Life of a Wizard!

Below here is where our story will be displayed!

…Wizards. From the kindly old white-bearded casters wearing robes with stars and moons to the battle-hardened war-mage throwing fire balls at dragons. The royal family has always had one on hand: a wise diviner to lead the kingdom into peace or a dangerous conjurer to dominate all of the land under one rule. Or perhaps a divine healer? An alchemist? Or even a necromancer? The combinations are boundless. Let me tell you my story.

I wasn't always a wizened old wizard, you know. Wizards begin their lives the same as everyone else. I was born in a small village in the Kingdom of Daria. King Norbert and Queen Audrey reigned in the capital city of Tornassa, which was many miles away from my small village.

I remember the day I was born. My parents were good people. They were loving individuals.They were very good to me, their precious little girl. They named me Helena. I grew up in the village of Elmvale where nearly everyone was human, although there were a few exceptions. The entire kingdom of Daria was like that, besides the dwarves under the Grey Mountains, the elves in the Alderheart Forest, and the orcs in the wilderness to the west. Our kingdom was very racially tolerant, when I was young.

My parents and I were human. It was comforting, to be the same as everyone else. The royal family was human for a reason. We were genetically compatible with more races than any other and made alliances quickly.

(Kingdom Faction +20, Diplomacy +25)

My parents weren't poor, as we always seemed to have what we needed when I was growing up. They always made sure I had nice clothes and good shoes. During the holidays, they always seemed to find enough coin to buy me a special toy and have a big meal. I still remember my mother's soft voice when she sang me to sleep and my father's calm strength whenever I awoke in the night from a bad dream.

Even as a young child, I was drawn into the unknown. I remember my first magical experience, even though I was only five years old. I didn't know where my parents were, but I wandered off alone into the village witch's hut. The hut was empty; I don't know where the witch was that day. I saw dried herbs, magical talismans and trinkets all over the shelves. A large black cauldron sat over a small fire in the middle of the hut. I made friends with her pet rat, which started following me around everywhere. I was playing with the rat a few days later, and the witch said I could keep it. She warned me that if I kept the rat, it would be mine forever. Did I find my familiar that day? No, I didn't keep the rat. Although I didn't keep the rat, I did learn about friendship that day. I played with the rat quite often, giving it cheese and breadcrumbs.

(Personality +2 and Nature +10)

At the age of seven, I made a friend. Childhood friends are special since they remain a part of you for the rest of your life, even after you've grown apart. My best friend was imaginary. I was a very lonely child.

(Personality -5)

There was a bully in my village who was a few years older than me. Yes, even I had this kind of trouble when I was a child. She terrorized my childhood. Her name was Natasha. Natasha was a half-elf. I know that I shouldn't have stereotyped all elves because of how Natasha behaved, but I couldn't help myself.

(Elf Faction -10)

I remember the first day Natasha started picking on me. I tried reasoning with the bully. I was still beaten up, which made me wonder what caused her anger.

(Personality +2, Diplomacy +10 and Good +1)

I was seven years old when I started noticing the difference between boys and girls. I was attracted to girls. It was a very lonely year for me. I had nobody to play with, and I never experienced puppy love when I was young.

(Personality -2)

Life in Elmvale was pleasant, and it was a beautiful place to grow up. There was a sparkling river that ran through the center of it, and farms all around us. We had all of the amenities of a small town, as well. I rarely left my home, preferring to stay at home and read. I was a real bookworm, spending more time with my nose buried in a book than exploring the sights around my small village. From the moment I learned how to read, I was like I sponge, soaking up new facts every day.

(History +10, Geography +10, Arcana +5 and Body -7)

I remember one day when we found a little puppy in a back alley. It looked so sad and lonely, which made me think it didn't belong to anyone. It was very dirty and had a broken leg. I nursed it back to health. I fed it and kept it clean until its leg healed. It was a strong little dog.

