Editing The Trouble with Magic (section)

=== Timed events ===
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{{TErow| 1 |Day One|I was fishing on a still lake when the [[Ancestors]] appeared before me, their ghostly forms hovering just above the water.<p>"[[Tarnum]]," they said in unison, "this is the most important task we have ever set before you."<p>As they magically transported me to a distant [[Tower]], they explained that when the world was created, the gods forced the [[Elemental Lord]]s into a 10,000-year truce.  Ten thousand years have passed and the violent, selfish [[Elemental Lord]]s plan to separate all the elements, thus destroying the entire world!<p>No wonder the [[Ancestors]] seemed so urgent.  The [[Elemental Lord]]s were coming to our world to destroy it.  But what if I didn't wait for them?  What if I took the battle to them, to the [[Elemental Planes]] where they reside?  They certainly wouldn't expect such an assault.  Unfortunately, the only way to reach the [[Elemental Planes]] is through a [[Conflux]] town, and only one remains in the entire world.}}
{{TErow| 2 |Day 2|The King of [[Bracada]], [[Gavin Magnus]], has given me the use of his troops to battle the [[Elemental Lord]]s.  How the [[Ancestors]] arranged this, I do not know.<p>As helpful as [[King Magnus]] seems, he also sent along a representative, named [[Barsolar]], to make sure someone protects the interests of the kingdom.  From the first moment we met, [[Barsolar]] has been trying to tell me what to do.  He's more annoying than any person I have met, and a [[Wizard]] as well.  Two reasons for me to hate him.  Personally, I think the twit needs to be pushed off the nearest cliff.  Unfortunately, I would only end up with more problems if the third cousin of the king disappeared.}}
{{TErow| 3 |day 3|Sitting at the table in my tent, I shake my head and chuckle as an assistant tries to explain the [[Elemental Planes]] to me.<p>"Please listen, sir!" the [[Mage]] says, "We have evidence to support this information - first hand accounts of these alternate planes."<p>"But an entire world made only of fire?  That's not possible!" I say.<p>"Sir, in the [[Elemental Planes]], the rules of our world do not apply.  In the [[Elemental Planes]], you can walk on clouds, and entire landscapes can be made only of fire.  That's why no one has dared take an army into these lands!"<p>"Well, possible or not, I will be the first," I say boldly.  I may have to use magic, but I can still fight like a true [[Barbarian]].  "There is no reason to sit around and wait for these [[Elemental Lord]]s to come to me.  I'll take the battle to them and end it before they get a chance to harm this world!"}}
{{TErow| 5 |day 5|I have been told that if I plan to fight the [[Elemental Lord]]s, I must use magic.  No wonder the [[Ancestors]] brought me to this [[Tower]], the home of creatures born with magic in their blood.  Magic is all around me, making the little hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.  Even after all these years apart from my culture, I am still a [[Barbarian]] deep inside.  I distrust magic and anyone who uses it.  Give me a sword, any weapon, and let me face my enemy in combat!}}
{{TErow| 7 |Day 7|[[Barsolar]] has been droning on for the better part of an hour about the intricacies of Golem construction while I've been daydreaming of a Golem falling on top of the scrawny [[Wizard]], crushing the life out of him.<p>Then [[Barsolar]] stopped talking.  I turned toward him.  He was waiting for something - must've asked me a question.<p>"What?" I said around a yawn.<p>"I said," [[Barsolar]] dragged out the words, "It would be beneficial to hire one of those lazy heroes from the [[Tavern]] to visit the Gremlin [[Workshop]]s, the [[Parapet]]s and other creature dwellings once a week.  They could collect the taxes from the [[Water Wheel]] and [[Windmill]] as well."<p>"Sure.  Sounds like a good idea," I said.<p>I quickly pointed toward our right and said, "Look!  A rabbit!"<p>[[Barsolar]] looked, and then frowned as he realized there wasn't a rabbit.}}
{{TErow| 9 |day 9|This morning, I left while it was still dark to explore the immediate area.  Perhaps it was foolish, but dealing with all this magic makes my head feel like it's been split open with an axe.  Just the chance to ride alone in the wild made me feel better.<p>Then I was attacked.  The [[Air Elemental]]s came out of nowhere and picked me up from my horse.  I tried to use my staff on them, but it was useless while the [[Elemental]]s were completely surrounded by their element - air.<p>They carried me up above the clouds themselves, taunting me all the way.  Then they let me go.<p>It seemed like I fell for an eternity, straight toward the solid ground below.  I tried to prepare myself for the pain.  And then something took hold of me from behind.  At first, I thought it was the [[Elemental]]s, back to taunt me again, but when I turned around I saw one my assistants, the [[Gargoyle Master]].  The small man was flying through the air with the help of magic, and he set me down without injury.<p>I lowered my head, shamed that I had to be saved by magic.}}
