Harold Fig

== Harold Fig was an accomplished Alchemist and Matter Mage who served as the Green Arcan from the year 432 AoS until his death in the year 1837 AoS. ==
Harold Fig, also called Professor Fig, Professor Pig (behind his back), Harold the Green or most often Professor Green, was the Green Arcan for most of the Age of Sistona. His birth species was unknown, and he spent most of his life as a magically altered humanoid with pig-like traits.
He was a staunch moderate in magical and political circles, always on the side of caution but never on the side of inaction or surrender. Whether political or magical, sustainable and humane progress was paramount in his eyes.
Background
Fig exercised a combination of close-lipped silence and extreme openness regarding his background. He admitted his current name was an alias, but never revealed his original name. He would share even the most humiliating or personal details, but names of places and people as well as any other traits that would be used to pinpoint anything about his origin were never revealed. An example from the journal of Solcion Ka'Ahmros about his friend and colleague is illuminating:
"He once explained in extreme detail the loss of his virginity, including positions, to a student who had made a biting remark about his lovelife, but the only facts they came away with from the explanation were that he had been bipedal and his knowledge of anatomy and tolerance for pain were both exceptional." - Solcion Ka'Ahmros, ~1002 AoS.
He was open that he was not born into a porcine race, but had transformed himself accidentally in an experiment. He never clarified whether the experiment or some remnant of his previous species was responsible for his long lifespan. He was an expert in transmutational magics, being able to bend and shape the physical world to his will, but resisted the label "transmuter" as overly inclusive, prefering the terms "Matter Mage" or "Transfigurist." He claimed that he had attempted to reverse his transformation, as had others whom he trusted, but that this proved impossible.
Prominence in Telvimbror
Fig was a laughingstock when came to Telvimbror sometime before the year 413 AoS. No one in the city had ever seen anything like him, and the well-dressed, urbane porcine humanoid was giggled at constantly. He had money, however, and was able to procure lodgings and equipment. He petitioned for membership of the Alchemist's Guild, and after demonstrating remarkable ability he was admitted. His revolutionary approach to synthesizing certain basic and indispensable compounds led to a massive increase in efficiency during alchemical procedures, saving time and altering the field forever. Eventually he was courted to teach courses on basic Alchemy, and the level of his general magical skill was learned, he was made an instructor in high-level courses within his specialty.
Becoming the Green Arcan
Fig was made Green Arcan after he demonstrated that his skills were beyond anyone else in the city in his field. While he usually would not work on living things, he was one day forced to compromise that rule when a giant snake erupted from the sewers beneath the lower wards after a cook accidentally spilled a pot of boiling soup into its lair. The scalded creature attacked viciously, destroying several merchant stands and attempting to kill townsfolk. It might have been successful, but one eye had been burned and its aim was off. Fig, visiting his favorite baker at the time, rushed into the street as the serpent began to attack and promtly transformed it into a harmless white lilysnake of the kind found wild in the lower wards. It was quite tame now, and he put it in his pocket, claiming
"The poor thing has been through enough and is now back to its proper size and form. It is in no danger of returning to it's previous state. Now let's get mess this cleaned up."
He then restored the stands and merchandise to their previous condition, went home, and kept the snake as pet for the rest of its life. The permanent reversal of those changes without death or severe injury to the snake should have been impossible based on magic as it was understood at the time. The Order of the Ten Arcans approached him after the incident for help regarding some troubling escaped experiments created by a disgraced researcher, and with reservation he agreed. At the end of the proceeding, extremely messy, business they inducted him into the Order. They allowed him to choose between green and brown, both being available and suitable to his gifts. He chose green for a very simple reason; it was his favorite color.
Category:Arcans