Neophyte's Aid - Revision history

Dre at 21:20, 14 August 2020

2020-08-14T21:20:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:20, 14 August 2020
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	A scowl was now resident on the provisioner's face, and showed little intent of giving up its new home. “If it's mana you need, I can authorise another satchel of crystals be delivered instead.”		A scowl was now resident on the provisioner's face, and showed little intent of giving up its new home. “If it's mana you need, I can authorise another satchel of crystals be delivered instead.”

	“If I were leading a circle of ritualists,” the mage countered, “then I would consider your offer a generous one. However, we are here to serve as ~~battle-magi~~, and I foresee long weeks of campaigning ahead of us. My pupils are going to be pushed to their very limits in the coming conflict. A simple bag of mana crystals will quickly disappear, but the focusing aids will provide every day, for as long as there is strength left in their bearers. It will cost you far more to supply us in mana crystals, in the long run, than to simply acquiesce to my request and dispense the rods.”		“If I were leading a circle of ritualists,” the mage countered, “then I would consider your offer a generous one. However, we are here to serve as battlemages, and I foresee long weeks of campaigning ahead of us. My pupils are going to be pushed to their very limits in the coming conflict. A simple bag of mana crystals will quickly disappear, but the focusing aids will provide every day, for as long as there is strength left in their bearers. It will cost you far more to supply us in mana crystals, in the long run, than to simply acquiesce to my request and dispense the rods.”

	“Listen,” the provisioner said, “I can't just hand that calibre of equipment out! You think the Dawnish weavers or enchanters will be happy if I tell them I handed out most of the reserve to some newly-arrived Urizen? I-”		“Listen,” the provisioner said, “I can't just hand that calibre of equipment out! You think the Dawnish weavers or enchanters will be happy if I tell them I handed out most of the reserve to some newly-arrived Urizen? I-”

	But the mage had clearly had enough, his aquiline visage growing stern. “Listen to me. General Haytham sent us assurance that we would have the supplies we need; I brought my spire-fellows over six hundred miles on the belief that the good general would prove true to his word.” He was thrusting a letter at the provisioner now, who flinched away as he saw the Marcher general's seal at the bottom of the script. “I will not send out those I have taught into battle just for their power to be squandered, and for good people to die as a result. So would you like me to go and ask the general why his word is suddenly in question, and why he would rather his country-folk not be given the aid of Urizen ~~magi~~ in this war?”		But the mage had clearly had enough, his aquiline visage growing stern. “Listen to me. General Haytham sent us assurance that we would have the supplies we need; I brought my spire-fellows over six hundred miles on the belief that the good general would prove true to his word.” He was thrusting a letter at the provisioner now, who flinched away as he saw the Marcher general's seal at the bottom of the script. “I will not send out those I have taught into battle just for their power to be squandered, and for good people to die as a result. So would you like me to go and ask the general why his word is suddenly in question, and why he would rather his country-folk not be given the aid of Urizen mage in this war?”

	The scowl stayed in place, but the provisioner relented. “Alright, alright. You'll have your blasted rods, and the mana besides.”		The scowl stayed in place, but the provisioner relented. “Alright, alright. You'll have your blasted rods, and the mana besides.”

	“Thank you,” the mage said with a graceful nod. “There. Such a simple decision, but with it, you'll save many lives upon the field of battle.”</ic>		“Thank you,” the mage said with a graceful nod. “There. Such a simple decision, but with it, you'll save many lives upon the field of battle.”</ic>

