Chrissy Deck B Dark Ascension
ENCHANTMENT – AURA Favor of the Woods 1
SORCERY Grim Flowering 1
ARTIFACT Nihil Spellbomb 1
ARTIFACT Grafdigger’s Cage 1
ARTIFACT – EQUIP Silver-Inlaid Dagger 1
ARTIFACT – EQUIP Sharpened Pitchfork 1
ARTIFACT – EQUIP Blazing Torch 1
ARTIFACT CREATURE Myr Battlesphere 1 Myr Construct
LAND Haunted Fengraf 2
LAND Evolving Wilds 2
LAND Grim Backwoods 1
LAND Forest 16
INSTANT Wild Hunger 2
INSTANT Gnaw to the Bone 1
INSTANT Naturalize 1
CREATURE Young Wolf 4
CREATURE Festerhide Boar 1 Boar
CREATURE Moldgraf Monstrosity 1 Insect
CREATURE Scorned Villager 1 Human Warewolf
CREATURE Grizzled Outcasts 1 Human Warewolf
CREATURE Strangleroot Geist 2 Spirit
CREATURE Briarpack Alpha 2 Wolf
CREATURE Viridian Emissary 3 Elf Scout
CREATURE Village Survivors 1 Human
CREATURE Grave Bramble 1 Plant
CREATURE Boneyard Wurm 1 Wurm
CREATURE Essence of the Wild 1 Avatar
CREATURE Acidic Slime 1 Ooze
CREATURE Acid Web Spider 1 Spider
CREATURE Ambush Viper 1 Snake
CREATURE Hollowhenge Beast 1 Beast
CREATURE Hamlet Captain 1 Human Warrior
CREATURE Lumberknot 1 Treefolk
CREATURE Elder of Laurels 1 Human Advisor
CREATURE Vorapede 1 Insect

HARDA NUMAISH MELA

AUDITIONS TO BE HELD ON 1^ST AND 2^ND JUNE, 2013

Harda,  May, 2013: After two consecutive thunderous seasons, BIG MAGIC is all set to present audiences with the third edition of its talent hunt show aiming at uncovering the best entertainers from the country’s melas ‘Mele Ka BIG Star Season 3’. Auditions will kick-off in Harda on 1^st and 2^nd June, 2013 as the show’s team reaches Madhya Pradesh’s Harda Numaish Mela. With auditions kicking off in Harda, Mele Ka BIG Star Season 3 will soon go on air on BIG MAGIC.

Other than the Harda Numaish Mela, auditions for Mele Ka BIG Star Season 3 will be conducted across some of the most-loved melas in Central India, which include Devi Patan Mela (Balrampur), Dargah Sharif Mela (Bahraich), and Sorath Mela (Madhubani) among others. By the end of the auditions, 32 finalists will be shortlisted who will compete among themselves and put their best foot forward in an attempt to be crowned winners of Mele Ka BIG Star Season 3. With contestants on Mele Ka BIG Star Season 2 having raised the bar of expectations from the contestants, the auditioning contestants have their work cut out for them as they ready themselves to showcase their absolute best.

With Harda being one of the most culturally rich cities in Madhya Pradesh, it leaves little doubt that the winner-hopefuls that will audition at the Harda Numaish Mela will be some of the most-talented individuals from the region. But how will these performers fare? Will they be able to give takkar to the contestants who championed last season? Only time will tell…

For now, BIG MAGIC’s talent show from the melas of Central India, Mele Ka BIG Star Season 3 will be conducting auditions at the Harda Numaish Mela in Harda on 1^st and 2^nd June, 2013.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For me the first part of the book was grey and sad with a world at war, I didn’t connect to the characters of the war and the book nearly lost me until the arrival of Wizards, then the story took off, the fantasy world created became colourful and bright, full of potential and expectation. I didn’t want to see the end when our heroine heads back to the other grey world, but I half expected it. Am tempted to read the rest of the trilogy.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Book-of-Deacon-ebook/dp/B0036FTF4S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368870622&sr=8-1&keywords=The+book+of+deacon

View all my reviews

Chrissy’s Deck A – Innistrad
ENCHANTMENT- AURA Bonds of Faith 2
ARTIFACT – EQUIP Silver-Inlaid Dagger 1
ARTIFACT – EQUIP Sharpened Pitchfork 1
ARTIFACT – EQUIP Butcher’s Cleaver 1
SORCERY Increasing Devotion 2
SORCERY Gather the Townsfolk 2
INSTANT Doom Blade 2
INSTANT Undying Evil 3
INSTANT Tragic Slip 3
INSTANT Faith’s Shield 2
LAND Swamp 6
LAND Plains 10
LAND Ghost Quarter 2
LAND Vault of the Archangel 1
LAND Evolving Wilds 3
CREATURE Angelic Overseer 1 Angel
CREATURE Elite Inquisitor 1 Human Soldier
CREATURE Mentor of the Meek 1 Human Soldier
CREATURE Champion of the Parish 1 Human Soldier
CREATURE Ravenous Demon/Archdemon of Greed 2 Demon
CREATURE Accorder Paladin 4 Human Knight
CREATURE Elite Vanguard 2 Human Soldier
CREATURE Village Cannibals 2 Human
CREATURE Mirran Crusader 2 Human Knight
CREATURE Village Bell-Ringer 2 Human Scout
CREATURE Unruly Mob 2 Human

Chris’ Deck B – Dark Ascension
ENCHANTMENT – AURA Curse of Stalked Prey 1
ARTIFACT – EQUIP Infiltration Lens 3
LAND Inkmoth Nexus 2
LAND Haunted Fengraf 3
LAND Mountain 17
SORCERY Faithless Looting 2
SORCERY Act of Treason 2
SORCERY Goblin Grenade 4
SORCERY Arc Trail 4
INSTANT Gut Shot 2
INSTANT Brimstone Volley 4
INSTANT Artillerize 4
CREATURE Goblin Fireslinger 4 Goblin Warrior
CREATURE Hellrider 1 Devil
CREATURE Torch Fiend 3 Devil
CREATURE Forge Devil 4 Devil
CREATURE Goblin Arsonist 4 Goblin Shaman
CREATURE Goblin Gaveleer 4 Goblin Warrior

FREESTANDING CARDS ITS POSSIBLE WANTED TO ADD
ENCHANTMENT Secrets of the Dead 1
ARTIFACT Torpor Orb 3
INSTANT Fling 1
INSTANT Into the Core 3
INSTANT Artful Dodge 1
INSTANT Dismember 1
CREATURE Russet Wolves 1 Wolf
CREATURE Loyal Cathar/Unhallowed Cathar 1 Human Soldier/Zombie Soldier
CREATURE Niblis of the Urn 1 Spirit
CREATURE Elguad Inquisitor 1 Human Cleric
CREATURE Nephalia Seakite 1 Bird
CREATURE Niblis of the Breath 1 Spirit

