A Staff of Arcana [Adept Sorcery] [Palacrisis ]

[Palacrisis D Jones]

2nd cycle of Kalendryas ~ winter era XIV


Having recently passed his apprentice training Palacrisis was eager to begin to explore his new won talents. The war against the Orcs would provide the opportunity to test his powers and gain hard won experience but it seemed that the movement of armies and warriors was somewhat delayed by the weather. Winter had come to Sheria and men did not fight in the depths of the cold.

Pala and his master Hassan Bey would be on the move tracking and dealing with the forward elements of the Arakmatian force which was marching and sailing towards Sheria.

The plantation was quiet the first snows of winter allowing the precious earth to recover its vitality.

Palacrisis had time on his hands for once! It was Master Bey wrapped in more robes than he had ever worn before who laconically sniffed

A staff …a staff of Arcana you need one student it is vital that you begin the search …And no this is something you have to do on your own so I shall be hugging the kitchen fireside until the suns decide to shine again on this wretched province.

With that a miserable Arakmatian made his way back to the kitchen and the comfort of the range.

A staff eh…mused Pala

At this level Adepts can create the Staff of Arcana, a tool which allows instant and constant Clara. However, it is a time consuming and dangerous task to perform;

The words were clear but the methodology was somewhat obscure to the point of being a complete mystery it was fairly certain that any old bit of wood was not going to serve the purpose. So it would be logical to find a glade that was close to the nexus of power and that in parts even touched the plane of sorcery in other words an enchanted wood. Hmm where in Sheria was there such a place?

Pala paced the estate his battered old black hat pulled low over his face and his gloved hands behind his back like a contemplative stork deep in his own thoughts .

Vers might be a place to start they had a university and the whole place reeks of magic however certain strong words to the reclusive thane a few eras ago might not have gone down too well. So an enquiry there might be fruitless….hmm

He trudged on to stand by the stream and watch the trout swim lazily by.

He cast his memory back to the time he had been thane of Taralon searching through the detritus of the chaotic filing system that was his brain. there was a druids copse around here perhaps they might know but would they want to deal with a sorcerer…professional envy and such nonsense?….hmm….wait I wonder …Granny Jen the herbalist ..the one rumoured to have had a hand in finding a cure for the feeble pox. If the old girl was still alive then she might be able to point Pala in the right direction. It was somewhere to start !

He paced on his feet cold through the thick boots Once he had found his enchanted wood then according to the text books it took at least a month of work to find the right tree and then with infinite care persuade it to part with a precious stave. He would have to unbind the wood and work with it until it finally came free of the tree. How that would be accomplished was a problem and one that he would have to solve on his own.

A few discrete enquiries gave him the location of the isolated farm that was the home of the ancient herbalist and on a cold clear morning Pala rode his Sandbred bay horse “River” out towards the farm.

[Fish Stick]

As he rode towards the farm, a little old lady looked outwards, and stood up from her rocking chair, having been encased in a bundle of robes herself to keep warm as she watched any animals that might be crossing through her farmlands that morning. She had short cropped grey hair, and a wrinkled old face that looked like it had seen years of weathering. Squinting a bit she looked towards Palacrisis, and then awaited him to fully approach her. Interesting... she thought as he approached. Why would anyone be coming here at this time of the year, it's not generally an herbology time when no herbs are in season... Standing up as he approached.

"Hello young man... and what might i be able to do for you this fine winter morning?" she asked briefly as he approached her...

[Palacrisis D Jones]

Granny Jen was something of a local legend rarely seen but whispered about on dark evenings by people who had nothing better to do than tell tall stories. The gist of which was that for a dotty old woman she certainly got a number of very important visitors who apparently doted on her every word!

Pala had heard of this old lady when he had been thane of Taralon and had always meant to stop by her farm and pay his respects but alas time and other activities had delayed that visit until now…..

Serale to you dear lady do I have the honour of addressing the lady Jen?

Palacrisis slipped off the big bay horse and reached into his saddle bags and pulled out a gingham cloth wrapped parcel. He had given a little thought to this visit and a present seemed appropriate. What you got for a lady of advancing years was solved by his chef Cedric Rioja…An apple pie with pastry that melted in the mouth and apples cooked to absolute perfection with the Jaedaxian chefs special mixture of spices to enhance the flavour.

My name is Palacrisis D Jones and I have come to you to ask your advice but first would you share a piece of pie with me?

[Fish Stick]

The smell of apple pie filled her nostrils, and she opened up right away. "Why yes, you do have the pleasure of addressing the Lady Jen, and what might i call you by young man?" she asked, very curious as to his name, or who he was, since she didn't get out much, or even read the herald, she didn't know much about the culture of her own city. Suffice to say, she knew much more about herbs and roots, and certain woods which magicians often saught after.

