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in the sun and never stained from dirt or weather. For the outlying towns and kingdoms Nantitet remained a mythical city founded by Weracht de Arayr and watched over eternally by his son Mauran de Arayr, the Sorcerer.
    From Gerrand's Histories of Landermass
     
     
    Three blocks from the castle of the High King sat a low building with a squat tower. It was the home of the Mage Academy. Gerrand founded the Mage's Council and he donated to it the histories he had written on the lands of Landermass, the continents of Amloth and Anavar and the diverse peoples that walked them. Eight hundred years of his own life gave him a certain perspective to record the history of the world. After Gerrand retired to Toraba the High Mage, Artus Endria, transformed the Mage's Council into the Mage Academy for the teaching and understanding of magic in all its forms. By most accounts the focus on scholarly pursuits had produced a great knowledge of magic and the years had been peaceful. However, the Mages, wizards and sorcerers wielded real power and much jealousy rose against them despite their vows to be removed from the political process. The Brotherhood of the Rose was the most vocal opposition to the Mage Academy and the Rose Bishop never missed a chance to explain to High King Armana de Arayr that the Mage's were leading Calendia into ruin.
    The Rose Bishop, the High Mage and the Warlord met with the High King in his sitting room weekly to report on the welfare of Calendia. The Rose Bishop often arrived early to gain the king's attention for his own purposes.
    "My High King," said Aulan Brema, Bishop of the Brotherhood of the Rose. "I bring caution regarding dealing with the Mage Academy." The short man stood in the middle of the marble floor. He had a round face with an iron-grey goatee. The High King stood at the window, his back to his guest.
    "Again? I grow tired of your soliloquy," said the High King. "Ever you rail against Artus and his people. They are no threat to me, or to anyone else. They no longer practice battle magic. Scholarly pursuit is their focus."
    "If you can trust his word."
    "I do. Aulan, are you telling me my own mind?" His voice was harder.
    "No, of course not High King. I am merely expressing my concerns of the potential corruption of magic. It comes from the Jungeguds and is not tamed by men. History tells us that magic leads to oppression. Look at Kerthon the Black, Macelan or that miscreant Blackthorne. All of them covet power. Only the path of the Altenguds is without taint."
    "Yes, yes. You have expressed this same concerns many times. I trust Artus Endria and I trust you. Is there more?"
    "Well, yes. My embassies have heard rumors from the east out of Mordyn that they are buying a lot of supplies. Foodstuffs and iron are among the items they are buying in great quantities. Their trading had always been smaller amounts. It is a sudden change in their buying behavior. Not all the supplies are shipped to Mordyn. Some have been sent to Wierland, Curesia and even Calendia. There have not been signs of military activities yet, but the sudden change is alarming."
    "Why do my spies tell me nothing while your spies find many things to tell me?"
    "My lord, I cannot criticize your agents."
    "No, but you can buy them. You have convinced me to ask Artus to check his own agents to discover their true loyalty. I think he will find many do not call him master."
    The Rose Bishop's lips pressed together in a tight line.
    There was a sharp rap on the door and the guard opened it to allow High Mage Artus Endria to enter the room. Artus was tall, his once brown wavy hair and beard mostly grey but still showed a youthful face when he smiled as he did often.
    "Your Majesty," said Artus bending a knee.
    "Welcome Artus," said Armana.
    "Aulan." Artus nodded to the Rose Bishop.
    "Artus."
    "Artus I have news from Aulan that Mordyn is gathering a great many supplies and shipping them around Anavar. Have you heard of this?"
    "No, your