Chris Deck A (Innistrad)
INSTANT Ranger’s Guile 3
INSTANT Naturalize 4
INSTANT Gnaw to the Bone 4
INSTANT Dream Twist 3
INSTANT Forbidden Alchemy 3
LAND Island 4
LAND Forest 8
LAND Shimmering Grotto 3
LAND Hinterland Harbor 2
LAND Woodland Cemetery 1
LAND Swamp 2
ARTIFACT – EQUIP Bonehoard 2
Enchantment – AURA Wreath of Geists 2
SORCERY Unburial Rites 2
SORCERY Sever the Bloodline 1
SORCERY Mulch 4
SORCERY Spider Spawning 4
CREATURE Deranged Assistant 4 Human
CREATURE Armored Skaab 4 Zombie Warrior
CREATURE Birds of Paradise 1 Bird
CREATURE Boneyard Wurm 4 Wurm
CREATURE Ghoultree 1 Zombie Treefolk
CREATURE Splinterfright 2 Elemental
CREATURE Avacyn’s Pilgrim 3 Human Monk

FREESTANDING PROBABLY WANTED TO PUT IN
INSTANT Forbidden Alchemy 1
INSTANT Negate 2
CREATURE Merfolk Looter 2 Merfolk Rogue
CREATURE Viridian Emissary 3 Elf Scout
CREATURE Llanowar Elves 4

They filter out the darkness
In what I see and hear.
When faith, hope, and love abound
Life looks crystal clear.

So if your world seems dull,
Full of black and brown and blue,
Don’t believe a bit of it
Or call a false thing true.

Find your magic glasses
And you will surely see:
The blot was in your lenses
And not reality.

© May 25, 2013
Asheville, NC

As an actor, I never pay attention to reviews. I don’t read them. I don’t really care. Praise is nice, but I don’t perform for praise. I perform for myself. I know when I am “there” and when I am not. Besides, it is easier and more entertaining to write an insult than it is to write praise, and insults do nothing constructive. From what I am told, most of the reviews I have received have been positive–but I would be the last to know and the least concerned. And if I don’t read them, then they can only exist in my mind as generous and full of adulation.

I rarely enter contests of any type. I don’t like to lose, and I don’t like to bet — particularly when I cannot comfortably afford defeat. As a kid, I lived in Las Vegas. I was surrounded by gamblers and knew more than one sad tale of a life lost on a roll of the dice or a flip of a card.

I never understood the addiction to gambling. The wheels, the lights, the flashes, the smoke, the praying for luck, none of it ever made any sense to me and never had any appeal.

I gamble enough on the choices I have made in my life, and I have rolled a hard game. I have gone hungry far too often as it is without throwing away my limited finances by betting against the house.

However, I do on odd occasions play the lottery. When a jackpot climbs above $250 million, I tug a recalcitrant dollar out of my wallet (Oh, yes, it screams as it exits) and I buy a quick pick. Typically, I don’t play any particular numbers. If you’re going to bet that a comet is going to land on your head, it seems a futile effort to describe the color of its tail before it plows into you.

It hasn’t been unusual for me to not check on the lottery results for weeks and even months after the draw (and even not at all). In fact, that’s the norm. I like holding onto the dream that I might actually win something, rather than face the certainty of having lost. It is the illusion of hope that I cling to — not actual hope. It is enough for me that a whisper of hope can be bought, and I try to let that dream last as long as I can.

Really, what else is there in life for us to hold onto but love and hope?

Back in 2011, I entered a writing contest. I don’t think I’ve entered a writing contest since I was in high school. That was sometime during the Paleolithic era I believe. We were using stone tools at the time. We did know about flint though.

I used to win every writing contest I entered. I couldn’t get published, but boy I sure could win writing contests. That used to annoy me. So, I stopped entering contests. And I stopped submitting for publication. The drawer with the rejection slips had more pages than my stories.

But I digress.

I never heard anything about the 2011 writing contest. I didn’t bother to check on it. I entered it hoping to win some money that would allow me to live while I wrote. Once more, letting hope last, I didn’t look for the results of the contest. Besides, I figured if I’d won anything then I’d get a notice. Some fat check would appear clogging up my mailbox with the volume of money it represented, and the paparazzi flashing their cameras would blind me with my own brilliance. Otherwise, if I didn’t hear anything, then it wasn’t worth knowing about to begin with. Nothing lost. And the dream lived on.

I am writing a series of novels in the vein of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time epic (meaning it is a fantasy, it is lengthy, and it goes on over many volumes). I began the project in 2010 and am finishing the third volume now. In the coming months, I will be doing polish edits and rewrites for several chapters within the current 3 volumes, which I envision as the opening sequence to a 9 volume series.

I entered the prologue and the first chapter or two of the first volume in the 2011 William Faulker – William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition.

I really could use the prize money to finish this project. Alas, I did not win.

However, it has just come to my attention that my entry made the Short List of Finalists in the Novel-In-Progress Category.

Well … whadda ya know?

A magician proves that magic is real, much to one audience member’s dismay and health.

 
Starring:
Brand Rackley
Winston Carter
Benjamin Crutcher
Reilly Smith

 
For the newest The Craig T. Nelson Mandela Variety Hour news, sketches & shorts check out CTNMVH.com

‘Like’ CTNMVH on Facebook

For more news, videos, shorts and feature films starring Brand Rackley check out BrandRackley.com

Follow Brand Rackley on Twitter

AND

Also, check out Brand Rackley on IMDB
 

I was busy interviewing another SFFSat author’s erotic alter ego last week, so I couldn’t participate.  Just to recap–Alia had just flown off a cliff to save the Warlock her sister, Anora, attempted to kill. In return, Duncan sucked up all her magic, causing them to drop mid-flight. Also of note–Alia and Anora’s eyes are the same color.

The slender arms that circled his waist tightened as lines of strain formed on the corners of those slightly up-tilted eyes. “My wings will fail if you do not stop,” she warned, distress evident in her voice.

Left without a choice, he relinquished control, allowing a stranger to have power over his fate. Their fall immediately slowed as if a sail had spread to allow them to coast the winds. With the complex interchange of power between them, he gained enough access to the fey’s mind to glean her name.

“Why did you save me, Alia?” he asked as they landed on the sand. While he felt strong enough to stand, the fey’s small body slumped onto the dunes. Crouching, he flipped the veiled creature over so he could gaze into those damning eyes.

SFFSat is a group of writers sharing snippets from both published and unpublished works of science fiction and fantasy. You can read more about the group by clicking the banner to the left, as well as follow links to the other participants. Any comments are much appreciated!

she sees me
for who I am

my mother
a magician
effortlessly made
magic
with a wave of her hands

my daughter’s eyes
see
through my disguise

she sees me
for who I am

Now, to get to the 10 things I am grateful for today.

I am grateful for…

1. My wonderful niece. She and I are having a date night tonight, we went to Ulta and she got a tinted lip balm and eye shadow, and I got an eye pallet that I really was in need of.

2. My sister-in-law. She has such a good heart, and even if she has things that might appear to be off, kindness is really what she is made up of.

