#Oh you cast fire bolt for fire damage? How flavorless. I used to cast firebolt with poison damage.

[recitedemise]

𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲, 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝘄𝗶𝘇𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹, and that, rest assured, is NOT just ego talking. Under Mystra's doting guidance, Gale Dekarios, or the esteemed Gale of Waterdeep, was well and truly a nigh on frightening wizard. Having then been a proud owner of the title of archmage, this man's pure arcane might was not to be underestimated. An archmage, or an exceptionally high-classed spellcaster, is no classification easily obtained. One must study hard, rigorously, poring themselves utterly into tomes and practice, and even then, those practitioners of magic that whittle years for mastery? Not even a quarter of them can dream to hold that coveted distinction. Gale, being a conductor of all the elements, was one of the few, both respected and notable. Even now, Gale, though unable to tap into that power he once had, is incredibly well-versed in high arcana. Truthfully, it hurts him to know he's information he can't use, but you should have seen him work when he still possessed the skill... All that secret lore there for the reckoning! All that half-forgotten knowledge there for his use! Not only had Gale known spells most wizards and sorcerers alike could hardly think to conceive, but he was able to warp them with a flick of his fingers, too. In fact, this very man manipulated nature to his control. Casting firebolt with thunder? Or freezing flesh with flames? He was able to do it all, and he'd even the knack for turning spells back to sender, a mere counterspell turned caster's regret. Now Gale, stripped of power, yearns for this strength again. The netherese blight sucks at it. Knowing what he had been, it makes the coping with who he's become infinitely harder, truthfully—and that's saying nothing of his orb or his new illithid companion.