Atticus · the · Red

I've been busy lately.

Planning and early construction on Highbridge is going well, but it's surprising what it takes to build a village. We have a street plan, a small tower for my personal use is up, and other buildings for the village and university are just starting.

Surprisingly, I'm not yet starving, and haven't had to shut things down. I think we can get things pretty stable before the first snows come-- I'm still not used to winters here. It won't really be a town until next summer, at the earliest. Hard to say when the University can open.

I've also been studying. At first, magic came very slowly. After a while, I was able to work out most of spells without being taught. Now, things are getting hard again. I hope I have made some breaktrhoughs. It is time to test things out in the field again, and prove I haven't disappeared back to my home plane. Also, no reason to turn down an excellent meal.

That's right, I will be at Feast of Ivory. I can't decide if I'd be more excited if I do get banned after this year, or if I don't...

Yes, you heard me right, and yes, it was that abrupt.

One minute, I was walking under an archway towards the vast library of the University, carrying a box of pies and wearing a look of determination and distraction perfectly suited to either an explorer or a deliveryman. The next-- Bang!

I remember waking up in the dark, comfortable but clearly outdoors. There were pleasant and unfamiliar smells around, like moss, and dry leaves, and... hey there. There was a person, snuggled up asleep with me. That's how I met Aspen, my travelling companion for my first few years here.

Well, that's not exactly right. Initially (well, not immediately, I'm not crazy) she was my "I'm running away from a dangerous fairy". Then, she was my "I can't seem to outrun her for more than a day or two". Then she was my "I guess we're traveling together, but don't stand behind me". Eventually, I suppose, we simply became close. Life is mysterious.

In my terror, I once found myself in a series of caverns. Oddly, I don't remember much about where. I do remember running into a large, diverse group of... well, heroes, I suppose. Knights, lords, magic users, priests, alchemists, and other deeply individual people on some sort of a quest. Heroes travel in larger groups here than back home.

That's not all I learned that day, though. A man, who I took to be a wizard at the time-- to be fair, he was quite round, and he was casting spells willy-nilly-- taught me that in this world, one can learn their first magical spell in as little as a day. Unfortunately, I didn't. Nor the next time I met up with the heroes.

It turns out, I was not, at first, particularly adept at even the easily-accessible magic of this world. Not at all. However, one autumn evening in Chimeron, I learned to cast a magical light, with the persistent help of Magus Bright, Sir Zula, Squire Gryffin, and Steward Rel. Yes, it took them a few hours, but it has been all downhill from there.

There were stumbles, and mishaps. I think the hardest challenge was realizing that I really was capable. I know I am clever at times, but magic is a matter of the will, and I didn't much believe all that Cain had said about how easy it can be to learn magic here. I thought it must be harder, and so-- it was. I went from taking hours, to a little coaxing, to easily learning, to figuring out spells on my own.

At home, I'd be quite impressive, if I stop and think about it. I can determine the nature of an object, or of a creature. I can, as I said, create magical glowing lights-- I even make a living now fabricating the crystals they are focused through. I can create a magical ritual circle of binding, that can not only keep dangerous magic in, but also keep it out. I have even learned to perform the legendary right of Tash-Kent, though it doesn't always go smoothely. I seem to be developing some other abilities as well.

Here, unfortunately, I don't much impress. Perhaps because I have taken to travelling with the heroes, rather than living among peasants and everyday folk. I hope one day to be the greatest wizard of these lands, or at least noteworthy. This should not be difficult, as while there are many who do magic, I am not sure they have more than a couple of actual wizards.

I suppose that finishes my history so far. I had a life before, I came here, and now I am here. That's pretty much how it goes for anyone. I think next time, I'll write about where I am at in my new life.

Where shall I start?

I was born Michael Attica Mayhew, in a small street just off the shades. My mother was a washerwoman, though also worked for a time in a Dwarf bakery, and worked a few other odd jobs. We were, frankly, poor. As a child, I amused myself reading whatever I could find, exploring the streets, and when I could, playing with puzzles and games in the few toy shops.

By the time I found myself leaving the city, in my mid-twenties, I had risen to the rank of Journeyman in my pursuit of a career as an Assistant Piemaker. A Master Assistant Piemaker can make a good living. Still, as well-known as my love of pies may be, that wasn't my dream. Had I the money, or the lineage (or any lineage at all), I would have loved nothing more than to attend the great Univerisity, and study to be a Wizard.

When I could afford to, I would spend my evenings in the more affordable pubs near to the University, and I like to think that I made a few friends among the students. I even saw a few Professors at times, and on one memorable occasion, met the Librarian himself. I was always fascinated by the great potential of magic, and the few little tricks I was lucky enough to observe.

One day, I worked up the nerve to walk into the University (a man carrying a large parcel of pies into a Wizarding establishment is seldom questioned) and visit the Library. The visit was brief and uneventful, except for blacking out and waking up in a forest that turned out to be in, apparently, another world entirely.