#A primal source rune?

[imminent-danger-came]

I am like. At this point I want to design car decals for tdp and lmk and have someone on etsy make ‘em for me. Slap those bad boys on the back of my car

[aurelion-solar]

Artist Spotlight: Rachael Cross

Roles: Concept Artist & Illustrator

Twitter - ArtStation

In light of Riot Games laying off 11% of their staff globally, I want to make a series of posts highlighting the portfolios of those affected, so that we can appreciate their contributions to the world of Runeterra and continue to support them. You can find a full list of those known to be affected here.

HEARTSTEEL Aphelios & Alune Concept Art (source)

Street Demons Neeko Concept Art (source)

Soul Fighter Shaco & Yasuo Concept Art (source)

Soul Fighter Viego, Samira, Gwen & Lux Explorations (source)

Primal Ambush Sivir Concept Art (source)

Rift Herald, Infernal Drake Cinders & Triple Tonic Rune (source)

[its-leethee]

My thoughts are running around in circles about incantation-less and ingredient-less magic right now, thanks to this panel from Puzzle House:

I had speculated that Claudia's hand-flashlight spell and Viren's candle-lighting spell were perhaps a sort of dark magic cantrip that they'd prepped ahead of time and stored up charges for.

But in this Puzzle House scene, Claudia doesn't categorize the candle-lighting trick as dark magic. She explains that Kpp'ar coined the term "snap magic" and that it was powered by "a 'spark of fun' instead of primal sources or..." or what remains a mystery, because Claudia interrupts herself there and doesn't finish her explanation.

There's an intriguing passage in ToX explaining that experienced* dark mages can cast some "simple" spells, specifically like lighting a candle, without dice rolls (bypassing the pass/fail mechanic of the game); however, it's not clear if that means they wouldn't still have to use a reagent to perform the spell.

--Tales of Xadia, page 147

*"Experienced" dark mages as in, possessing dark magic trauma from the accumulated and untreated stress brought about casting dark magic spells.... Do you really consider that a "spark of fun," Kpp'ar?

The other time I've heard mention of magical sparks is from Lujanne's lecture about arcanums in 2x01 (emphasis mine):

"Wait, what's an arcanum?" "It's like... the secret of the Primal, or its meaning." "The secret of the Primal?" "Yes. That secret becomes a spark. The tiniest possible flicker of a Primal Source inside you. But enough to ignite the world with its magic."

There are two other examples within the show where mages cast spells without voicing a spell or incantation. Every instance where Aaravos casts a spell, he is silent, and Callum is able to cast spells underwater in 5x09 without breathing a word. They both still do need to trace out runes/do some kind of hand-waving for their spellcasting.

So, we have sparks, we have secrets, we have silent mages... and I wish I had more of the pieces to this puzzle, because I can't put together a conclusion.

[kradogsrats]

Where DO the fabled Great Ones hide?

So recently pulling together that in Xadia there were initially only the first elves, then there were primal elves, and then eventually there were no more first elves... we've been left with the question of how and why did primal elves come into being, and correspondingly, where did the first elves go?

To get a sense of timeline: if Aaravos is, as he claims in the Book One novelization prologue, one of the first elves, there were presumably still at least a few around as recently as 1000 years before series time—at least, if we're to believe that Ziard's "one of the great ones" answer for who gave him the staff is obfuscating that it was Aaravos for anyone other than the audience (which it may not be). The shift from "first elves" to "great ones" implies that they are, at the least, vastly inferior in population to the primal elves. Then by 300 years pre-series, all but Aaravos are gone—when push comes to shove, only the archdragons contend with him (there are none of his kind standing against him) and he has no allies (there are none of his kind standing with him).

The neatest, though by no means only, conclusion to draw is that the first elves somehow became the primal elves. But why would they do that? By all accounts, it's a definite step down—Aaravos can draw magic from any primal source, but we have yet to see a primal elf with magic beyond their own primal. Star, if it can truly be considered a primal source, is also implied to be stronger than the others, so cutting it off in order to dedicate yourself to another single primal isn't doing you any favors. And I mean, come on—primal elves are mortal, and we're given to believe the first elves were not. If some of the first elves became the initial primal elves, it seems like it would have to have been either a significant sacrifice on their part or something that was done unwillingly. Which means we're getting juicy.

Here's five far-fetched but 100% serious theories:

Theory 1: Primal elves for primal stones

This depends a bit on the exact relationship between the first elves and primal magic, which we don't know for certain—one possibility is that the first elves had equal access to all available primal sources as well as deep magic, but another is that primal magic was the sole domain of the dragons and other mortal creatures of Xadia. Aaravos has mastered magic of all primal sources, but I have to wonder if that was only because he was "fallen" and stripped of much of his natural power. Given that we see him cast primal magic with runes, it seems possible that primal magic is not native to the first elves the way it is to the dragons—Zubeia doesn't need a rune to cast Vocare Nimbum. If first elves had a similar natural ability with deep magic, that could put them on par with the archdragons in their power... and even if Aaravos was stripped of his deep magic ability, becoming an archmage of all primal sources would still make him a formidable opponent for Avizandum and Zubeia.

Anyway, if there were the first elves, with only/primarily deep magic, the dragons/creatures native to Xadia with only primal magic, and then humans with no magic, giving the suffering humans access to primal magic as a leg up makes sense in that it puts them on equal ground with their peers (the other mortals of Xadia) without elevating them too far. So what if, to craft the first primal stones and teach humans primal magic, Leola and her cohort had to become primal elves and bind themselves to a single primal source in order to understand it so thoroughly that they could trap it for use? I've theorized before that creating a primal stone requires star magic, but it definitely also requires magic of the primal that is being stored—if the first elves were not naturally primal mages, it may have been a necessary sacrifice. This would also complicate the "gift" of primal magic in that not only was it not intended for humans to receive, it wasn't Leola's to give in the first place.

Theory 2: Punishment that suits the crime

a.k.a. "well if you love primal magic and mortals so much, why don't you marry them"

Short and sweet counterpart to Theory 1: the punishment for Leola and her cohort after giving humans primal magic was to have most of their power and natures removed through becoming primal elves, mortal and chained to a single primal source.

Theory 3: Pacifier for the archdragons

At the time of the show, the primal elves don't seem to worship the archdragons, but they do serve and revere them. However, it's strongly implied that at least some primal elf cultures worshiped at least "their" archdragon—the specter of Sol Regem is basically inextricable from Sunfire elf rituals, and Rex Igneous demands extensive tribute essentially in sacrifice to him. Also, if there's one thing we know about archdragons, it's that they're proud to the point of arrogance. With the first elves as their peers, how would the dragons feel about humans directing their attention and worship to the stars? Probably not thrilled!

