So with the opening of this scroll your great journey has begun proud sorcerer! Oh initiate into the secrets of elemental might study well the great art, for the journey you have now begun is long and hard. It shall last for your entire life as you strive ever forward to master the powers that are sorcery. Enemies of unknown power shall always stand before you and as you dare to confront these dangers remember there is pain in failure. When you fail injury and death may take their tolls on you and your companions. And as you carry yourself throughout the realms, so will others judge the honour and worth of every sorcerer by your actions.
To be a Sorcerer is to accept the hardships of life, for at low levels your spellcraft is weak. The trials you must endure will be filled with frustration: no magic areas; spells failures; the wrathful imps and creatures that suffer no pain or damage from your particular elemental assaults. Yet in time, as you grow in power and skill, the joy of accomplishment will fill your soul as you stand before many and know victory by the power that is sorcery.
Sorcerers are not good or evil, or chaotic or lawful as a rule. There are many paths that stretch out before each sorcerer. Some of these futures lead to power and wealth, others to noble companions and great fellowship with like-minded souls. What path you chose is the ethical choice for the sorcerer and none has the right to force their ways upon you. To master the art of Sorcery is to become a great power. But it is for the Great Sorcerer to master his or her own will and choose a destiny worthy of their art and courage.
The best advice for all young sorcerers is to always tithe to the guild as you advance in levels. It is only by tithing to the guild that we gain access to higher levels of the skills so important to our craft and to the spells that make sorcery and sorcerers a true power in the realms. In truth, what matter if you be a 30th level sorcerer if you have never advanced to the higher levels of learning that guild ranks give the wise amongst us.
Just as a man must drink to live, so too the sorcerer must drink of the power of the land, building within his very being the magical energies that are needed to power his or her spells. To develop this inner reservoir of power one must develop your skill with Spiritual Karma. Learn it at any shop where it is offered and always seek to improve this most valuable of skills as you pass to areas of higher learning with the guild.
As you increase in levels as a Sorcerer, the skill of Spiritual Karma adds to your natural ability to increase the amount of magical energy that you can hold within your own body. It also increases your ability to quickly recover magical energy after it is used to power your spells. Oh young sorcerer, to drink deep of power, you must strive to increase this skill whenever possible. Someday, perhaps if fate is kind and destiny believes you worthy, you may reach the maximata level in Spiritual Karma and the true benefits of the magic flows of the realms will be granted unto you.
Next in importance is the skill Sorcery Spell Use, which gives you the mastery over the various spells and incantations that are sorcery. Again, it is important to learn this skill to the highest level you can within our noble guild. Sorcery Spell Use is a skill most heavily guarded, and many outside our guild hunger for the power it gives us. As we advance is Sorcery Spell Use, the damage done by our spells increases and the speed we can cast those spells also improves. Remember well as you move along your personal path to power that the guild has given you much in training and support, and we should always respect its rules.
The guild requires that you guildtithe to a certain level before you are allowed access to higher levels of skill. Yet once you reach a new level, there will be many who have not tithe to the Mage Guild to that level who will beg to be trained with the higher level skills you have access to learning. Think well young sorcerer of your hard struggle and the duty you owe to the guild before agreeing to train others with these skills. They are a reward for hard work and service to the guild. While it costs an extra development point to learn a skill from another player, for one who wishes to rocket up in levels as a sorcerer, without paying their proper tithe to the guild, do they truly deserve to be rewarded? It is a question that all sorcerers must deal with and the only true answer comes from within the individual. But without the struggle to obtain these higher levels of skill, will not the skill's worth be reduced if training is far too easy to obtain in these higher skills?
The basics are very important. If you build a strong foundation to stand on, no matter what the future may hold, you will always be ready to face what destiny wills! There are three basic beginning Sorcery spells of elemental attack: Chill (Cold Chain), Zap (Storm Chain) and Fireflames (Fire Chain). Each, in turn, advances to more powerful attack spells, an area attack spell and finally an enchantment that allows you to add elemental power to a weapon to increase its damage for a limited number of attacks in combat. However, these last two spells are only available to the most powerful of all mages.
Once you have chosen an elemental chain, you should prepare to master each of the spells at a time. Build points can be spent so quickly; you must be wise and plan to get the most out of the development of your skills and spells. Always look to the future. Before you can advance to the next level of a spell in a circle you must learn at least three levels of the previous spell.