Rafferty: /* Rules */

2017-03-29T16:12:42Z

Rules

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:12, 29 March 2017
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	{{Rods}}		{{Rods}}
	* '''Effect:''' You gain two additional points of personal mana.		* '''Effect:''' You gain two additional points of personal mana.
	* '''Materials:''' Crafting a Neophyte's Aid requires ~~eleven measures~~ of [[Materials#~~Iridescent Gloaming~~\|~~iridescent gloaming~~]]~~, three~~ measures of [[Materials#~~Dragonbone~~\|~~dragonbone]], and two ingots of [[Materials#Tempest Jade\|tempest jade~~]]. It takes one month to make one of these items.		* '''Materials:''' Crafting a Neophyte's Aid requires nine ingots of [[Materials#Tempest Jade\|tempest jade]] and five measures of [[Materials#Iridescent Gloaming\|iridescent gloaming]]. It takes one month to make one of these items.
	<!--- Flavour text by Christopher Allen --->		<!--- Flavour text by Christopher Allen --->
	<ic>“...Thirty-seven barrels of oil, eighteen tanned leather hides, forty-two lengths of oak timber at five yards length each, three hundred arrows and thirty halberds for the sentinels, four hundred candles and five hundred yards of hemp rope.”		<ic>“...Thirty-seven barrels of oil, eighteen tanned leather hides, forty-two lengths of oak timber at five yards length each, three hundred arrows and thirty halberds for the sentinels, four hundred candles and five hundred yards of hemp rope.”

Rafferty: /* Rules */

2017-03-29T16:10:22Z

Rules

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:10, 29 March 2017
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	==Rules==		==Rules==
	{{Rods}}		{{Rods}}
	* '''Effect:''' You ~~have~~ two additional points of personal mana.		* '''Effect:''' You gain two additional points of personal mana.
	* '''Materials:''' Crafting a Neophyte's Aid requires eleven measures of [[Materials#Iridescent Gloaming\|iridescent gloaming]], three measures of [[Materials#Dragonbone\|dragonbone]], and two ingots of [[Materials#Tempest Jade\|tempest jade]]. It takes one month to make one of these items.		* '''Materials:''' Crafting a Neophyte's Aid requires eleven measures of [[Materials#Iridescent Gloaming\|iridescent gloaming]], three measures of [[Materials#Dragonbone\|dragonbone]], and two ingots of [[Materials#Tempest Jade\|tempest jade]]. It takes one month to make one of these items.
	<!--- Flavour text by Christopher Allen --->		<!--- Flavour text by Christopher Allen --->

Rafferty: /* Rules */

2017-03-29T16:09:58Z

Rules

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:09, 29 March 2017
Line 6:		Line 6:
	==Rules==		==Rules==
	{{Rods}}		{{Rods}}
	* '''Effect:''' ~~While you are bonded to this rod you~~ have two points of ~~additional~~ personal mana.		* '''Effect:''' You have two additional points of personal mana.
	* '''Materials:''' Crafting a Neophyte's Aid requires eleven measures of [[Materials#Iridescent Gloaming\|iridescent gloaming]], three measures of [[Materials#Dragonbone\|dragonbone]], and two ingots of [[Materials#Tempest Jade\|tempest jade]]. It takes one month to make one of these items.		* '''Materials:''' Crafting a Neophyte's Aid requires eleven measures of [[Materials#Iridescent Gloaming\|iridescent gloaming]], three measures of [[Materials#Dragonbone\|dragonbone]], and two ingots of [[Materials#Tempest Jade\|tempest jade]]. It takes one month to make one of these items.
	<!--- Flavour text by Christopher Allen --->		<!--- Flavour text by Christopher Allen --->

