On Quickfire

Written by the triad mage Ezekiel Solberg, in the Tower of Magi, in 843 IE

Quickfire is a magical phenomenon that consists of intensely hot flames fuelled by arcane energies. Spreading through the air as fast as a grown man can run, it is one of the most deadliest feats of magic known to man today. Quickfire is originally started by a spell, but under certain conditions it may be preserved for years, to be released much later without additional spell castings. The spell that creates the flames is relatively simple, in that a reasonably advanced combat mage may cast it with no more difficulty than, say, a common firestorm, though at much greater expense of magical strength (The formula that is used – of use of course only to a mage who has also mastered the shift of magical energies involved – is derived from Soruharvan; ‘Maia Rauné’, ie. ‘Fire Fly’). The crystals used for storing Quickfire – also dubbed ‘Phoenix Eggs’ for their fiery content – are significantly harder to produce or obtain. Requiring great skill in crystallomancy and knowledge of complex high-energy magic, their making is now suggested to originate in the civilization of the Vahnatai. Evidence from adventurers hints at their use of Phoenix Eggs in traps long before the idea was discovered and researched by the Empire. While the simplicity of the spell suggests frequent use in combat, it is actually one of the most rarely cast spells of fire, due to the indiscriminate, total destruction it wreaks. Far more common is its use in magical traps and defence mechanisms; situations requiring no mage actively casting the spell and thus endangering him- or herself. It has also been, however, a tool used for sabotage, as an account of the Pralgradian Civil War by the historian Taron Gregor Merallion relates:

211 IE [...] The Doomguard [Ed. Note: A humanoid, magical steel construct that is capable of inflicting severe harm in combat, specifically because of its amazing ability to split and reproduce when hit, rendering even a single such object a deadly opponent] was diverted from its intended destination when the SAFT ship carrying it was commandeered by Solaran forces, and its cargo seized. It was later stolen from the Solaran warehouse by rebels, and brought as far as the port city of Dalak, where it was stolen by SAFT mercenaries and subsequently retaken by Solarans. In an act of sabotage, a small force of rebels infiltrated the Solaran fortress where it was held waiting for transport by teleporter. The rebels succeeded in inserting a Phoenix Egg crystal into the construct, which later caused it to disintegrate and those near it to be killed while it was being examined by Solaran mages. [...]

This occurrence indicates that Phoenix Eggs in human hands predate the first contact between Vahnatai and the Empire in this century, and we can only assume that the secret had been passed down to the archmagi of that age from long ago, and later lost in the Empire’s restriction of magic. The Quickfire spell, however, has been widely known in almost all times. A tome written in the first century of the Imperial Era by the wizard Barnabas describes the properties of the Quickfire spell as follows:

And finally, most dreadful sight of all, the Quickfire: Bounds it knows not, spreading indefinitely, as fast as a grown man can run, burning with savage fury all that stands in its way. Yet, the wizards who first created it, whoever they were [Ed. Note: All human knowledge of the Vahnatai race – if such ever existed – was lost long before that era, and the civilization was only rediscovered during the Empire War, twenty years ago.] included an additional formula into the spell. Well they did so, for without it, the flames would surely devour at last the world in their endless raging. Due to the included formula, the flames will die when the light of day touches them. The formula itself is believed to be separately usable as a curse (causing the victim to be instantaneously slain by sunlight, much like some Undead are), but no case of its use in this way has been documented. [Ed. Note: This is theorized to have been the curse Erika Redmark was struck with prior to her banishment to Avernum.]

By far, Quickfire is the most devastating magical effect known to mankind today. It is a flame that only has to be kindled once by a spell, and then continues to fuel itself without further influence. Spreading through the very air at unbelievable speed, it is one of the most terror-instilling sights to even the most hardened adventurer.

According to recent study at the Tower of Magi, the magical nature of Quickfire is more peculiar than perceived to be: Conventionally, Quickfire is often thought a magical fire that simply spreads through all open spaces that allow it to pass. This is a mistaken notion; yet, even the above-average mage is rarely aware of the true principle behind the workings of the phenomenon:

We have now discovered Quickfire to be more like a virus, a disease that affects not living beings, but the magical plane of energy (sometimes referred to as ‘Chyaralia’, derived from the Soruharvan tongue), from which, indirectly, mages draw their strength. Normally, the energy that flows through the arcane planes is separated from the physical world, and is accessible only by magic users, or can be channelled via standing sources such as altars and runes. Now, Quickfire acts like a rift in the plane, allowing tremendous amounts of energy to pour through in a short time. This is transformed into heat as it enters the physical plane, and immediately ignites the very air. That is the reason why even fire immunity does not protect fully from Quickfire, and why barriers only act as a temporary blockade to the inferno: The rift unravels the magical bindings in short time, like a rip in a fabric. Fortunately, while the rift spreads through the magical planes, it cannot extend through solid physical objects and is therefore blocked by walls. If it were not, the resulting destruction would be truly catastrophic.

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The Isle of Bigail

By the geographer and archivist Dorn Kaytar, 843 IE

Bigail is a relatively large island just off the west coast of the continent of Valorim, almost snuggled within an extensive bay formed by the continent. Its main landmass is the almost elliptical northern part, to which is attached a sharp tip curling towards the southeast [View Map].

The island has not been settled long, like the rest of Valorim, but its cities have been well established in the slightly over a hundred years since their founding. The discovery of Valorim was followed by a great rush of migration from the by now crowded parts of Pralgrad, and a small, but not insignificant portion settled into the Isle of Bigail. They founded its five coast towns Bavner, Kuper, Port Townsend, Fenris Port and Hectar, and most importantly the capital of the province, Shayder, at the west coast of the island (facing away from the continent).

