[Aengul] The Wandering Wizard

[ScreamingDingo 16990]

 

 

 

SYMBOL: The Squirrel / An Open Tome

DOMAINS: Curiosity, the Arcane, Inquiry, Discovery

STATUS: Unknown

 

HISTORIES

Chronicles of the Wandering Wizard

 

The Founding of the Quill and the Whimsical:

 

When the Heavens themselves shattered and the first of the Aengudaemons descended, the Wandering Wizard sat diligently in the abyss of creation. The entity watched as the world formed around them, and the spark of curiosity was felt in the belly of all living things. A figure that would eventually become paramount to the chosen kin of the Four Brothers, he followed and awaited to guide those that came forth from the beginnings of the world. 

 

So forth did the first of men step upon the grounds of the Creator, and awaited the Wandering Wizard with his quill and staff. He wrote books and tales of their heroics, recounted the myths of creation, and offered the foundations of the scholarly art to those that welcomed his truths. He was seen to many as an enigmatic figure that knew the answers to all questions that were presented. To that of the skies, to the depths of the world, to the understanding of the mind and the deep recesses of the soul. He spoke of all and granted those who would listen the wisdom that would guide them to fulfilment. By the rise of the Grand Empires of the Four Brothers, the Wandering Wizard was of high renown across its denizens. The strange figure who wore tattered cloth and rag, yet toted staves of gold and books laid with precious materials, knew of many things and brought amazement to those that followed his travels. For the Wizard himself was well-known by the Wilven Monks, where the Sanctuary of the Clouds became a place of frequent rest of his weary bones. For those that would guide many out of the temples, the Wizard would offer an arm of guidance and lead them towards the towns that they belonged.

 

The world itself melded its mind with the Wizard at its helm, texts of ancient renown were spread across the world, from the first wars to the cursing of the Brothers themselves. The modern Aegisian chronicles were built upon his writings, as were the words that were spoken to the forefathers of the descendants. Yet this was not his most well known contribution, that instead laid with those that wished to use the Wizard himself as a role-model for the crafting of the Voidal Arts. He is rumoured to be one of the first known practitioners of the Void, able to bend elements from thin air as ferocious as the Elementalists of Krug’s Kindred. That of the ‘Arcane Mage’, studied under the Wandering Wizard to create the modern day interpretation of what is known as the schools of Voidal Evocations. The whimsical spark of the elder allowed for many to expand the study of such a strange practice, where the flopped hat and ragged clothes became a symbol of curiosity and amusement beyond the populations of Aegis. 

 

 

If any remember the times of Aegis, they would remember the name of the Wandering Wizard. His name to many is known as ‘Availer’, but otherwise an instrumental cog within the existence of many. He guided those that wished for wisdom through battles of hardship and struggle, yet there was always something strange about his appearances of when he was there, and when he left. In the first War of Iblees, the Wandering Wizard disappeared. For the entire conflict, his knowledge, and ideas vanished from the mortal plane. An absence accounted for when the descendants marched and fought against the Betrayer. Yet he returned when the dust settled and emerged as if nothing ever happened. Recounts of the battles were written and distributed by the scholar, yet he was never spotted during these battles. One of the main ‘journeys’ of the Wizard was the establishment of inter-planar travel, where he was able to open the gateways to The Verge and later Asulon with the magic that he possessed. This is rumoured to be the foundation that was used for translocation, with the Arcane Mage utilising Voidal Nodes to perfect the teleportation of entities between the spaces of the void. Yet this was never confirmed, a tale of mythos that was built around the curious nature of the figure. 

 

The Fall of the Wizard:

 