Rafferty: /* Rules */ should be 16 ingots

2016-12-07T13:00:54Z

Rules: should be 16 ingots

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:00, 7 December 2016
Line 7:		Line 7:
	{{Rods}}		{{Rods}}
	* '''Effect:''' While you are bonded to this rod you have two points of additional personal mana.		* '''Effect:''' While you are bonded to this rod you have two points of additional personal mana.
	* '''Materials:''' Crafting a Neophyte's Aid requires ~~nine~~ measures of [[Materials#Iridescent Gloaming\|iridescent gloaming]], three measures of [[Materials#Dragonbone\|dragonbone]], and two ingots of [[Materials#Tempest Jade\|tempest jade]]. It takes one month to make one of these items.		* '''Materials:''' Crafting a Neophyte's Aid requires eleven measures of [[Materials#Iridescent Gloaming\|iridescent gloaming]], three measures of [[Materials#Dragonbone\|dragonbone]], and two ingots of [[Materials#Tempest Jade\|tempest jade]]. It takes one month to make one of these items.
	<!--- Flavour text by Christopher Allen --->		<!--- Flavour text by Christopher Allen --->
	<ic>“...Thirty-seven barrels of oil, eighteen tanned leather hides, forty-two lengths of oak timber at five yards length each, three hundred arrows and thirty halberds for the sentinels, four hundred candles and five hundred yards of hemp rope.”		<ic>“...Thirty-seven barrels of oil, eighteen tanned leather hides, forty-two lengths of oak timber at five yards length each, three hundred arrows and thirty halberds for the sentinels, four hundred candles and five hundred yards of hemp rope.”

Rafferty: /* Description */

2016-11-30T13:04:29Z

Description

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:04, 30 November 2016
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	==Description==		==Description==
	A battlefield can shift without warning, and while several magical [[Weapons & armour#implements\|implements]] offer greater power than a Neophyte's Aid, few can match the versatility of simply having an additional reserve of [[Magical_skills#Extra_Mana\|personal mana]] to call on. ~~These rods are often the first magical item a young~~ [[~~Magical_skills~~#~~Magician~~\|~~magician]] acquires, usually as a gift from their mentor. In [[Urizen~~]] and ~~other places where large numbers of student-mages gather~~, ~~these rods are kept on hand~~ to ~~teach~~ the [[~~Create_bond\|bond-creating spell~~]]. ~~The~~ rod~~'s power~~ is ~~both fairly harmless and provides the student with enough power to break the bond again, making~~ it ~~an excellent training tool. It is also often the first magical rod~~ used ~~by would~~-~~be battle-magicians, helping them to get use of such a weapon while providing~~ the ~~fuel for an extra spell~~.		A battlefield can shift without warning, and while several magical [[Weapons & armour#implements\|implements]] offer greater power than a Neophyte's Aid, few can match the versatility of simply having an additional reserve of [[Magical_skills#Extra_Mana\|personal mana]] to call on. Equally valuable to [[Magical skills#Battle Mage\|battle mages]] and magical healers, the rod is often compared very favourably to the [[Witchwood Wand]] which it surpasses in almost all areas. Indeed, some magicians point out that the rod is even more versatile because it can be used effectively in a fight - unlike the smaller implement.

	~~Demand~~ for these rods increases greatly when [[mana site\|sources]] of crystal mana are scarce. ~~The [[Navarr\|Navarri]] [[Navarr_magical_traditions#Vates\|vates]] and magicians living in~~ the ~~more isolated [[Varushka\|Varushkan]] vales or Urizen spires find these rods helpful when unable to secure stocks of crystalised mana and value~~ the ~~daily replenishment~~ of ~~the rod's~~ power ~~over the expendable nature of mana crystals. In conjunction with~~ a ~~[[potion]]~~, ~~such as~~ [[~~Magnum_Opus~~#~~Philosopher's Gold~~\|~~Philosopher's Gold~~]] ~~and~~ [[~~Unguents_of_Falling_Leaves#Leaden Quicksilver\|Leaden Quicksilver~~]]~~, these magicians can even employ the rod's reserve in ritual magic~~.		While some magicians claim crystal mana is more efficient, demand for these rods increases greatly when [[mana site\|sources]] of crystal mana are scarce. Further, because the rod actually increases the reserve of personal power a magician can call on, they gain additional utility when magical herbs - and a skilled [[Surgical skills#Apothecary\|apothecary]] is available to provide easy access to the [[Philtres of the High Peaks]].
	~~<!-- Description contributed to by Zoe McAuley -->~~

