#kwaycha

[jarlshall]

Lessons From the Grand Sage VIII: Cultural Studies (Hydris)

Celdos reveal, your grace.

Today we continue our studies of lands beyond our own. Last time, we examined one of the peoples of the far south – the Citalen Republic, young among the great powers yet no less mighty. Now our eyes turn to the north, to a land even more ancient than our own.

(art by Ilija on twitter)

I speak of the realm of Hydris. The northern most of any society that might well be called ‘civilized’ – though some are loathe to apply such a term to the wild and anarchic Hydrisians. Despite this apparent lawlessness, there are two important points to remember:

First, Hydris was at one point ruled by Boudicca herself while she was still a mortal woman. To date, she remains the only monarch to have ever ruled all of Hydris. Even to this day, her cult holds considerable political sway, enough to keep the myriad of jarls in line.

Second, Hydris is ancient beyond reckoning. It predates the fallen empire, assuredly. Some accounts hold that it was born when first mankind stepped onto this world in the dark mists of our distant past. Some may scoff, but Hydris outlasts all others.

If no king sits upon a throne, then who reigns?

In truth, the realm of Hydris naturally owes much to the city of Hydris. All across the land, jarls – chieftains elected by acclaim in rituals overseen by the Sisters of Boudicca – manage the day to day affairs of its people and the use of its warriors. The city itself is ruled by four such jarls, to whom all others pledge fealty.

The jarls are kept in check by three powers. The Sisters of Boudicca, before whom all are equal and all are held accountable to the laws of Hydris. The Mystics, a secretive order of Spirit mages who keep lore and enforce the Sisters’ edicts. And the Sages of Kwaycha, advisers and leaders to Hydris.

For no conversation of Hydris can be complete without mention of the Pact. As old as the city itself, it binds the humans of Hydris and the elves of Kwaycha in everlasting alliance. Over long centuries, their cultures have become intertwined. Elven Mind mages speak to human chieftains and their words are heard with rapt attention.

Two centuries ago, a third joined the Pact – the Dwarves of Maldrun Hall, who joined after Hydris aided them in reclaiming their lost homelands under the mountains. Their skill in craft has only strengthened the Pactlands, most notably in the city’s famous defenses, the Painted Walls.

It is likely that all you will see of Hydris are its warriors and traders, who are often one and the same. Hydrisian longships are a ubiquitous sight at any port across the continent, ours included. In the chaos of the fall, their boisterous and laughing sailors were the only lifeline between distant lands.

There is much more to say of the Hydrisians, but I will leave that to your own studies.

Celdos guide you.

- The Grand Sage

[jarlshall]

Lessons From the Grand Sage VII: On Magic (Mind)

Celdos reveal, your grace.

Once more we return to the Cycle Wheel. Here lies the turning point – two elements are behind us. First the Green, life force of the world. Then Body, the life of individuals. Now the wheel turns ever on and we come to the next element: Mind.

As smoke from flame, tangible Body turns to more ephemeral things. Thought and reason. Emotion and belief.

Mind is the magic of knowledge – both seeking, and guarding. It deals in divination, the uncovering of truths hidden from more mundane senses. It also deals in illusion, tricking the senses into perceiving what is not there.

Imparting knowledge and communication across distances falls under its purview. Dulling or altering emotion, the manipulation of dreams – these are

Being concerned with intangible truth, Mind is the least substantial of the elements. On its own, it is incapable of creating anything that can be felt or truly interacted with. It can only deceive the senses, not impact them.

Yet when one has nothing, there is much of it to go around. Mind magic does not weigh as heavily upon the caster as other elements, allowing for more heavy use of its powers compared to mages of other elements.

Positive Mind is used to gather and spread knowledge. Seeing distant places, sensing the history of an object, and communication across great distances falls under its purview. The greatest Mind mages can part the coils of time back many hundreds of years and send their gaze across continents.

Negative Mind conceals and deceives. Conjured images and phantom sounds. Altered emotions and the manipulation of dreams. These are powers negative Mind offers. True masters can hide cities and erase memory if need be.

The elements that react violently with Mind are Spirit and the Green.

As to the Green – “Tangled Roots Move Unseen.” Mind relies upon the logic and imagination of the mage. But the Green is vast, deep, and in constant flux. In addition, its mix of vitality and solidity makes it a fearsome counter to the intangible Mind.

As to Spirit – “Mist Evades the Blade.” Spirit is focused power, but a strike that cannot land is power wasted. Mind offers no target to hit. Further, Spirit exhausts its mages with alarming speed. A Mind mage can outlast their counterpart in Spirit while evading all its attacks.

Generals use positive Mind to send orders to their officers. Farmers use negative Mind to conjure illusions that scare off predators from their flocks. Sages, like myself, across the continent use their art to uncover lost history and fill books with their findings.

Mind finds its use across the continent, often in secluded hermits and traveling people. Even so, many cultures have grown a dedicated pursuit to the art. Most famous are the mountain-dwelling Kwaychan elves, friends of Hydris in the north. The Bards of the Fells and the Caravans of Celdos are known far and wide for their skill.

So ends our lesson for today. Meditate upon what you have learned here, and carry it with you.

Celdos guide you.

- The Grand Sage