Highmage of High Sorcery Master Jenna of the Red Robe

[Dungeon Master]

Highmage of High Sorcery
Master Jenna of the Red Robe
Story One
Chapter One: The Highmage of High Sorcery

Note: This continuing story runs concurrent with Karnea, Master of the Black Robe

Western Ansalon,

Southern Abanasinia

Forest of Wayreth


Tower of Wayreth,


The Highmage of High Sorcery is in the Master's study, behind an ancient desk. Going through her posts from her secret spies and informants from around the continent.

The networks Jenna put in place in the early 5th age has kept her from being the last to know, and ahead of the game. All these messages laid out like this, you begin to see patterns begin to exist.

Black Robes on the move. Not surprising since Nuitari is nearing High Sanction. It will be the first gathering of black robes in nearly forty years. The Gods only know what is happening on that Island in the middle of the Blood Sea. If even half is true of the rumors about Karnea, she may be the most powerful Wizard of the Age. But she will still have to watch her back around those black robe vipers. I would not envy her in the slightest. It will be worse then herding cats with that bunch.

Interesting news from the Renegade Hunters. They have been warned away from carrying out their duties by a Powerful Wild Mage. This changes the equation. It says here they were shimmering, and warping reality. I can already see this is going to go to a bad place for a lot of people. A Messiah has just stepped up and taken on the cause of the Renegade Sorcerers. I can only think of three people it would be, but they say it was female, and that leads me to it being one of two people. I need to get to the bottom of this, and fast, before it blows up and creates a War of Magic, and then gods help us all. This is a unmitigated disaster.

She misses the message about the Kender who claims to be from the past, as Jenna has gotten up and readies herself to travel. She teleports to find the most infamous Dark Elf alive.

[Dungeon Master]

Highmage of High Sorcery
Master Jenna of the Red Robe
Story One
Chapter Two: Non sequitur

Southwestern Ansalon


The Plains of Dergoth



The Ruins of Zhaman



Skullcap



The Highmage finds the tunnel inside. Jenna holds out her hand and gem hops into the air and bursts into light and lights the way to the living space.

She enters Dalamar’s chambers and looks around. Nothing has been in cleaned years. “Love what you’ve done with the place.”

“Jenna, to what do I owe for this pleasure?

“Are you going to stay in here forever?” The Highmage asks judgmentally

“An interesting question, I’ll get back to you on that.”

“Where’s Nalas? Jenna asks

“Nalas is currently betraying me, that’s what he’s doing.

“He went to Tower of Blood Sea?”

“That would be my guess as well. Tell me, why do you disturb my solitude?” Dalamar asks.

“The Earring I gave you, where is it?” The Highmage asks.

“Do you think it strange my student would ask me about the Bloodstone of Fistandantilis a day before he leaves without a note or any warning?”

“On one hand, the young are naturally curious, maybe it was something he came across in his readings. On the other, I would say this is a big problem. Now where is the earring I gave you?

“In a chest somewhere? Happy?”

The Highmage sighs “The earring is supposed to make it possible for me to reach you, to communicate with you, instead of having to come down here and see you like this.”

“Why are you here Jenna.”

“We have been given a warning of keeping the Renegade Hunters away from the Primal Sorcerers, and now they have a champion.”

“Who?” The Dark Elf asks with anger.

“I think I have narrowed down to two possibilities, and they are both bad. My Hunters felt the speaker was female. She was warping reality.”

“Chaos Magic” Dalamar spits out. “Nobody has heard from Analis or Morgan since the War of Souls. But I admit, this feels like it could be either one of them.”

“Once Nuitari’s High Sanction is over I will send for Karnea.” The Highmage says. She looks at Dalamar to see what his reaction is to hearing the "usurper's" name.

Dalamar doesn't go for the bait, he decides not give Jenna the satisfaction. Instead, he asks why does Karnea not have a earring yet?

"I have not had the opportunity. The Beloved occupied our full attention at the time." That was mostly true. Lunitari and Solinari lost nearly all faith in Nuitari for rebuilding the Tower of Istar into the Tower of Blood Sea without a word of any debate if this was a good idea, He did not consult them. It is the deepest of betrayals the cousins feel for Nuitari. Though Solinari is hurt the most, its Lunitari that was most infuriated. It may have filtered down to Jenna in the moment.
“So, your student asked about the Blood Stone of Fistandantilis?” Jenna circles back around something Dalamar said earlier.