	==Rules==		==Rules==

Rafferty: /* Rules */

2016-11-30T13:00:08Z

Rules

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:00, 30 November 2016
Line 8:		Line 8:
	{{Rods}}		{{Rods}}
	* '''Effect:''' While you are bonded to this rod you have two points of additional personal mana.		* '''Effect:''' While you are bonded to this rod you have two points of additional personal mana.
	* '''Materials:''' Crafting a Neophyte's Aid requires nine measures of [[Materials#Iridescent Gloaming\|iridescent gloaming]], three measures of [[Materials#Dragonbone\|dragonbone]], and ~~three~~ ingots of [[Materials#Tempest Jade\|tempest jade]]. It takes one month to make one of these items.		* '''Materials:''' Crafting a Neophyte's Aid requires nine measures of [[Materials#Iridescent Gloaming\|iridescent gloaming]], three measures of [[Materials#Dragonbone\|dragonbone]], and two ingots of [[Materials#Tempest Jade\|tempest jade]]. It takes one month to make one of these items.
	<!--- Flavour text by Christopher Allen --->		<!--- Flavour text by Christopher Allen --->
	<ic>“...Thirty-seven barrels of oil, eighteen tanned leather hides, forty-two lengths of oak timber at five yards length each, three hundred arrows and thirty halberds for the sentinels, four hundred candles and five hundred yards of hemp rope.”		<ic>“...Thirty-seven barrels of oil, eighteen tanned leather hides, forty-two lengths of oak timber at five yards length each, three hundred arrows and thirty halberds for the sentinels, four hundred candles and five hundred yards of hemp rope.”

Rafferty: /* Rules */

2016-11-30T12:56:06Z

Rules

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:56, 30 November 2016
Line 7:		Line 7:
	==Rules==		==Rules==
	{{Rods}}		{{Rods}}
	* '''Effect:''' While you are bonded to this rod you have ~~one point~~ of additional personal mana.		* '''Effect:''' While you are bonded to this rod you have two points of additional personal mana.
	* '''Materials:''' Crafting a Neophyte's Aid requires ~~seven~~ measures of [[Materials#Iridescent Gloaming\|iridescent gloaming]] and three ingots of [[Materials#Tempest Jade\|tempest jade]]. It takes one month to make one of these items.		* '''Materials:''' Crafting a Neophyte's Aid requires nine measures of [[Materials#Iridescent Gloaming\|iridescent gloaming]], three measures of [[Materials#Dragonbone\|dragonbone]], and three ingots of [[Materials#Tempest Jade\|tempest jade]]. It takes one month to make one of these items.
	<!--- Flavour text by Christopher Allen --->		<!--- Flavour text by Christopher Allen --->
	<ic>“...Thirty-seven barrels of oil, eighteen tanned leather hides, forty-two lengths of oak timber at five yards length each, three hundred arrows and thirty halberds for the sentinels, four hundred candles and five hundred yards of hemp rope.”		<ic>“...Thirty-seven barrels of oil, eighteen tanned leather hides, forty-two lengths of oak timber at five yards length each, three hundred arrows and thirty halberds for the sentinels, four hundred candles and five hundred yards of hemp rope.”

Dre at 20:18, 25 August 2016

2016-08-25T20:18:09Z

Matt at 17:45, 22 January 2015

2015-01-22T17:45:27Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:45, 22 January 2015
Line 2:		Line 2:
	A battlefield can shift without warning, and while several magical [[Weapons & armour#implements\|implements]] offer greater power than a neophyte's aid, few can match the versatility of simply having an additional reserve of [[Magical_skills#Extra_Mana\|personal mana]] to call on. These rods are often the first magical item a young [[Magical_skills#Magician\|magician]] acquires, usually as a gift from their mentor. In [[Urizen]] and other places where large numbers of student-mages gather, these rods are kept on hand to teach the [[Create_bond\|bond-creating spell]]. The rod's power is both fairly harmless and provides the student with enough power to break the bond again, making it an excellent training tool. It is also often the first magical rod used by would-be battle-magicians, helping them to get use of such a weapon while providing the fuel for an extra spell.		A battlefield can shift without warning, and while several magical [[Weapons & armour#implements\|implements]] offer greater power than a neophyte's aid, few can match the versatility of simply having an additional reserve of [[Magical_skills#Extra_Mana\|personal mana]] to call on. These rods are often the first magical item a young [[Magical_skills#Magician\|magician]] acquires, usually as a gift from their mentor. In [[Urizen]] and other places where large numbers of student-mages gather, these rods are kept on hand to teach the [[Create_bond\|bond-creating spell]]. The rod's power is both fairly harmless and provides the student with enough power to break the bond again, making it an excellent training tool. It is also often the first magical rod used by would-be battle-magicians, helping them to get use of such a weapon while providing the fuel for an extra spell.

