Frost 19th Morning
Myles took a seat next to the mute orphan girl and began to read from the ancient tome. "Listen here, lass," he said, his eyes scanning the yellowed pages. “you up for another magic art lesson” Taking her short nod for ascent Myles read the next chapter and tried to make sense of the sages flowery tone.
Chapter 4: The Importance of Scrivening Tools
As a sage and Scrivener of many years, I have come to appreciate the importance of having the right tools for the art of Scrivening. While some may think that the power lies solely in the skill of the mage, I can assure you that having the appropriate tools can make all the difference in the success of your magical workings.
Of all the tools at a Scrivener's disposal, the dragonshard foci is perhaps the most ubiquitous. These tools come in many shapes and sizes, from simple rings to ornate staffs. Some may argue that the shape of the tool itself does not matter, but I beg to differ. As a mage of considerable skill, I have found that staves are the best status symbol for a mage, and I prefer to use them as my primary focus.
That being said, I begrudgingly admit that other options for dragonshard foci are available. Amulets, wands, and even rings can serve the same purpose. These tools are often inscribed with pictographs to help control and direct the energies within them. While it is not necessary to use specialized tools, most world mages find that they enhance the effectiveness of their magical workings.
Another crucial tool for the Scrivener is Spellwright's Ink, created by skilled Runeforgers. This coveted ink frees Scriveners from the need to awaken their pictographs to the presence of aether themselves. It is already magically infused and can be used to quickly draw pictographs of varying degrees of power and efficacy. The higher quality the ink, the more advanced the runes that can be written or drawn with it.
Similarly, Sorcerer's Sand is another magical material created by Runeforgers that can be used in the same fashion as Spellwright's Ink. This sand is spread across a broader surface area and is used to draw symbols at large or craft the shape of the symbols directly. It is commonly used to serve as the canvas upon which ritual circles are drawn. As with the ink, the higher quality the sand, the more advanced the spellwork one can achieve with it.
Finally, it is worth noting that regardless of whether the tools are magical or mundane, the only thing a Scrivener truly needs to practice the art of Scrivening is the ability to draw a pictograph and awaken it to the presence of aether. Symbols can be drawn with a mundane ink and quill, or even with a hammer and chisel. Blood or symbols drawn in the dirt or sand can also suffice. As long as the symbols are awakened to the presence of aether, they can be used for magical work.
In conclusion, while a mage's skill is certainly important in the art of Scrivening, it is imperative that they have the appropriate tools at their disposal. From dragonshard foci to Spellwright's Ink and Sorcerer's Sand, the right tools can make all the difference in the success of a Scrivener's magical workings.
Picking the parts he considered most pertinent he read aloud.
"As a wise and powerful Scrivener, I've learned that having the right tools is essential to the craft of Scrivening. Some may think it's all about the mage's skill, but the proper tools can make all the difference."
He looked up from the book and noticed the girl staring at him, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Dragonshard foci are the most common tools used by Scriveners. They come in many shapes and sizes, from simple rings to ornate staffs. I prefer a staff myself. It's a good way to let folks know you mean business," he said with a wink.
The girl nodded, her eyes still fixed on him.
"But don't fret if you don't have a fancy staff or ring," Myles continued. "Wands, amulets, and even knives can do the trick. They're often inscribed with special symbols to help control and direct magical energy. It's not necessary to use them, but they can make your magic stronger."
Myles turned back to the book and continued reading. "Now, let's talk about Spellwright's Ink. It's a special ink made by skilled Runeforgers that saves Scriveners the trouble of having to awaken their symbols to the presence of aether. It's already infused with magic and makes it easy to draw powerful symbols of all kinds. The better the ink, the stronger the symbols you can draw."
He then looked up and saw the girl was still paying close attention, despite not being able to speak. "And then there's Sorcerer's Sand," he said, pointing to a drawing of a sand-filled circle in the book. "This is used to draw symbols at a larger scale. It's like a canvas for magical symbols. Again, the better the sand, the stronger the symbols."
Myles put the book down and turned to the girl. "Now, all of these tools can help you become a better Scrivener, but don't forget the most important thing of all: your ability to draw symbols and awaken them to the presence of aether. You can use a regular ink and quill, or even draw symbols in the dirt or sand. As long as you awaken them to the presence of aether, they can be used for magic."
He smiled at the girl and added, "Just don't go drawing symbols on your bedroom walls without permission, alright? The last thing we need is an angry innkeeper." The small smile the girl let slip made all the awkwardness of trying to be a good role model well worth it to him. "allright one more chapter and i'll share some candy with you, sound good" Another nod and Myles continued reading.
As a sage of Scrivening, I have spent many years studying the effects of different types of dragonshards on magical tools and implements. While there are many different types of dragonshards out there, each with their own unique properties, I will focus on a few of the more common ones.
Aetheryte dragonshards, the most basic type of dragonshard, have no special effects and simply work toward their stated purpose. However, other types of dragonshards can have a variety of effects on a Scrivening Foci. For example, a Pyrolyth (Fire) dragonshard could imbue everything the Foci does with a flame-related effect. So, if one were to use a Fire dragonshard while performing necromancy, any resulting undead creatures might have fiery aspects or abilities.
An Earth dragonshard, also known as Terrasyte, could have the ability to manipulate stone and reshape the earth, making it useful for construction and other building projects. A Scrivening Foci imbued with an Earth dragonshard might be particularly effective for casting spells related to fortification and defense.
A Sanguinyte dragonshard, or Blood Gem, could have the power to regenerate, transfer knowledge, and control blood flow. A Scrivening Foci imbued with a Blood Gem might be particularly useful for healing or mind-reading spells.
Other types of dragonshards could have a variety of other effects as well, depending on their unique properties. For example, a Lumicite (Light) dragonshard could enhance the Foci's ability to manipulate light and illusions, while a Hydracyte (Water) dragonshard might be particularly effective for spells related to the element of water.
It is also worth noting that dragonshards can come in many shapes and sizes, and can be inscribed with a variety of pictographs to imbue them with specific properties. Some Scrivening Foci are gemcut into specific shapes, such as wands or knives, while others are simply inscribed upon a larger, uncut dragonshard.
Of course, there are many more types of dragonshards out there, some of which may have properties that have yet to be discovered. As a sage of Scrivening, I am constantly intrigued by the potential of these powerful gems, and I look forward to uncovering their secrets and unlocking their full potential. [i/]
Pausing thoughtfully and chewing how to best explain the different dragonshards to the girl who was showing to be a somewhat eager student to his elation.
"Dragonshards are powerful gems that can be used to imbue magical tools and implements with specific properties," Myles said. "For example, a Fire dragonshard could make everything a Scrivening Foci does related to fire. So if you were doing Scrivening, any pictographs you create might have fiery abilities."
He continued, "An Earth dragonshard could let you manipulate stone and shape the earth, which could be useful for building or fortifying structures. And a Blood Gem dragonshard could let you heal wounds or read minds… or so it says, I wonder if he was exaggerating that one..”
Myles flipped through the book and pointed at different illustrations of dragonshards. "These gems come in many different shapes and sizes. Some are cut into shapes like wands or knives, while others are just inscribed upon a larger, uncut dragonshard."
"The book says there are many other types of dragonshards out there too, some of which have yet to be discovered," he said with a curious tone. "It's fascinating to think about what kind of magical properties they could have." Resolving to make finding a focus a side trip in sangen Myles closed the book in the mean time and looked to the girl. “I think we’ve earned some sweets yeah?”
