Heralds and Rumours
Magic Unstable?
Ilenbury, Forestaine,
991 RT.Despite equivocal answers and outright denials from the society of magic-users, it has come to light that the use of magic may have become uncertain and even dangerous.
Over the past months, the incidents of magical accidents have increased dramatically. Whereas these accidents were once a rare occurance, they are now, alarmingly, becoming commonplace. Even well-reputed wizards from prestigious organisations have been prone to these failed spells. While most are minor, even embarrassing, some are dangerous and even fatal. Yet officials are hesitant to confirm any overall instability in the use of magic. The following incidents are only a sample of the bizaare events surrounding magic and its use, and, more remarkably, all occured within a few months of each other.
Rayal City, Coastlands; Arlo Hunter, local dragoman, was in the process of translating some documents for a visiting merchant when he and the documents abruptly turned to stone. Efforts to revert Hunter to his natural state have yet to be successful. Experts from the Tendrim School for the Magic Arts, however, assure his family that there is still a chance to save him.
"There is a perfectly plausible explanation for this mishap," Tendrim officials said, "And until it is discovered, anything else is mere hearsay."
Chateau Kempen, Forestaine; During the execution of a criminal guilty of high treason, Sorciere du Roi Lucien Ruelland, was holding the condemned in magical thrall. Prior to completion of the sentence, however, Lucien was killed in a violent explosion that also killed four bystanders and injured over a score of others. Later, witnesses said the explosion came from Lucien himself, who began to glow strangely from within and seemed visibly bewildered and terrified. The condemned, slated for a merciful execution, was painfully consumed by snarling blue flames, the same type of flames which revived an apparently dead bystander who was killed by Lucien's explosion. Crusader High Command refused to comment, citing national security concerns.
Hawk City, Orion; To the terror of passersby, an unnatural beast, by all reports hideous and gigantic, appears in the midst of a busy street. It was over fifty hands tall, had six or eight legs, a powerful and poisonous tail, two mouths full of dagger-like teeth, and a host of other terrible features. This beast proceeded to destroy the surrounding buildings, injuring over thirty-five people and killing seven. Although Rangerguardsmen and local militiamen manage to destroy the creature, three of them die in the effort. The best plausible explanation for this tragedy seems to be the proximity of a merchant wizard, in front of whose shop the beast appeared. The merchant wizard specialises in Reparitive Services and was in the process of repairing a customer's ball-gown when the attack came.
"We have yet to establish any connection to a suspect source of this creature's appearance," stated Hawk City Sheriff Matheson. "The public will be notified of any credible findings."
Despite these, and other, incidents of startling danger, the community of wizards and their ilk continue to avoid comment on the increasing amount of times they occur. It is the hope of, not only my Church but also, the common people of the world, who are concerned with the safety of their families, that we be fully informed of any reason behind this increase. Whether it be a deterioration of training, the widespread unregulated use, some overall disturbance or something even more sinister, we have a right to know. This elitist secrecy cannot continue, or rumour will grow into fear which will grow into panic and hysteria. The people have a right to know.
Submitted by Father Rousse LeTossier, Priest of Odin.
This is an independant report, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of either the Church of Odin or Second Sanctum.