	Demand for these rods increases greatly when [[mana site\|sources]] of crystal mana are scarce. The [[Navarr\|Navarri]] [[Navarr_magical_traditions#Vates\|Vates]] and magicians living in the more isolated [[Varushka\|Varushkan]] Vales or Urizen Spires find these rods helpful when unable to secure stocks of crystalised mana and value the daily replenishment of the rod's power over the expendable nature of mana crystals. In conjunction with ~~certain~~ [[~~herbalism\|potions~~]], such as [[Magnum_Opus#Philosopher's Gold\|Philosopher's Gold]] and [[Unguents_of_Falling_Leaves#Leaden Quicksilver\|Leaden Quicksilver]], these magicians can even employ the rod's reserve in ritual magic.		Demand for these rods increases greatly when [[mana site\|sources]] of crystal mana are scarce. The [[Navarr\|Navarri]] [[Navarr_magical_traditions#Vates\|Vates]] and magicians living in the more isolated [[Varushka\|Varushkan]] Vales or Urizen Spires find these rods helpful when unable to secure stocks of crystalised mana and value the daily replenishment of the rod's power over the expendable nature of mana crystals. In conjunction with a[[potion]], such as [[Magnum_Opus#Philosopher's Gold\|Philosopher's Gold]] and [[Unguents_of_Falling_Leaves#Leaden Quicksilver\|Leaden Quicksilver]], these magicians can even employ the rod's reserve in ritual magic.
	<!-- Description contributed to by Zoe McAuley -->		<!-- Description contributed to by Zoe McAuley -->

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:18, 25 August 2016
Line 1:		Line 1:
	==Description==		==Description==
	A battlefield can shift without warning, and while several magical [[Weapons & armour#implements\|implements]] offer greater power than a ~~neophyte~~'s ~~aid~~, few can match the versatility of simply having an additional reserve of [[Magical_skills#Extra_Mana\|personal mana]] to call on. These rods are often the first magical item a young [[Magical_skills#Magician\|magician]] acquires, usually as a gift from their mentor. In [[Urizen]] and other places where large numbers of student-mages gather, these rods are kept on hand to teach the [[Create_bond\|bond-creating spell]]. The rod's power is both fairly harmless and provides the student with enough power to break the bond again, making it an excellent training tool. It is also often the first magical rod used by would-be battle-magicians, helping them to get use of such a weapon while providing the fuel for an extra spell.		A battlefield can shift without warning, and while several magical [[Weapons & armour#implements\|implements]] offer greater power than a Neophyte's Aid, few can match the versatility of simply having an additional reserve of [[Magical_skills#Extra_Mana\|personal mana]] to call on. These rods are often the first magical item a young [[Magical_skills#Magician\|magician]] acquires, usually as a gift from their mentor. In [[Urizen]] and other places where large numbers of student-mages gather, these rods are kept on hand to teach the [[Create_bond\|bond-creating spell]]. The rod's power is both fairly harmless and provides the student with enough power to break the bond again, making it an excellent training tool. It is also often the first magical rod used by would-be battle-magicians, helping them to get use of such a weapon while providing the fuel for an extra spell.