(Good +1 and Healing +15)

I was twelve years old when tragedy struck. Rumors of trouble had been building for weeks, but as a kid, I never paid it any attention. One day, I saw the streets full of smoke. At first, I thought it was the great dragon Parnaxxus, breathing fire upon my small village. That wasn't the case; soon I learned that raiders were setting fire to houses and stores. Our small village was being attacked by orcs.. I wondered where King Norbert was and why his soldiers weren't there to protect us. I later learned that most of Daria had been attacked that year. The king really had his hands full. I grabbed a sword to protect my friends and family. I did the only thing I could think of. I saw one of the orc raiders kill a town guard, so I picked up his sword. I wasn't sure if I could actually kill anyone with it, but it felt good in my hands. A raider came around the corner, surprising me. There was a scuffle, and the raider ended up dead. A few villagers saw the end of the fight, and I became a local hero.

(Fighting +10, Kingdom Faction +10, Warcraft +5 and Fame +1)

The orc raiders were ruthless. Many people were killed, and several buildings burned down. My parents were killed. I was devastated. They were killed trying to save a group of children who had been out playing in a nearby field. The children made it back safely, but my parents were dead. They had been the center of my life.

The attack changed everything, putting an end to my carefree days as a child. I likely would have had a few more years of fun and innocence, but after the attack I had to get a job and become an adult. I got my own place and found a job. Life was hard as a young adult, but I earned a living. I joined the town guard. After the attack on our village, they were looking for strong men and woman to fill the ranks. I hunted thieves and guarded the entrance to the village. I kept in shape and learned how to fight.

(Body +7, Fighting +30, Warcraft +20, Kingdom Faction +15, Thieves Guild -15 and Gold +40)

When I was fourteen, Natasha the bully and some of her friends cornered me in an alley. I had thought that now that I was a guard, these types of things wouldn't happen. Natasha didn't see it that way. Remember that dog I helped? He came back and helped me fight them off. They had me cornered, when suddenly the dog dove over my shoulder and landed right on Natasha, digging his teeth into her arm while Natasha screamed in pain and surprise. The dog let go after a few minutes, and Natasha and the other bullies ran away. I knew at that moment that I could form a special bond with this wonderful animal. Did I find my familiar that day? Yes I did. So I named it Shadow. Shadow never left my side.

You're probably wondering when my magical training began. I became a mighty wizard, after all, yet so far my story has been about my childhood. I was fifteen years old when I left my job as a guard. I was going through my parents belongings. They had been dead for three years when I found the old chest. There was a mysterious amulet in it. Next to the amulet, there was a letter from my parents. It said that my parents had been wizards and the amulet had belonged to my grandfather. They were going to give it to me when I got older. They wanted me to go to the Wizard Academy and learn magic. I took the amulet and decided to follow my parents' request.

(Gained Mysterious Amulet)

I knew I needed a horse to get to the Academy. It was in the royal city of Tornassa, many miles away. I chose to borrow the money. I knew of a few lenders who would take my business. They charged me 90 gold for a 75-goldpiece horse. It was robbery, of the legal kind.

(Gold -90)

I mounted up and left my village. I didn't know it at the time, but my magic would end up greatly extending my horse's lifespan. I decided to name it Blaze.. Needless to say, Shadow, my dog, came with me.

I had a nice little party before I left. We had it in the newly rebuilt tavern since the old one had been burned down during the orc raid. I like to think that my parents would have been proud of me. I gave up the life of a guard and left for the Academy the next day.

The trip to Tornassa went well. I spent the first day as a tourist, just seeing the sights. King Norbert and Queen Audrey's castle was impressive; I stared up at the towers, hoping to catch a glimpse of Prince Gareth, who was now 25, or Princess Emily, who was two years younger. I didn't see any royalty that day.

The next morning, I went to the Academy. This was where all of the great mages had learned their skills, including the royal advisor, Fraledan. The Academy was financed by the Mage Guild, which was nice since it meant I didn't have to pay anything.

I stood at the entrance to the Academy, uncertain as to how to proceed.

"Why have you come?"

The voice came from a little old man sitting on a rock next to the doors leading into the Academy. He was very small, and his bald head made him seem vulnerable.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"I am Master Durgan, the doorkeeper to the Academy. Why have you come?" I told him that I wanted to learn everything. He nodded wisely. "A well-rounded education is important for a wizard. Magical knowledge is important, but the other disciplines will be invaluable."