3. My mother, once again. She is a chiropractor and I enjoy seeing her in her element, and she had some good stories today that I always enjoy hearing.

4. My friend, Lacey. She has been a friend since high school, and since I moved back to Idaho, we have really become best best friends. I love her to pieces and am so glad she is my friend.

5. My health. I love being energetic, feeling strong, standing with great posture, feeling my muscles keeping me aligned.

6. Music, yes once again. I got a pile of songs on a CD’s finally, and in my car, I have the great energy that I get from music.

7. My bed. It’s quite a comfy bed, and even though a little girl peed in it today, I still love it. Haha.

8. The smell of freshly cut grass. I mowed the lawn today, in the rain, and effin a, that combination is one of the best ever.

9. Hot showers. I am about to go take one, before I hit the sack tonight, and hot showers are so refreshing. Almost like a restart.

10. Good tears. I have had a couple months of being tearful, overly emotional and in need of a good cry. Once I got some good hard tears out, I feel so much better. Even if the tears are from a movie with sad scenes or a sad song or a happy moment that makes me cry, they are still good tears. Getting them out in a huge way can make one feel refreshed, and happy tears are always good tears.

I used to think magic was the stuff of fairy tales. Later I understood that magic had a more real, sinister expression. But in any case, I always saw magic as something far removed from my every-day life.

Until I discovered it woven into the very fabric of my faith.

The realization came as I stumbled upon this definition of magic:
Magic is the attempt by humans to control their destiny through the management or manipulation of supernatural powers in such a way that results are virtually guaranteed. 1

Although the piece I was reading described pagan practices, as I thought the matter through, I realized I had little room to judge. In truth, I have subtly been raised to believe that I can control and manipulate God. For example, God blesses those who live in a certain way, He keeps His promises, He always acts consistently with His character.

While each of these claims is true, modern Christianity has twisted them into the mistaken belief that God must behave in a certain way. I have heard (and done it myself) people demand things of God, citing “promises” in the Bible, or holding Him to His character. I have seen others blind-sided when trouble comes their way, saying like Job, “But I did everything right…”

Peter Scazzero, in his book “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality” writes quite candidly:
“I like control… I also like to remind God of His need to behave in ways that fit in with my clear ideas of Him. For example, God is just, merciful, good, wise loving. The problem, then, is that God is beyond the grasp of every concept I have of Him. He is utterly incomprehensible.
“Yes, God is everything revealed in scripture, but also infinitely more. God is not an object that I can determine, master, possess, or command. And I still try to somehow use my “clear ideas” about God to give me power over Him, or to somehow possess Him.”

I see two problems with this kind of Christian magic. First, it puts us in the place of God. Any belief that we can manipulate Him, control Him, or demand anything from Him places us above Him. To insist that He fit within our finite definitions of “goodness” or “justice” or keep His promises as we interpret them is to insinuate that our judgment, timing, and understanding of the big picture reigns supreme.

Don’t get me wrong. I think God loves lively discussions and spirited debate with His children. Be real, be passionate, be persistent, reason with Him. In truth, people such as Job, Abraham and Moses actually argued with God, and were called His friends. But at the end of the day, they all allowed God to be God.

The second danger is that a faith built upon the mistaken belief that God is predictable or controllable, can be severely shaken when God does not behave in the ways we expect Him to. Believing wrong things about God creates an image of Him that is false. Indeed a “tame” god who we have comfortably “figured out” seems reassuring and safe. But, this is not God at all. As St. Augustine wrote, “If you understand, it is not God you understand.”

True faith in the one and only God of the universe demands that we fall to our knees in utter humility and risk letting go of control to Someone whose ways and thoughts are as high above ours as the heavens are above the earth. (Isaiah 55:8–9)

Paul Hiebert, in his article “The Excluded Middle,” summarized the issue beautifully when he wrote, “…the church and mission must guard against Christianity itself becoming a new form of magic. Magic is based on a mechanistic view—a formula approach to reality that allows humans to control their own destiny. Worship on the other hand, is rooted in a relational view of life. Worshipers place themselves in the power and mercy of a greater being. …The difference is not one of form, but of attitude.” [italics mine]

Scoring ACTION Presents:
An Interview with BRIAN TYLER
By Barry Lee Dejasu

Part Two: NOW YOU SEE ME and the Future

BARRY LEE DEJASU: With a film that deals so much with magic, and the stage, and all eyes on the performer, how did you evoke that kind of mood for this movie?
BRIAN TYLER: NOW YOU SEE ME is a really interesting combination, tonally, as a film, and I don’t think it necessarily has been done like this as a film before, so musically it needed to go along with that tone.  You’re combining two different genres; you’re combining the idea of magic and illusion, which the music at least will give you that kind of sense of… You might think of HARRY POTTER and LORD OF THE RINGS, and things like that, and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS (1977), where you have that, but on the other hand, you have this heist movie.  These guys are pulling off a heist (and) rob a bank in Paris, and pull off all kinds of different, crazy things like that, which goes more toward things like CHARADE (1963), like cool ‘70s heist movies all the way up through retro-heist and retro-chase movies like CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (2002).  These kinds of music don’t typically go together, so I kind of came up with this sound like a ‘60s James Bond/CHARADE/Henry Mancini kind of vibe, crossed with LORD OF THE RINGS and HARRY POTTER! (laughs) And that kind of thing is like, how does that work?  It turned out to be this great combo, and it’s got elements of groove, and fun, and upright bass, and drums, and vibraphone, and kind of retro ‘60s stuff, with also a magical, shimmery element that was the London Philharmonic.  These two unlikely kinds of pairs, kind of like the underground New York jazz club from 1962 meets the London Philharmonic, strange bedfellows.  It ended up being one of my favorite musical experiences, and the fact that also feels like sleight music, like the music is beating you in one direction, like, look over here, or look closely here, but you’re looking in the wrong place, you know.  It was like a giant puzzle, this whole score, and I can’t wait for people to check out this movie and hear the score.

BLD: There seems to be a lot comedic elements at work in the movie.
BT: Very much so.  You have this team of four magicians that are thrown together.  They’re definitely kind of a motley crew; they don’t necessarily like each other at the beginning of the movie—they’re thrown together for this mission, and it’s hilarious; they’re great together.  It’s really funny, and it’s got a lot of twists, and it keeps you guessing.  I’m just interested in magic from the point of view of illusion, myself.  Each one of the characters, it’s like there’s a corollary in real life, like the Woody Harrelson character, he’s like this mentalist like Darren Brown, and you have Morgan Freeman, who’s like a debunker, like James Randy, who goes around and calls out people that claim to be psychic and are full of it.  You got a guy that’s more like David Blaine that’s more like close-up magic, street magic, things like that, (and) a dude that’s more like (David) Copperfield; he does big illusions in Vegas.  To put all these people together, you needed to have the fun.

Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Woody Harrelson, and Dave Franco in NOW YOU SEE ME.