	Demand for these rods increases greatly when [[mana site\|sources]] of crystal mana are scarce. The [[Navarr\|Navarri]] [[Navarr_magical_traditions#Vates\|~~Vates~~]] and magicians living in the more isolated [[Varushka\|Varushkan]] ~~Vales~~ or Urizen ~~Spires~~ find these rods helpful when unable to secure stocks of crystalised mana and value the daily replenishment of the rod's power over the expendable nature of mana crystals. In conjunction with a[[potion]], such as [[Magnum_Opus#Philosopher's Gold\|Philosopher's Gold]] and [[Unguents_of_Falling_Leaves#Leaden Quicksilver\|Leaden Quicksilver]], these magicians can even employ the rod's reserve in ritual magic.		Demand for these rods increases greatly when [[mana site\|sources]] of crystal mana are scarce. The [[Navarr\|Navarri]] [[Navarr_magical_traditions#Vates\|vates]] and magicians living in the more isolated [[Varushka\|Varushkan]] vales or Urizen spires find these rods helpful when unable to secure stocks of crystalised mana and value the daily replenishment of the rod's power over the expendable nature of mana crystals. In conjunction with a [[potion]], such as [[Magnum_Opus#Philosopher's Gold\|Philosopher's Gold]] and [[Unguents_of_Falling_Leaves#Leaden Quicksilver\|Leaden Quicksilver]], these magicians can even employ the rod's reserve in ritual magic.
	<!-- Description contributed to by Zoe McAuley -->		<!-- Description contributed to by Zoe McAuley -->

Line 8:		Line 8:
	{{Rods}}		{{Rods}}
	* '''Effect:''' While you are bonded to this rod you have one point of additional personal mana.		* '''Effect:''' While you are bonded to this rod you have one point of additional personal mana.
	* '''Materials:''' Crafting a ~~neophyte~~'s ~~aid~~ requires seven measures of [[Materials#Iridescent Gloaming\|iridescent gloaming]] and three ingots of [[Materials#Tempest Jade\|tempest jade]]. It takes one month to make one of these items.		* '''Materials:''' Crafting a Neophyte's Aid requires seven measures of [[Materials#Iridescent Gloaming\|iridescent gloaming]] and three ingots of [[Materials#Tempest Jade\|tempest jade]]. It takes one month to make one of these items.
	<!--- Flavour text by Christopher Allen --->		<!--- Flavour text by Christopher Allen --->
	<ic>“...Thirty-seven barrels of oil, eighteen tanned leather hides, forty-two lengths of oak timber at five yards length each, three hundred arrows and thirty halberds for the ~~Sentinels~~, four hundred candles and five hundred yards of hemp rope.”		<ic>“...Thirty-seven barrels of oil, eighteen tanned leather hides, forty-two lengths of oak timber at five yards length each, three hundred arrows and thirty halberds for the sentinels, four hundred candles and five hundred yards of hemp rope.”

	The Urizen mage came to the end of the requisition order. The provisioner nodded, noting each article in his ledger. Around them, the encampment was filled with the bustle of preparations – a column of Marcher infantry filing out through the palisade gates, dozens of Dawnish yeomen polishing armour and hammering out dents, freshly arrived League soldiers lining up to receive their armaments.		The Urizen mage came to the end of the requisition order. The provisioner nodded, noting each article in his ledger. Around them, the encampment was filled with the bustle of preparations – a column of Marcher infantry filing out through the palisade gates, dozens of Dawnish yeomen polishing armour and hammering out dents, freshly arrived League soldiers lining up to receive their armaments.
Line 16:		Line 16:
	“Oh,” said the mage, squinting at a final line on the list. “And a dozen enchanted rods for the neophytes.”		“Oh,” said the mage, squinting at a final line on the list. “And a dozen enchanted rods for the neophytes.”

	The provisioner spluttered, and not from the dust that the Marcher boots were kicking up as they went past. “A dozen? A dozen? Are you ~~Spirefolk~~ not supposed to possess a trove of such things – and to ask for them for neophytes, no less?”		The provisioner spluttered, and not from the dust that the Marcher boots were kicking up as they went past. “A dozen? A dozen? Are you spirefolk not supposed to possess a trove of such things – and to ask for them for neophytes, no less?”

