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described it as an incantation of holy vision, yet it worked as well for
Khadgar as it did for their clerics. While that priestly spell functioned over
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space, perhaps with modification it could function over time. Khadgar reasoned
that this would normally be impossible given the flow of time in a
determinant, clockwork universe.
But it seemed that within the walls of Karazhan, at least, time was an
hourglass, and identifying bits of disjointed time was more likely. And once
one hooked into one grain of time, it would be easier to move that grain to
another.
If others had attempted this within the walls of Medivh s Tower, there was no
clue within the library, unless it was within the most heavily guarded or
unreadable of the tomes located on the iron balcony.
Curiously, the notes in Medivh s own hand were uninterested in the visions,
which seemed to dominate other notes from other visitors. Did Medivh keep that
information in another location, or was he truly more interested in matters
beyond the walls of the citadel than the activities within it?
Refitting a spell for a new activity was not as simple as changing an
incantation here, altering a motion there. It required a deep and precise
understanding of how divination worked, of what it revealed and how. When a
hand-motion changes, or the type of incense used is deleted, the result is
most likely complete failure, where the energies are dissipated harmlessly.
Occasionally the energies may go wild and out of control, but usually the only
result of a failed spell is a frustrated spellcaster.
In his studies, Khadgar discovered that if a spell fails in a spectacular
fashion, it indicates that the failed spell is very close to the final
intended spell. The magics are trying to close the gap, to make things happen,
though not always with the results intended by the caster. Of course,
sometimes these failed magic-users did not survive the experience.
During the process, Khadgar was afraid that Medivh would return at any time,
wafting back into the library, looking for the well-read epic poem or some
other bit of trivia. Would he tell his master what he was trying? And if he
did, would Medivh encourage him, or forbid him from trying to find out?
After five days, Khadgar felt he had the spellmaking complete. The framework
remained that of the farseeing, but it was now empowered with a random factor
to allow it to reach through and search out the discontinuities that seemed to
exist within the tower. These bits of misplaced time would be a little
brighter, a little hotter, or simply a little odder than the immediate
surroundings, and as such attract the full force of the spell itself.
The spell, if it functioned, should in addition tune in the vision better.
This would collect the sounds at the other end and remove the distortion,
concentrating them in the same fashion as an elderly person cupping a hand to
the ear to hear better. It would not work for sounds beyond the central
location as well, but should clarify what individuals were saying in addition
to what the caster was seeing.
The evening of the fifth day, Khadgar had completed his calculations, the neat
rows and orders of power and casting laid out in a simple script. Should
something go horribly wrong, at least Medivh would figure out what had
happened.
Medivh, of course, kept a fully equipped pantry of spell components, including
a larder of aromatic and thaumaturgic herbs, and a lapidarium of crushed
semi-precious stones. Of these Khadgar chose amethyst to lay out his magical
circle, in the library itself, crisscrossing it with runes of powered rose
quartz. He reviewed the words of power (most of them known to the young mage
before he left Dalaran) and worked through the motions (almost all of them
original). Dressed in conjuration robes (more for luck than effect), he
stepped within the casting circle.
Khadgar let his mind settle and become calm. This was no quickly-cast battle
spell, or some offhand cantrip. Rather this was a deep and powerful spell, one
that, if within the Violet Citadel, would set off the warning abjurations of
other mages and bring them flying to him.
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