There’s an action element to it, of course, as well; there’s a streak of THE BOURNE IDENTITY(2002), well, not in terms of it musically, but more like the film, where there’s something at stake here.  It’s fun the whole way, and you’re constantly guessing, and the whole movie is actually kind of like watching a really cool magic show unto itself.  The story is really the illusion, and the mystery you have to try to solve while you’re watching.

BLD: The fact is it’s still an audience watching a performance.
BT: Yeah—for sure.  It’s almost like you’re pulled into it.  It doesn’t rely on special effects, it’s more like the trickery of how does someone outwit the other person with what is obviously not real magic, but with illusion.

BLD: Can you speak of any projects you’re attached to, or circling?
BT: There are some directors that I work with that are working on some movies.  There’s STANDING UP, from DJ Caruso, who directed EAGLE EYE; I’ve done a bunch of movies with him.  There’s also a movie (also by Caruso) that I’m hopefully going to be doing very soon called INVERTIGO which is great, a really cool story.  And John Liebesman, who I work with a lot, has NINJA TURTLES; we’ll be doing that together, and he’s great, he’s amazing.  Steve Quail (FINAL DESTINATION 5, 2011) is directing a movie called BLACK SKY, and there’s some other things that may be coming up as well.  I would love to work with Marvel again, and of course Shane is a fantastic director, so we’ll see what’s on the horizon here.

BLD: If you could re-score any pre-existing film (but preferably older ones, and the older, the better), which might you choose?  (Previous answers have often included NOSFERATU and GODZILLA.)
BT: I don’t know if I could improve on it, but I’d love to take a whack at MANOS: HANDS OF FATE (1966).  (laughs)  I just would love to write some music for something that’s that strange.  There was so much blank space in it, filming outside of car windows, driving alongside it endlessly… It would just be cool to go back and score something like that.  I’m sure I could pick something that’s actually good, but I have a thing for films like MANOS: HANDS OF FATE.

BLD: There are tons of films always in the works.  If you could choose and score anything in particular, which would you jump for?  (Anything from a new documentary to, say, one of the new Star Wars films?)
BT: Also MANOS: HANDS OF FATE! Or (its sequel), TORGO RETURNS! (laughing) It’s a good question.  Walking into something like STAR WARS would be amazing, of course, but John Williams is the impossible bar to reach.  I would love to just see where the Marvel universe would go; that’s really interesting to me.  And also something that I would love to do is just a historical drama of some sort, to just sort of mix it up, but it’s something that I personally love.  The things I watch most of on Netflix are documentaries, that kind of thing, and my major in college was history.  It would be great to dive into something historical.

© Copyright 2013 by Barry Lee Dejasu

IRON MAN 3 is now playing.
NOW YOU SEE ME comes out in theaters on May 31^st.

A selection of gemstone pebbles made by tumbling rough rock with abrasive grit, in a rotating drum. The biggest pebble here is 40 mm long (1.6 inches) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Cyralost Compendium
Objects of use for plot, structure, magic etc
Precious Stones, Jewels, Gems, Crystals etc

Amethyst

This purple quartz is considered spiritual, used for personal development, philosophy and more. Believed to be a cure for drunkenness and ensure sobriety by those who wish to imbibe great volumes of alcohol but not feel the ill effects. Amethyst cups are suggested for drinkers to remain sober. Amethyst cups are widely used by the paranoid and those who fear poison as the purple quartz loses its brightness in the presence of poison and grows pale when the spell weaver using the crystal is ill.
Amethyst symbolises serenity, happiness and good luck (and is usually found on magical items designed for promoting these sensations). Healers have been known to use it to soothe headaches and believe its potency can be increased by warming it in the sun (note: heating by flame does not work). The stone increases spirituality which is why it is popular with religious circles and many holy relics, alters and such may be found to sport at least one amethyst and many clerics (whether they be priests, druids or even arch-bishops) are known to have an amethyst about them, usually in a ring or on a chain like a pendant. Amethyst is believed to purify and heal, induce calm, aid meditation, alleviate stress and loneliness, induce calm, bring clear thoughts; provide guidance and a link between the higher and lower states of consciousness (especially to aid creativity intended for the benefit of others).
Despite, its beauty, popularity and copious amounts of uses, amethyst remains fairly reasonably priced and can be located from a great many number of sources.

Aqua Marine

Meaning ‘Of the Sea’, this light blue gem is associated with rational thinking, clear thinking and helping with issues of trust and nervous dispositions; believed to have a calming influence when viewed in the light like observing a calm sea. Able to banish nerves and fear if held close or worn next to the skin, aqua marine is also believed to protect from poison and accidents (especially at sea) though this is a matter of much conjecture, many under the impression that coincidence has a large part to play here. Sailors disagree and the superstitious seamen are known to have aqua marine stones sewn in to their garments as wards of protection. As well as clear thinking and rationality, aqua marines are widely believed to provide the bearer with an impressive command of logic hence tacticians and warlords (even the famous general, Christopher Treece) tend to have one near.

Calcite

A white crystal with dirty brown veins that is soft and relatively easy to cut with a knife, calcite is thought to ease stress, fear and anxiety. Not widely used or very popular due to the ease of its destruction and lack of longevity.

Carnelian

Tricky to discern if it is red or amber in colour as I have only seen a picture of one and the visual was poor. Believed to induce calm and used to help cure blood disorders.
Further research describes carnelian as usually red, sometimes brown/off white and called the ‘blood stone’. Apparently it stops the blood flow, can balance and energise the body. It eliminates fear, promotes good fortune and increases creativity. This strong gemstone is a powerful healer and is reputed to prolong life, though the tales that surround that boast point towards necromantic performances that take the life-force of another to give longevity to another.

Citrine

A yellow quartz, sometimes with a cool and pale greenish tint, this stone is particularly tricky to obtain and very rare. It symbolises new beginnings and is used to find one’s true path. Believed to aid communication (hence a spell component for spells pertaining to such, though not widely used considering the price of the stone). Fraudsters have found an alchemical way to use heat treatment on amethyst to turn it yellow like citrine but this artificial piece exhibits red and orange shades within its depths so potential buyers should be wary and take the time to inspect their potential purchase closely.

Fluorite

This impressive looking gemstone comes in a myriad of different colours including deep dark purple, pink, green, yellow and blue (most are very cheap and easy to obtain except for the pink fluorite which is rarer and expensive, and would be popular in ladies jewellery if it wasn’t so easy to scratch). Used to help healing (especially bones) and induce peace and inner calm, some use it as an aid to meditation and the more ambitious employ its powers to quell conquerors (probably a myth).

Lapis Lazuli/Lazurite

A blue stone almost the colour of a bruise with specks of gold, this remarkable looking stone is fascinating to behold as the shade and glitter move in the light. This powerful stone eases depression, sleep disorders and insomnia. Psychological problems in particular are battled with this potent piece but it can also be used to help with skin or blood problems and is widely believed to stop disease. It can be used to enhance one’s psychic abilities and sensitivity to all things magical but it should be only used by powerful practitioners as this stone’s powerful properties can give headaches and lead to problems for the vulnerable or those unable to cope with the power of the stone.

