Work Text:
If you can see this, the workskin is disabled. I suggest turning it on for the full experience, but I’ve added some notes to explain what each segment is styled as.
The museum is large, and this room is on the smaller side, but it still sees a lot of visitors. A banner boldly declares this exhibit to be a showcase of The Discovery of the Greatest Spell of All. Behind a glass case, there’s a selection of items, each carefully labelled with a little bronze plaque.
Museum plaque:
Yine’s first-semester course schedule. While accurate to the timetable for all new students at that time, this is a recreation, as the original was unfortunately not preserved.
Note on lined paper:
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Timetable, term one: Mondays 10am Double Lecture in Applied Orthography 2pm Workshop for Arcanomancy Tuesdays 1pm Theory of Runes 2pm Least Spellcasting Wednesdays 9am Unapplied Augury, Lecture and Discussion 11am Excursion (Fortnightly, see schedule posted outside Prof. Bitman’s office for the location and what equipment to bring) Thursdays 9am-Noon Office Hours for Prof. Xatch 2pm Understanding Magical Creatures 3pm Understanding Magical Humans 4pm Understanding Magical Non-Humans 5pm Understanding Non-Magical Humans Fridays 10am Practical for Applied Orthography 1pm Elementary Elemental Magic |
Museum plaque:
A letter from Yine’s family that has been preserved. It’s proven important for reconstructing how a promising-but-not-outstanding student so rapidly developed into the figure that Yine became.
Letter on yellowed paper, with a crease in the middle:
Dear Yine,
Your mother and I hope this letter finds you well, and that you are settling in alright at Asphodel. We of course miss you terribly, as does Perencei. We’re counting down the days until the winter break.
How are your classes? Are you getting on well with your fellow students, and the professors?
Don’t spend all your time partying. This is a big responsibility, and you need to focus on your studies and work hard. I know if you apply yourself, you can go on to do great things. You might have been able to coast at school, but getting by on raw intellect alone will not serve you well in life!!
I’ve posted a care parcel as well, but I expect this letter will arrive earlier, so keep an eye out for it and don’t leave it at the Post Office too long. There’s nothing in there that will spoil, but I packed some warmer clothes for the autumn and I don’t want you going out and buying a new hat because you didn’t pick up our package. There’s a hat in there!
Love,
Your parents
Museum plaque:
An example field trip waiver from the time period. Yine would have filled out one just like this, though the original has been lost.
Formal document, typed up as if on a typewriter:
University of Asphodel
EXCURSION/FIELD TRIP NOTICE
WAIVER AND MEDICAL AUTHORISATION (ADULTS ONLY)
Responsible Excursion Leader: ______
Student Name: ______
Destination: _________
Departure Time & Date: _________
Expected Return Time & Date: __________
Expected Duration (Experienced Time) If Different From Linear Time: ________
Significant Risks And Hazards That May Arise: ______________________________
I hereby grant permission, in the event of illness, injury, reversible death, indirect magical effect (‘bewitchment’), or magical malady (‘curse’), that the above named Responsible Excursion Leader may engage in whichever treatment options they consider most effective and reasonable in their professional judgement. I waive any right to legal or extralegal redress in the event that their best efforts are not sufficient to prevent, cure or reverse any of the above effects, or irreversible death.
There is space in my spellbook to capture the spells that the trip is intended to provide. There is also space for up to three additional spells that may arise. The expected spells are: ________________________________________
I also affirm that I have available, and will bring, the required kit list.
Signature: __________
Date: ____________
Next of Kin (Name and Address): ______________________________________________
Museum plaque:
This field report is justly famous and most museum attendees are likely familiar with the story already, but nevertheless we strongly recommend reading it in Yine’s own words. The keen insight into the fundamentals of magic that are shown here went on to revolutionise the discipline, and propel Yine to future greatness.
Note on lined paper:
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Field trip report – Eighth of Vaune, Year of the Clockwise Dove This trip was our class’s first trip which was neither staying on the Plains of Asphodel, nor returning to Earth. Instead, we set our sights further afield, visiting the ‘Great Valley of Modiae’. The Valley is on a piece of half-real amber, trapped between a black hole and a magical stasis field, which causes the local phenomena we were there to observe and describe. The aim of the trip was to give each student a set of roughly equivalent qualia for later spellcasting purposes, and also to introduce us to a more advanced and remote part of the world. This report is intended to sharpen our understanding of our observation, and also for us to refer back to in the future. This especially becomes necessary for older and more powerful wizards who have so many and varied experiences that they start to lose some of their earlier, foundational, qualia. Of course this was explained to us in needlessly mystical prose, but for the sake of the report, and to demonstrate understanding, I figured I’d put it into my own words, albeit briefly. The first major development occurred on arrival, of course. We appeared in a manner that to us felt instantaneous, though that’s eliding a lot of work done by the professors overseeing the field trip. We crossed from Asphodel into Modiae and with no chance to get our bearings were confronted with a truly indescribable view. It explains a great deal about the information embargo that new students face, where we aren’t permitted to know any details of the field trips prior to going on them, since it would rob some of the impact of that first impression. There is also little that could have prepared any of us for the sights. Rather than get into what it looks like, I’ll talk about where Modiae sits and how the valley was formed. In the past, a planet with a powerful magical core was damaged by the destruction of its sun, and parts of the planet’s surface became detached. The surprising part is that the surface remains stable and able to support an atmosphere and life. On the one side, the dense remnants of the star are visible on the horizon and eternally pulling on the remains of Modiae. On the other, the core is still clinging onto, and pulling at, Modiae as well. The walkable remains of the planet sit lower down, so to speak, than the two great attractors it’s stuck between, and