In that situation, it's possible that the first elves decided to create new elves in their own image, but bound to the primal sources and subservient to the archdragons, as a gesture of goodwill (possibly while rolling their eyes) to keep the peace (and stop their whining). Those primal elves then multiplied, formed their own societies, etc.

This one does leave the question of "... then what happened to the first elves?" but still. Though it could coexist nicely with the next...

Theory 4: Imitation is flattery

Honestly kind of stupid counterpart to Theory 3: it's the archdragons who decide to create their own primal servant copies of the first elves. Could they do that? Big shrug. Could they do it with the help of Someone(tm) among the first elves? ... slightly less big shrug.

Theory 5: A Lost Midnight War

I fully admit that I'm going kind of insane, BUT hear me out. In Patience, Aaravos asserts that after the gift of primal magic:

Humans would come to build great cities and fell great foes. They would thrive.

"Build great cities?" Yeah yeah, Elarion, we've all seen it... but wait, what was that second part? Exactly what great foes were humans felling? That seems kinda important, given how the politics of the time are described, but Aaravos chooses not to elaborate.

Then in Midnight Star we have the story of a situation where Elarion, in her tenacity and kindled power, attracts the ire of the dragons and is abandoned by the stars that she thought were her benefactors—except for Aaravos, who gives the saving gift of dark magic. The poem has a kind of compressed and figurative timeline, in that (as known from Ripples) humans received primal magic before Elarion's rise, so the impending doom in Midnight Star can't be the calamity of Ripples. That was also a punishment meted out by the stars rather than the dragons. The threat in Midnight Star also can't be the implied razing of Elarion concurrent with or following the human expulsion, because the implication is also that this is when Aaravos offered dark magic—he can't be only just now offering the thing that was the cause of the dragon's wrath in the first place.

So here's a theory: sometime in the intervening however many thousand years between humans receiving primal magic and dark magic, some kind of conflict arose between the remaining first elves and the archdragons. Humans having been given primal magic by some faction of the first elves (whether or not they were punished for it) and their subsequent rise did not help matters, and could possibly even have been the cause of the conflict in the first place. The archdragons, for whatever reason, came out on top—maybe there was internal strife among the first elves, or maybe their numbers had already diminished. The remaining first elves are given the choice of submitting to the archdragons as primal elves ("donned their masks") or leaving Xadia forever ("turned their backs"). Either way, humans were abandoned to their fate, and Aaravos is the "last" star remaining on Xadia proper.

The poem is very figurative overall, but particularly in its final stanzas—Elarion is a "dying husk," but Aaravos's gift revitalizes her to be more powerful than ever. My interpretation is that for the entire poem, "Elarion" has been a stand-in for humanity in general, possibly without any relation to the city of Elarion at all, and what is being described by "dying husk" could be the period of human suffering that preceded dark magic. We know that Elarion had a prolonged rise and golden age of literally a thousand years before humans were expelled from Xadia, and yet we are told that before dark magic, humans were weak and starving—either that's a straight-up lie (entirely possible) or something happened to cause human fortunes to change from good to bad. Something like... a period of direct and brutal punishment and oppression from the archdragons and their servants. Maybe at the time the poem is describing, Elarion the city was destroyed or hadn't even been built yet, and the eventual flourishing city humans are exiled from is built on the strength of dark magic, after all. (As I mentioned elsewhere, it's getting more and more to a point where the timeline simply doesn't make sense if Ziard was truly the first dark mage ever, rather than just the first one Aaravos manipulated into causing problems on purpose.)

Anyway: the first elves, facing defeat, either assimilated as primal elves or left Xadia entirely. (Or a secret third thing, as with Aaravos, possibly related to his "fallen" status.)

Also "elves either depart the world forever or choose to become mortal" is another very Tolkien thing, like just saying.

Bonus cursed theory: primal elves are the extremely unlikely offspring of first elves breeding with humans. I'll actually be really mad if the real answer is something that garbage, but if I have to think about it then you do, too.

Double-bonus EXTRA-cursed theory: primal elves are the extremely unlikely offspring of first elves breeding with dragons. I'd still be mad about this one but also kind of impressed that they went there for real.

[raayllum]

Thoughts about Callum's magic use in s4/s5 that aren't a proper meta but series of parallels/lil connections

First off is Callum casting aspiro frigis, one of my favourite spells we've seen before, but we've never seen him cast it before! I'm also intrigued by the size difference between his and Viren's casting of it, since while we've seen Viren make smaller (3x08, 3x09) they're both assisted by primal stones (the one in Callum's sky staff, the OG primal stone for Viren) so Callum's not being big enough to completely encompass the banther didn't make sense to me? However, given that Viren is aided by the primal stone and the relic staff (which is absolutely juiced with something wild), that difference would make more sense.

We also get to see more combat spells this season from Callum, which is exciting, as his previous one in S4 was just fulminus, so it's nice to see more variety (aspiro frigis, the angulus arrow spell, the lightning fist spell). Callum using the lightning spell with his bare hand given that if it didn't pan out / he got nicked even slightly he'd be corrupted is especially insane of him, but hey - you messed with his girl. Gotta pay the price.

I was also pleased/impressed with the misdirected Fulminus spell in 5x08, as it makes it clear Callum was aiming to kill Finnegrin with that bad boy, to be perfectly honest. Also fun to see him use primal magic without his staff for once, as his greatest asset is still that he can do magic without said external source like a primal stone or staff, relying here instead on his inner arcanum and the fierce storm raging around them. (And more sky magic during storms, please!)

It seems that Callum has prioritized memorizing combat spells as opposed to other kinds of spells, which makes sense - in a combat situation, you don't want to be pausing to check your spellbook. However, we still see him check his book to find spells, the same way he did in S4.

I think this is a very sweet sign of growth, as in arc 1 he didn't need to check as he only had around 4-5 spells he knew, but now there's so many he wants to verify / look for them when in doubt. (Probably smart, as messing up a spell or doing the rune the wrong way could have tricky consequences? Ficlets when). Not that he always knew his magic (or remembered his own words) perfectly, either ("She might've called me a fool" / "Who told you that?" "You did") bless his soul.

Can't wait to see what Ocean magic he gets to add to his repertoire next season, and how it'll be utilized in the future!

[self-spaghettification]

What are These Symbols in TDP?

seen in context of Aaravos, on startouch elf/celestial elf clothing, etc.

And, what do they imply for deep magic, star magic, and S6?

Let's call them First Elf Glyphs...

