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C O L L E C T I O N S |
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ELMINSTER: THE MAKING OF A MAGE
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"There are only two precious things on earth: the first is love; the second, a long way behind it, is intelligence." Gaston Berger "Life has no meaning but what we give it. I wish a few more of ye would give it a little." Elminster of Shadowdale verba volant, scripta manent  "Dragons ? Splendid things, lad - as long as ye look upon them only in tapestries, or in the masks worn at revels, or from about three realms off..." Astragarl Hornwood, Mage of Elembar said to an apprentice Year of the Tusk "Know that the purpose of families, in the eyes of the Morninglord at least, is to make each generation a little better than the one before: stronger, perhaps, or wiser; richer, or more capable. Some folk manage one of these aims; the best and most fortunate manage more than one. That is the task of parents. The task of a ruler is to make, or keep, a realm that allows most of its subjects to see better in their striving, down the generations, than a single improvement." Thorndar Erlin, High Priest of Lathander "Teachings of the Morning's Glory" Year of the Fallen Fury "If in winter ye walk When snow is deep Beware when ye talk - For afar echoes creep." Old Sword Coast Snow-Rune "Thieves ? Ah, such an ugly word... think of them instead as kings-in-training. Ye seem upset, even disputatious. Well then, look upon them as the most honest sort of merchant." The character Oglar the Thieflord in the anonymous play "Shards and Swords" Year of the Screeching Vole "To chain a mage ? Why, the promise of power and knowing secrets ('magic', if you will), greed, and love - the things that chain all men... and some of the more foolish women, too." Athaeal of Evermeet "Musings Of A Witch-Queen In Exile" Year of the Black Flame "There is one sort of a city that's worse than one where thieves rule the night streets: the sort where thieves form the government, and rule night and day." Urkitbaeran of Calimport "The Book of Black Tidings" Year of the Shattered Skulls "In ancient days, sorcerers sought to learn the One True Spell that would give them power over all the world and understanding of all magic. Some said they'd found it, but such men were usually dismissed as crazed. I saw one of these 'crazed' mages myself. He could ignore spells cast at him as if they did not exist, or work any magic himself by silent thought alone. I did not think he was mad - but a peace, driven by urges and vices no longer. He told me the One True Spell was a woman, that her name was Mystra - and that her kisses were wonderful." Halivon Tharnstar, Avowed of Mystra "Tales Told To A Blind Wizard" Year of the Wyvern "Did I ever tell thee how I first came to serve Mystra ? No ? Ye won't believe a word of it nonetheless. The way of the Lady seems strange to most men - but then, most men are sane. Well, more or less." Sundral Morthyn "The Way of a Wizard" Year of Singing Shards "The way of a mage is a dark and lonely one. This is why so many wizards fall early into the darkness of the grave - or later into the endless twilight of undeath. Such bright prospects are why the road to mastery of magecraft is always such a crowded one." Jhalivar Thrunn "Trail Tales of the North" Year of the Sundered Shields "Great adventure ? Hah ! Frantic fear and scrabbling about in tombs or worse, spilling blood or trying to strike down things that can no longer bleed. If ye're a mage, it lasts only until some other wizard hurls a spell faster than thee. Speak to me not of 'great adventure'." Theldaun "Firehurler" Ieirson "Teachings of an Angry Old Mage Year of the Griffon "The most awesome thing a wizard can hope to see in a lifetime of hurling down towers, calling up fiends, and turning rivers into new beds ? Why, the blue flame, lad. If ever ye see the blue flame, ye will have looked on the most awesome sight a mage can behold - and the most beautiful." Aumshar Urtrar, Master Mage said to an apprentice at Midsummer Year of the Weeping Moon "Choosing what road to walk in life is a luxury given to few in Faerun. Perhaps lack of practice is why so many who do have that choice make such a gods-cursed mess of it." Galgarr Thormspur, Marshal of Maligh "A Warrior's Views" Year of the Blue Shield "Think on this, arrogant mageling: even the mightiest archmage has no spells strong enough to let him cheat death. Some take the road of lichdom... a living death. The rest of us find graves, and our dust is no grander than that of the next man. So when next you lord it over some farmer with your fireballs, remember: we all master spells enough to die." Ithil Sprandorn, Lord Mage of Saskar said to the prisoner wizard Thorstel Year of the Watching Wood "Know this, mageling, and know it well: there is no greater fool than a wizard. The greater the mage, the greater the fool, because we who work magic live in a world of dreams, and chase dreams... and in the end, dreams undo us." Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun "Words To Would-Be Apprentices" Year of the Sword and Stars "In mighty towers they quake with fright for the man who kills mages is out tonight." Bendoglaer Syndrath, Bard of Barrowhill from the ballad "Death to All Mages" Year of the Bent Coin "A star rushes past, to crash upon the shore But the first of many many more Stoke the fire and shout bar the door For this is the night mages go to war." Angarn Dunharp from the ballad "When Mages Go to War" Year of the Sword and Stars "In the name of a kingdom many fell things are done, In the name of a love fairer things are won." Halindar Droun, Bard of Beregost from the ballad "Tears Never Cease" Year of the Marching Moon "How much does a throne cost ? Sometimes but one life, when sickness, old age, or a lucky blade takes the life of a king in a strong kingdom. Sometimes a throne costs the life of everyone in a kingdom. Most often, it takes the life of a few ambitious, grasping men, and more of those the Realms is rid of, the better." Thaldeth Faerossdar "The Way of the Gods" Year of Moonfall "There are no endings save death, only pauses for breath, and new beginnings. Always, new beginnings... it's why the world grows ever more crowded, you see. So remember, now - there are no endings, only beginnings. There; simple enough, isn't it ? Elegant, too." Tharghin "Threeboots" Ammatar "Speaches of a Most Worthy Sage" Year of the Lost Helm by Ed Greenwood © 1994 TSR, Inc. |