Obsidian

A natural glass formed from volcanic lava, whilst not truly a stone, gem or jewel, its properties and uses are of such similarity, it was decided to include it in this particular compendium. Black, darker than night, like an absence of light, obsidian is hard; strong and shiny. Healing is one of its proposed uses but it is more widely known to be used in making weapons, especially being crafted in to or on to weapons like on the pommel of a sword or in the crosspiece of a hilt to magnify whichever powers the weapon’s intended use was forged to produce. It is a powerful vehicle and one must be powerful to wield it or use it when performing magic with its help. It is usually the arcane school of wizardry that employs such a powerful item as obsidian.

Snowflake Obsidian

The same ‘stone’ as the glass formed from volcanic lava mentioned above, the only difference is this obsidian has white flecks like snowflakes hence it’s obvious name. Snowflake Obsidian is used to clear one’s mind and provide clarity in difficult situations, the more ‘common’ use for it is in the making of magic mirrors.

Pyrite

Fools gold, as most call it, is surprisingly helpful in quelling addiction problems, helping people breathe (under stress) and strengthening will. Those with pyrite about their person are more likely to resist psychological spells such as hypnotise or charm and will be less greedy than others, reserved in general. Rarely given as a gift as it is a symbol of mistrust, deception and is never what it seems (which is why it is used to construct magical artifacts for curses and similar for those practicing foul or evil magic). Pyrite is actually an impressive stone that connects one with earth energy, particularly potent with Telluric magic and popular with wytches and druids for its not so obvious wealth…

Quartz Crystal

Clear, simple and seductive. Quartz Crystal aids focus, is used in divination, meditation and healing in general. It amplifies and generates electricity (is famed for igniting lightning swords) and is the catalyst and anchor of many potent and powerful spells.

Rose Quartz

This is found in chunks, not individual crystals and enables calm, exposing emotional imbalance to cure it. Rose Quartz helps focus and provides rational thought (clarity) whilst balancing the mind. The colour of this crystal is pink, puce and pale red, considered to be blood soaked though this is fancy and superstition. Rose Quartz changes negative energy in to positive is considered the ‘stone of unconditional love’ and is used in much jewellery for decoration and its symbolism of romance and cherishing. Rose Quartz can diffuse stressful situations, be used against headaches and migraines, it stimulates imagination and intellect, reduces feelings of anger; resentment and guilt. Rose Quartz is a strong healer and is reputed to aid fertility. Like amethyst, this multi-purpose and commonly found ‘stone’ is fairly reasonable in price due to the ease of locating it. Like all crystal, it is used with reverence and respect.

Smoky Quartz

Funnily enough, this crystal is quartz with a smoky hue to it. It promotes good luck, relieves negativity and induces relaxation which is why it is often given to soldiers (usually in the form of a clasp for their cloaks or as part of a buckle etc). Used in meditation, it can induce lucid dreams, help in cases of infertility and generally make the body well.

Rutilated Quartz

Lovely crystal, pale with bright golden threads running through it. Rutilated Quartz inspires creativity, promotes artistic pursuits and showcases talent.

Crystal

Quartz or rock that aids meditation, releases higher consciousness, accelerates spiritual growth, spiritual development and healing. This most powerful stone is utilized in a great many ways and has almost endless potential as it is easy to incorporate in to any school of spell-casting. For instance, a cup mad of quartz crystal will turn cloudy if poison is added; it amplifies the rays of the sun to heat and light as necessary. Crystal aids psychic development and facilitates meditation, dispelling negativity, inspiring communication with higher self and used to ‘charge’ other stones (which are its most common use due to its ease of acquisition and cheap price). Crystal can promote deep sleep, aiding rest and relaxation, protects against evil and is used in charms and utilised for a great combination of magical purposes.

Sodalite

A lovely dark blue stone peppered with calcite (a common crystalline form of natural calcium carbonate, the basic constituent of limestone, marble and chalk, also called ‘calcspar’). Sodalite can ease anxiety and nervousness, aids communication helps one remember dreams (particularly useful in prophecy).

Tiger’s Eye

This precious stone is quartz with layers of light and dark golden yellow and brown, increases confidence, gives clear perception and relieves stress and nervousness. Tiger’s Eye guards against hypochondria and psychosomatic illness, gives confidence and inner strength whilst encouraging creative pursuits and providing calm and balance. Reputed to help heal the lower legs and feet as well as any eye problems, it supposedly stops stubbornness, eases loneliness and promotes independence. It looks more impressive than it is and is madly overpriced and overrated (like lobster).

Tourmaline

Regarded as the ‘mixed precious stone’, this gemstone promotes confidence, dispels fear and mental anguish and aids meditation. It comes in a large variety of colours including brown, orange, green, blue, black, dark green, yellow and more (none more particularly rarer than the others).

Garnet

This is a dark red, blood red stone that represents and promotes constancy and friendship. Reported to warn of danger and help with things such as blood problems. It is considered to protect against depression, improve one’s sex drive and harbour good news.

Bloodstone

Despite its title, this stone does not look bloodlike but is in fact a stone with dark green colouring, flecked with red Jasper (which is a rich red stone with flecks of grey though you can’t see the grey in the bloodstone). It is associated with helping aches and pains, easing stress and strains. For more powerful and ambitious practitioners, Bloodstone can be used to slow things down (including time for the most powerful sorcerers), can cause a tempest and is widely used by sailors to protect against drowning.

Diamond

This, most precious of stones, acts as a sign of purity and innocence, capable of curing pestilence and helping against madness; promoting courage and granting strength. Diamonds are said to protect warriors (though from what exactly, I am unsure). Comprised of crystalline forms of carbon, making this the hardest known stone in existence and ensures the diamond’s longevity and practically indestructible substance is one of the most valuable commodities available. Rare and highly prized for its beauty more than its uses, more commonly utilized in making jewellery for status symbols, diamonds remain unexplainably desirable and coveted stones. Large diamonds are considered unlucky and often cursed, many regarding diamonds in general as bad investments due to their wealth brining misfortune.

Carbuncle

This is a red stone that protects against plague and is reputed to protect travellers by land and sea, bringing hope and an overall feeling of safety and security.

Ruby

This beautiful red stone increases energy levels and stimulates loving feelings if heated. The ruby represents and promotes contentment, freedom and power, encouraging devotion and selflessness. It reputedly stops bleeding, helps steer away from melancholy and sadness, provides insight and increases mental powers if worn on the crown. Often considered useful in an antidote for poison, it can ward off evil spirits and is able to stop one feeling obsessive, fear failure or being hard on oneself. The ruby is given as a token of friendship, is a rare and expensive and loved for the sense of wellbeing it gives.

