Vaelin Morivar

You want to know about me? Fine.

I’m Vaelin Morivar. Born in Lynev, trained in the arcane, and now... navigating the absurdity that is the Eratus Empire. I did not volunteer for that part, mind you. But they do love to claim things, and I suppose I am now officially claimed. At least they only have one deity, fragment, higher power, whatever you want to call it. The rest of the enclaves have like 36 and they have different colors...weird. My magic? Earned. Not gifted, not wild, and certainly not borrowed. Long nights, ink-stained hands, and the relentless need to be the smartest person in the room. Divination was a natural fit. Why wait to be surprised when you can be correct ahead of schedule?

Lynev was where I learned what discipline meant, specifically, being corrected mid-sentence for breathing too loud during a recitation. The Mayeea Espandes is not known for their warmth, but if you like structure, footnotes, and being humbled regularly, they’re delightful. Dean Therrin supervised my growth, which is to say he did not actively stop me. Archivist Nolla saw potential in me, though she pretended otherwise. And Master Elvon taught me divination, then promptly retired. I assume the two events are connected.

I was not some shy little spellbook hugger. I was confident, loud when necessary, and usually right. That last one really sealed my social fate. I advanced early. They paired me with older students, most of whom were louder, more arrogant, and allergic to listening. Fortunately, my reflexes were quick. A well-timed dodge and a sharper comeback got me through. My charm? Let’s call it "selectively applied." I was more likely to dismantle someone’s thesis than win them over at lunch.

Physically, I was fine. Not fragile, not impressive. I could endure long hours hunched over notes and survive the occasional outdoor training nonsense. One time, they dragged us into a field to “connect with nature.” I connected with a rock, a bramble bush, and the realization that libraries exist for a reason. They returned sunburned and inspired. I returned accurate.

Then the Devourer arrived. Spider-shaped lunatics, reality unraveling like a poorly-stitched cloak. It was no longer enough to teach or observe. The world needed fixing. And while I would very much prefer to do that with a cup of tea in one hand and a chalkboard in the other, sometimes you have to get up and participate in the end of the world.

Eventually, I found myself in Halcystor. After the Great Sleep ended, the world had... shifted. And when you hear whispers that someone out there needs your help, well, you assume they mean you. So I came. Halcystor is super religious (they have more than one temple, WHY???), but interesting. People here need guidance, even if they do not know it. And as a bonus, they are rarely dull.

I spend most of my time consulting. Curses, arcane mishaps, general magical incompetence, you name it, I’ve seen it. I also wrote a groundbreaking paper on astral drift patterns (clifnotes below). It was met with enthusiastic silence, which is fine. Vision is often ignored until hindsight gives it a parade.

I’ve met a few tolerable people along the way. Jessa Varn, an alchemist who thinks theory is for cowards, kept me humble more times than I’ll admit. We argued constantly, which I found oddly comforting. Then there was Kellen Drae, a historian with a sharp tongue and a sharper mind. Our letters could have passed for duels. He made me rethink things. I hated that. Which is how I knew he mattered.

In Halcystor, I met Alban. We were both dragged into the same theological debate, and while everyone else recited doctrine like it was a lullaby, Alban actually asked something real. Since then, we’ve talked, some of it productive, some of it... well, loud. He thinks I hide behind jokes. I think he wouldn’t know humor if it hit him with a hymnal. We get along fine. He says I 'ramble on too much," psshhhh.

Then there’s Ivaldi. Knightly, honorable, impossibly sincere. I found him exhausting at first. Still do, honestly. But he acts like people are worth saving, and annoyingly, he’s often right. I trust him. We even made a pact, if one of us starts losing our way, the other speaks up. No riddles, no subtle hints. Just honesty, like a slap. I warned him that if he ever starts rhyming during speeches, I’m stepping in immediately. He laughed. I didn’t.

I suppose I have strengths. I stay calm. I think before acting. I admit when I’m wrong, even though I’m usually not. I am dependable, inquisitive, and fluent in the arcane arts, which is more useful than it sounds. Also, my tea brewing is exceptional. No one appreciates that nearly enough.

