Page 43 - Mordenkainen's Tome Of Foes

later years. Even if such a future life seems tepid and
unbearably dull during an elf's prime, the psychological
changes that come with age make this peaceful period
of existence the most satisfying experience possible for
an elf's later years. Nevertheless, this fear is immune to
logic when it arises in adult elves. To avoid the fate they
dread, consciously or subconsciously, they throw them-
selves into dangerous situations, not caring whether
they survive or perhaps even hoping they don't. In effect,
they're looking for another chance, seeing their current
life or perceived future as unbearable and hoping to stop
the clock on this mortal body and start afresh. in the same ritual, while lesser wizards feed spells into
the growing webwork of magic. Such a ritual can take
ELVES AND MAGIC a long time to perform and sometimes requires the
sacrifice of lives in order to achieve its purpose, but the
Magic infuses the elves' world. Even so, they aren't born
results can be utterly miraculous.
with an innate understanding of magic. To master spell-
The mythal that protected the mighty city of Myth
casting, an elf must devote years of study and practice to
Drannor on the world of FaerOn prevented the entrance
it, the same as most folk. But from the moment they're
of enemy races such as dragons, illithids, drow, and dop-
born, elves are surrounded by a culture, a philosophy,
pelgangers. It negated spying magic and teleportation,
and an artistic style that incorporates and subtly reveals
and every elf within its bounds gained the power to Ry
the mysteries of magic to someone who is receptive to
and a multitude of magical protections.
the message- which elves certainly are.
Similar magic allowed the elves of Krynn to raise a
mythal at Qualinost. A city of moon-pale stone, its many
WIZARDRY
towers stand hundreds of feet tall, and bridges of alabas-
There's a reason most powerful wizards are old. The ter arc impossibly through its sky like pale rainbows.
special formulas of action, item, and sound that produce A mythal can't be dispelled or suppressed by any
wizardly magic require precision, and such precision conventional means, nor can its effects. Once one is in
comes only from long practice. More than that, each place, it seemingly lasts forever, since none are known
spell a wizard might cast requires a portion of one's to have dissipated. A mythal's nature can only be
powerful intellect to be dedicated to the task, with the warped or changed, and that can be accomplished only
necessary patterns of thought and proper mindset kept through the use of magical energy equal to that required
in stasis, ready to be unleashed. Even after these con- for its creation.
cepts are mastered, new knowledge of magic remains The metropolis ofWaterdeep, which lies on the Sword
elusive, and a wizard must progress steadily through Coast of FaerOn, benefits from mythals that were cre-
deeper levels of understanding, breaking through men- ated to protect the capital of a great empire of elves that
tal barriers in order to achieve ever greater mastery. stood on the spot over two thousand years before the
Of all peoples, elves are perhaps best suited to wiz- city's founding. The elves left for Evermeet upon the or-
ardry. They have centuries of life to devote to their der of their leader, who commanded the wizards of the
studies, and their trance effectively gives them extra city to alter the mythal so that evidence of the empire's
time to practice, as lessons learned during study can be existence was wiped from the surface of the world.
reinforced by recalling them during resting periods. The
rigidity and studiousness required by wizardry would BLADESONG
seem anathema to a people who can recall a life of
Those who see a bladesinger in battle never forget the
unfettered exploration and free expression of form, but
sight. Surrounded by chaos and blood, the bladesinger
magic provides a means of regaining that power. The
moves in an otherworldly dance. Spells and sword act
patience and restraint for which elves are well known
in concert, meshing awe-inspiring beauty with fear-
serves them well in this pursuit.
some deadliness. When the bladesinger's sword whirls
Not all elven communities embrace wizardry, but
through the air so swiftly that it keens and the air hums
most worlds of the multiverse have at least one commu-
and whistles in chorus, the bladesong has begun- and it
nity of elves in which the spellcasters are renowned as
might be the last thing the bladesinger's enemy hears.
masters. In some worlds, elves are even credited with
The elves and half-elves who practice the art of the
the invention of the art of wizardry.
bladesinger, a tradition found primarily on the world of
Faerfin, appear to be almost casual in combat, deRecting
MYTH A LS
opponents' blades while elegantly moving into position
Great works of magic are by no means unique to elves, to score hits in return. A bladesinger wields a weapon
but the creation of mythals seems to be knowledge that one-handed, leaving the other free for spellcasting or
did originate with them. Known by different names to manipulate a wand that can be incorporated into
on different worlds, a mythal is a persistent magical the fighting style. This technique gives a bladesinger
field that changes how reality works over a large area. the freedom of movement necessary for the dancelike
Creating the most powerful of mythals requires many motions of the various forms of martial art, which allow
wizards of great renown and long experience to engage both magical and physical attacks to flow freely.
CHAPTER 2 I l:LVES