He smiled warmly at me and led me to the testing chamber.

(Arcana +5, Agriculture +5, Diplomacy +5, Economics +5, Geography +5, History +5, Religion +5, Smithing +5, Warcraft +5)

Master Durgan placed his hands on my head and concentrated. After a few moments, he nodded his bald head in approval. "Yes, the spark is within you. Welcome to the Academy."

I was given a room in the Academy, which included a bed, a desk, and a chair. It was very sparse, but it was my own. I was also given a schedule of classes. My training as a wizard had begun.

Although I learned many things at the Academy, my favourite class was Summoning. Summoning animals, demons, elementals, and other things. Summoners are never alone, as they can summon servants to work for them or powerful fiends to fight for them. I was on the road to becoming a summoner.

(Summoning +30)

My classes went well as I began to learn the arcane arts. It was a lot of work, reading ancient tomes and trying to force mystical energies to do as I wished. I learned a little bit of everything that was taught during my time at the Academy.

(Arcana +10, Alchemy +10, Conjuration +10, Divination +10, Enchantment +10, Illusion +10, Summoning +10, Transmutation +10)

I made a friend. She was also a student. Her name was Lucy. Lucy was an elf. Racial diversity was even more prominent in the capital city of Tornassa, especially at the Academy. It seemed natural that a human and an elf would be friends. I learned a lot about her culture.

(Elf Faction +10)

We met in Transmutation class. We got to talking, and it turned out that her big passion was sword fighting. Lucy knew a lot of styles and moves. Some of the other students found it funny that Lucy continued this hobby at the Academy, even though it seemed very unwizardly. I found it comforting. I knew my way around a blade and enjoyed sparring. The practice made us both get better.

(Fighting +15, Body +3)

My Summoning class was always interesting. We learned to create protective circles and to bring forth all kinds of animals, demons, and elementals from various planes. It was important to maintain control of the creatures that were summoned. I had a really difficult Summoning assignment during my first year. It was easy for me, as I was quite good at summoning. Demonology wasn't considered evil if it was used for good purposes. I summoned an imp from a lower plane. My teacher was very proud of me, knowing that it takes a lot of willpower to control such beings. I felt that I had the power to make that imp my own.

(Willpower +3)

But since I already had Shadow, my dog, I unsummoned it back to where it came from. I got an A+ on the assignment.

(Summoning +15)

Lucy and I spent a lot of time together. It was nice to have a friend at the Academy. We started a business to earn some extra money. Although the Mage Guild was paying for our room and board, it was nice to have some extra money. We started a small business. We did research for other wizards. Many wizards needed facts checked, which entailed going through many tomes with painstaking carefulness. It was a lot of work, but we made some money and even learned some things.

(Gold +30, Arcana +10)

One of the new subjects that we had to study at the Academy was Arcana. This included everything from the theory of magic to magical artifacts. We learned about the nature of reality and how our mystical energies were able to change the very fabric of existence. It was tremendously exciting, and I was an apt pupil. My teachers were happy to see how enthusiastic I was about learning everything. I spent many hours studying Arcana and reading extra books on the subject.

(Arcana +20, Body -5)

It was during my second year at the Academy that I had my big Divination test. We were given a blank piece of paper and told to write down the answer. Our task was to use our magic to divine what the question was. I didn't even bother to try. I had no idea what the question or answer was. I failed miserably.

(Willpower -3)

The Academy was filled with young men and women who were filled with hopes and dreams. Despite the fact that we were studying knowledge that seemed better suited to older people, we still acted like kids sometimes. I met an attractive girl in my second year. Her name was Amanda. Amanda was a human. I found myself thinking about her eyes while meditating in Divination class, or wondering what it would be like to kiss her lips when I should have been practicing my conjuring.

(Personality +3)

We started dating. It was a romantic place to court someone. We spent nights in the diviner's tower watching the stars, and we spent days watching the illusionists practice their craft. There was always something interesting to do or to see. It seemed natural to be attracted to a human like myself.

I really enjoyed her company. Our relationship remained chaste, and we did no more than kiss. We were a nice couple, we did fun things together, but we spent our nights in our own rooms.