{{TErow| 11 |Day 11|"[[Lord Tarnum]], those [[Enchanter]]s of yours are very expensive."<p>It was my newly appointed [[Treasurer]], the man who saved my life from the [[Air Elemental]]s.  I promoted the [[Gargoyle Master]] as a reward for keeping quiet about the humiliating incident.<p>"I know they are powerful magicians," the [[Treasurer]] said, "but they are very expensive."<p>"Find the money, somehow," I said.<p>"There is one way.  When we have an abundance of a resource, we could exchange it at the [[Marketplace]] for Gold or any other resource," the small man said.}}
{{TErow| 13 |Day 13|"My lord?" said the wrinkled assistant as he approached.  "You summoned me?"<p>I've come to realize [[Wizard]]s have more assistants than the hairs on their sunken chests.  I have a theory.  For every problem that faces them, from difficult magical formulas to ill-fitting boots, a [[Wizard]] hires a new assistant to solve it.  Hence, the most powerful [[Wizard]] is the one who never has to lift a finger as a retinue of apprentices capable of populating a city bustles around him.<p>"Which one are you?" I said.<p>"[[Ponific]], the [[Golem Master]]."<p>"Oh, yeah!  I was wondering, as long as I have to have those Golems in my army, can you do something to make them breathe?"<p>"Whatever would you want to do that for, lord?"<p>"I don't like them!  Yeah, they're strong but they're so...creepy, like walking corpses.  Do you like corpses, [[Ponific|Pontificate]]?" I said sharply.<p>"It's [[Ponific]], lord," the [[Golem Master]] said.  "Oh, and no, I do not particularly like corpses."<p>"So, can you do anything?"<p>"I do not think so, lord.  But Golems are quite useful as they are.  They will do whatever you want them to do whenever you tell them to do it!"<p>"Yeah, [[Ponific|Prolific]]..."<p>"[[Ponific|PON-IFIC]], lord."<p>"Yeah, but they don't do EVERYTHING you ask them to do.  I ordered one to breathe but its head cracked open trying to get its small mind around that one," I said.<p>"Lord, that is quite impossible," [[Ponific]] said, annoyed and confused at the same time.<p>"Fine, forget the breathing," I said, grinning as I wondered how far this [[Wizard]] could be pushed.<p>"Can you make them blink?"}}
{{TErow| 15 |Day 15|Curse magic-users and all of their kin!<p>Last night one of my supply wagons was attacked.  A lone [[Wizard]] approached the guards.  Of course, they didn't expect trouble from a single old man.  But this [[Wizard]] summoned some [[Air Elemental]]s who quickly sent my men fleeing for their lives.  Several were killed and my Gold was gone.|effect=-3000 {{g}} [[Gold]]}}
{{TErow| 21 |Day 21|I've been getting a lot of requests for me to build a [[Mage Guild|Mages Guild]], [[Barsolar]] loudest of them all.<p>"We need spells!  How do you expect us to fight without spells?" [[Barsolar]] said this morning.<p>"This is battle!  Soldiers everywhere win wars without magic!" I said.<p>There was enough magic around me to make my skin crawl.  I didn't want to add more.  I know these [[Wizard]]s well - I fought them long, long ago.  If you give them an inch, they'll take the entire world!<p>But their whining annoyed me.  Letters arrive daily from men sleeping in the next tent!  [[Wizard]]s write letters for everything.  I wouldn't be surprised if they wrote one to announce they were stepping into the woods to relieve themselves.}}
{{TErow| 22 |Day 22|As we pitched camp last night, a pack of [[Storm Elemental]]s appeared out of the cloudy sky and attacked.  Lightning bolts cracked all around us, igniting tents and wagons, scaring off horse and man alike.<p>I think I had been hoping for a good fight because my rage took over.  I met the [[Storm Elemental]]s head on with nothing but my quarterstaff.  Oh, I would've made short work of these creatures if I had just had my sword, but instead it took two or three blows each to destroy them.<p>When all was safe again, I dropped my cracked staff and stared at my amazed troops.  Surely, they had never seen a [[Wizard]] act like an insane [[Barbarian]] before.<p>I smiled at them.  I felt good, refreshed, despite a couple burns caused by the lightning attacks of the [[Storm Elemental]]s.<p>"See," I said, "who needs spells?"}}