“Yes, it surprised me.”

“What did you tell him?” Jenna asks carefully.

“Ah, I told him it was thought to have properties that was extraordinary, he didn’t seem interested in the secondary powers.”

“Did he ask you where it was last?”

“……..”

“Why are you hesitating” Jenna asks.

“I may have speculated, gave some educated guesses.”

“That feels like a very foolish thing in retrospect. of course you are in Skullcap of all places” Jenna says. Then asks “Has he figured something out that we are missing?”

“I’ve been asking that to myself all morning.”

“Find the Earring, stay in contact. Consider that a order from the Highmage."

[Dungeon Master]

Highmage of High Sorcery
Master Jenna of the Red Robe
Story One
Chapter Three: Surprise

Southwest Ansalon


Forest of Wayreth


Wayreth Tower of High Sorcery



The Highmage Jenna returns to Wayreth where she doffs her traveling cloak and walks to the Highmaster’s study. She collects her reports from her desk and sits behind her desk. She takes up a fresh sheet of parchment and a feather pen and dips the point in ink.

She forms out what she wants to say, without being alarmist. She thought she knew Analis, and her apprentice Morgon. Both have unknown parentage. It is not known where either of them is at present.

She pens a letter to Karnea and informs her of the recent episode, and the possible involvement of her former apprentice.
Jenna includes with the message an item of her own creation. A simple silver and gold earring that is enspelled with permanence, a two-way communication ability, when activated. She made six originally.
Lady Coryn has one, and Dalamar the Dark has one. And one of her own agents in the field.

She signs the document, salts the page, rolls it up in a Scroll case, and places the earring inside the case. It is sealed with her stamp of the office of the Highmage. She calls a courier to her Study. A young and rugged Red Robe. She opens her drawer and retrieves a ring that she loans to the carrier, for transportation. He is told to Teleport to Flotsam and either find transport to the island or use another charge of the ring to get to the island. Jenna hands him a small money purse for expenses.

She tells the courier who the letter is for.

He departs the study and then the Tower of Wayreth.

Jenna is informed that Dalamar the Dark has arrived in Wayreth. This catches her attention. Jenna asks if he is wanting to see her.

Jenna is told that he is in the Library.

[Dungeon Master]

Highmage of High Sorcery
Master Jenna of the Red Robe
Story One
Chapter Four The Proudest being on the planet

Southwest Ansalon


Wayreth Forest


Wayreth Tower of High Sorcery




It will be noted here in regard to the subject of Perception inside the Tower of Wayreth
The Tower’s ability to distort special perceptions can produce some strange results for guests. Walking down a straight hallway within the tower does not necessarily take visitors in a straight line. Walking up a north staircase does not necessarily take them up, or even north. It does not make sense, but that is just the nature of the Tower’s reality.
Despite this unique reality imposed by the Transdimensional field, the tower maintains its proper orientation. The Tower cannot change its floor plans or physically shift the location of any rooms within it. All it can do is confuse people by altering their perceptions. Visitors may lose track of direction, but north is always north-no matter how things may seem to have moved.

Jenna enters the South Tower and walks to the sixth floor. Her agent at the library front desk tells her the Dark Elf is on the seventh floor of the library.

She comes across the Dark Elf as he retuning some books to their shelves. “Hello.” The Highmage ventures. He is up and out of that smiling tomb, and being useful. Of course, it could also mean he’s up to something. “Did Nalas return?”

“No, he did not.” The Dark Elf answers. “It would seem I have been under some spell for the longest time. Something about Skullcap, I fell back into a state of lethargy, right at a time when I was excited about the return of the Gods of Magic. Yes, I’ve had a setback. Yes, it is humiliating. But was almost sucking my soul away there. I have sealed it shut for everyone’s safety.”

Jenna just looks at the Dark Elf in quiet observation. He is one of the proudest beings on the planet Krynn.

“Do you have plans? Have you already eaten?” The HIghmage asks. She had noticed he had gotten thinner when she visited him.

“I would be interested. Let me put away these books and I will join you.”

[Dungeon Master]

Highmage of High Sorcery
Master Jenna of the Red Robe
Story One
Chapter Five: Master Karnea's Message

Southwest Ansalon

Wayreth Forest

Wayreth Tower of High Sorcery




Jenna receives her response from Master Karnea.