My Alchemy class involved a lot of memorization. I had to know what each ingredient did, how they reacted to each other, and what type of incantation would make each potion stable. There was a very difficult project that year. I studied really hard, at the expense of my other classes. Eventually, I made the proper potion.

(Willpower +3, Alchemy +12, Conjuration -2, Divination -2, Enchantment -2, Illusion -2, Summoning -2, Transmutation -2)

There was a terrible accident in my Transmutations class at the beginning of my third year. We were taking turns working on a standard spell when a young red-haired boy's magic went wild. The walls turned translucent and then shiny as the brick turned to glass. A loud crack silenced everyone in the room, but there was no time to think before the roof came crashing down upon us. Many students were badly injured from flying glass and falling stone. I tried to help. I did what little I could. I tried to help, but I didn't know enough, and two students died in the accident. Although I wasn't very helpful, my efforts were still appreciated.

(Mage Guild +5, Healing +10)

I remember the day I heard a knock upon my door. It was a mistake, they had the wrong door. I felt very lonely.

(Personality -5)

My Conjuration class was very practical. We learned to throw fire and create magical shields for combat casting and dueling. I still won my share of duels since I knew how to fight. The trick was to rush my opponent and interrupt their casting. Once I did that, I had more time to cast my own offensive spells. My teacher gave me many texts by other wizards who had fought the same way.

(History +10, Warcraft +10)

I was beginning to learn that the Academy was a very dangerous place. I had made it to my fourth year, but I was becoming less concerned with the graduation rate and more ill at ease with the survival rate. Another accident took place in my Summoning class. Some student had gained access to the Archmage's personal library and learned a spell they couldn't control. I filed that thought away for later. The idea that extra-powerful tomes were kept apart was very interesting.

The spell began normally as the student made the necessary gestures and said the needed magic words. Unfortunately, he missed a key component to the spell, and the snakes he summoned were out of his control. To make matters worst, they were poisonous and extremely aggressive. They immediately began to attack everyone in sight. I grabbed a chair and fought the snakes. I grabbed the closest thing I could find, a chair, and began to fight the snakes. They fell, one at a time, and nobody was seriously injured. After a few minutes, their corpses disappeared, returned to where they had come from.

(Fame +1, Mage Guild +15, Fighting +15)

Everyone congratulated me on my heroism. I don't know how poisonous their venom was; I was just glad that I wasn't bitten.

My Enchantment exam was very interesting. The Academy hired a man from a nearby town for us to work our magic on. He stood at the front of the class, and we were told to use our enchanting spells to make him do what we wanted. I didn't even bother to try. I don't think he even knew I was casting since he just stood there, looking back at me.

(Willpower -3)

I remember that fateful day in my fourth year when all classes were cancelled. Good King Norbert had died, and Prince Gareth, who was 28 years old at the time, was to be our new king. All of the wizards of the Academy gathered for the coronation ceremony. The royal wizard, Fraledan, smiled at the students from his place of honor near the prince and princess. He held his gnarled wooden staff in his hands and smiled through his thick white beard.

King Norbert's widow, Queen Audrey, looked very sad. She had obviously loved her husband very much. Princess Emily looked very sad as well. Her lightly curled brown hair lay across her shoulders, and her deep brown eyes had a shine to them that showed she had been crying. Prince Gareth seemed eager to assume the crown, his dark gaze never leaving the official who was conducting the coronation. After the ceremony, the festivities began. I saw Archmage Lacius sitting with Fraledan for most of the celebration. Ciel, Lacius's familiar, was nowhere to be seen. The raven was likely flying high in the sky and out of sight. My accomplishments had become known to a few nobles. I was the center of attention, and many important people dropped by to say hello. I was even given a gift by one of them. It was a beautifully enchanted ring to enhance the bravery I had already shown.

(Diplomacy +10, Gained Ring of Courage)

Everyone was sad that King Norbert had died; he had been a good king. We all had great hopes for our new monarch, King Gareth. The Kingdom of Daria waited in eager anticipation to see what kind of king he would be.