As an example, Zap is the first step in the spells of lightning. Blazing Bolts, the next step in this chain of spells, is more powerful and Gigawatt Death is truly a dangerous spell, capturing the full fury of lightning. The only way to gain access to the higher level spells in this series is by guildtithing. However, note that the more powerful spells require far more of your spiritual energy. Therefore, many sorcerers find they do more overall damage in one sustained attack by using a high level zap spell rather than a low level blazing bolts spell.
Now that you have an attack spell, what should you do? Legends Of Cosrin is tough, and at first your ability to damage an enemy is very small. Death can come quickly as you contest in battle with goblins and other weak foe. Yet it is a beginning, and it is from such beginnings that you should develop the battle tactics that will help you in your adventuring career.
Always cast a battle spell before you enter battle, young sorcerer. By casting a spell, such as zap, you hold it ready to target quickly when confronted by an opponent. Getting the first shot in on an enemy can mean the difference between life and death in the dangerous realm that is Legends Of Cosrin. By always walking around with an attack spell ready, you will also learn those areas that are anti-magic zones. These areas are deadly to our kind because the spells that are our truest weapons can not be used effectively in these areas. Learn them and be prepared to move quickly through them. Avoid, if at all possible, confronting enemies in these areas. Knowledge gives us power and these words are very true about the need to avoid fighting in these anti-magic areas.
The best battle tactic is learning how to retreat... Yes, you are a sorcerer. Yes, your goal is to master great elemental attack spells. But in order to advance to the level of power needed to obtain these great spell powers you must survive your battles. By learning to retreat, then setting an attack spell, then retreating again, then launching your spell attack, you may be able to kill an opponent while avoiding damage to yourself.
A general may boast that the job of a soldier is to make the enemy soldier die for his country. In our case as Sorcerers, by retreating and attacking with spells, we can defeat opponents that would otherwise easily slay us. This skill of retreating is just as useful at higher levels, when dragon, lichs and demons must be confronted.
Now it is also important to develop some skill with your chosen weapon. It can be very expensive, but knowing how to fight can save your life. But remember we Sorcerers are not warriors. We do not have access to the training that is the meat and drink of warriors. Spells are our best weapon. But it is nice to be able to have some skill with a weapon, especially when you have to confront an enemy when your spell points are low, or you must fight in an anti-magic area.
Cloaks and robes are useful, but all spell casters can wear armour if their strength is high enough. Always examine any piece of armour you acquire, until you determine what the true benefits it gives you when you wear it. There are many types of armour and such, and anything that gives you an advantage is important.
Within the proud city of Moorgate is a bank, use it! Oh young Sorcerer, money may seem so hard to earn, for with death, half of all the gold you carry is lost. And there are so many ways to die in this most dangerous world! You need gold to train in skills and spells, to buy armour and mounts and so many other purchases to please your soul, like chocolate cake and elven wine. Gold can be so useful, but it is only useful when you have enough gold to cover your expenses. While gold can be found after a monster is defeated, don't forget that the creature's weapons and items such as gems and potions can all be sold at the proper shop for gold. Yes, the payoff is small, but it adds up quickly if you concentrate on it. If you search well you may also find bounties that the city offers adventurers whom rid it of monsters. The rewards can be small, but gold is gold! To preserve your wealth use the bank. You will loose a tenth of your deposits but a twentieth goes to your guild. By having your gold safe in the bank your wealth is protected until you need it. You can bank on it!
As I travel the lands I have also found it very useful to diversify a little. By learning Naturalism Spell Use the spells of healing and protection can be used to assist you in your travels. It is expensive to learn, but I feel it is worth the effort to reach out to others with healing, or to be able to heal your own wounds. By learning Magic Spell Use, the spells of basic magic, unlock, fly, teleport and many others will be yours to command.
The key is taking the time to plan out what you want to spend your development points on in advance. If you set a goal, when you reach it you might just be surprised how many opportunities it has opened for you. I also highly recommend getting several levels of the awareness skill, to help you in searching out the secrets of the land, for as hidden ways are found it will take you ever forward along your road of discovery.
I raise my cup to you young sorcerer. The realms are before you. Seek adventure, friendships, hidden knowledge and glory; for the future is what you will make of it. Do not forget when doubts arise that you are not alone. More experienced members of the guild are often more than willing to help you plan for your future. We sorcerers are united in the wonder and majesty of the great craft of Sorcery. Always honour our craft and always dream well young sorcerer!
As told by
- The Mage Arathorn
Day 10 of Weeping Skies of the Year 124
Alley back to the library foyer.
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