	The mage gave him a wan smile. “I and my pupils have travelled six hundred miles to join this effort, and bringing a veritable trove with us would have been a little beyond the strength of my back, hmm? Not to mention that even a neophyte can save soldiers' lives if he or she has a focusing aid to strengthen their magical reserves.”		The mage gave him a wan smile. “I and my pupils have travelled six hundred miles to join this effort, and bringing a veritable trove with us would have been a little beyond the strength of my back, hmm? Not to mention that even a neophyte can save soldiers' lives if he or she has a focusing aid to strengthen their magical reserves.”
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	A scowl was now resident on the provisioner's face, and showed little intent of giving up its new home. “If it's mana you need, I can authorise another satchel of crystals be delivered instead.”		A scowl was now resident on the provisioner's face, and showed little intent of giving up its new home. “If it's mana you need, I can authorise another satchel of crystals be delivered instead.”

	“If I were leading a circle of ritualists,” the mage countered, “then I would consider your offer a generous one. However, we are here to serve as battle-magi, and I ~~forsee~~ long weeks of campaigning ahead of us. My pupils are going to be pushed to their very limits in the coming conflict. A simple bag of mana crystals will quickly disappear, but the focusing aids will provide every day, for as long as there is strength left in their bearers. It will cost you far more to supply us in mana crystals, in the long run, than to simply acquiesce to my request and dispense the rods.”		“If I were leading a circle of ritualists,” the mage countered, “then I would consider your offer a generous one. However, we are here to serve as battle-magi, and I foresee long weeks of campaigning ahead of us. My pupils are going to be pushed to their very limits in the coming conflict. A simple bag of mana crystals will quickly disappear, but the focusing aids will provide every day, for as long as there is strength left in their bearers. It will cost you far more to supply us in mana crystals, in the long run, than to simply acquiesce to my request and dispense the rods.”

	“Listen,” the provisioner said, “I can't just hand that calibre of equipment out! You think the Dawnish weavers or enchanters will be happy if I tell them I handed out most of the reserve to some newly-arrived Urizen? I-”		“Listen,” the provisioner said, “I can't just hand that calibre of equipment out! You think the Dawnish weavers or enchanters will be happy if I tell them I handed out most of the reserve to some newly-arrived Urizen? I-”

	But the mage had clearly had enough, his aquiline visage growing stern. “Listen to me. General Haytham sent us assurance that we would have the supplies we need; I brought my ~~Spire~~-fellows over six hundred miles on the belief that the good ~~General~~ would prove true to his word.” He was thrusting a letter at the provisioner now, who flinched away as he saw the Marcher ~~General~~'s seal at the bottom of the script. “I will not send out those I have taught into battle just for their power to be squandered, and for good ~~men~~ to die as a result. So would you like me to go and ask the ~~General~~ why his word is suddenly in question, and why he would rather his country-folk not be given the aid of Urizen magi in this war?”		But the mage had clearly had enough, his aquiline visage growing stern. “Listen to me. General Haytham sent us assurance that we would have the supplies we need; I brought my spire-fellows over six hundred miles on the belief that the good general would prove true to his word.” He was thrusting a letter at the provisioner now, who flinched away as he saw the Marcher general's seal at the bottom of the script. “I will not send out those I have taught into battle just for their power to be squandered, and for good people to die as a result. So would you like me to go and ask the general why his word is suddenly in question, and why he would rather his country-folk not be given the aid of Urizen magi in this war?”

	The scowl stayed in place, but the provisioner relented. “Alright, alright. You'll have your blasted rods, and the mana besides.”		The scowl stayed in place, but the provisioner relented. “Alright, alright. You'll have your blasted rods, and the mana besides.”

	“Thank you,” the mage said with a graceful nod. “There. Such a simple decision, but with it, you'll save many ~~men's~~ lives upon the field of battle.”</ic>		“Thank you,” the mage said with a graceful nod. “There. Such a simple decision, but with it, you'll save many lives upon the field of battle.”</ic>