Emerald

This rich green crystal is a variety of Beryl and is associated with emotions, symbolising serenity. Emeralds represent success in love, wealth; happiness and peace of mind. Helping against insomnia and providing spiritual insight, this multi-purpose and powerful stone is known as a remedy for spider bites, encourages faith in oneself; deters demons (apparently, there is a tale of a wealthy but eccentric merchant who clothed himself in a gown sewn with a million sequins made of emerald who went in to a demon’s lair to recover a treasure worth inestimable wealth but the emeralds did nothing to repel the fiend who ate the merchant, there is a theory that the gown was not made with real emerald of course). I read somewhere that it ensures immortality but will have to relocate and investigate that manuscript further (and ask Isacc Tarakai). Emerald is one of the more naturally beautiful stones largely sought after as a simple treasure alone as much as for its impressive catalogue of qualities.

Coral

Another material in this listing that is not a true gemstone but, in-fact, a product of marine life; catalogued here for its exquisite beauty and similarity of uses (within jewellery, ornament, magic and medical use). Coral is associated with the provision of wisdom and is supposedly gifted by the sea god, Illidian to keep sickness at bay, protect against malevolent attack and prevent madness. Coral is a symbol of transformation and promotes such, often used in magical wands or similar to perform spells of transmutation etc. Coral has such a variety of colours that it can appear in that it would be daft to list them all due to the space it would take and the time to present them.

Chalcedony

This appears translucent, transparent, greyish quartz, with an occasional bluish tint/hue. This gemstone is seldom used (for reasons that I must investigate further) but is known to stall a bad temper, quell unease, bring serenity; peace and strength (both physical and spiritual). Apparently, chalcedony is useful in fighting nightmares and sleep disorders, maybe it has been forgotten or fallen in to disfavour within the various ‘circles’ that employ stones for their various uses in favour of more potent gems?

Jade

Prized more than gold in some cultures, jade is a delightful looking green stone associated with wisdom and tranquillity. Popularly used in weapon crafting as decoration as much as for its properties, jade is an agent that guards against lightning (so used in forging magical shields or cross guards on the hilts of swords etc to deflect/defend against magical electrical assault). Linked with fertility and longevity, there is a popular theory that jade is a substance involved with eternity, some Evermore leaves have turned to jade during their ‘autumn gifting’ and the Elves tell of jade usage in everyday life, a possible catalyst for their longevity.
Agate

This chalcedony or cryptocrystalline quartz comes in a variety of colours that appear to be layered in rings from the centre and outward. It is usually brown, dark red or yellow, though I have some very attractive green and blue ones in my personal collection. Agate represents spiritual love, devotion and acts as aid in prayer. The stone also aids against disease, can banish fear and increase energy levels (often used to ‘charge’ other stones). Agate is associated with health, wealth and good fortune, especially to those who work with or on the land. Some texts state (somewhat mysteriously) that agate is twinned with unexpected tests…

Beryl

This is a green stone that occasionally shows yellow, pink, blue or white shades within it and is used by seers or those looking to improve their psychic powers. Linked with personal development and known to motivate, providing a sense of determination, Beryl improves will power but is used more widely for its strange colouring in jewellery rather than for its properties due to its rather unimpressive potency.

Chrysolite

This gem is occasionally red or brown in colour but most commonly seen in a beautiful olive green and aids against virus, insomnia, melancholy; nightmares and madness. It seems to be a very much an underrated stone and certainly in need of more experimentation.

Onyx

This coloured chalcedony can improve concentration, aid in giving devotion and help with stress; giving serenity. Also known to help with self control, this gemstone is usually white with bands of brown or grey; onyx tends to be used in intaglio (incised in to stone or metal for artful purpose, especially in ornamental armour and jewellery).

Peridot

This gemstone is similar to chrysolite, pale green in colour but translucent and is used to reduce stress and help with sleeplessness.

Moonstone

This feldspar is pearly in appearance and emanates a mystical energy. Sometimes grey, white, pale yellow or even almost colourless, Moonstone is believed to protect seafarers and apparently grows stronger or weaker as the moons wax or wane. Promoting happiness, long life and attracting friendship, this stone is sacred to lovers and helps maintain an emotional balance. Very much thought of as a feminine stone, there is rumour that it can help men understand women but it is largely discredited due to the lunacy of the notion (men will never understand women). Sometimes used to help with childbirth and to understand dreams, the moonstone comes with a warning as those who use it may struggle to distinguish the real from the unreal, the truth from reality and start daydreaming; becoming unobservant of the world around which makes them vulnerable.

Chrysoprase

This is a bright green chalcedony known as the ‘joy stone’ and is used to ease anxiety, dispel depression, bring joy and promote happiness (as well as personal insight, which, in turn, brings happiness). Chrysoprase is said to improve one’s memory and loses its colour when in the presence of poison.

Selenite (Gypsum)

This colourless, clear crystal supposedly becomes more and less potent with the waxing and waning of the moons (like Moonstone) and is known as the ‘rejuvenator’, refreshing the physical and spiritual being whilst improving skin texture, increasing fertility and making it possible to relieve stress and solve nervous problems. Sadly, it is easily chipped, very soft and not known for its longevity so tends to be overlooked despite its impressive uses.

Pearl

This emblem of purity, innocence, peace and chastity is associated with curing inner wounds and providing an impressive defence against plague. A symbol of the moon that sailors believe provides protection from sharks, it is actually thought to be the solidified tears of some deity and is widely considered to be unlucky. It is deemed foolish to give as a present to one’s beloved as it supposedly leads to an unhappy marriage. Sad to say, this most beautiful bauble that is so expensive is very popular with women despite the ill omen.

Sardonyx

This stone is usually white with bands of red or brown and is held as a symbol of marriage, friendship and happiness. Said to bring popularity, it is easy to engrave and so used to bare the engraving of a lord’s house or signet and given freely to those one would show favour to. It is said to be a great pain reliever and is gifted in pity as well as being popularly considered as being able to protect against plague.

Amber

Another item in this catalogue not truly housed with stone or gem but considered necessary to the list for its usage and general association with its brethren above and (like the Summoner’s Stone, it is believed to be sentient, holding vibrations of the past and used sometimes to see such). The fossilised and solidified resin of trees is often found in large lumps and is pretty to look at, it’s orange and yellow glasslike quality of much use in the making of jewellery and highly prized in spell casting. Amber can be ground or burnt to provide an aromatic vapour that provides a meditative state that seers produce to see the past and learn from it so as to better gauge the future. Amber wards off curses, increases memory and absorbs negatives.

Aventurine

There are, apparently, two types of aventurine, the first kind is green quartz and the second is feldspar known as ‘Sunstone’. Are believed to represent purity and help give strength to the body, the mind and the spirit; aiding focus.

Topaz

This gem is found in a variety of colours including pink, yellow, green, blue and white; their hues changeable with heat, pressure and friction. The topaz can focus powerful electrical currents, provide inner peace, help with sleeping disorders, aid premonition and help with seeing the future when meditating. It is believed to regenerate organs and is used to ease the pain of death. Associated with faithfulness and affected by the phases of the moons. Extreme care must be taken when using these gems.

Sapphire

This dark blue stone represents luck in romance, is considered highly spiritual and believed to bring peace and happiness. Sapphire is used by physicians to help the heart and stomach and stimulate psychic centres and help with mental health. It protects against bewitchment and bestowed upon daughters to guard their chastity. Sapphires dim when there are signs of fraud or treachery shown.