As for flaws, yes, I have those. I’m too clever for my own good. I talk when I should listen. I deflect with sarcasm because vulnerability is uncomfortable, and sincerity makes my skin itch. I know this. I am trying to be better. Talking less. Feeling more. Raising my eyebrow only after they’ve failed instead of before. It’s progress.

Sort of.

By Vaelin Morivar, Lynev-Certified Diviner and Independent Arcane Researcher

Abstract (Abridged)
The astral plane exhibits measurable drift across multiple temporal intervals. This phenomenon, once considered negligible, has increased significantly since the conclusion of the Great Sleep. The data correlates with heightened instability in teleportation precision, inconsistencies in planar anchoring, and frequent disruptions during dream-channeling rituals. These irregularities are not the result of individual miscasting but reflect broader misalignment within the planar framework.

Key Findings
Post-Sleep Coordinate Drift
Analysis indicates that astral reference points have shifted by a factor of 0.42 relative to pre-Sleep standard alignments. While this figure may appear minor, its cumulative impact on interplanar calibration is considerable.

Ley Line Deformation
Traditional ley line structures remain present, but many now exhibit variance in location, strength, and flow consistency. This has produced localized arcane interference zones, especially in previously stable regions.

Dream-Plane Incursion Events
Documented increases in dream-bleed incidents, particularly near known faultlines, support the hypothesis that astral integrity is deteriorating. Waking cognition disruptions and minor manifestations have been recorded in field journals across multiple districts.

Temporal Feedback Anomalies
Temporal echoes have been observed during ritual casting, including incidents of recursive thought patterns and minor physical discrepancies. While often dismissed as caster fatigue, the frequency and clustering of these events suggest an environmental cause.

Conclusion
The evidence supports a model in which the astral realm is undergoing structural realignment on a scale not previously recorded. The cause remains undetermined. Continued observation is strongly recommended, and any efforts to reestablish astral reference anchors should proceed with caution.

Author's Note (Appendix, Page 97)
This report is intended for academic review. Readers seeking practical mitigation techniques should consult local guild protocols before undertaking alignment procedures. Unsupervised attempts to correct astral anomalies may exacerbate existing instability. Further correspondence is welcomed, particularly from those working in high-drift zones or with access to pre-Sleep planar data.

By Vaelin Morivar, Lynev-Trained Scholar of Arcane and Theological Studies

Abstract
This paper examines the widespread contradiction between religious doctrine and divine practice concerning necromancy in Arda. While necromantic magic is widely regarded as taboo, subject to criminalization, exile, or execution, the fragments of the divine continue to grant necromantic spells to their followers. This theological inconsistency raises critical questions about the nature of divine intent, the legitimacy of institutional enforcement, and the selective morality applied to identical magical outcomes. The purpose of this analysis is to identify the philosophical and legal incongruities in the treatment of necromantic practitioners across faith-based and secular systems.

Key Findings

Universal Taboos and Divine Authorization
Necromancy remains socially and legally condemned whether through corpse animation, soul communication, or resurrection. Nevertheless, these spells continue to be granted regularly by divine fragments through sanctioned channels. This indicates deliberate and repeated divine intent.

Clerical Access as Theological Endorsement
Clerics do not acquire necromantic abilities by accident. Their power is the direct result of prayer and alignment with specific divine entities. The presence of necromantic spells on their spell lists, including those associated with healing and revival, represents a sanctioned magical pathway that contradicts the punitive norms enforced against arcane necromancers.

Doctrinal Contradiction in Resurrection Law
Healing minor injuries is considered sacred. Returning an individual from death is regarded as heretical, even when both actions originate from the same divine source. This inconsistency reveals a sociopolitical preference for controlled displays of divine power while condemning those that challenge mortality more directly.

Conclusion
The distinction between forbidden and acceptable necromancy appears to be rooted not in magical ethics or arcane consequences, but in the identity of the caster and the origin of the magic. If the divine fragments themselves continue to authorize necromantic spells, then mortal institutions must reconcile whether their opposition is doctrinally sound or structurally hypocritical. Without such reconciliation, legal and religious systems risk undermining their own authority by punishing what their gods continue to grant.