Short story: 1. They’re on Aaravos, TMO, startouch concept art, and celestial elves garments. 2. They’re tied to the deep magic symbol. Them being on startouch and celestial elves garments signifies the celestial elves were taught deep magic, or know the ties between star and deep magic in some way, Aaravos may have taught deep magic to the celestial elves or the humans due to the symbols place on the page. 3. they might be emblazoned spells because moonshadow swirlies were also used as spells (Runaan’s dance to activate his engravings, the ancient dance at the old moon nexus to open the gate between life and death) & 4. Startouch elves=First Elves + They remind me of the First One’s runes from She ra (which form words hence, glyphs.) If nothing else, this is a compilation of where they’re found.

Long story: First, why they’re relevant:

They're in Callum's sketchbook, a page we also briefly see on screen in a book regarding Aaravos.

This page in particular seems significant because it also connects to the eclipse imagery, and the half eaten/crescent moon which I believe both dictate important events but that's a theory for another day.

But by proxy, these symbols pique my interest. I feel like they're significant somehow,

a. we know swirlies carved into materials ie Runaan’s horn cuffs and dances on the ground can have significance as spells

b. we see them on Startouch garments:

-> Aaravos's cloak.

(which, as @kradogsrats pointed out, these shapes but the cloak especially imo looks like falling stars)

->Aaravos's tabard/skirt, front and back.

->Merciful One likely has similar aspects on their clothing, based on the similarities in their design to Aaravos.

->Aaravos's and Merciful one's tunics (example of above)

->the line arcing above the circle in the tunic is reminiscent of the signature celestial elf blindfold.

->And if we take a closer look, we see that Astrid is wearing similar garb to the startouch elves. So these lines can likely be considered first elf glyphs too.

We also see it on the concept art for Aaravos.

Every single version, save for the one on the far right, has some variation of these lines and circles (or at the very least, lines and diamonds for the earlier ones on the left).

This one doesn’t but it does have these constellations, which the symbols also seem to connect to.

->Lastly, Aaravos's hood...

It's tied, of course, to the deep magic symbol--that strange uneven sun shape we've seen several places so far.

Speculation Time

So, these glyphs seem to be tied to deep magic and the startouch elves in general. I'll get back to that in a second.

But first, (and I understand this is a more superficial connection) it's interesting because they reminded me of She Ra’s “First Ones” language and imagery too:

I find this especially relevant since Startouch elves also seem to be called the First Elves and this is confirmed by what Rayla says in S5: “In ancient legends, Startouch elves are sometimes called the First Elves.”

+ The First Elves had to have differentiated into the rest of the elves, and as it’s suggested and @random-fandom-ramble pointed out, “old magic” / deep magic is the root for primal magic. + as Aaravos may have mastered deep magic to master all 6 sources, Startouch elves are more likely to have mastery of deep magic / it seems like if you understand star magic, it’s easier to understand deep magic. So deep magic and star magic are inextricably connected, as are these related glyphs.

Hence, First Elf glyphs.

But why are they on the celestial elves' garb, what does that tell us?

While the celestial elves are said to be an "ancient" group of Skywing elves, it's unlikely they're as old as the First Elves themselves, so it's possible that Aaravos or another Startouch elf had a connection to them, passing down his knowledge. Plus, we're supposed to get a speech in S6 about Deep magic too. Could it be a flashback to him teaching these elves about deep magic?

Or, maybe some other Startouch elf founded it to begin with, to protect their knowledge when they left Xadia, leaving only "the last of the Great Ones," aka Aaravos. Maybe Aaravos and the Merciful One worked on it together.

But also, they specifically surround the image of the darkened star. Not a normal star. A fallen star--Aaravos. And it's next to the poem about Elarion. Could it be suggesting that Aaravos was the one to teach humanity these things about dark magic? Again- speech.

Perhaps. But there are other things to speculate on too, like

Do these glyphs serve a purpose? Why are they on these clothes?

A. emblazoned spells-> Maybe it's like the swirlies Ethari engraves into metal, such as Runaan's armor, as @beautifulterriblequeen said in their theory. Passive spell of protection, magic boost or some activatable spell in general? A spell of protection or durability seems more plausible as the part of the tunic underneath isn't frayed whereas the translucent part on top is (unless that's just for silly character design reasons) ....no! No silly character design reasons.... They write the show for us detail oriented people

-> strengthens their connection with deep magic/star magic

Alternatively, it:

B. signifies status in some way

->some lines and shapes may indicate higher/lower status

C. allows Startouch elves to connect with each other in some way

->like the headcanon I’ve heard of stars on skin glittering in a sort of morse code for startouch elves to communicate since space is a vacuum!

Anyways. Even if the Dragon Prince doesn't yet seem to have coherent constructed languages... I’m still hoping there’s going to be explanations later in-show or some way of deciphering these or finding a pattern in them.

The similarity to First Ones writing especially makes me think this will possibly have more significance than other glyphs. Perhaps we'll even find out their true meaning or even exact translation.

But... if nothing else, they're still used to draw these connections, between startouch and celestial, between star and deep, etc, that may be elaborated on more explicitly in the show. Hopefully we find out soon!

[theredhairedmonkey]

New theory just dropped:

Callum becomes the mage equivalent of “Lady Justice,” with the Novablade, blindfold, and Rune Cube representing “scales” (the various sides representing balance between the primal sources).

[xadianglyphs]

Moon Nexus Temple Runes Collection

I took some time to go over the many, many runes visible in the Moon Nexus temple, comparing the ones I found in this shot:

To the ones in this close-up extreme perspective shot to try to work out more detail:

The entire temple is made up of a set of 24 total runes, which are replicated reasonably accurately in the close-up, though some of them are missing strokes. You can see the breakdown here:

The ones marked in yellow with a * correspond to the six Sunforge blade runes, meaning nearly all the Sunfire elf runes also pull from this set and are not exclusive to a single elf culture.

It seems whoever designed this rune set did it pretty early in the production timeline, because we can see them clearly in Sunny Shah's matte painting concepts for the temple:

Even though the layout and architecture changed, the runes did not. Not sure if this means Mr. Shah designed them or if they were handed over from someone else, since "we're going to need about a bazillion background runes for this series, someone crank some out so we have a pool to draw from" would be a pretty normal thing to do in this situation.

Other appearances I found include the Moonstone path, composed entirely of runes 1 and 13 in various stages of rotation:

Some background detailing of the Sunforge (runes 8, 11, and 12 were the only three I felt confident on, the others make my eyes cross):

And, interestingly, the runes of the oft-reused horizontal runes page from Lost Secrets of Xadia (and every other book whose pages we see) are 4, 12, 13, 14 and 17, with opposite page appearance by rune 1:

One of my primary interests in even beginning all this madness was whether there was a shared rune set or visual language for the primal nexuses, and while the Sun and Moon nexus constructions do share some, I suspect that what we're seeing are (if they're anything) elf runes rather than something connected with the primal sources. We don't see any of these runes in the Storm Spire, and there isn't a single goddamn piece of writing in Umber Tor, so they seem to be exclusive to the nexuses where significant elven construction has been done.