Opal

This symbol of hope brings love and happiness, gives direction and looks after the hearts of children. Tricky to describe, ‘The Stone of Vision’ or ‘The Stone of Hope’ has delicate colours in a full spectrum with fire sparks; formed of skeletons of tiny shells and animals, it is porous and must never be immersed in water. Known as the ‘Gem of the Gods’ also, it is considered to help the eyesight, enhance intuition and put the wearer in touch with one’s higher self; bringing total peace. It is said to lose its lustre if touched by an unfaithful lover and many believe it to be an unlucky stone despite its uses.

Malachite

This green striped stone soothes and aids restful sleep, balancing the emotions and believed to bring luck and money. Known as the ‘Peacock Stone’, it contains copper and difficult to obtain.

Magnetite

An energy restorer that aids meditation and helps one to acquire wisdom and intuition, this black stone is a mineral composite of iron oxide and important ore required to create iron. Also called a ‘Lodestone’ (though it needs to be magnetically polarised to indeed become one) magnetite is used by sorcerers as much as blacksmiths for its useful properties.

Spinel

This stone is a lovely red colour, known as the ‘Spinal Ruby’ and adds strength of purpose, clarity of mind (especially in business) and stops nausea and sickness. Sailors hold this stone precious and are willing to pay handsomely for it as it is widely believed to prevent damage from storms.

Zircon

This multi-coloured stone calms the emotions and protects against depression, raising the self esteem and helping gain spiritual insight. It is also believed to treat fever and insomnia.

Jasper

This fortuitous find is believed to improve one’s fortune and calm troubled minds; soothing troubled emotions. Jasper is red with grey streaks, promotes love and passion, used to bring forth deep emotions (for good or for ill) and inspires jealousy; famously known for its use in making the mad king, Jarnark (emperor of Tarkus and the commonwealth thereof) insanely covetous of everything by the Xalim legend of Mytharia Illidure.

Moss Agate

A cool stone of dark green, grey and black, Moss Agate provides contentment and a symbol of improvement. Synominous with the calm after a storm, fortune favours this stone and produces a semblance of serenity.

Petrified Wood

Amber with light brown shades, this is wood that has turned to stone and holds the essence of woods and forest that is cherished by druids, Elves and telluric magic practitioners. Believed to help sway disputes (especially legally binding contracts) in one’s favour, Petrified Wood is more widely known to be used as a punishing implement; used to provide pain. Popularly believed to hold earth elements, it has been known to lure earth elementals for the purpose of entrapment.

Tektrite

As a non-actual stone, this dull black or brown thing is mistaken for a stone but is, in fact, fused glass (probably from meteorites with possible star properties) and not appealing to the eye. Tektrite is an evil artifact that promotes despair, depression, withdrawal and hopelessness.

Turquoise

This gem is the colour of its title and is used by archers and medics, held sacred and believed to improve precision. It is said to change colour if worn by an unfaithful lover or if wearer is close to death. Turquoise promotes friendship and loyalty, wards off accidents and ensures a horse’s sure-footedness. Said to induce regeneration and widely believed to provide prosperity and luck, turquoise protects against pollutants, against adversaries and is given as a gift as it is considered unlucky to purchase one for one’s own use. A very positive stone, turquoise is expensive and it is an honour to receive one.

Jet

The last of the non-actual gems to feature on these pages, this fossilised plant is considered a magical ‘stone’ and used to repel curses and plague when burnt. When ground and poured in to wine, it is said to help against toothache (which might not sound very special but those of you who have suffered the agony of toothache will appreciate its use!). Also used for skin problems,, to protect from bites (note: more research is required to discern whether the protection from bites is limited to those of insects or whether it is more potent and able to protect against the ill effects of monstrous bites and lycanthrope). Worn as a sign of mourning, Jet is believed to counteract magic spells, make the wearer/barer able to discern between hallucination and ‘reality’ and prevent hysteria.

Lepidolte

This lilac or pink-to-grey mica is used as a lithium ore and in glass and ceramic production. An unusual stone with high lithium content (making it highly reactive and magnetised), it is said to help balance out compulsive behaviour and aid psychic development. Lepidolte inspires, illuminates and links the conscious lower mind to the higher mind. Great care is required when handling it.

Celestite

This stone is white, red-brown or light blue strontium (a soft, silvery, easily oxidised metallic element that ignites spontaneously in air when finely divided and often used in pyrotechnics). Said to be a relaxing stone which seems strange considering its properties. Celestite helps against stress, accelerates spiritual growth and creative expression; imparting clear speech and clarity of thought.

#Fin

©KieranDavis2013

Right now the Magic Kingdom has actually stopped allowing anyone else to come into the park!  That’s right – it is FULL!  As in not one more person can come it or else it becomes a fire hazard!  That is mind blowing!  Disney announced a while back that they were going to keep the Magic Kingdom open for an entire 24 hour period, and people went crazy to ensure that they could be there.

Yep that is Spaceship Earth all dolled up to look like Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc.  Of course this is a huge promotion on Disney’s part to drum up interest for the new Monsters University movie that is coming out very soon, and of course the Disney fans are eating it up.  They have special merchandise available only today, such as these cool Mike Wazowski glasses:

Normally when you stay for the Extra Magic hours in the parks, it is a really great deal because most people chose not to stay late in the parks so it is a great time to be able to get onto your favorite rides with almost no waits at all.  But tonight, with the park at capacity, it would be a real pain as the waits on everything are at least 2 hours longs right now!  As a matter of fact I just saw a sing in the park saying it was an hour wait just to get on the monorail!  That is just crazy!

So while it is awesome that Disney is keeping the park open a full 24 hours, and an entire day of fun in the parks would be an awesome thing to experience, I will stick with using the Extra Magic hours the next time I am there and riding Space Mountain 10 times in a row with no wait, and I’ll just pretend I was there for 24 hours!

Thanks for stopping by tonight and reading my rantings about Disney.  I hope you’ll come back again this weekend as I will have some really fun posts coming up over the long Memorial Day Weekend.

I’ll see ya real soon, and if your in the parks tonight for the 24 hour all nighter, take a deep breath and remember that your in the Happiest Place on Earth no matter how long the lines are!

©KieranDavis

Like holy shit, this is honestly the best band turn-around I’ve ever seen; and it happens to be one of my favourite bands moving into one of my favourite genres. There is a 7″ album with two original hardcore-punk songs written by Sloan and an album with twelve hardcore-punk covers. I’m not saying you should totally buy the albums, but just go out and buy the fucking albums. It’ll be worth it. Don’t forget to revive some old ghosts while you’re at it!

Next week I present to you a band I haven’t chosen yet.
Love,
Yoda.

P.S Fuck yeah, Canadian bands!

Wondering how to ask Taylor Swift out on a date?

