From: aaron@space.ualberta.ca (Aaron Humphrey)
Subject: [MI] Alfvaen[Mage Guild]: Corruption In The Highest
Reply-To: aaron@space.ualberta.ca
Organization: University Of Alberta, Edmonton Canada
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL4
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 1992 04:59:59 GMT

Alfvaen and Moriarty sat on one couch suspended in the middle of corruscating
pastel colours, and Urcohea on another.  (There had been a catwalk before, but
it had faded.)  The Archmage sat, debating how to form his words.  Then he
spoke.

"There are signs of corruption in the Mage Guild."

Moriarty snorted.  "So what else is new.  Listen, I've been getting the
impression that this Mage Guild is organized across a few dimensions, here.
There's probably a lot of people associated with it over a lot of places.  And
you are >surprised< to find corruption?"

Urcohea looked weary.  "Let me rephrase that.  There are signs of corruption in
the Mage Guild to extreme degrees in the highest levels.  Better?  Or at least
more specific?  Then perhaps you will be willing to listen for a bit longer."

The Archmage sat back on the chair.  "The Mage Guild is run by a number of
Archmagi.  We are, despite Moriarty's intuitions, actually quite federalized
across dimensions.  Each dimension is mostly autonomous, apart from exchange of
records, and sometimes each dimension is even divided into several autonomous
sections, for instance if there are multiple inhabited planets.  There are also
several dimensions who refuse to affiliate themselves with us, but that is
another matter entirely, and hopefully not one which concerns us.

"The branch here, in what is called The Known Lands(really, you'd think they
could come up with something better), is one of the highest-powered, mostly due
to Generica's penchant for drawing the most powerful across the dimensions, and
various other properties of the surroundings that are not fully explained.  We
have a disproportionate number of Archmagi--some places have only one to rule
the whole setup.  We have about a dozen.  Of those, some, like ...sage, refuse
to take any position of great responsibility, preferring to be a bit more
independent.  Some just couldn't care less about the outside world.  We have,
in all, seven Archmagi who hold various positions of authority, and one who is
overall in charge.

"Delalle is our Supreme Archmage.  He has been in charge as long as I've been
in this dimension, and I remember when I got my first post as Wizard under
him."  He smiled briefly.  "Some say he has been here since the founding of
Generica, but I doubt that.  ...sage, in particular, has often disputed that
fact.  Anyway, for past few decades Delalle has been mostly inactive in his
reign.  I was his main confidant, and the only one he trusted with the real
reason for his 'absence.'

"He foresaw a development in the future of Generica, probably related to the
phenomenon which produced such a concentration of wizards as we now have, which
had great potential for either good or ill.  He resolved to investigate it as
thoroughly as he could, so that we would be prepared for it when it came.  He
consulted as many auguries and auspices as he could before he did, to ensure,
or at least make it reassuringly likely, that he would remain safe.  He also
entrusted me with my current post, and charged me with his safety.

"Even I don't know the progress of his investigation.  On the rare occasions I
have spoken to him since he began, he has been vague and distracted, and has
said little of any meaning.

"Obviously there are factions among the Archmages--it's inevitable.  Delalle's
following consists of myself, Rivy, whom Delalle always gave freedom to
organize things as he wished, and Nescie, who is a newcomer who has been put
in charge of Education.  Leading the opposition is Thorn, who is in charge of
the political side of things--mainly negotation with the various political
bodies in our sphere of influence, and his cronies, Leonaco and Dasham.  There
is one other, Fauteuil, who is mostly neutral.  He is mostly in charge of the
contacts with other planes.

"Thorn has somehow found out about this development that Delalle anticipated,
and is taking his own steps to combat it.  Of course, taking out Delalle would
be the most direct step, but Delalle's defenses, combined with mine, are more
than adequate to the problem--defense is much simpler than offense, as a rule.
So he's taking more indirect means.

"Within the month a Rameshander mage named Amaan is to visit the School of
Magic, of which Nescie is head.  This is likely to be their next attempt.
Unfortunatey, Thorn is the one who arranged for the escort, and he undoubtedly
has something planned--perhaps a ringer in the escort, or something more
subtle.  Amaan has been pursuing a field of study that may have bearing on
Delalle's investigation, and Delalle is very interested in what he may have to
say.  We may see the Supreme Archmage emerge for the first time in decades, to
hear Amaan speak--which will be a rare honor indeed.

"Your job is not as much to save Amaan from any trouble he may come into, as it
is to give us a direct link to the instigator of the troubles.  If enough
evidence is brought to bear, then Fauteuil may be swayed to our side, and it
will be possible to cast Thorn out and maybe even strip him of his magic.  He
is already suspicious of some of Thorn's activities in other dimensions, which
have upset the balance of power in some other branches of the Guild, but again
there is no solid proof.  That is your job.  Any questions?  Dozens, I'm sure.
Well, Rivy has printed up some more detailed and organized copies of the
information that I've given you the gist of here."  A set of scrolls came
streaming out of the top of Urcohea's sofa.  "We have a more detailed graph of
the organization of the Mage Guild, some details on Thorn's other activities,
and sundry other things.  Oh, and I've taken the liberty of enrolling the two
of you in some classes.  It will make you look less suspicious to be hanging
around here, and watching Amaan's lecture.  Yes, you do get a discount, but it
does come out of your fee.  Any more questions?  Well, Nijorik is also one of
those to be trusted.  Feel free to contact him if you need to.  Here--this
bell will do it.  Just ring it and his mate will ring too, and he'll know to
come.  Don't worry about the scrolls--they'll look perfectly innocuous to
anyone but yourselves."

The catwalk reappeared, and the Archmage disappeared.  His voice remained,
saying, "Good luck to you both..." and then a gateway appeared on one end of
the catwalk.  They emerged, to find themselves back in the Mage Guild.

The walk back to the office was even quieter than the one to the Mage Guild
earlier in the day.

--
---Alfvaen(a.k.a. Nysinra, rot13 Psycho)
"So you found a girl who thinks really deep thoughts
 what's so amazing about really deep thoughts"  -- Tori Amos
Current Album--Leonard Cohen:Greatest Hits
Current Read--Henry David Thoreau:Walden and Other Writings