She opens the scroll and goes through it

Well, certainly, and indeed yes

yes, yes


I hope it doesn't come to that either. This will need to be handled delicately.


Well, Tell me everything about your visit. She calls in her scribe to take down the descriptions of what her agent saw and witnessed with his own eyes about the Island fortifications, dwellings, and lodge space in the town.

"The Forest is active. It is an unholy miracle. The Tower of Istar stands once again. The very fact that it is standing whole brought tears to my eyes. I found Master Karnea to be gracious and calculating. Willim the Black is at her side."

Jenna tells the scribe to pause writing and says "damn. that's a heavy blow." I rather hoped Willim would have stayed at Wayreth, but it can't be helped. He probably is right where he belongs. Okay, continue"


"My assessment is that she has taken control. She seemed completely secure, and between her and Willim the Black, they were a formidable pair to be in the room with."


Jenna takes in all the information. It's still hard to believe that Tower is out there in the middle of the Blood Sea.


She tells the scribe and the messenger that will be all for now.


The Highmage exhales and feels that things are on the right track. She still has concerns about the Minotaur situation. And this hard line on Primal Sorcerers is needed completely, I just wish there was a better way. Too many of these sorcerers are rebelling rather than accepting these "rules of magic" are for the safe use of Magic. left unsupervised, disaster can and will ensue.

She looks at her itinerary and looks at the days left to the Conclave. She decides she will try to meet with Karnea before the Conclave.


She sees that she has an upcoming informal meeting set up with Coryn coming up. She decides to keep most of the information from her messenger to be just kept for records, not a subject for discussion with Dalamar. It will be too much like rubbing salt into the wound.

[Dungeon Master]

Highmage of High Sorcery
Master Jenna of the Red Robe
Story One
Chapter Six: The Journal of the Highmaster

Southwest Ansalon
Wayreth Forest
Wayreth Tower of High Sorcery
The Highmaster's study


Jenna writes in her Journal about the Highmage’s thoughts she has kept for her tenure as Highmage of High Sorcery.

I have read the reports coming in. Palanthas freed, and it’s all thanks to our new White Lady of Solamnia. Her support of the Knight of Solamnia was a masterstroke I must say. She has fundamentally changed the Nation of Solamnia’s feelings towards wizardry in a positive light. Applications are going up from Palanthas alone.

When Coryn first spoke to me about this course of action, I halfheartedly agreed it might be a worthy cause to free Palanthas, not thinking it would turn her into a folk hero. Bravo. She reports that other bastions of Dark Knight control have crumbled after fierce fighting. More reports coming in from across Solamnia. The White Lady turned the tide of the fighting for another decisive victory. Just be careful. The higher you climb, the further you fall. Maintain that persona, you can’t fix all their problems, are you?
Still, I see good things on the horizon for that part of Ansalon. The Stalemate around Wayreth is nerve-wracking, and just looking at a map of Blood Sea makes me nauseous. The big looming Minotaur Nation out there. What is going to happen when the Civil War is finished over there?

The Conclave approaches soon. Preparations are underway already.

Dalamar has settled into a routine. We have Dinner Twice a week, He is primarily in the library, as I knew he would be. Copying spells into his spellbook.

In all, a pretty good week to report.

[Dungeon Master]

Highmage of High Sorcery
Master Jenna of the Red Robe
Book One
Chapter Six:The Approaching Conclave

Tower of Wayreth


422 AC* After the Dark Disciple


In a matter of days, the population will swell into Wayreth for the first time in an age. In days past Wizards would depart as soon as the Conclave was at an end. The journey to the Tower has become perilous. Damned goblins and bandits. I have not decided on the best course of action to deal with the Knights of Neraka as yet. There does not appear to be any Grey Robes among them, though I can guarantee there are Sorcerers and Mystics among them. The Draconians and goblins pose a problem as one has rubbed off on the other and some of these Goblins have exhibited higher than normal IQs. Whatever that means. There are just too damn many of them. I hate to put a bounty on any living thing, but it may be time to thin the herd, I can’t believe I am saying that. Hells. Our Hunters have found activity around the Northern Wastes, I wonder what is going on up there?

The increase in fame for the Wizards in Solamnia has tapered off a bit since the surge. I wonder how soft this new acclaim is or has it run its course?

I have asked the Master of the Tower to help me go through the packed-away items of power that have been collecting dust over time and have survived being plundered or pilfered for their magic. No, she is looking through the storage that survived the plunder and destruction by Kalrakin.