Magician John Duke Logan performs and dedicates this routine to Taylor Swift

The shaft is inscribed with runes of silver that shine against the black wood and hide the secret glyphs beneath that hold the hidden spells, many of which remain to be discovered. The hammer’s head was forged in the fire of a dying Phoenix and washed in the tears of a Dragon, a rare occurrence that makes bitter-sweet magic of phenomenal capabilities.

The Hateful Hammer is a magnificent weapon in its own right, dangerous in strong hands (and it would take someone of impressive build to actually lift Fever-Fell) and its magic makes the barer very powerful, a terrible foe indeed. It was Fever-Fell that smashed the foot of the Giant from Norsengar during the siege of Mytharia Illidure, causing the behemoth to fall and impale itself when disorientated by the Sky Rangers.

The Hateful Hammer, Fever-Fell was lost in that war and has not been seen since, though it is believed to have been spirited away by an Oark of Hoblin so is likely to have remained somewhere in Tenera.

©KieranDavis2013

It would be impossible to catalogue the wares available as some traders move around, taking over vacated spots believed to be in better positions within the market. Once a merchant has sold his or her stock, they might as well leave (and tend to) so the face of the Souk changes daily. Nobody gets the same spot every solstice, regardless of who they are or how often they come here to trade.
The Great Southern Market is organised chaos and one could not hazard a guess as to how the whole venture is organised but if there is a system, then it works as local militia keep order, dealing with thieves and cutpurses swiftly and severely. Disputes between traders never occur as the last time merchants caused trouble over who trades what and where, the two traders were hung and their wares were confiscated (apparently given to the poor).

Everything one can hope for can be found and purchased at the Great Southern Market, from exotic food to fresh baked bread, fish, meat (both of which should be bought early as the Calastrian climate can spoil food left too long in the sun), delicacies, sweets, toys, clothes, cloth, jewellery, weapons, armour, animals, silk, furniture, pottery, spell components; charms and more.
One can purchase rarities such as perfume and Picksie garlic from Damnari, Kiketra tea and the native Calastrian pears (that are prized across the archipelago for their use in the expensive spiced cider. Calastrian pears are actually quite sour and need the spice to mask their flavour; it was an exceptionally clever marketing ploy that made the awful fruit famous and desirable across the continent. Calastrian farmers with pear orchards are very wealthy.).

Many other wonders can be acquired for the right price, including books, magical items, wines; potions and a myriad of marvels. Treaties for trade routes can be made here, alliances and contracts, shipments, regular supply orders, caravans etc. Protection can be procured such as bodyguards and mercenaries (whether they are swords for hire or simple bully boys and thugs); even bounty hunters can be bargained for to locate lost goods, missing persons or those in hiding.

People come to the Great Southern Market to make acquaintances, hire spies or even simple workers such as house staff or labourers, tradesmen and artists, sculptors of incredible talent that can immortalise someone in stone, smiths who can fashion remarkable pieces from sturdy and durable blades to jewellery of the most intricate and exquisite beauty, carpenters, thatchers; anybody looking for work it would appear as everything and everyone seems to be for sale..

If you can not find what you are looking for, someone will know someone who can get it for you, a guide can be hired to tour the market with you and will be able to locate someone who deals in the kind of wares that can not be found in the Great Southern Market, such as narcotics, poisons, the fencing of stolen goods and the acquisition of such as well as the hiring of thugs, prostitutes and assassins. Anything is possible here.

Anyone’s money is as good as anyone else’s in the Great Southern Market, there is no sexism or racism, and it is first come – first serve; until there is nothing left to sell. There is no haggling, if you do not like the price, try and buy it cheaper somewhere else. On day eleven, customers are asked to leave by midnight; anyone other than traders found in the Souk after will be whipped. Anybody found trading after midnight on the eleventh day loses a hand (their head if they have no hands left as two warning should be sufficient, some murders have been covered up by removing both hands and decapitating the body to look like they had been caught trading after the appointed time on a third occasion).

On the twelfth day, the merchants pack anything they have not sold and prepare to leave as punishments will be delivered to anyone in the vicinity at dawn on the thirteenth day when the ‘big clean-up’ begins, ready to welcome the circus. Other events held here include: Training schools, demonstrations, arts such as theatre or dance set on temporary stages, menageries (travelling zoos); freak shows and religious sermons. The Great Southern Market remains one of the most popular and anticipated events in Calastria and, indeed, the whole of Kira.

©KieranDavis2013

A great battle was fought in the skies above Mytharia Illidure prior to the climax of the War of the Wizards, where the city’s Cloud Rangers (Elite, Gryphon mounted corps) defended against Imps, dragon Bats and more.  As the allies appeared to be turning the tide and beating back Darquelle’s aerial troops, Gabe Eisledown, the Arch-mage at that time; managed to lure the evil sorcerer away from the fight and chase him out above the Open Ocean.

Darquelle, who was riding the huge monster, Skar, the Black Dragon; used dangerous spells to try and strike down his fleeing nemesis (spending the cost of many sea creatures’ lives).  The Arch-mage was also a powerful sorcerer (hence his title) and a gifted Gryphon rider, managing to evade the attacks with magic of his own combined with a daring and impressive display of tactical manoeuvres in the sky.

Magic blazed in the heavens, all colours and hues, fire and ice, attempts at causing panic or alarm, magical spears were thrown, lances of pure energy… Hours went by as the wizards battled, using spells of all manner and nature; arcane rites long forgotten and dark forbidden Shadowmancery were employed.

Finally, Gabe was thrown from his mount by a thunder bolt, an unexpected spell of simple casting, used cleverly whilst bluffing something more powerful.  The Arch-mage plummeted and hit the ocean with such a force that it was a miracle he was not killed there and then.

But then something incredible happened.  Reluctant but desperate, Gabe used the lives of some of the ocean’s leviathans to pay the cost of his last spell; turning himself in to a Giant.  Not one of those monsters from Norsengar, not even a Giant from the legends, Gabe Eisledown grew hundreds of feet, rising out of the ocean like a towering cliff.

The evil sorcerer, Darquelle, was just as quick thinking though, flying Skar round and round the enormous Giant that scraped the heavens in a dizzying speed to confuse him and making Gabe lose concentration; dropping his guard and slipping on the seabed.  Bent on one knee with just his head and shoulders above the waves, the colossus of Gabe Eisledown reached to swat Darquelle, one hand holding his staff and breaking the surf when the purple robed Dragon rider cast a ‘Flesh to stone’ spell; magnified by some stolen magical relic.

The Arch-mage, Gabe Eisledown, defender of the realms, breathed his last, magically turned to stone as if looking in to the eyes of a Gorgon.  He became a massive island, a mountain with a haunting face, a truly hideous end and a terrible loss to the allies, to the Teneran Empire and, indeed; magic and learning.

Darquelle turned Skar away from his fallen foe and sped back to finish the siege of Mytharia Illidure, leaving the Colossus of Gabe Eisledown in the ocean between Quarier, Flaram and the Kingdom of Ice.  It is said that Darquelle, now the Angel of Death, uses the lifeless mountain of his former nemesis to roost, resting between one evil machination and the next.

©KieranDavis2013