stays there due to the stasis effect that is also all that keeps it intact and habitable. The surface (or skin, if you prefer) of the planet is pinned in three different places. Thus, the distinct v-shaped valley with spectacular sights at either end and the stars above. We soon got over our wonder, of course, and set out to explore the valley. We left the crease and wandered up the sun-side slope, and once we reached the crest we were able to see a little of the underside of Modiae. It was striking, to say the least. I expected – I don’t know what I expected – but it was something physical, some line where rock ended and empty space began. Instead, there was a gradient as dirt and stone slowly gave way to a pure mana construct. The interface between the two was a physical example of the hypothesized contradiction of Professor Ten’s famous treatise The Impermanence of Permeance, though I doubt we’ll cover that until our final year. The rest of the class had to pull me away, I’ll admit, as I found it fascinating to study. |
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The last thing I saw was also the one that will (above all others) stay with me for the rest of my life. As the moon’s orbit took it overhead, it awoke the one species that has truly made the new Modiae its home. The fields of regal blue that we saw in the distance came to life, and I soon realised that what I’d taken for a curious kind of magical plant was actually nothing more than grass, laden down with enough butterflies to ensure nothing of the original colour remained to be seen. They took off into the sky and danced between the heavens and the shreds of earth that remained. As was the intention, I’m coming away from this with some strongly-formed memories, laden with heavy emotions. Wonder, joy, and surprise, of course, but also a tender fear of loss. The valley isn’t stable and won’t last forever. The butterflies are ephemeral, and when they disappear, something magical will be lost from the world forever. But what can we as a community, regardless of how mighty we consider ourselves, do about it? That’s a question that I intend to – one day – find an answer for. No matter where the journey takes me, or how arduous the route, it will be fixed. This scrap of beauty will not pass. As far as the secondary aims of the expedition go, the list of suggested spells was Locate Creature, Scrying, Scribe Image and Conjure Lesser Being. I can report that I was able to cast all four spells off of the qualia (or ‘spiritual experiences’) from this field trip. I also came up with another two spells that weren’t previously provided: Cosmic Bridge and Spatial Rend. Preliminary testing showed Cosmic Bridge outperformed the manner by which we approached the valley, in both speed and range. I understand that this may raise some eyebrows, but I’m happy to demonstrate as required. Spacial Rend has been retroactively forbidden as a class-A combat spell and as such I am merely noting its existence – it’s been made clear that I am not permitted to cast it, or share its foundations with anyone, until I have the proper clearance or rank. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the field trip and look forward to the next one. |
Museum plaque:
A letter in Yine’s own hand, written around the same time as the report above. It completes the picture of Yine’s progress on the trip.
Letter on yellowed paper, with a crease in the middle:
Dear Perensei,
I hope you’re well, and holding out alright now the parents outnumber you. I’m having a great time at university and have learned a lot (with lots more to learn!)
Most recently, we went on a field trip. It was crazy, though I can’t share the full details. No spoilers here, they made us agree to that before we left. But you’ll love it when it’s your turn to go. I learned more spells than I think anyone really wanted me to, and there was a bit of a kerfuffle over one of them. I’m not sure I see what the big deal is – it can’t be that different to what other wizards can make? I’m still in my first year, after all!
We were told the place we went for the field (gotta be vague, as I said) trip is declining fast, and it might not be around in ten years. That’s quitter talk, though. It’s too beautiful to let fade.
So don’t you worry. I’m going to change that, and you’ll get your turn to visit. I’m going to become as powerful as I need to be to save this place, and everywhere else worth saving besides. It’s nice to have something to care about for a change; it’s certainly been too long since I had anything worth putting effort into.
Take care, and see you soon!
Yine
Museum plaque:
Yine’s grades at the end of the first semester. This is the archival copy kept by the University, not the one that Yine would have received. The course average in the prior year was 62.3%, and the highest grade was 83.5%, which was considered a strong result.
A stack of notes, where only the top note is visible/readable:
Yine Parsimmon
General Examination: 100%
Thresholds:
70% — First-Class Honours
60% — Upper Second-Class Honours
50% — Lower Second-Class Honours
40% — Third-Class Honours
A lower grade mean you have failed the year. In that case, please contact the Office for Student Support to explore your options.
Museum plaque:
Excerpts from two essays by students writing at the same institution, a century after Yine graduated
Two letters on yellowed paper, written on a computer or typewriter:
In conclusion, while Yine as a student was remarkable, their life overall cast a shadow on the concept of the child prodigy that lingers to this day. Every talented and focused student must be considered to have within them the seeds of a great danger. Few people would, on balance, say that Yine was a force for good as far as the institutions they helmed go.
The Valley of Modiae is not merely still there, it’s far more resilient than it has ever been. What was originally intended to teach students about impermanence is now an entirely different lesson. Stand far enough above the rest of the world and you can break every rule, even those set by nature itself. There were attempts, in the aftermath of Yine’s fall, to undo all their great works, but to no avail.
So what lesson do we take away from the valley? Perhaps that’s a question we should be asking the locals. Empires rise, empires fall, and scraps of a dying planet filled with blue butterflies endure out in the night sky.
Museum plaque:
Proceeding to the courtyard, you will see a statue of Yine. It commemorates the success of the venture to stabilise the Great Valley of Modiae. It is tradition for first-year students to rub the brass butterfly on Yine’s shoulder for luck upon returning from their own trip to see the butterflies. It’s resulted in a bright patch on the otherwise-darker metal, which is a fitting metaphor for Yine’s life in general and career as Archmage Primus specifically.