Author: thecelticmyst

Traveling the king’s Road

by thecelticmyst

Yesterday, I was forced to attend a meeting called by the Head Wizard for all who taught under him. Alas, for some reason, it was held at the university location that is near the road to the King’s Gate; which guards the borders of the kingdom. It is far and one must travel through the wilderness and across a desert to get there. Many times, we have begged to have such conclaves moved to a more central position; to one of the cities or villages where we have campuses rather than the wilderness near the kingdom’s borders.

Luckily, one of the wizards was willing to arrange a chariot to the far reaches for those of us who might fall off of our brooms from such a long journey. We took a carriage there, where I heard about the many offspring some of the wizards have. One has an even dozen, I jest you not. The oldest is about the same age as my oldest niece, 26. The youngest is an infant. Verily, his wife is healthier than most.

The conclave was productive when we were in our individual disciplines, but the overall meeting was less conducive. It has a just purpose, but the execution fit not quite right; for there was not adequate time for explanations and each was too content specific.

This morning, I went to see the new Marvel Play, Shang-Chi. It was my second time seeing it. It’s very good. Indeed, if one has not seen it, they should stop reading this and run to their local theater. Alas, a hag sat two seats down from me. She kept lighting her messenger crystal to speak with someone not at the theater. I think the litch she came with, dragged her there. The play was still good, but someone had released dragons or demons on the kings highway and all brooms, horses, carriages, etc. were forced from the main road had to find other ways to their home. It took me a full hour to make it back to my hovel. Now, I am sunburnt. ‘Tis sad indeed.

Return of the Witch

by thecelticmyst

After I had to show my witches, elves, and trolls what a Blog was, I realized I had not been on mine for many moons. Indeed, the planet has rotated completely around the sun since then. Much has happened, despite the plague raging on thanks to the Plague Rats and their pro-plague campaigns. I shall endeavor to tell more of these things in upcoming entries.

For now, my scholars will be using their magic blue fairy boxes and crystals to write blogs, as they pretend to be their ancestors who travelled to the king’s lands from the lands beyond. They, too, shall blog about their experiences.

I may, meanwhile, move some of the places this report, which will hopefully become weekly again, are sent for the town crier to report. For I have been thrown into jail by the Book of Faces in the past. Indeed, Master Zuckerberg and his minion bots hate historical pictures and any who argue with the WMs. We shall see.

Shopping in a Time of Plague

by thecelticmyst

The masks that I didst order through the magic mirror, from the Market of the Crimson Bubble didst arrive. The first set, that would be. There were four of them, each featuring a pattern from the Age of Dragons, a most wonderful interactive fiction and fight simulator. The owl that delivered them assured me that four more will be delivered in the upcoming week. They also have patterns from the War of the Stars and the tales of the Doctor called Who.

I also had an owl from the Market of Torrid. I didst use discounts and Witch Dollars to purchase a dress from them. It is one of vertical stripes in the way of the pastels. Indeed, the colors of true evil.

A collection of masks will likely be necessary when the schools do open in fortnights times three. For the plague has worsened in the land. An evil dictator did visit, he refused protections from the disease that plagues us, as did his followers. Now, they are free to spread the plague more amply amongst the people of this land and we must needs be cautious, because of them.

Luckily, the markets to the south are now requiring masks upon entry. Alas, those closest to me do not and those who worship death do enter in them without adequate protections for the rest of us. ‘Tis one of the reasons I continue to use the magic mirrors to contact vendors at different markets. Yet, my horse doth need a change of its saddle and humors and I most go to a shop to do so. If only I knew which one to trust.

Missing Coins and Danger Markets

by thecelticmyst

‘Twas a happy day this week when the pittance of a bonus that the academy doth give its witches and wizards arrived. Alas, ’tis quite the pittance compared to what I used to get from the school in the swamps of this land. ‘Tis about a tithe. Yet it was enough to go to the Market for food with. Then just yesterday an owl did arrive from the Department of the Resources of Humans, Elves, and Other Magical Creatures. Forsooth, they didst forget to pay the king and vizier before they gave us our pittance of silver. Thus, they declared that the king and vizier would be paid out of our fortnight stipend. ‘Tis a great tragedy, for that is the stipend payment I pay to the warlord who owns mine hovel.