[our-lord-satanas]

FENRIR

WHO IS FENRIR?

Fenrir is a wolf in Norse mythology, who is one of the sons of Loki and the giantess Angrboda. In Norse mythology, Fenrir is the wolf that is fated to devastate the world during Ragnarok. He is a powerful and dangerous creature, whose strength is surpassed only by Odin. In some versions of the story of Ragnarok, he is fated to be the one who kills Odin during the war of the Gods.

BASIC INFO:

Appearance: Fenrir is a giant wolf who is the son of the God Loki and the giantess Angrboda. He is said to be a monstrous and destructive force of nature, and he is a major figure in the story of Ragnarok, which is the ultimate battle between the Gods and the forces of destruction. His appearance varies depending on the source, but he typically is described as being a huge, black wolf that is full of wrath and fury.

Personality: he is described as being a mighty and fierce wolf, full of rage and fury. He seeks revenge and destruction against the Gods, and he is said to be a major threat to the world during Ragnarok, the final battle between the Gods and the forces of destruction. His personality is characterized by anger and rage, and he is known for being destructive and unpredictable.

Symbols: winter, yew, chains, fire, the Underworld, fire, the bind rune, ravens, and the moon

Culture: Norse

Plants and trees: wolf's-bane, mistletoe, and yew

Crystals: black obsidian, red jasper, smoky quartz, black onyx, amethyst, clear quartz, and black tourmaline

Animals: wolves, snakes, and ravens

Incense: frankincense, myrrh, dragon's blood, and patchouli

Colours: black, dark grey, red, brown, and green

Tarot: The Devil, The Chariot, Strength, and The Tower,

Planets: Mars and Venus

Days: Tuesday, Friday, Yule, Samhain, and a full moon

Parents: Loki and Angrboða

Siblings: Jörmungandr, Hel, Váli, Narfi, and Sleipnir (Odin’s horse)

Partner: Angrboða (his mother…)

Children: Sköll and Hati

MISC:

• Rage and destruction: Fenrir is the consummate destroyer, bringing chaos and disaster where he goes.

• The underworld and the twilight: Fenrir dwells in the underworld, the realm between life and death.

• Blood and brutality: Fenrir is a bloodthirsty creature who craves the destruction of all in his path.

• Nature and wolves: Fenrir is closely associated with nature and wolves, as his wild nature and savage powers are seen as a reflection of the untamed wilderness.

• The end of the world: Fenrir is said to be the bringer of Ragnarok, the end of the world and the destruction of all things.

• Transformation and renewal: Fenrir's role as a destroyer and his connection to the underworld represent a cyclical view of death and rebirth, and he is seen as a necessary part of the cycle of destruction and renewal.

• Instinct and survival: Fenrir is known for his raw nature and instincts. He is a primal force of nature, and his destructive powers are rooted in his instinct for survival.

FACTS ABOUT FENRIR:

• Name: Fenrir is named after the Norse word fenrr, which means "destroyer."

• Role: Fenrir is a giant wolf that is said to be the enemy of Odin and the other gods.

• Origin: he was born from the marriage of Loki and the giantess Angrboda, and is also the brother of Jörmungandr and Hel.

• Description: described as a giant wolf with iron fangs and a burning mouth, who is bound by the chains Gleipnir and is destined to kill Odin and unleash Ragnarok.

• Connections: he is connected to the Norse Goddess Skadi, as Skadi was the one charged with tying up Fenrir with the chains Gleipnir.

• Relationship with Odin: Fenrir and Odin have a complicated relationship, as Fenrir is destined to kill Odin but Odin also provides food to Fenrir.

• Relationship with Jörmungandr: Fenrir Is said to be the father of the snake Jörmungandr and the half-sister of Hel, making him the grandfather of the world-serpent.

HOW TO WORSHIP FENRIR:

• Start by setting out an altar and dedicating it to Fenrir. This can be as simple or elaborate as you like, but it's important to have a specific space reserved solely for him.

• Offer a prayer to him, and make sure to be genuine and sincere. Show humility and appreciation for his wisdom and guidance.

• Offer an offering that is meaningful to you, such as a piece of jewelry, food, or drink. Make it genuine and personal.

• Offer prayers and invocations, expressing your feelings of reverence and appreciation for him.

• Make offerings such as incense, candles, fruits, sweets, or liquor.

• Meditate on his energy and try to connect with his presence.

• Read up on his myths and legends, or research his associations and symbols.

• Offer him water and water-based offerings, as wolves are closely tied to water.

• Be mindful of your behavior and ensure that you are acting with respect and reverence toward him.

HOW TO PRAY TO FENRIR:

To begin, you can address him by name and say something like:

“Great Fenrir, guardian of the underworld, destroyer of all things, I call upon you to guide me in this journey of self-discovery and transformation. I seek your protection, insight, and guidance as I walk my own path.”

“I thank you for your presence and guiding hand, Great Fenrir, I give thanks and praise for your wisdom and protection. Hail Fenrir.”

WHAT ARE SIGNS THAT FENRIR WANTS ME TO WORK WITH HIM?

If your request to work with Fenrir has been accepted, here are some signs that you can look for:

• A sensation of warmth, protection, or guidance that you feel around you.

• Experiencing a boost in intuition or creativity.

• Having thoughts or ideas that seem to come from a higher power or a divine source.

• Feeling inspired to explore new paths or ways of thinking.

• Seeing signs or coincidences that seem to be connected to Fenrir's energy or a reminder of his presence.

• Having an increased interest in nature, wolves, survival, or self-reliance.

• Having dreams or visions involving Fenrir that seem significant and meaningful.

• Seeing or feeling connections between things that would normally seem unrelated.

• Feeling like you are being guided or led to certain places or experiences.

• Having a sense of deja vu, as if you have been in this situation before, or that it is familiar in some way.

• Feeling a sense of peace, calm, or harmony around you, as if you are being protected or supported.

If your request to work with Fenrir has not been accepted, you may notice the following signs:

• You don't feel any kind of positive or uplifting presence or energy around you.

• You may have difficulty reaching a state of calm or meditation when praying to him.

• You may not experience any synchronicities or coincidences that relate to Fenrir's energy.

• You may not feel any increase in feelings like guidance, protection, or insight.

• You might have more difficulty reaching a deep connection with Fenrir's energy or receiving signs or messages from him.

Overall you need to be respectful of deities denying your request.

OFFERINGS:

• Tobacco

• Bread

• Incense

• Booze: wine, beer, mead, and other alcoholic beverages.

• Fruit

• Crystals

• Music

• Bones

• Things associated with wolves: raw meat, animal skins, and wolf teeth, fur, claws.

