You come upon a wooden potion table lined with intricate, swirling patterns. Potions are great if you have a lot of time to waste and like collecting weird ingredients. A powerful spell, however, can be performed instantly – so long as the caster is skilled enough. On top of the table, you find an assortment of tools: crystal vials, stirring rods made from various metals, cauldrons of differing sizes, and finely-tuned scales with weights carved from moonstone. A curtain beneath the table conceals a shelf of common ingredients. If you’d like, you can craft a potion here. Standing nearby with a concerned look on his face is the aging Headmaster, Leopold Levinwood.
You grab a cauldron and get to work.
What ingredients would you like to add?
You pull aside the curtain, revealing a shelf with various empty jars and vacant pouches. You can smell the remnants of the herbs and mystical components that once inhabited this sad little shelf of ingredients. It seems the shelf has not yet been stocked for the school year. Oh well.
Headmaster Levinwood looks like a typical old wizard full of wise sayings and elusive tidbits of advice. Still, he has a tall and commanding presence, with a mane of silver hair that cascades down his shoulders. His eyes are a piercing shade of cobalt blue, sharp and perceptive. You figure it’s best to speak to him with respect, even though your skills are probably on par with his.
As you approach, he meets your eyes with a reassuring but serious gaze.
“My dear student, this is indeed a troubling incident, but rest assured your safety is our utmost priority. We will spare no effort in our investigation to ensure the safety of our students. Alas, while not fatal, this spell on our beloved scholar is imbued with a powerful and dark magic that exceeds even my ability to cure. A potion, I think, will be needed in this dire time, and strength and bravery, above all else, will be paramount in our success.”
He leans in close to whisper in your ear.
“It is my hope that this was some innocent mishap, a slip of the wand or some such unfortunate blunder. Yet, the dark forces I feel at work here lead me to suspect a more sinister motive. There is evil in this world, my dear student, as much as it pains me to admit. It has always been my hope to shield the students of Lumenspire from that evil until such a time as they may be ready to resist it, and yet… the prophecies do speak of her return.”
He places a hand on your shoulder, offering a genuine and comforting gesture.
“While I fear the worst, it is most comforting to know that students such as you grace the halls of Lumenspire. In fact, had it not been for your fellow students alerting me of the danger, something worse could have happened! Fortunately, the message arrived quickly and I was able to come at once from my office. Remember, we are a community bound by the principles of magic, knowledge, and unity. We shall navigate these challenges together, emerging stronger and wiser. If you ever need guidance or support, I’ll be here… Now, let us face this trial with courage and determination! Might I suggest speaking with our new Defense against Dark Magic Professor, Mortis Grimthorn? While I have no doubt that he is now our ally, his circles were once entwined with those of… you know who.”
