A Chronicle of Mages

A Chronicle of Mages, by Gundovald the Varofian. First published in 598, republished 841.   The following is a brief account of several of the most influential and interesting magical practitioners in recorded history. It is the intention of the author that this list should be updated and republished as new wizards arise and new historical discoveries are made. Note: this work intentionally omits any pre-Disruption mages, as little can be known of them for certain, and it is not the author's wish to glorify any duplicitous Shrouded Ones.   Galvirk the Bearded, who lived some time in the late third millennium before the Discovery, is widely considered to have been the first true Wizard of the post-Disruption world. As is to be expected for such an ancient figure, little is known of him for certain, save that he was a human from northern Dukhala who excelled in magical study, and likely sported an exceptionally long, grey beard by the end of his life. It is said that he was the first person - man, elf, or otherwise - to rediscover the ability to cast spells of the ninth level following the Disruption that destroyed Ura's first civilisations. He is also credited for foiling a Sou'elian invasion of Enoria, outwitting the Shrouded One Barzats in a game of riddles, inventing the wide-brimmed hat, rescuing a talking pig from the Nine Hells, and creating his own floating island. Galvirk is largely responsible for setting the standard of wizardly conduct and aesthetics into the modern day.   Mun the Jolly was a mage of some infamy who lived around the 14th century before the Discovery. As a half-Goliath, Mun was unable to convince any reputable mages to take him on as an apprentice, and so allegedly turned to the Shrouded One Hanseath for aid. Hanseath helped Mun to recover much bardic lore that had been forgotten since the Disruption, allowing him to become one of the first powerful bards of recorded history. Mun became a traveling minstrel, bringing merriment and mischief wherever he went. After stealing the crowns of eleven kings of men, Mun was confronted by the combined retainers of each of the monarchs who demanded he return them. When Mun revealed he had already had them melted down and the proceeds given to the poor, he was seized for execution. However, the eleven kings could not agree on who would have the right to kill him, and so Mun turned invisible and escaped in the ensuing commotion, all while singing of the kings' foolishness.   Qiralei Shadowbreaker was the Elven Queen of Galbed, who successfully rebelled against the Sou'elian Empire during her reign from 1109BD-953BD. She is famous for having made deals with both Kujestar the Mad Guardian and Lamki the Envious, two Shrouded Ones typically at odds with one another. She was a powerful warlock and sorceress who is said to have either been able to teleport or turn invisible many individuals at once, allowing her to ambush and defeat several Sou'elian armies during the war, and even to briefly capture the fortress city of Magarda. Her reign ended in 953BD, when she met Emperor Ianvalur VI (a master wizard) in battle, resulting in a conflagration of magical energies so intense, it annihilated both armies, and left a dead zone in the Weave 20 miles across, which remains to this day.   Urmgarn Mullir was a powerful dwarven battlemage who spearheaded the Finorrian Republic's conquests from 595BD to 538BD. He was brought into service following a series of military defeats at the hands of a coalition of human cities in Sennor in 596BD. While initially only an advisor, he proved himself in the battle of Rabnau by taking command after the death of General Morram and defeating the enemy army by locking its commander in a force-cage. He then led the Finorrians to victory on numerous occasions, including at the siege of Yelmondton, where he cast down the city's walls with now-lost evocation magic. He also led one of the two Finorrian armies that conquered Varofia, but was assassinated in 524BD by jealous political rivals, who were in turn killed by Urmgarn's contingency magicks.   Arnall Dragonbane was an early human settler in Colossia who participated in several conflicts between the settler races and the dragon kings. While a capable wizard, Arnall is best known for his cultural outreach to the lizardfolk, many of whom he enlisted to help overthrow their draconic overlords. He was instrumental in the destruction of the draconic hegemonies in what is now Colicca, Ensolum, and Chalupren (Editor's note: now known as the Broken Wastes). The latter of these likely gained its signature ravines during his battle with the dragon Vergathrix in 85YD.   Editor's Note: Make sure to omit the following entry from editions sold in the Greater Ciprosian, Mekonite lands, or Sorligien. It should also be altered to better reflect Gundovald's writing style before publication.   Siviessa Argia was a powerful wizard in Dukhala around the time of the Discovery. With the continent rapidly becoming less habitable, she and some two dozen associates attempted to use teleportation magic to bring themselves and a few hundred settlers to Colossia. This spell partially failed, and the group instead ended up in the New World. They would have perished if not for the aid of a group of giants, who took pity on them and constructed an underground city for them to live in. The giants were unaware that this city contained a rift leading to a source of immense power in the Shadowfell. When Siviessa discovered this, she and her associates immediately tried to seize it for themselves, but their rivals attempted to stop them, resulting in a conflict that left only Siviessa and four others alive. They then used the power within to become Shrouded Ones, and before long presented themselves to the gullible Imperator Zemim of Colosse as gods, sparking a centuries-long religious conflict that left many thousands dead and the world indisputably worsened.   Hogelun Planeswalker lived from 273-341YD, hailing from Nicilia. She initially delved into plane-shifting magic in an effort to aid Nicilia in its ongoing wars with Colosse, but continued these efforts even after the wars ended. She is famous for having travelled to all four elemental planes, the Shadowfell, the Feywild, Mechanus (where she gained her modron companion, "Eyeball"), all of the Nine Hells, the Abyss, and the realms of Teokt, Siviessa, and several Shrouded Ones.   Thanasis Stamiades, an infamous alchemist who created the formula for what is now known as Akraian Fire. He played a key role in the failed Akraian rebellion against Colosse in 551, and was killed by his own invention when destroying his research as the city fell, lest it fall into the Colosseans' hands. He was also known for creating a heat-powered airship and keeping three Azer retainers.   Zokalis the Abjurer, an Agrinonian wizard best known for using his magic to hold a breach in the walls of Findinium for three days during the First Ciprosian War. He later served as the head of Agrinon's peace delegation, and thereafter became the Magus of the Agrinonian chapter of the Esoteric League, before disappearing in the Elemental Plane of Air in 805.   Jack Baker, one of the Heroes of Sorligien, is best known for defeating the Demon Prince Orcus during the Battle of Colosse in the Third Ciprosian War. He also helped defeat the Death Knight Zalduun Riteres, explored the New World alongside Edroth Burningswift, helped overthrow the Aboleth tyranny in Oshagm, and captured seven Davite Simulacra during the Event. He became the High Magus of the Esoteric League in 839, and is responsible for most known governments passing laws restricting the use of Simulacrum and other spells between 823 and 831.