The Journal of Edmond Crawsly entry 179:
Finally, my training at the Syndicate College has ended, and now I start the next path of my journey to be a fully accredited Battlemage. Only my meeting with the Head Mage remained before I would be leaving the College for good. As I made my way across the courtyard I took in all the details for the final time… the bumpy cobblestone walkway underfoot clicked softly as my boots struck each stone, the large trees with their multicolored leaves shaded novice mages studying on the benches underneath, a professor teaching a group of young mages how to cast a fireball in one corner stomped out the bottom of his robes set aflame by a careless miscast, and an air of magic surged through the whole campus invigorating the magical energies of those inside. As I approached the Head Mage’s Tower I was excited to finally see what was inside the tallest building on campus, and I stood there for a moment staring up at the large vine-covered tower before I opened the thick wooden door and stepped inside. Inside the tower, electric lights flickered softly all along a large stairway showing how important the Head Mage must be with electricity being only sparingly used in the City. As I walked up the steps I could hear chanting getting louder and louder until I was just outside the door. As I wondered if I should interrupt the door itself swung open on its own power, and as he saw me the Head Mage stopped his chanting while beckoning me inside. He was just as I always imagined him to be. Wearing a dark purple robe with arcane symbols stitched into it with golden thread…likely enchanted thread, but I have no way of knowing, had several amulets hanging from his neck that were slightly obscured by his long white beard, his dark eyes glowed with power, and on his head sat a pointed hat that matched his robe. As I sat down he explained to me that the final part on my path to being an official Syndicate Battlemage was to spend one year traveling the lands plying my trade. I would be assigned an experienced Ranger to assist me in my travels, and if I survived the year I would be granted the full title and benefits of a Battlemage. All that remained was to choose the new name I would go by as a Battlemage. After a short time, I settled on the name of Crowfoot. The Crawsly family crest is a large black crow, and every member of the family carries a Crow’s foot as a good luck charm so it only seemed natural. The Head Mage gave me a pack containing several potions, enchanted rings and amulets, and a large sum of gold for expenses, but he also said that I would be receiving no more help from the Syndicate until I returned one year later. He sent me on my way with instructions to go to the Faulty Compass here in Karnok tomorrow morning to meet with my companion Ranger. My head swam with excitement as I headed back to the dormitory to spend my final night sleeping inside the college walls, and as I lay in bed writing this journal it was almost too exciting to sleep.
The Journal of Edmond Crawsly entry 180:
After a fitful night of sleep, I gathered what I would be taking with me on my journey. I filled the pack the headmaster had given me with almost everything I owned. My spell books, an enchanted ring of water breathing my father had given me before I left to become a Mage, the small amount of gold I had stashed away for emergencies, and a small portrait of my family all fit in the pack with ease, and there was even some room to spare. I hooked my small silver dagger to my belt, grabbed my staff, and looked around before stepping out into the courtyard and off to adventure. As the gates of the college closed behind me I was left to my own devices in the busy Karnok streets. People stumbled around groggily as the early morning sun beat down, and with it being so early it was sure to increase as more denizens spilled into the streets to start their day. I found my way through the maze-like city to the market district where the Faulty Compass is located. The Faulty Compass is not only a very successful Tavern and Inn, but also the home of the Jalldoon League of Explorers and their vault of artifacts. The Compass is in a very old looking building built up at odd angles, and with a large round stained glass window in the middle of the roof, and as I stepped inside the dark tavern area it took a minute for my eyes to fully adjust to the gloom. I stepped up to the bar with a very large black-haired Gatonian cleaning a stein behind it and explained I was there to meet a Ranger. He smiled and pointed me to a corner table where two men sat talking quietly. As I approached and introduced myself the ranger introduced himself as Merrick Galstarn, and the other gentleman as Thaddeus Crumblepot the President of the League. Merrick insisted I join the League myself to take advantage of their experience, and the vast discounts across the lands as a member. He also told me my simple Mages robe would not be sufficient for a trek across Jalldoon for a year. So after spending most of my gold on joining the league and a nice set of leather armor…something tells me the league and the Syndicate both make money off sending new Battlemages out fully equipped… I was loaded up with more potions, several maps, a membership card, and the seal of the league to attach to my armor which would show other members my affiliation. Merrick also suggested I wear any enchanted items I possessed at all times in case I need them. I wondered why the Syndicate wouldn’t suggest this themselves, but Merrick pointed out that kind of thing is only learned from experience, and most of the Professors at the College had little to no practical experience in the wilds of Jalldoon, and the Head Mage is so preoccupied with his own studies that it likely never occurred to him. Being better equipped, but far lighter on gold Thaddeus bought us a nice hearty meal. After we ate we left the Faulty Compass to start our journey with the first stop being the Crossroads Tavern on the edge of Barrwood Forest. My quest to be an official Battle Mage had finally begun its first steps toward the end.
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