• Plants

• Water

• Metals like platinum and gems

• Swords

• Blood

• Fire

DEVOTIONAL ACTS FOR FENRIR:

• Rituals: following a specific pattern or structure to honor and connect with Fenrir's energy and presence.

• Dress up in neutral, dark colours.

• Leave out offerings of meat and bone.

• Listen to music. (He seems to like metal and rock music, if not norse pagan chants like Loki, so far but it could be different for other followers)

• Eat meat (ethically sourced, of course)

• Spend some alone time in a quiet place or set a time in the day to just revel in the quiet.

• Feel and then release: Fenrir in his core is primal. He is a wolf and he responds to his natural instinct and emotions. Followers of Fenrir are asked to learn how to feel even if it is what others call negative emotions such as fear, anger, pain, sadness, etc.

• Master your rage: rage is a primal emotion that Fenrir rules on. It is chaotic. Keyword here is chaotic. He asks his followers to be angry but the hitch is that they reign in their anger and not let it loose.

• Light a candle to his name.

• Burn earthly incense like sandalwood.

• Toast to his name when you drink.

• Talk to him through meditation.

• Choose your battles wisely. Sometimes not all battles can be fought, some are best won by walking away from them.

• Forgive but do not forget.

• Respect others even if they have wronged you (unless they do not deserve the respect to be merited).

• Always keep your promises.

• Honour him and his family.

• Live life to the fullest. Do not shackle yourself with ideals and whatnot. The sky’s the limit.

• Adopt a furry friend or wolf: there are wolf centres and sanctuaries that allow people to adopt wolves (like be a friend or be a sponsor) to help with the protection of these creatures.

• Studying the history, mythology, and legends associated with Fenrir, as a way to gain a deeper understanding and connection to him.

• Creating symbols or icons related to Fenrir, such as drawing or painting images of him, composing poetry or writing about him, or carving his symbol into wood or stones.

IS IT SAFE TO EAT OR DRINK AN OFFERING I GIVE TO HIM?

Consuming offerings given to Fenrir is not recommended because he is a powerful being of destruction and the underworld. His energies are not compatible with human consumption, as he is not aligned with the human energy of life and death but rather the energy of destruction. Consuming offerings given to Fenrir may disrupt the connection with the deity and cause an imbalance in energy. It is always better to avoid consuming offerings given to Fenrir.

[xadian-daydreams]

Key of Aaravos

This has definitely been discussed before, but most of what I see relates the Key to the prison or helping Callum/humans learn arcanum, so here's my 2 cents.

In short, it's how and why Aaravos is an archmage of all six Primals - when he shouldn't be an archmage at all. Full explanation below the cut.

Arcanum Theory

This is my understanding of how this works.

Xadians are gifted at birth with arcanum, which connects them to facet(s) of a Primal Source. Arcanums vary between species, with elves being the only ones where arcanum varies between individual members. They can choose to explore and fulfill their potential with it, but they can't ever exceed it. You can only become an archmage if you were born with an arcanum with archmage potential. If you weren't, no amount of effort, learning, philosophising etc can make you become an archmage - you simply weren't born with that destiny. Another example, if you were born a Moonshadow elf with an arcanum related to appearance and perception, then you can study to become an illusionist, but you couldn't become life/death moon druid.

Humans have no born connection to any Primal Source, but they also have no limits placed on their potential if they manage a connection, beyond time dedicated to exploring the Primal concepts and their capacity to understand. If a human connects to Moon and wants to learn illusions, and druid magic, and shadow magic and... you get the gist, well, they totally can with enough effort.

The way around arcanum limits (or having no Primal connection) is using magic gems and Primal Stones - which artificially gives you temporary access to archmage grade arcanum and a bunch of primal energy to channel into rune spells.

(Alternatively, there's also the Bloodmoon cult, who used dark magic to alter their inborn arcanum to liberate themselves from the restriction of the moon cycle.)

The Exception to the Rule

Then there's Aaravos, who's so unique and special the rules didn't apply, and he managed become an archmage in all six Primals. (Did you know the six stars on his face are astral tattoos? Man wanted to make a point).

But what if Aaravos isn't exceptional and has the same limits every other Xadian has - one arcanum related to a single Primal, probably not even archmage potential, that he is confined and limited by - he just figured out how to cheat better than Primal Stones.

If Aaravos held a Primal Stone for each Primal, he could fake his abilities. But Primal Stones have to be in contact and can break. There's no evidence Stars Primal Stones are even possible. Plus, he clearly isn't doing that. But... some way to make a bridge to channel the artificial arcanums without needing to even be near the source. An artefact that can hold something of himself to act as the link. There's a theory of Raayllum's that the Key of Aaravos contains his chest piece (white heart/star core), which helped inspired this theory. Aaravos' chest piece glows when he's accessing the artificial arcanums to cast magic, as he's reconnecting to the missing piece held in the Key.

Why does the Key glow in proximity to magical creatures/active primal magic- maybe a password system. You need archmage/archdragon grade arcanum for each Primal touching the cube simultaneously to open it - which would mean currently only Aaravos could open his Key to retrieve his core.

A Source of Great Power

But there's the hang up of where Aaravos got the full arcanum for Stars to make this Key theory work.

Harrow's letter says the Key unlocks a great power in Xadia, with the Key itself being slightly pulled towards this Source. Conversely, this means the Key is also part of what locked away this great power in the first place.

Running with the theory, this Source would need to contain the full arcanum of all six Primals - the only thing I can think of that would do that is Deep magic - the ancient mashup precursor to Primal magic. So, Aaravos placed some sort of syphon on the Deep Source/Nexus itself, and connected it to himself via the Key.

The bigger question is - does this tie into Aaravos' gift of dark magic to humanity as a whole? Dark magic is intrinsically linked to Aaravos, using it forms a connection to him personally. Is there Deep Nexus being augmented to artificially allow the casting of dark magic. Which would mean this Key could be used to access a means to the source of dark magic - which could be disabled.

Also, it's probably not a coincidence the dark magic symbol has the diamond shape of Aaravos' Star chest piece in it.

And a final question - if the Key is giving Aaravos arcanum, could it be used to remove his arcanum, giving him the same unlimited potential as a human. Presumably, his long experience with using the Primals would translate into reconnecting, human style, fairly easily. (And I have another theory which would mean Aaravos would have access to a backup arch potential Stars connection he could use to reconnect, if that's the one Primal you can't force). Just saying this because of the alternate Callum opening which indicates Callum's going to do something with the Key that Aaravos wants to happen - and Callum thinking he's defeating Aaravos when he's actually making his power independent... Seems like something Aaravos would find hilarious. (Edit: I also just noticed Callum is staring at the Stars symbol on the Key in the opening, which is more evidence that the person who will be holding it has Stars Primal. And after discussing, Callum could just be after putting the chest piece back in so he can stab it with the Novablade, but I'm still convinced there's more of an angle then that, 'cause where does Aaravos benefit?)