My Illusion teacher took the occasion to implement a unique type of test. Our class gathered that night to cast entertainments into the sky for everyone to enjoy. I studied really hard at the expense of my other classes. I learned enough to get by. I created a few balls of light that soared up into the clouds, and it was enough to get a passing grade.

(Willpower +3, Alchemy -2, Conjuration -2, Divination -2, Enchantment -2, Illusion +12, Summoning -2, Transmutation -2)

My days in the Academy were numbered; I only had one more year after this one. Perhaps this was the reason that I started thinking about romance. Although I was dating Amanda, I was secretly in love with Lucy, my friend from the Academy. I decided to break up with Amanda and follow my heart's true desire. I spoke to Amanda and tried to explain that I loved someone else. It was sad, but I had to be true to my heart. I couldn't look at Lucy without my heart thudding loudly in my chest. We went to the tournament yards near the royal castle to watch the jousting and sword fights. I leaned over and kissed her lips. I could feel the surprise at first, but then the kiss was returned. I was over the moon with feelings of new love blossoming.

We held hands as we walked around the tournament; there was a lot going on. We watched the jousting. The knights charged down the lanes, knocking one another off the horses. It was very exciting, and we both cheered on our favorite champions. It was a lot of fun, and I could see how such tactics could be useful in a real battle.

(Warcraft +10)

We had a wonderful time at the tournament and returned to the Academy that night. We went to my room and made love. It was very sweet. I was madly in love with Lucy. Whatever the future after the Academy held in store and the challenges it would bring, I knew that I would be at her side.

My studies in the tower didn't deal exclusively with magic. The royal wizard, Fraledan, was a great example. As the court mage, he was constantly being relied upon to know about the world around him in order to effectively advise the king. Sometimes a wizard's sagely knowledge was just as beneficial as their arcane power. I studied a little of everything. I felt that it would be best if I were well-rounded.

(Agriculture +3, Diplomacy +3, Economics +3, Geography +3, History +3, Religion +3, Smithing +3, Warcraft +3)

My fifth and final year at the Academy was very thrilling. I had been hearing about Archmage Lacius's private library since I first arrived. I had no idea how to get inside. As a regular student, I had no way to get into the library. The contents of the Archmage's library remained a mystery to me, at that time.

My Transmutation class was pretty boring, although it might just have been the teacher. We always seemed to be doing the same things, turn a stone into bronze, then to iron, then to gold.… That might sound like it should have been financially lucrative, but it wasn't. We used to spend hours in order to create the tiniest bit of gold from another material. I think I could have made the same amount of money for the time it took working at a normal job. I knew that Transmutation would eventually allow you to turn an enemy to stone, or to craft an item into giving it special powers, but that was very advanced magic.

We were each given a finely crafted statue of King Gareth at the beginning of the year. They had all been sculpted from stone by very talented artisans. Our task was to convert the statue into ruby, the royal gemstone. I studied hard at the expense of my other classes.I had to stay up late for many nights to convert the entire statue to ruby. It was hard to do the small pieces, like a lock of hair or a little finger. I accidentally broke off an ear, and the fingers on the left hand never completely converted into gem. It was enough to pass, so I was content.

(Willpower +3, Alchemy -2, Conjuration -2, Divination -2, Enchantment -2, Illusion -2, Summoning -2, Transmutation +12)

It was a nervous time for all students, when they reached the end of their fifth year. The courses had been difficult, and although I had learned a lot of magic, I was afraid of what my final grades would be. I remember being called into Archmage Lacius's office to see my final evaluation. Ciel, his raven, sat on a wooden stand in the corner as I looked over my grades.

Final Transcript for Helena
Alchemy: Passed.
Conjuration: Passed.
Divination: Failed.
Enchantment: Failed.
Illusion: Passed.
Summoning: Passed.
Transmutation: Passed.

My heart leaped into my throat. I had failed and wouldn't be receiving my wizardly robes.

"Chin up," Archmage Lacius said sternly. "Remember, some of the greatest wizards in history have been unsuccessful in their schooling. You are still Academy-trained, and you shall find your place in the world."

