Gammeg learned magic as an apprentice to a member
of the Veiled Alliance in the city-state of Gulg. He knew
it was illegal to practice magic in the city-states, but
Gammeg didn't care. He found happiness in magic that
he could not find in life, for Gammeg was a slave. He
toiled in the forest outside the city, gathering wild fruits
and nuts for the benefit of the oba, Gulg's sorcerer queen.
On certain days, when conditions were right and he wasn't
under close observation, Gammeg's contact materialized
out of the forest to conduct brief lessons. This went on
for a number of years, but progress under these conditions
was painfully slow.
The day finally came when Gammeg could stand it
no longer. He petitioned his contact to help him escape
so that he could learn more about the preserver 's art.
Surprisingly, the contact agreed. It took many more weeks
before the contact proclaimed it was time. Then, almost
without warning, the preserver who had been teaching him
cast spells that confused the other slaves and distracted
the guards and templar overseers. Gammeg was never
sure, but he thought his contact must have had unseen
help from elsewhere in the forest. Before he could change
his mind or even gape at the spectacular display of magic,
the preserver led Gammeg out of the forest and away
from Gulg.
He was taken to Altaruk, where another powerful wizard
continued his training. During this time, Gammeg learned
about magic and how to use it without harming the
environment, and he learned about the Veiled Alliance.
He also heard of a slave tribe called Sortar's Army that
was operating out of the nearby mountains. Gammeg was
told that when he was ready, he would be sent to join that
tribe, for the Alliance was interested in its leader and the
activities he involved his tribe in.
To join the tribe, Gammeg first had to come before
them as a slave – something he hadn't been for many
years. He reluctantly allowed himself to be captured by a
slaver caravan on its way from Altaruk to Gulg for a slave
auction. He hoped he had learned enough to set himself
free if Sortar's Army didn't do it for him, for he had no
intention of returning to his old city-state in the back of
a slave wagon. A day out from Altaruk, a band of raiders
attacked the caravan. True to the stories Gammeg had
heard, the raiders freed the slaves and offered invitations
to any who wanted to join their benefactors. The tattoos
on their faces marked them as part of Sortar's Army, and
Gammeg readily agreed.
To this day, the preserver has never admitted his
connection to the Veiled Alliance to Sortar or even to
the other mages. In fact, he has had precious little contact
with the Alliance since joining the slave tribe. Someday
he may be approached with orders to invite Sortar to
merge his forces with the Alliance. He feels that such a
day would be to both parties ' benefit.
Gammeg is one of four preservers currently
working with Sortar's slave tribe. Like others of his ilk,
Gammeg uses magic in concert with the environment. He
came to the tribe in order to use his magic freely and to
find a place and a people to call his own. Though the
tribe treats him and the other mages with some suspicion,
they have also come to accept the preservers and even
appreciate the help they provide during combat.