The Third Letter of Scot of Tols

To the Wise and Temperate of the Order of the Circle

From he who zealously awaits the Dawn of the Eighth Age, called Scot of Tols

a brief missive written hastily and carried by this fanged one.

My brothers, my sojourn in Laketon of Saklan is at an end and I know your patience is growing thin, but I still cannot return as you direct. Please do not take this as disobedience. I have learned the fundamental powers which undergird this study of magic. I have learned to sense what these pitiful wizards think are its emanations. I have also learned to read the curious language by which they transmit their spells. Of the two, only the latter fascinates me.

It would make you laugh to know what they are dabbling with. These great and powerful men do not command energies. Rather they have peeled back the thinnest layer of what is granted to us by the Creator and have blindly named what they do not truly understand. I believe that they have discovered some means of gaining access to that divine favor which is reflected and distributed by all living things.

This method is rough and tedious, but no wonder these wizards endlessly seek power for the nature of it can be intoxicating -- I will admit that much, at least. It might have held some sway over me, had I not already learned the pure and excellent way that our Order espouses. Still, I humbly submit that there could be some utility here for learning more than we have yet seen. Regardless, the fears you expressed about my safety and my loyalties to the Order are completely unfounded. I have never seen my role in the world with such clarity. I have never felt stronger in my faith, nor held more fidelity to the Continuity of the Circle

In addition to what I have learned about their methods, I have seen that the Magisters squabble amongst themselves and vie continually for control of the emanations the grasp after. They would chop it all up and divide this power as though there were only these scraps which must be fought over. They are like hounds after a feast. They treat these radiations as if they were possessions which could be bought and sold. While their students are content to learn more and more spells, it seems that the Magisters are most concerned with the source of power of those spells and how it can be allocated by each of them.

The matter of the Order of Wizards is still elusive. The whole conspiracy is far more complex than I thought. I still do not have concrete proof of their order, but I have eavesdropped and heard passing mention of a being known as the Archmage. He has apparently learned to prolong his life unnaturally and believes he will never taste death. If it were true, that would be some testament to his knowledge, but I think them delusional. Nevertheless, the Archmage's most important role seems to be to adjudicate the many disagreements between the Magisters, which have secondary and even tertiary factions within themselves.

Now I must advise you that my investigation will carry me to the far hinterlands of Westrun's Seas of Certain Death. I have left the tower of my supposed "master" and have caught up with a messenger first sent to him, but now on the return leg of his voyage. We journey together at present. He does not suspect my intentions. At long last, I believe him to be one of the Solomonari that you first sent me to discover.

He is a pitiful creature indeed and half mad with ravings unmentionable. But he knows of this Archmage and more. For he can name a score or more previous Archmagi by rote memorization. He claims the list is all of those who have ever served in the role. By way of confirmation, the first name is that of Arepo which I referred to in a letter previous. You will note that some of those names I have recorded here are Elven and he claims there has been at least one Gnome to wear the mantle.

I write all of this in haste before my companion returns from a call of nature to relieve himself. I do not trust myself not to keep the list in my head, as he does. It is best trusted to you in writing.


I plan to return to you no later than what is necessary to complete this investigation. Do not grow impatient. I feel like despite your command, had you been aware of all that I had learned, you would have me continue. So, I mean to do just that. Is this not a greater form of obedience?