Sorry if something like this has come up before, not trying to tread on toes, but there's quite a few theories about the Key out there...

Thanks for reading.

[zuppizup]

what do you think of the cube lighting up Star for Stella but not Moon for Rayla 👀

So, yep, that definitely caught my eye. Not so much that the cube isn’t lighting up for Rayla though. We’ve seen before that it only lights up for one Primal Source (at the Storm Spire, it reacted to Callum’s Moon opal but not his connection to Sky).

What I find interesting is that they did show the Moon rune, when they didn’t have to. They could have shown any number of other runes. This feels purposeful to me.

So either:

A. This isn’t Rayla and the Moon rune wouldn’t light up for her regardless, in which case it’s not another Moonshadow in disguise either because, well, it would light up for them eventually if this really is a plot relevant issue.

B. Showing the dormant Moon rune in such a prominent way is meant to throw us off and suspect something is off with Rayla, when it actually is Rayla. (Maybe she’s got something else she hiding that makes the audience/the boys suspicious)

C. I’ve got hiatus brain and it’s nothing and I need to go outside and touch grass

[minisquachi3]

Hey I really need to share this because I’m rewatching the three first seasons of the dragon prince and. I think I have a theory. Prediction even.

So… ⚠️*WARNING, SPOILERS!*⚠️

I’m on episode 1 of season two as I type this and specific scene came up and it made me realize something… right off the bat, I have nothing to back this up but I heavily believe that the box Callum has from the start is the prison Aaravos is trapped in. Or is potentially the key to unlocking him or something on the lines of that. Now if this is true, playing with this idea/going off of this.

Through out the show from season one to now four we see certain symbols that represent all six “Primal Sources,” on the box glow! Now in first season last phew episodes, when the moon was full as the gang is heading up the mountain to save the dragon egg. The Primal Source rune for the moon was glowing! In season 2 episode one. Lujanne the moon elf who’s illusion mage tells Callum for example direct from this scene- the primal source for moon is strongest when the moon is full, and for the ocean when the tide is high. Now going back to season one as already mentioned same last two episodes, the symbol glowed when the moon was full.

That being said my theory/prediction is they need all six Primal Sources at their strongest at once near the box or at the box in order to activate it for whatever it does. And if this is the case, if it involves Aaravos, this would sort of make sense since, finding all six Primal Sources at their strongest at once in order to unlock something would be pretty tough. Also make this fyi would make it hard for someone to break free as their only escape from their prison. With things that happened with Callum in season 4 getting possessed by Aaravos, I have a bad feeling it might have something to do with that. Like an accident or something. Doesn’t help Callum is also throwing himself in his studies when it comes to magic…!!👀👀

I’ll add more as I rewatch everything by and eventually season 4 as well! But that’s all I have for now 👀👀…

This is my theory/prediction- and I’m sticking to it! 👏

[kradogsrats]

Can humans connect to all primal sources while elves can connect to only one?

Well, let's look at the combined evidence:

Callum has connected to two primal sources, and they've been kind of arbitrary. Like presumably if he'd started with a Sun primal stone, he would have first connected to the Sun, since him having that primal stone experience is a not really insignificant part of him connecting to the Sky primal. When he connects to the Ocean primal, it's explicit that he has been focusing on it for a while, but I don't remember him expressing why he chose Ocean over others. Basically, I don't think there's anything preventing a human from connecting to any individual primal source.

We have never been told that elves cannot connect to multiple primal sources, only that they are naturally connected to one, and humans are naturally connected to zero. We were told that humans cannot connect to even a single primal source, but that was factually incorrect both past and present.

However, we have seen exactly one character in any canon material who is connected to multiple primal sources, and that's Aaravos. Startouch elves are pretty clearly something... else, so he's not really a representative sample of "elves."

Actually, in canon material, there are also very few magical artifacts that combine magic from multiple primal sources, and no known multi-source spells.

After Callum connects to a second primal, Rayla's reaction is lighthearted joking. Granted, there's a lot going on at the time, and she's the last person who would doubt Callum's ability to do the impossible, but I would expect her to acknowledge if that was something that no elf primal mage has ever done before.

Pyrda, one of the suggested player characters from Tales of Xadia (who are heavily implied to all be "canon" characters), is a Skywing elf mage "eager to experience a wider variety of primal sources" and who "believes her destiny lies in preserving the balance of magic." This could mean that her goal is to connect to other primal sources and learn their magic, or it could just be to study them and see other mages use them (or maybe someday try them herself with a primal stone). On her starting character sheet, she only has access to Sky magic.

The Tales of Xadia rules explicitly state that only human characters can be dark mages and only elves can be primal/rune mages, when discussing the character vocation—which is part of the character's background, describing essentially their career focus (i.e. are they a cook, a guard, a sailor, a mage, etc.). However, it doesn't say anywhere that vocations can't be changed as part of the character growth process, since character growth can include adding new distinctions and vocations are a type of distinction. Additionally, the actual mechanics of magic are based on a combination of a magical specialty and spell assets—for example, Pyrda has a Sky magic specialty and a Sky magic spells asset with two spells specified. Specialties and assets are also things that can be added via character growth, and there's nothing anywhere that says you can't add a Sky magic specialty to your human or other elf character.

And the Tales of Xadia rules have to accommodate Callum, because he literally has his own character sheet in there as an NPC catalyst. His vocation is "aspiring rune mage" and he has a Sky magic specialty and a Sky magic spells asset. The Tales of Xadia rulebook is pinned between s3 and s4, timeline-wise, so that's Callum at the end of s3 (his spells asset includes Manus Pluma Volantus). If a game started at the beginning of s1 with Callum as a player character, I would expect that his character sheet would undergo a few key shifts at moments of magic-related character growth: gaining the Sky primal stone as an asset, losing the primal stone as an asset but gaining the "aspiring rune mage" vocation, gaining the Sky magic specialty and initial Sky magic spells asset (with Aspiro and Fulminis), and finally improving the Sky magic spells asset with the addition of Manus Pluma Volantus.

Personally, I take the ToX rules as more suggestions about canon than necessarily 100% accurate reflections of it, because designing balanced game mechanics is very different from general worldbuilding. Also, ToX is very much written in a "do whatever the hell you want" way, strongly encouraging storytellers and players to expand or ignore things at their discretion.

Anyway, my belief is that elves can connect to multiple primal sources, just as humans can, but it's extremely rare. Elves are born with a connection to a primal source that they innately understand, and it's much easier and more worthwhile to focus on strengthening that connection than trying to establish another. (I also think it's harder for elves to connect to a second primal source than it is for humans to connect to a first one.)

