chalice of Borrugar (the
	original Satiation version; later versions employing the sigils		original Satiation version; later versions employing the sigils
	of Revelry and Desire were created by his successful apprentices,		of Revelry and Desire were created by his successful apprentices,
	the latter as a practical joke), was essentially a smaller		the latter as a practical joke), was essentially a smaller
Line 138:		Line 137:
	The location of Borrugar's original set of chimes is unknown at		The location of Borrugar's original set of chimes is unknown at
	this time. It is believed that, prior to his death, they were		this time. It is believed that, prior to his death, they were
	passed on to his close friend Suniyetsu as a housewarming gift.		passed on to his close friend [[Suniyetsu]] as a housewarming gift.
	Suniyetsu, a mistress ranger, used them to keep an infestation of		Suniyetsu, a mistress ranger, used them to keep an infestation of
	dangerous cougars from her remote forest sanctuary. As she		dangerous cougars from her remote forest sanctuary. As she
Line 147:		Line 146:
	magic he loved so dearly. The key to his undoing was an ongoing		magic he loved so dearly. The key to his undoing was an ongoing
	obsession with a grimoire of pre-Imperial sorcery, the infernal		obsession with a grimoire of pre-Imperial sorcery, the infernal
	tome known to scholars as the "Arte of the Black Cockatrice". He		tome known to scholars as the "[[Arte of the Black Cockatrice]]". He
	had first come across a fragmented, partial translation of this		had first come across a fragmented, partial translation of this
	elvish text in the library of Throne City, and this was the main		elvish text in the library of [[Throne City]], and this was the main
	source from which he had been able to reconstruct the power of		source from which he had been able to reconstruct the power of
	auric sight. Tidbits of dark secrets enticed him into yearning		auric sight. Tidbits of dark secrets enticed him into yearning
Line 168:		Line 167:
	bodyguards-- later wrote that he had attempted to create		bodyguards-- later wrote that he had attempted to create
	something he had read in the cursed grimoire, an enchantment he		something he had read in the cursed grimoire, an enchantment he
	referred to as "the Mithricine Key". Great apparatus were		referred to as "[[the Mithricine Key]]". Great apparatus were
	constructed, and elaborate, dark rituals prepared to this end.		constructed, and elaborate, dark rituals prepared to this end.
	On the final night, the climax of the enchantment, Borrugar bade		On the final night, the climax of the enchantment, Borrugar bade
Line 177:		Line 176:

	"Twas not a sound that came from that door or past it, nor		"Twas not a sound that came from that door or past it, nor
	nothing of sight, but Roberto who is frazzuri among us said that		nothing of sight, but [[Roberto]] who is frazzuri among us said that
	he read something lively awful in the night sky. He drew the		he read something lively awful in the night sky. He drew the
	tokka, looked at what he'd set out, and quickly pulled the cards		[[tokka]], looked at what he'd set out, and quickly pulled the cards
	back together without showing any what was there. He burnt the		back together without showing any what was there. He burnt the
	deck later, after we opened the door, like he told us to do right		deck later, after we opened the door, like he told us to do right