As I did browse the wares at the Market, it was great to see how many were masked as to not spread the plague that still lays siege to the land. Yet, as time didst move, a trio were spotted without their plague masks. They didst flout courtesy, caring not if they didst infect others. ‘Twas sad to see. ‘Tis always the same type, too. They of certain complexion and dress. Many among that type are great in hubris and low in compassion. I didst my best to keep a safe distance from those Plague Bringers.

In the meantime, there ’tis still no word from the academy as to what the semester next shall look like, but the king’s aids are crying that we do return physically there. This doth lead to arguments over precautions and lunches. Hopefully, answers will be forthcoming soon.

Hunting the Dead

by thecelticmyst

Today I didst dedicate much time to hunting for my missing great aunt and uncle. Verily, I didst find a list of all of those in the necropolis in the land of my fathers. In this case, ’twas actually the land of my mother’s father. I have yet to find any trace of them, except to know that their didst lie when she told the royal census taker that they were dead. For they are not there. Perhaps one day, I shall discover their fates. Perhaps I shalt call on a wisp to hunt for me, but that shall take great time and effort. In the meantime, I shall continue to poor over the names of those who are there. The greatest being, Sir Thomas Katt; the familiar who was so wonderful, he was buried with his family.

On the morrow, I shall gird mine loins and don my face mask, for I must go out to the plagued lands and journey to the market for supplies. There is still no word on what the fall semester shall look like. I am preparing more masks as I suspect we shall don them and teach masked face to masked face.

Hexed Demoness

by thecelticmyst

Verily, the mandatory spell training scheduled for the months of summer is no more. After we didst meet through our scrying mirrors, to discuss the training, the headmasters were not happy. When they met to discuss how the plague will affect the next semester at the school, they decided that the training ‘twould not be mandatory. Forsooth, the witch who was conducting the training showed signs that she was a demoness in disguise. I didst wonder if any would attempt to hex her, but though that we were too professional.

Forsooth, one of my fellow witches or wizards didst indeed hex her. Officially, the training was cancelled ‘due to unforseen circumstances’. ‘Tis obvious that the demoness didst indeed get hexed. She didst have it coming, wanting to give a grade for an audit style class. As the headmasters did not pay out coin to the king, there were no certifications available for the class, yet she didst want to give grades and threatened witches with zeros if they dare be late on their assignments. A hexing was the only answer.

Meanwhile, the people are still battling the King’s Guards; fighting back against the abuses that they doth heap upon them. It has caused the guards to grow even more abusive, yet the people doth stand strong. I pray to our gods that the people will continue to stand.

Uncertainty in an Uncertain Land

by thecelticmyst

The headmasters meet tomorrow to decide what the next year at the Academy shall look like. We, the humble witches and wizards who teach at the Academy were allowed to give our input by filling out a scroll with number options one through ten on how we felt about certain questions and scenarios, all relating to our scholars and the plague. We then sent our responses back by owl. They will then make a decision on the morrow. It is uncertain what shall be decided.

We, the witches and wizards, did get to attend a meeting through our scrying mirrors that didst last for an hour and a half. We were going over the training of new spells that we were instructed to do this summer. Forsooth, the person leading the training does not look upon it as training, but as a class with exams and obstetrical courses. She doth plan to assign grades and wilt strike us with the hex of zero if her spells are not completed upon time. Verily, she hath been possessed by a heinous spirit. I was looking forward more this meeting before I didst meet her.

Alas, one of my fellow witches felt so discouraged after the overly long meeting that she didst despair why she doth even allow herself to be so tortured for such little coin. We reminded her that does it for her little elves, but she is vulnerable and I fear that this woman possessed of an ill spirit might drive her away, to some desperation even. The vulnerability doth come from living in such uncertain times.

The training might still be enjoyable, despite the heinous spirit possessing the instructor. If ’tis not, she will likely be struck with a hex. Although, she may not notice with the plague and uprising happening now. We shall likely know within the next moon concerning both her matters and what the next year shall look upon.