Like, ignoring the whole discussion of talent versus practice, say you're a natural athlete—you're just good at any sport you try. You could pick one and with a reasonable amount of effort be Olympic-level good. At the same time, you're a really bad artist. It's not something you ever focused on, and maybe you're not a very visual person to begin with. There's absolutely nothing stopping you from working incredibly hard on being an artist, and you'd probably be able to get as good or better than someone who naturally has the qualities that make them good at art—but you still may never catch up to someone who has those qualities and has put in the same amount of effort as you have. Same thing in reverse—a naturally gifted artist who's uncoordinated and not very physical can train to become an athlete, and can conceivably become a good athlete (maybe not Olympic-level, but good). It's just... not a lot of people do that, because we generally like doing things we're good at and that are easy more than doing things we're not good at and that are hard.

There also don't really seem to be a lot of scenarios where an elf would be pressured by their community to focus on another primal source (the way that a child here in real life might be pressured by their family to be good at sports or math rather than art, or vice versa depending on their family makeup). We know... basically nothing about elf interbreeding, but it seems safe to assume that at least one parent would have a matching primal source connection with the child. Furthermore, most of the elf communities we've seen so far are very segregated, so you're just very unlikely to be part of one where you'd feel isolated because of your primal connection and pressured to pursue another. If you're a Moonshadow elf surrounded by other Moonshadow elves, and all the Moonshadow elf mages you know are Moon mages, and you're good at Moon magic because you have a Moon primal connection yourself... it just takes a pretty rare person to decide they want to be something completely different and put in the effort to actually make it happen.

I mean, heck, part of the reason Callum pursued his Sky primal connection so much was that he had experienced Sky magic and was good at it in a way that he didn't feel good about other activities. He could have stuck with his sword training and probably eventually gotten good at it (if he genuinely put in the effort rather than half-assing it because he's bad at it and hates it), but he didn't.

So basically I would say that yes, elves can connect to multiple primal sources, but it's a) hard, b) has few role models or societal pressures that encourage doing it, and c) most people just don't put that kind of effort into shit without quitting, whether because they're discouraged or because they have to do other things to survive.

[raayllum]

hi your thematic tags in general frighten me and I love them. they have dragged me further down the rabbit hole than I knew existed. I hope many of your theories are proved right (PARTICULARLY excited about the speculation that the cube is one of the diamonds, like HES BEEN CARRYING THAT WITH HIM AND IF AARAVOS IS FREED BC HE COUPDNT MAKE HIMSELF DESTROY IT I JUST) i'm very normal about this u see

listen i am king of the rabbit hole, themes are my shovel and i just keep on digging. like we Know there's something up with the fucking relic staff. we Know that (presumably) all three quasar diamonds are needed to free rayla's parents (although maybe just one would work?) so one is presumably missing. aaravos' chest piece is noticeably gone but there's no way he was born / is probably a tangible mark of how he's Fallen and 'imperfect'. and like. after the "dark mage callum holding the ocean rune / moon being most on display" for the 2x08 visions foreshadowing 5x08 i would not put anything past them

like this shit? they'd think it's soo funny

i was thinking just the other day that the cube's current known ability of detecting the primal source of stuff would be helpful for someone who is going to collect multiple sources of primal magic, and while there might just be mage connoisseurs out there (we only know a couple of elven mages but they seem to mostly stay within their own primal?), it's like... that sounds Really helpful for a dark mage in particular?? who would want to use certain primals/ingredients for different spells?

even the emphasis rayla puts in her "dear callum" letter of a "missing piece of your heart" and how she has a missing piece of callum's, only to return that with the cube also on her shoulder (for no in-universe real reason? it's gotta be symbolic of Something)?? and the way the an arcanum is "the tiniest piece of a primal" the same way the key is Probably another piece of the prison puzzle and/or Aaravos' mystery because an arcanum is "a secret and a spark" (the mystery of Aaravos / "his touch: a blaze, a gift, a spark" from the midnight star poem) like

there's Something here in the consistency of the symbolism / language used, how tethered or overlapping it may be but like. WE'RE CONNECTING THE DOTS (we didn't connect shit) WE'RE CONNECTING THEM

[dailycharacteroption]

Hybrid Class Review: Bloodrager part 3

(art by Chetan Ranjan on Artstation)

 Archetypes

 Surprisingly, despite being a derivative class that came out later, the bloodrager actually has more archetypes than the sorcerer, which I suppose has to do with the fact that the sorcerer has always been more focused on customization through bloodlines rather than archetypes. In any case, let’s take a look, shall we?

 One of the most common categories of bloodrager archetypes are those that modify their inherent magic, resulting in different expressions. The Ancestral Harbinger, for example, uses the connections to their heritage to summon mystical allies. Meanwhile, Crossblooded bloodragers have two bloodlines, representing a unique confluence of power from mixing heritages or a unique source that straddles the line between two. Blurring the lines between bloodrager and magus, the Enlightened Bloodrager studies their magic more deeply to unlock more mystical powers at the cost of their martial skill, while the Greenrager taps into primal nature magic. Hag-Riven tap into a changeling’s heritage with hags, while Id Ragers tap into a specific emotion. Metamagic Ragers have a knack for bending their spells through sheer force and will, while Prowlers at World’s End tap into the guidance of spirits. Meanwhile, Symbol Strikers master the art of utilizing runes.

While still ones that alter magic, of particular note are a pair of archetypes that focus on being the bane of spellcasters. Spelleaters do not directly interfere with casting, but their ability to slowly heal and even absorb their own magic to heal quickly makes it hard for them to be put down. Meanwhile, true to their name, the Untouchable Ragers forgo the ability to cast spells to gain a natural spell resistance, shrugging off spells like they weren’t there and relying on the other magical abilities of their bloodline.

Others utilize special fighting styles, such as the Blood Conduit, who channels touch spells through their bodies as they grapple foes, or the Bloody-Knuckled Rowdy, which specializes in unarmed combat. Bloodriders emulate certain mount-themed barbarian archetypes to channel their eldritch rage into their mounts, while Primalists emulate barbarians more directly by eschewing some of their mystical power for traditional rage powers. Polymorphing spells are fairly common on the bloodrager spell list, and Rageshapers specialize in utilizing such forms. Meanwhile, Steelbloods and Urban Bloodragers both call upon the trappings of civilization, the former by specializing in wearing heavy armor, and the latter by utilizing a weaker but more flexible bloodrage that is more acceptable and useful in civilization.

 While still a short list, we can see that the bloodrager has a lot of decent options for recontextualizing the class. Admittedly, these options don’t deviate too much from “aggressive melee powerhouse with spells” too much, but if you’re looking for flavorful options, there’s plenty to pick from, especially when you remember that you still also need to pick a bloodline too.