Bigail, and especially the former city of Kneece – on a tiny island between Bigail and the main continent – was developing into the center of magical learning on Valorim, and the now closed Kneece School of Magery the largest institution of arcane research anywhere south of Blackcrag. This, however, changed with the re-establishment of the Anama Church on the main island.

Several centuries after the period known as the Anama War (604-637 IE), in which the magic-opposing sect originally founded by Segrin Bilal was decimated and its official existence broken up, some of the descendants of those Anama followers who had continued to worship in secret (risking severe punishments by the Imperial Decree that was still in effect), emigrated to Valorim. This was done mainly in the hopes of a new start beckoning in a land as yet free of the Empire’s iron fist, where they would be able to found their church anew.

In order to avoid Imperial interference, they settled on the Island of Bigail, to be as far from the main continent as possible.

In the days of the settlement of Valorim, the creatures that had been exterminated in Pralgrad long ago under Ironclad were still flourishing: Among them the troglodytes, the goblins, ogres and the Lesser unicorns. The settlers had to defend themselves against all of these, and especially the places far from civilization were dangerous parts to travel in. Being skilled priests and very wise in the arts of potion-making and alchemy, the Anama priests were accepted quite readily by the other settlers, since they provided a valuable support in these wild, uncivilized areas. In Shayder, Bigail’s capital, the Anama built its first chapterhouse, led by the high priests Ahonar and Lockhart. They proceeded to win strong influence – economical and political – on the island, and soon had shrines in all of the cities, even sending travelling missionaries to the mainland of Valorim.
As their influence extended into the politics of Shayder (whose position of mayor was at that time held by a high-ranking member of the Anama), the mages of the isle soon found their lives made difficult: Shipments of supplies were late to arrive or totally intercepted, magic users were discriminated against in most affairs, and at some point the practice of non-clerical magic was even banned outright. At this point, the local Empire liaison announced a rather sharp command, demanding the church to cease the persecutionist policies, else he would file a report to the Emperor. After all, the Imperial decree had still not been officially revoked; although the Imperial senate was too busy with matters in Pralgrad, and the barely civilized continent of Valorim was of little concern to him, such a report might well have caused a reaction. The threat worked, and the magic ban was lifted. But a few years later, the liaison was relieved from his post on ‘health grounds’ and a new, church loyal, liaison succeeded him – the Emperor still had to confirm the decision, but since he was not informed of the exact circumstances surrounding it, he saw little reason to investigate further before approving.
With the magic research on Kneece deteriorating under further hampering, the city was soon abandoned by most wizards, and after the primary mercantile value of the city was lost, the other citizens left as well. To this day, Kneece is a ghost town, consisting of ruins, and inhabited only by monstrous lizards. Adventurers have reported of a hermit wizard who still makes his home there, but this has not been confirmed. Following an excerpt from the report of the field researchers sent to investigate the city:

No sign of inhabitation has been discovered. Beyond the infestation of lizards and drakes nothing seemed out of the ordinary, except for an unnatural stone wall, encasing a large square of ground. No entrance was visible, and we therefore assumed the building to have been a part of the former school of magery, protected by spells against collapse. We cannot explain its relative appearance of newness otherwise.

While it is of course a pity that Kneece failed to ever gain renown as an Imperial School of Magery, it would have been unreasonable to expect both it and the Anama to coexist on Bigail. The Anama happened to establish themselves with success, and the mages have largely moved to the city of Lorelei, where the University of Valorim was founded.

To secure ship travels through the narrow and occasionally risky passages past Bigail to the main coast (especially Lorelei), two lighthouses have been built on the northern- and southernmost points of the island. The northern lighthouse is rumored to be occupied by a slightly deranged necromancer, but he does his job proficiently and has not harmed any of the surrounding towns with his supposed experiments, so the authorities have largely turned a blind eye on the rumors.
Another noteworthy feature of Bigail, especially to zoologist researchers, is the lair of Giant Intelligent Friendly Talking Spiders (see Semi-Sentient Giant Spider) the existence of which has been confirmed in a wood in the middle of the isle. Stories have been told of an Undead lair also on the island, but that is more than likely just a fairytale.

Perhaps the most significant point in the more recent history of the island was the brief but severe infestation of gigantic magical cockroaches during the time of the plagues caused by the Vahnatai. The origin of the roaches (a cave at the north coast of Bigail) has been destroyed by adventurers, but a very few remaining specimen continue to roam the woods, their population held in check by the giant spiders.

Finally, the Anama have recently started to lose some influence in the local politics of Shayder, having suffered a hit in their reputation with the population after failing to solve the roach problem without hundreds dying. Mayor Garith (in office for five years) has succeeded Bernathy, who resigned for old age reasons in spite of having regained her health well after almost falling victim to the disease spread by the roaches. Both Garith and Bernathy have – while supporting Prazac’s decree of religious freedom for all citizens – successfully opposed during their terms of office the strongly rooted connection between the Anama and the worldly affairs (such as trade) on Bigail, aiming for a separation of church and government. Now, the Isle of Bigail is once more a relatively neutral place politically, and neither the mages nor any but the most radical of the Anama members are particularly unhappy with the current situation

29 July 03

Unfortunately, my parents have cut down on my internet usage for some time, so I'm unable to update this regularly (about once every 2-3 days rather than twice a day).