Chaos in the Kingdom

by thecelticmyst

‘Tis a dark time in the kingdom where I dwell. There continues to be a plague upon the land. The royal vizier has begun to allow merchants and artisans to return to their routines, yet the plague hath not departed. Forsooth, ’tis still better to stay in our hovels

Nor ’tis this the only concern for those who dwell in this kingdom. For the marches of pitchforks and torches is touching the entire kingdom, as is the plague. The Vizier who doth rule over the demesne where I live hath declared that the institutes of learning shall open up in the fall. ‘Tis not the fall here, but August upon which they doth reopen. Verily, I didst receive an owl from the headmaster that the Faculty of Educational Witches shall meet upon the morrow to discuss what this shall look like. He hath been frank that our break of summer shall be cut quite short, as we shall be in training for the upcoming year. I was planning to watch lectures from the University of the Yale during this time, but that shall not be. Nor shall the many projects of chainmaille which I had planned. Forsooth, it doth bruise the heart.

Yet, all is not news of ill from the kingdom, at least not from my hovel. For just today, I didst receive an owl from a friend I had not heard from in months. And today, the name ‘Darla’ shall be praised. Just the week past, I received an owl from Natalie bearing news of her wonderful self and my handsome nephews. Thus, I shall survive this time of chaos and death.

Flight of Errant Owls

by thecelticmyst

I am presently taking a break from sending out owl after owl to my little goblins and nymphs. They are baring scrolls that contain lists of missing work. For verily, it seems that some of those at the king’s college could not get their assignments on time and must have the errant fowls pecking at them constantly to get them done. I have hear from the parent of one goblin trying to claim that her precious’ low grade is my fault for giving her a bad grade on a spell she failed to perform correctly. Indeed, she tried to perform a completely different spell. She was supposed to bring forth the spirits of those who lived a thousand years ago and instead tried to bring forth the spirit of one who lived two thousand years ago. Alas, she only managed to summon a faint whiff of sulfur and a demon’s pet gerbil.

I didn’t hear back from the parent of one of my elves who has been suffering. She shall see that our precious elf succeeds this year, by hook or by crook. I also sent her a magic mirror and spell that will summon lessons from one of the greatest Universities in the land. So, she too may enjoy them during the hot months of summer. They speak of the ancient ones and their ways. ‘Tis very engaging.

‘Twas a report delivered in the magic fairy box yesterday that three score, plus a dozen, of those who tried to rebel against the duke’s edict to shelter from the plague have indeed caught the pestilence. This hag didst laugh quite evilly and maniacally. One can not argue with the plague. ‘Tis a plague, it just wants to kill you.

Forsooth, ’tis time to return to the scrolls. I fear one of my goblins may have eaten the messenger pigeon that I sent. I shall try a vulture this time. That way it may defend itself and he may understand that there is a hint of death around his grade.

Nearing the End of a Semester

by thecelticmyst

There is only one and a half fortnights left until the end of this semester at the King’s College. My elves are busy working on their final project. They are to present an event from the past in a creative manner. ‘Twill be interesting to see their attempts at creativity. They have a list of ten choices of manner of presentation.

Some of the ogres have received owls and pigeons from me, telling them what they must do if they do not want to spend another year with me; learning our great kingdom’s past once again. Many have sent owl after owl with missing scrolls and inquiries. I have taken hours pouring over those scrolls this past week. There was the mother of one ogre who tried to intimidate me, pounding her chest mightily. She stopped when I sent an owl to drop a scroll on her head to explain why her claims were wrong and a detailed diagram of how I knew. Alas, her ogre refuses to rewrite the spell that she messed up on her exams. The spell was so off that it did not even bring back spirits from the right time period. She was off by a thousand years.

I didst also have an encounter with a hag this week. She’d left messages on the blue fairy box demanding that others return to their employ, despite the plague. She cried that she could not enjoy food made by others, nor would anyone massage her feet for her. Alas, her husband obviously does not love her enough to do either, for she claimed that he did. When I pointed out that having someone massage her feet during a plague would mean spreading the disease from her to the other person could kill them, or spread it to others, she declared she did not care. For that was their choice of employ. Truly, ’tis a night hag bent on harming others, for they were not as important as her wanton desires. When she learned of my disdain for her, she didst challenge me to a fight. She showed up to this fight with a kitchen knife. Truly, twas not a challenge for my long sword nor spells. She cried that ’twas not a fair fight and tried to run away. Alas, I had to slay her for the good of the kingdom, ’twas only right.

I shalt be taking the end days of the week to clean my hovel and work upon my writings. I will also observe the new play I found through mine magic mirror, Stan Against Evil. If only the history they relayed weren’t so egregious. Yet, I find myself liking the characters.