Speaking of which, tomorrow we’ll do a look at the bloodlines and other mutations available to the class!

[theredhairedmonkey]

Recall

Callum's body ached as he collapsed onto the Storm Spire, his mage wings reverting back into arms. Sweat trickled down his forehead, and he struggled to catch his breath. Ibis landed gracefully beside him, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Surely one more time to the ground and back shouldn't be so hard, right?" Ibis chuckled, observing Callum's exhaustion.

Shaking his head, Callum gasped for air and wiped the perspiration from his brow. "Count me out! I hit my limit hours ago. Becoming a Sky mage is tougher than I imagined."

As Callum rose to his feet, his arms throbbed with fatigue. "Honestly, if I had known Sky magic was this hard, I might have considered a different Arcanum."

Ibis allowed his wings to fade away, and his staff returned to his hand with a wave of his fingers.

"There's more to being a rune mage than merely studying spells in dusty tomes," Ibis explained. "That holds true for any primal source. Unlike Dark Mages, we cannot simply tear out our power from magical creatures."

With a graceful wave of his staff, the rocks surrounding them came to life, floating in unison.

"We don't perform magic solely with our minds, Callum," Ibis continued. "We channel it through our..."

"...bodies and spirits," Callum interjected, a small smile playing on his lips.

“Huh,” Ibis was impressed. “I suppose someone must have taught that to you. Then again how else did you learn an Arcanum.”

Callum nodded, looking very proud of himself. “Someone I love once told me. That sometimes there’s too much for our minds to understand, but if we just slow down and focus, our spirit and our body and catch up and help out.”

“Well, you are correct, young mage,” Ibis said. “But don’t interrupt! There’s still so much more you don’t know than you think. And I hear you’re traveling back tomorrow, so there’s much more I have left to show you till then.”

Waving his hand dismissively, Callum replied, "Psht, not a problem! I can always fly back, and you can teach me more next time!"

***

Restless and tormented, Callum tossed and turned, unable to find solace in sleep. Aaravos's malevolent grip on his mind consumed his thoughts, haunting him in his restless state. Every time he closed his eyes, the Fallen Star's smirking visage appeared, taunting him with his ominous promise.

“Destined to play right into my hands”

Before long, Callum abandoned any hope of finding rest and left his companions behind in the antechamber. Stepping outside into the cool night air, he welcomed the darkness that matched his mood. The gentle breeze whispered against his face, providing a semblance of calm as he ascended the steps of the pinnacle, preparing to confront...

...he froze. Ibis's body lay covered by a shroud before him, and the realization of his former mentor's demise struck Callum with a paralyzing dread. Ibis, once a trusted guide and friend, now lay before him, motionless.

It wasn’t as though Callum wasn’t familiar with death. Having lost all those he considered parents before his fifteenth birthday, death had become a familiar, though unwelcome, acquaintance.

But Ibis was one of the most powerful mages he had ever met. In all likelihood, Callum thought, he could have even defeated Claudia and Lord Viren combined. With his mentor gone and no means to reach him, Callum found himself adrift, devoid of guidance in his quest to...

Suddenly, a flicker of hope sparked within his mind. Scarcely pausing to think, Callum hurriedly flipped through the pages of his book, vaguely recalling a spell that could...

"...yes!" Callum exclaimed triumphantly. He had stumbled upon the incantation that would allow him to summon the voice of a nearby Sky mage, if only for a fleeting moment. Tracing the rune in the air, he spoke the words:

“Arcanum Recolligo.”

Around him, the wind swirled, coalescing into a silhouette. Gradually, the form materialized, revealing the ethereal presence of the fallen Sky mage.

However, instead of directing his gaze towards Callum, the apparition of Ibis drifted toward the edge of the pinnacle.

“No! Wait!” Callum cried out, rushing to the spirit’s side. “I need to ask you about Aaravos. You knew about the Staff of Ziard and the ‘Fallen Star.’ You have to tell me everything I need to know, we don’t have time!”

“Time is a construct,” Ibis said. “Like the wind, it flows in myriad directions. Creatures of the Sky know that only the present can be trusted.”

Turning his attention to the dim horizon, Ibis continued, "I spent countless years gazing upon this pinnacle, captivated by its view, yet I could never glimpse beyond it. As a Master of the Four Winds, I delved into the very essence of the wind, foreseeing and averting numerous catastrophes. And after each one, there was always another... all converging here but never further."

Callum understood his meaning. “B-because this is where you died. You couldn’t see a future after that moment.”

Ibis turned to face Callum, a playful wink in his spectral eyes. “We can’t see the future, only its possibilities. Just as I saw the possibilities in you, Callum. You have such a capacity for goodness. You always excelled, but not because you craved mastery, but because of your fear of failure.”

Callum shrugged, admitting his fault. “That’s what made me a great mage, I guess.”

Shaking his head, Ibis gently admonished him. “That’s precisely what kept you from greatness. Even now, fear still keeps you from realizing the simplest and most significant lesson I have yet to teach you.”

Curiosity piqued. “Which is?”

Ibis turned his ethereal essence fully toward Callum, peering deeply into the young mage's eyes.

“That it’s not about you.”

The weight of those words struck Callum with sudden clarity. All this time, he had been obsessed of learning more, discovering more, all so that he can master all of primal magic and be of use to his friends and brother, and all it did was bring him ever closer to Aaravos’ control.

Ibis nodded his head.”Those of us who know the Sky Arcanum know that knowledge is as much a burden as it is a gift. For thousands of years, the Masters of the Four Winds were the guardians of Xadia’s knowledge, and when knowledge holds such power, desperate measures are taken to obtain it, necessitating equally drastic measures to protect it."

Ibis shuddered. “I hated the thought of killing, but as you once learned, sometimes one must break the rules in order to serve a higher purpose.”

Gesturing toward the staff behind them, Ibis emphasized,  “Just as you have to serve a higher purpose now. Your friends need your strength, just as you need theirs, now more than ever, if you hope to have a chance of stopping Aaravos.”

Callum shook his head, tears piercing the edges of his eyes. “I’m not ready...”

Ibis looked longingly to the horizon again, the faintest glimmers of the rising sun becoming visible. 

“No one ever is...we don’t get to choose our time. We only get to choose what to do with the time that is given to us.”

A chuckle escaped Ibis. “You’d think after all this time I’d be ready. But look at me! Drawing out one final moment just so that I can watch the sun.”

As the first rays of sunlight broke through the horizon, casting a golden hue upon the world, Callum couldn’t help but crack a smile. “You know, I always thought--”

But when he turned to look at Ibis, he was gone, leaving only a gentle breeze. Standing alone on the pinnacle, Callum took a deep breath, fixing his gaze once more upon the horizon.