{{TErow| 27 |Day 27|I sat down with the [[Mage Instructor]], [[Hemoross]], before dinner.<p>"Places of learning like the [[Marletto Tower]], the [[Learning Stone]], and the [[Garden of Revelation]] are important for self-improvement.  These places will help you increase your skills," said [[Hemoross]].<p>"Why do you mention this?  Are you saying there's something wrong with me, [[Hemoross|Hemorrhoid]]?" I said.<p>"Uh, umm, no!  Uh, well, just thought I'd mention it, lord.  Excuse me," the [[Mage Instructor]] said and dismissed himself without even mentioning that I had gotten his name wrong.<p>As soon as the man left my tent, I broke out in laughter.  These [[Wizard]]s were so easy to fluster.}}
{{TErow| 31 |Day 31|A report from my [[Tower]] came in last night.  Apparently, several [[Storm Elemental]]s flew in over the walls and attacked.  None of the guards were injured because they were simply a distraction.  Several other [[Elemental]]s managed to break into the treasury at the same time.  My new [[Treasurer]] tried to stop them, but his spells were too weak.  Sadly, he died and the enemy escaped with their arms loaded with Gold and Gems.<p>The money can be replaced, but I will never get the chance to repay my debt to the [[Treasurer]] who saved my life.  Even if he was a [[Wizard]], he was a brave man.|effect=-14 {{gem}} [[Gems]], -4000 {{g}} [[Gold]]}}
{{TErow| 32 |Day 32|"[[Lord Tarnum]]," [[Barsolar]] stormed into my tent.  His high-pitched voice gave me a headache instantly.<p>"It's time you built a [[Mage Guild]]!  Why a [[Wizard]] like you refuses to research new spells is beyond me, but this stupidity has gone on long enough!"<p>"What?" I shouted, jumping to my feet.<p>I grabbed the closest object, a ceramic mug, and threw it at [[Barsolar]]'s head.  The little man was quick, I'll give him that.  He ducked just in time.  He stared at me, mouth open, amazed.<p>"Get out of here you boot-licking toad before I throttle you with my bare hands!" I ordered.  [[Barsolar]] was smart enough to leave immediately.<p>I sat down, shook my head.  [[Wizard]]s like [[Barsolar]] are descendants of the [[Wizard]]s who enslaved my people long ago.  Every time I see their pretty robes, I see the men who whipped my people, the men who took my sisters away, the men who brought about my downfall.<p>The [[Ancestors]] can make me work beside [[Wizard]]s, but they can't make like it!}}
{{TErow| 35 |Day 35|In typical [[Wizard]]ly fashion, I sent a letter to [[Barsolar]] apologizing for throwing a mug at him.  My temper got away from me there.  But I also mentioned that if he insults me again, I am going twist his neck until his head pops off.<p>Later that day, [[Barsolar]] approached me slowly.<p>"[[Lord Tarnum]]," he began, "the [[Wizard]]s and [[Alchemist]]s rely heavily on magic.  While it is noble that you try to do things mundanely, the rest of us are not blessed with your size and strength.  So, what are we going to do about it?"<p>"Maybe," I said, "if these [[Wizard]]s and [[Alchemist]]s spent less time studying spells and more time doing real work they would have the size and strength they need to stand up to the enemy?"<p>[[Barsolar]] rolled his eyes and left the tent without another word.}}
{{TErow| 39 |Day 39|I may not have responded well to [[Barsolar]]'s demand for me to build the [[Mage Guild]], but now that I've had time to think I realize I have been stubborn.  I've hamstrung my troops by denying them their spells, and I plan to rectify that later.<p>Actually, the death of the [[Treasurer]] convinced me that I had been wrong.  Perhaps he would've survived if he had more spells.  I'll never know.}}
{{TErow| 43 |Day 43|A letter from the King of [[Bracada]] came today.  I knew what it said even before I opened it, and I knew this letter was [[Barsolar]]'s work.  In his letter, [[Gavin Magnus]] explained very politely that his people needed magic in order to be effective.  He also reminded me, several times, that I was using [[Bracada]]n forces for this venture and that they could be withdrawn with but a single word.<p>So, I have been scolded.<p>I crumpled up the letter and searched the camp for [[Barsolar]], finding him drinking tea with the [[Mage Instructor]], [[Hemoross]].<p>"Excuse us, [[Hemoross|Hemorrhoid]]," I said.<p>"Yes, lord," the [[Mage Instructor]] said.<p>[[Barsolar]] glared at me and said, "The [[Mage Instructor]]'s name is [[Hemoross]], [[Lord Tarnum]].  This ridiculous way you taunt us with your name-calling is getting old."<p>I promptly grabbed [[Barsolar]] by the collar and lifted him into the air.  He tried to scream as I jammed [[Magnus]]'s letter into his mouth.<p>"If you have a problem, come to me!  Next time you go behind my back, you'll be sorry!  And you might want to think about finding another job, one that takes you far away from me."}}
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