The Book Club
The Red Griffon is far from Altdorf's fanciest tavern, but its clean tables, comely staff and halfling chef make it a comfortable place for those who care about such things. It can often be found at the junction between Magnus Street and Stone Lane, except for every fifth Bezahltag, where it can instead be found opposite the oft-ignored statue of Mandred Beastslayer. It is on this day that a certain society of academics meet in the back room of the
Griffon to discuss the latest publications of the learned elite of the Empire. This society has no name, not because it is a secret, but rather due to the fact that the last time the issue was discussed, hurtful words were thrown around, shortly before equally hurtful punches were thrown, leading to a temporary ban from the premises.
Professor Heissler was the first to arrive, due to his office at the University of Altdorf being the closest to the tavern, shortly followed by Dr. Elser, whose office was at the far side of the campus. Next to arrive were the Kluckhohn twins, graduates from the Nuln School of Engineering, who now worked for the Imperial Armoury devising new ways to bring destruction to the enemies of the Empire. The last members to arrive came arm in arm; Perpetual Apprentice Grey (everybody knew his real name was Henry (they were wrong)) and Priestess Aristea of the Order of the Lorekeepers.
Each came bearing a stack of papers from their respective disciplines—history and geography from the Professor, medical studies from the good doctor, engineering and military documents from the twins, philosophy from the priestess, and magical esoterica from Grey.
"Well then, Grey," Dr. Elser said, her words slurring from the fine Bretonnian brandy. "You've heard us all talk, what magical weirdness have you brought for us this fine evening?"
Grey smiled that damned smile of his. "Well, the collaboration with the elves up north is starting to pay off, and a small number of papers have started to trickle in from the wizards there, although most of it is, of course, deeply classified."
"Naturally," said Professor Heissler, now deep into his third mug of what Stirlanders called 'ale'. "But you have something to show for it, yes?"
That damned smile grew wider. "
Preliminary Observations on the Defensive Horticulture of Laurelorne by J. Panoramia (Jade),
The Champion of the Sun God by M. Johann (Gold), and two publications by one
Lady Magister Weber."
One of the Kluckhohns choked on his beer. "
Lady Magister? I thought she was just an adventurer—when did she get promoted?"
"And when did she move to Laurelorne? I thought she was down south with the dwarves?" said the other. The collected company were too drunk to tell which was which.
"I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to share that information."
"He means he doesn't know," Aristea interjected, smirking at Grey and puncturing his air of infallible knowledge.
"
Moving on," Grey said, ignoring the chuckles at his expense, "One of Weber's publications is a paper, and one is a book, and both are as exotic as her previous works."
"Not more dwarven runecraft, is it?" said one of the Kluckhohn twins.
"Or maybe it's another monster," said the other twin.
"
Observations on a Golden Prosthetic Talon of Unknown Origin," Grey said, turning the page to reveal a sketch of the artefact. "Co-authored with Lord Magister Egrimm van Horstmann (Light) and Magister Johann (Gold). There's an intriguing bit on anatomy you might be interested in, Doctor."
"I've never heard of this Horstmann fellow before, has he published much?" Heissler said, as Elser began to flick through the paper.
"He's appeared as co-author on a lot of works by former Patriarch Alric, but nothing solely under his own name. His promotion also appears to be fairly recent, coinciding with the Patriarch's retirement."
"This is interesting," Elser said. "After grafting it onto a male subject—wait, he grafted it onto himself?—they determined that it might be a
female arm. The sketches line up with my own observations on anatomy. I say, Heissler, do you recognise these runes?"
"They're not Nehekharan, and they are certainly not Dwarf or Elf. Aside from that, I couldn't tell you what it could be."
"Eastern, maybe?" said Aristea, peering over Elser's shoulder.
"Could be from the New World—the long vanished civilization over there liked to make things from gold, or so I heard."
As Elser, Heissler and Aristea began to amicably bicker about Cathayan craftsmanship vs the treasures of the New World, Grey pulled out a large, leather bound tome from a bag that couldn't have possibly contained its bulk, dropping it on the table with a thud.
"
Windsoak Mushrooms: Six Strains of Aethyricly Sensitive Fungus and Their Use In Spellcraft," Grey proclaimed into the silence, "by L.M. Mathilde Weber (Grey), and J. Panoramia (Jade)."
"It's a type of mushroom bred from goblin Waaaghsoak mushrooms that absorb a small amount of magic," Arista said excitedly, having skimmed through a copy that had arrived at the Temple of Verena a few days earlier. "A wizard can then consume it to give their spells an extra bit of punch."
"Can battle wizards use it?" one of the Kluckhohns.
"No, the effect is currently too minor at battle wizard level, but at the apprentice and journeyman level it can be a significant boost," Grey said. "The
Ulgu mushroom pie is not only tasty, but under classroom conditions I was personally able to cast Shadowcloak for several minutes."
That raised several eyebrows—whilst Grey was perfectly competent with petty and lesser magics, his struggles to master even the simplest of Ulgu spells was well known.
"Very impressive," Heissler said. "And a boon to many journeymen and women who will no doubt find themselves in danger—but why only six varieties? Are there not eight winds?"
"Exposure to
Chamon and
Shyish stunted the growth of the mushrooms and made their cultivation unfeasible—which makes sense. Metal and Death are both opposed to life," Arista replied.
"An Alchemist I know has been talking about collaborating with the Jades on a solution to that, but I suspect it'll be many years of research before that tree bears fruit," Grey added.
"Forgive me if this is an impious question, Arista, godless butcher that I am," Dr. Elser said, "but could the effect be expanded to your own divine magic, or can Verena's essence not be absorbed by these mushrooms like the winds can?"
"I…" Arista's face went blank. "I don't know."
"Oh, I know that expression," Heissler laughed. "You've only gone and given the poor girl a new topic to research—she barely leaves the library as it is!"
"Says the man who literally spent a week in the University archives," Elser shot back.
Heissler bristled. "I was trying to find a rare copy of
The Ravenous God for my dear colleague Quirin after he sent me those texts on Cathayan geography. It's called
repaying a favour, not that you would know anything about that."
"Dear colleague? You haven't even met the man!"
"Here we go again," the Kluckhohn twins sighed in unison.
As the two scholars began to argue whilst Arista backed into a quiet corner with parchment and a quill, Grey smiled. He ordered some more drinks, and then when everyone was occupied, slipped out to speak to one of the staff.
Magister Regimand always paid well for news and gossip on his former apprentice, after all.