I remember packing up my bags, books, and other belongings. The Academy had been my home for five years, and I was a little nervous about what the future held. At least I wouldn't be alone; Shadow, my dog, would be at my side. Even though I no longer had a schedule or teachers, my education as a wizard was far from over. I would continue to grow and learn for the rest of my life. I had a large decision to make; I had to decide if I would continue to be a summoner or if I should generalize my studies. I decided to specialize. I would become a summoner.

I left the Academy and returned to Elmvale, my home village. Blaze, my horse, seemed eager to be on the road. Lucy had traveled with me to my home village from the Academy. I was grateful for her companionship.

I had a lot to think about, now that my life as a student was over. The next logical step for any wizard was to find traveling companions and set out on an adventure. I stayed a few weeks in my village, but I knew that this was no longer my home. I tearfully said goodbye to everyone, explaining that I needed some time alone to find my place in the world. I promised that I would send word as soon as I could. I mounted Blaze and left my village. My destiny awaited.

I spent some time looking for a suitable adventuring party, which was more difficult than I had thought. I knew that I'd need a fighter, a thief and a cleric. A strong fighter would keep the enemies away while I cast my magic, a dexterous thief would open locks and find traps, and a wise cleric would heal us all when trouble occurred. Even though I could do a little of each job, I knew that it was important to have specialists so that I could concentrate on my magic. After nearly a year of searching, I came upon the solution: I would form the party myself. I rented a room at the Full Cup Inn in Tornassa and began to accept applicants. Lucy moved in with me and the innkeeper was nice enough to let us stay for free, provided that I promised to help with security or any other troubles that routinely cropped up.

First, I had to hire someone for the fighter position. I hired Stewart, a man who applied for the job, for the fighter position. Next, I had to hire someone for the thief position. I hired Maris, a woman who applied for the job, for the thief position. Finally, I had to hire someone for the cleric position. I hired Barry, a human who applied for the job, for the cleric position. My party was complete. The four of us had a good long talk about the kinds of missions we'd like to do and how we would go about doing them. I soon learned that my partners were terrible with money: The fighter drank it away, the cleric offered it all to charity, and the thief lost it through gambling as fast as it was made. The result was that I was left to outfitting the party.

We looked over our equipment and trained in our skills before we left. I gave Stewart The Ring of Courage. You could see the difference immediately. He was a noticeably better fighter. I decided to train Stewart myself. We trained for many hours. I was able to teach Stewart a few things. We packed up our belongings and left the tavern.

Our first job came to us where first jobs usually did. We were sitting around the Full Cup Inn and drinking. We were also discussing tactics, but often the useful conversation gave way to the useless after as the night wore on. A caravan guard from a nearby town came into our tavern complaining that he had been robbed. He said that a group of kobold bandits were charging people a toll for using a kingdom road. It was a small band, so the royal guards hadn't been sent. This was our chance to begin our new careers. We left immediately.

Blaze, my horse, was very impatient at our slow progress. I knew that we would have to get mounts for everyone eventually if we wanted to take jobs that were further away. We hadn't gone far down the forest road when five kobolds stepped in front of us.

"Give us your money!" they exclaimed upon our arrival. I told Stewart to attack. There weren't too many of them, so I sent Stewart into the fray. Stewart had no trouble bashing their little reptile skulls in. I even learned a few tricks while watching.
(Fighting +5, Warcraft +5)

It was a good victory and a nice start to our adventuring days. We returned to the tavern and told everyone that the road was now safe. A few caravaners gave us some gold for our troubles. I happily accepted the reward. It was our rightful pay, and we needed the money.

(Gold +60, Fame +1)

We spent several days at the Full Cup Inn as we looked for our next job. There was a dwarf shopkeeper who had a task for us; a couple of orcs had stolen his wife's diamond necklace. We learned that the orcs had a camp just outside of Tornassa.

It wasn't difficult to find the orc encampment. We spoke to the three warriors who were living there, and they said that they took the necklace because the dwarf owed them money for services that they had provided but hadn't been paid for. They claimed to have been working as guards for the dwarf's store. I wasn't sure about this arrangement; perhaps if they had been half-orcs it would have made sense, but full orcs were not reliable and likely wouldn't have been hired.