"Well met young Palacrisis," she started, and then continued to say, "I have much advice to give to young ones such as yourself, and certainly am willing to share pie over it with you. Come along inside, out of this cold..." As she entered the house, candles where lit all over, to keep it in a nice dim light, as there weren't very many windows to let the sun in. She led him over to a table, and along with the scent of apple pie, Palacrisis could also get the overwhelming scent of many herbs and roots that Granny Jen had collected and stock piled in her home.

"Have a seat Palacrisis," she said, and then motioned for him to sit at the table. She went over to a small cupboard, just about her height, and withdrew two plates, along with a pie knife, and two forks. "Let us have a bite of your deliciously smelling pie, and you can tell me all about what it is you have come to see me about..." she said as she sat a plate infront of him, and allowed him to cut the pie since it was his to cut, and hers to recieve...

[Palacrisis D Jones]

How old the lady was Pala had no idea but he was certainly warming to her he had not been called “young man” for many a long pattern and it was a pleasant change from some of the things other folks had called him in the past.

He chuckled and set to cutting the pie into wedges and making sure the old lady was getting her fair share of the pie. Brushing a few crumbs from his lips he smiled at the herbologist.

“Why don’t you call me Pala its what my friends call me and its shorter than the mouthful I was given. Your name is well known if you do not mind me saying and your reputation for wisdom and knowledge of all the growing things is not confined to this farm .I first heard your name when I was thane of Taralon and I always meant to call on you and present my compliments but alas time and opportunity deserted me. I have now returned from my travels in Arakmat, temporarily retired from the service of the empire and intend to stay a while in Sheria as a simple farmer but I also wish to pursue my studies of sorcery.”

“Which is the reason I have come to ask you for your advice. As an adept student I am bound to create an arcane staff. The text books tell me that this must be taken from the bough of a tree situated within an enchanted glade. Unfortunately ….. and he chuckled wryly I have no idea if such a wondrous place exists in this area. You Lady Jen are the foremost expert on the growing things in Sheria and I thought to ask you if you knew the location of such a glade.”

Pala let the old lady think and flicked his cold blue eyes around the simple cottage redolent with the pungent smells of herbs and plants that he could not even put a name too.

[Fish Stick]

Granny Jen took a small bite of her pie, and then thought for a moment about all that Palacrisis was saying. "Well, really, the only enchanted glades i know of are in the Dolwoods, near Trysvale, and in the Sylrosian woods... There might be a small chance of one being around Vers since it's so arcanically inclined, but it is highly doubtful as they are small and rare. It's extremely hard to find them, even if you're an Archmage druid, unless you know their exact positioning... I would be glad to assist you though, in helping you find one. My assistants can take care of the store while i'm gone..." he said, and then thought for a moment before continuing. "Our best starting bet would be to look around Vers for one... Perhaps ask some of the Master druids there if they know of any enchanted glades near the city or even in the city..."

[Palacrisis D Jones]

He had not expected to strike gold first time as he was very well aware of the rarity of such places. Pala could have travelled to the places Granny Jen mentioned except the Silrosia area that was seemingly having a bit of a problem with access and egress at the moment according to the Herald.

“Hmmm…Vers eh , I happen to have some pending business north of Vers as it happens….. Ogre business as it happens. It seems to make sense to me to kill two birds with one stone.

He grinned at the herbologist. Your offer to be my guide is both welcoming and flattering and I can think of no one more qualified to lend me some of your wisdom Lady Jen. I have been to Vers once before but that was on a political mission I have never had the chance to explore the magical properties of the area, that would be most fascinating I think and to meet with a master druid that’s another chance not to be missed.

The problem with Pala was that his mind worked at odd angles probably it was the politician in him and each opportunity had to be explored for advantage. Master druids could do wonderful things with nature and according to his very basic knowledge nature could be used as a potent weapon and weapons were needed in the forthcoming war with the Orcs. maybe …..cannot do any harm to explore the notion …..

He started as his train of thought spiralled in a new direction Er sorry about that Lady Jen the old brain goes off on tangents sometimes. Is there anything you would require from me as... um..er ...recompense for your time and the effort on my behalf?

[Fish Stick]

"There is nothing i would require, other than means to get to Vers, as I am an older woman, perhaps you might be able to provide me with a horse to ride side saddle upon, or even a carraige if you have one, but i wouldn't go so far as to ask for that on our way to Vers... Also, i'd like to keep any herbs we might stumble upon, other than the enchanted wood, if we do find the grove. You understand, for my business and such, as some herbs are only indiginous to some areas, and others are not..." she said, smiling a wrinkled grin, and then awaiting a response from the man who brought her the delicious pie...

[Palacrisis D Jones]

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