Sapience, Magister.

It is regrettable that my own response was so delayed, especially as one among my ranks thought to speak for us, unintentional or not, before I could. I have freely admitted in more private news posts that my skill with a quill and paper is lacking, which also contributed to the delay. However, now that my hand is forced...I would like to start with a copy of the letter that led to such a confrontational post. Your own reply may be added if you wish, but, for the rest of Sapience (those that care, at any rate), this is what I sent to the Magister of Spirit upon learning of her succession of the Archmage.


Greetings, Magister

Continuing a tradition your predecessor started, I'd like to extend my congratulations to you for your winning the election. Though we will certainly never look eye to eye, I do hold a certain sense of honor between our guilds. Tenders of the Master Crystals, as different as night and day as they might be. When the tragedy and disaster of the Dreikathi raids on our Crystals fell upon our cities, I sought to have our respective guilds work together, as losing our crystal was worse a thought than helping to save yours. The Archmage thought the same. In times of crisis, and only in grave crisis, I'd like to think we can cooperate again.

Earth Protect us, Air Elevate us, Shadow Guide us.
Shadow Warden Tekias Uymari


A cordial, polite message from one guildmaster to another, even if from polar opposite guilds. It was met with undue hatred and challenge. I do not deny that we will fight each other, however to jump from my letter to the issue of the challenge is quite a leap.

You speak of Shadow as an all-consuming, all-destroying element. In this, you are indeed correct. You'll find none among our ranks, properly trained, who will deny this. You'll also find none among our ranks, properly trained, who do not exercise great control and influence to ensure we do not do more unintended harm than needed. Direct, precise application of the element to ensure our strength swells and our enemies fall.

As Shadow Warden, I bear the Shadow Mark, a link to the Shadow Plane to monitor disturbances between our planes. Detect if the Shadowbound, or worse yet, Ohlsana, will come through. Spirit may have properties to block up any access points between our plane and the Shadow Plane, I will not argue this as I simply do not know, and I doubt you truly do either. However, we Sciomancers alone hold the means necessary to truly close it. You may call this a necessary evil if you must, I will simply call it necessary.

You speak of Shadow as a dangerous component of the world, one not to be tampered with in any way, shape, or form. I would counter with another statement. We utilize a form of energy and power, one that must permeate our very beings. One that is known to be -quite- dangerous in raw, unrefined form, and even its refined form is a danger in itself. We send our citizens and denizens out to claim it for our cities in droves. We fight over it, infuse ourselves with it. Shall we destroy the Pylons we utilize for our day to day defenses and offenses, remove the dangers of ylem sickness? No, because we know the benefits far outweigh the dangers when care is taken.

You speak of Shadow as an apocalyptic force that, left unchecked, will lead to a dead realm. What of unchecked Spirit, imbuing its life-giving force? Plants choke plants for sun, air, and soil. Life without death. I'm no Duiranite, but even to my -living- ears and mind, this sounds just as apocalyptic. Plants unable to grow to maturity for curatives. Cities growing and growing until the lands are entirely urban and crowded. Soon life becomes just as unsustainable i a Spirit realm as you assert unlife would be in a Shadow realm.

Whether I had responded with proof or not, I doubt you would have sunk so low as to admit we are right, to fulfill your end of the deal you so one-sidedly laid out. So, I will not fulfill ours.

Earth Protect us, Air Elevate us, Shadow Guide us.
Shadow Warden Tekias Uymari

Penned by my hand on Quensday, the 24th of Arios, in the year 468 MA.