She has been looking for the materials from Losarcum. They come to the very thing. Sealed with runes. The Master of the Tower thinks back, as he becomes a fleury of different people, one visage after another, going back through his thoughts and memories of different Wizards and Highmages of the Ages, until he reaches the months and days leading up to the Lost Battles and destruction of four of the five in Daligoth, Losarcum, Tower of Palanthas, Tower of Istar.

He answers, that he is in the guise of Astathan of Qualinost-

Astathan was an ancient elf man. His skin was like a knotted old tree. He had billowy white hair and golden almond-shaped eyes. He became Highmage during the Age of Despair when wizards were regularly hunted and most of them hid in the Tower of Wayreth. He organized public outreach and the creation of schools across Ansalon to rehabilitate the image of wizards.

“Yes, many shipments came in from the towers to be stored here, he looks at the box they have been looking at. Yes, this was from Losarcum, this over here was some from Daligoth, and this was from Istar.”


“I want to see about maybe sending this to Blood Sea. she indicates to the box from Losarcum. It was primarily a Tower dedicated to the Black Robe, perhaps this will be of some use to them. These Runes, what do you make of these?


"Ah, they only thought they were smart, it stopped the Chaos Wizards, but I can break these runes." The old Highmage says


Jenna nodded, satisfied, she was glad this worked. It's weird, but it worked. She is not going to complain.

She spends much of the coming days getting things ready She has sent special invitations to some Wizards who may be interested in representing their Order at one of the Towers of High Sorcery. She has chosen them for their temperament, skill, power, and wisdom.

Master Karnea has been making moves, picking up specialists, and assets like khas pieces. She has my respect. I have something for her. I don’t know if she has the room for them, but I will consult with her, I would like to expand out and begin Testing at the other two Towers as soon as possible. While the Tower of Nightlund is still unavailable, The Tower of Blood Sea seems very active, I believe our Dreamshapers have built up to a point where I think we can slot in three Test Masters to depart to the Blood Sea Tower at the close of the Conclave.

She has had scribes copying texts on a range of subjects, Spells from jr. grade to higher levels for different Robes. She has had many books copied from the library, including some She has found for Karnea personally. It is her wish to recopy these books out to any mage schools she may wish to open in her sphere of control, or out of it. Jenna knows about the School of the Dark Arts operating in Tarsis. The Books and Spellbooks are for the Tower of High Sorcery of Blood Sea. She will do the same for Coryn when she gets her ship in order.

So much to do . . .


Scene Ends

[Dungeon Master]

Jenna, Highmage of High Sorcery
Story One
Chapter Seven: An Unexpected Turn of Events

The Dark Wizard Dalamar visits the Red Robe Jenna in the private study of the Highmage, a short time after the Conclave.

These two longtime associates are in the midst of a candid conversation.

“Did you even talk to her?” Jenna asks.

“No, we locked eyes during our separate excursions to the Library, but nothing more.” The dark elf answers.

“Makes things difficult if you are not even going to talk to each other.” Jenna observes

“I am contemplating that very issue. I may know where the Sorcerers are holed up. At least they would be fools if they were not already inhabiting the location. Dalamar reveals as little as possible.

“You should have provided her with the information while she was here.” The Highmage chastises but is quickly shammed.

“I did not hear of the attack until recently from you. This is information you have intentionally kept from the Conclave. I have been deciding how to process this news, and determining what I must do about it.”

“Since you are here and bringing this up, I must assume you have decided?”

“I have. It is the only right thing to do, I would expect it of her. At the very least I might accomplish establishing a line of communication going forward.” Dalamar replies wittily. “I do not know what my reception will be. I believe I am walking Nuitari’s path, and not just my own.” Dalamar professes.

Jenna calls her page and sends him to find her agent, she turns her attention back to Dalamar. “You can make it to Flotsam? The Highmage asks.

Dalamar replies “You know I can.”

“Then you will take my agent to Flotsam, and my agent will take you to the Island. Jenna writes out a letter and salts it, rolls it up in a scroll and applies her seal and she hands it over to him. “I hope it works out for you. If not, you are always welcome here.”

“I don’t know how far I get, but I doubt if I will be welcome for long. I do not have any indication my banishment has been lifted or rescinded, even so, I must at least let her know.” Dalamar answers.