Upon the faithless day of the harsh winters, he appeared at the seat of Al’khazar and proclaimed a wish for all descendants to escort him to the Cloud Temple itself.  For a journey so treacherous was instrumental to protect the transportation of eggs that were stolen from the kindred of Dragur. The assorted crew of the warriors of Humanity and the descendants all came to the aid of the Wandering Wizard. For the cargo of their prize was something that was vital to keep out of the hands of the eternal threat of the undead. With such, they marched from the walls of the Perea Monarchy onto the King’s Road itself, to head towards the Cloud Temple within the centre of the world.  The devious attempts of the undead stopped their escort as the clashing of magics and men erupted across the area. Ibleesian lightning intertwined with the magics of Aeriel, and of the Wandering Wizard. Shields of wrought energy brought forth a barrier that protected those from the onslaught. They drew closer to the Sanctuary and as the fighting grew tougher, the Wizard commanded for all to flee to the Cloud Temple. The structures of wrought iron and magma rained from the skies as calamities were called by the undead. The Wandering Wizard kept them at bay, before charging in at a triumphant call to repel the forces beyond the boundaries of the Cloud Temple. The swinging of blades and staves against one another ricocheted until the vital blow was struck. The body of the Wandering Wizard was pierced by occult weapons and magic, tearing asunder his mortal form and rendering his relics useless to descendant kind. The vigilant defender fell, another bloodied corpse for the brutal wars for Aegis. All that remained amongst his relics was the hat of Wizard, that swayed in the wind and splattered with blood that shone with flecks of gold upon the sandstone roads.

 

The death of the Wandering Wizard led to the devastating battles of the Fall of Aegis. The draconic eggs that were escorted were hatched by the forces of Iblees and were paramount in the felling of Malinor and the Cloud Temple itself. The descendants fled to the Verge, the legacy of the Wizard’s own exploration across the mortal realms.

 

With such, after the death of the Wandering Wizard, he has been rumoured to appear at dire straits or moments of great desperation. Though, these are all delusions of those that are accepting the fate of loss. Except for one moment that was confirmed by the great scholars of the Dwarves. At the battle of Kal’Dwain, where multiple drakes wreaked havoc across the city, a man in white robes apparently created a barrier that allowed for the escape of various adventurers from the fires of the evil entity. He was seen to be an invigorated, youthful man of blonde hair that seemingly carried the poise of the ancient protector. Yet, after the battle subsided, there was no sign of the entity. Was it an act of divine intervention, or the trauma creating the figment of another?

 

 

TOWER OF CURIOSITIES

Realm

 

The endless Tower of Curiosities is what is rumoured to be the realm of the Wandering Wizard. It is a large, pleasant field with a single structure in its centre. This tower mimics the styles of the ancient practitioners of the Void, their whimsical and chaotic nature burying the most obscure and powerful artefacts possible. Within this tower lies an endless selection of doors and stairways that lead to infinite possibilities, where doors may hide the burrows of giant rabbits or hold tombs that have once held objects such as the Kal’Varak.  No-one of sound mind has reported its existence, it is instead an extended hyperbole that has been uttered by the most delusional of Voidal Mages, where the sickness has turned their grasp of reality into nothing but grains of sand that slip between their fingers.  Many that repeat this tale end up finding nothing of its validity and existence outside of oral histories and rumours, where treasure hunters end up employing those that are able to utilise inter-planar travel and disappear into the cosmos itself. 

 

MODERN DAY

Following

 

The influence of the Wandering Wizard can be seen in the traditionalist Voidal Mages that once roamed the world. Those that believed in the cloth hat and cloak, the staff and the ever-bearing whimsy of the world. Akin to the first archmages of history, they do not worship the Wandering Wizard but acknowledge his presence and influence upon the magical community. Ancient scholars also revere the texts of the Wandering Wizard, his writings the foundational texts for many influential movements that happened throughout history. 

 

He has not been officially sighted since the ‘apparent’ spotting of Kal’Dwain. Many keep hope that the Wandering Wizard did not die in the Aegisian battles, but there has been no confirmation otherwise.

 

PURPOSE

Explanation

 

This was an important character of 2011-13 that was extremely influential on the server and its implementation by Availer. This is to move this character away from its self-insert like nature and try to flesh it out to explain the prevalence of the Wizard archetype and why many of the older histories were written by them. I believe it is a character that is interesting enough to read about, even if they are currently not in use and won’t be for the future. Overall, it’s to give homage to the server’s roots and update it with the Aengudaemonica project, as many things will. I believe strongly in reinforcing the interesting elements we have as a server and our over a decade history, and that is my own aim and direction with the projects I have undertaken with this. This will be one of the first of quite a few I am aiming to update and potentially help create eventlines and stories for newer players to enjoy these elements. 

 

Citations:

Wandering Wizard - https://www.lordofthecraft.net/forums/topic/121447-deceased-the-wandering-wizard-aengul/

 

Credits:

ScreamingDingo - Writer