Minalan the Spellmonger

* Warmage
* Portrait
* Sketch

### Titles

Count Palatine of the Magelaw, Baron of Sevendor, Member of the Royal Court, Lord Marshal of Castal and Alshar

## Affiliations

### Affiliation

Lord Commander of the Order of Horka, Master Adept of the Order of Hesia, Ambassador-Select of the Order of the Secret Tower, Head of the Combined Arcane Orders, Ambassador to the Alka Alon, Patron of Vanador’s Thaumaturgical College

## Family Members

### Children

by Alya: Minalyan, Almina:by Isily: Ismina, Istman; Briga mentioned Min has 5 children he has never met.

## Book Appearances

### Books

Spellmonger, Warmage, Magelord, Knights Magi, High Mage, Journeymage, Enchanter, Court Wizard, Shadowmage, Necromancer, Thaumaturge, Arcanist, Footwizard, Hedgewitch

### Short Stories

Victory Soup, Spellmonger's Wedding, The Spellmonger's Honeymoon, The Secret of Westwood Hall, The Road To Sevendor, Stonesinger, The Spellmonger's Yule, The Road to Vanador

Minalan is **the** Spellmonger. He is the reason there is a *Spellmonger series*. His sobriquet was derisively used as a title when he first met Duke Rard's court council. Minalan rather liked it since it pretty much declared he was *not* a noble by heritage; besides, he was the most powerful wizard in the world. How better to challenge the pettiness of the noble classes? ... Yep, just like a smart ass. That's the way he is. Minalan is the very center of a maelstrom of change in his world: magic, war, feudal politics, economies, aliens, good and evil, global extinction. And all he wants to do is raise a family.

## Index

Personality and Characteristics
Early years
Inarion Academy \* Ducal War College at Relan Cor \* Farisian Campaign \* Itinerant Warmage \* Spellmonger
Family and Relationships
Childhood \* Love Interests \* Adulthood
Noble Titles and Warrants
Marshal of Castal and Alshar \* Mage Knight \*Mage Lord \* Baron \* Count Palatine
Notable Relationships
Nobles \* Deities \*  Apprentices \* Other Notable Relations
Book Summaries
Spellmonger \* Warmage \* *The Spellmonger's Wedding* \* *The Spellmonger's Honeymoon* \* Magelord \* Knights Magi \* High Mage \* Journeymage \* Enchanter \* Court Wizard \* Shadowmage \* *The Spellmonger's Yule* \* Necromancer \* *The Road to Vanador* \* Thaumaturge \* Arcanist \* Footwizard \* Hedgewitch \* *Mad Mage of Sevendor* \* Marshal Arcane
## Personality and Characteristics

Minalan is a charismatic, smarter than average man with very strong rajira, fit and capable as a warmage and insightful as a thaumaturge. He has a wry wit and self-effacing manner backed by a big ego and a bigger streak of badass, is slow to anger, but terrible in his wrath. Unafraid of risks, the Spellmonger is uncommonly lucky, some say blessed by fate itself. He is loyal to a fault--both up and down his relationships--and quick to share credit. Minalan is very good at 'thinking outside the box,' able to turn sure defeat into spectacular victory. As a noble, he not only remembers his peasant past, but is driven to care for the people and lands he is given to defend. Perhaps his best gift is the ability to attract smart, capable, and loyal colleagues and subjects to extend his influence across domains, diverse specialties, and politics at all levels.

**Warning! The next passages and those that follow are *spoilers by their very nature.***
**Do not read further unless you choose to learn the mysteries of The Spellmonger.**
When Minalan quested to Anghysbel, he encountered Szal the Yith, a vast and ancient alien intelligence that seeks all knowledge in the universe. Submitting to Szal's interrogation in his own quest for knowledge, Minalan was inflicted with nine distinct personalities, forcibly incorporated into his psyche and forever changing him. The nine hosts were:

1. **Tuaa Folauga** - (human male, approx 1 million years ago) Lyran mercenary, defeated by the Orion Empire. Formerly a brilliant scientist specializing in dimensional effects of singularities and quantum mechanics, specifically on "masa" radiation.
2. **Saram** - (human female, approx 1 million years ago) A Lyran scholar of galactic history many generations, perhaps 10,000 years, after Tuaa Folauga.  She studied a stele that mentioned "those-without-form."
3. **Michael Anthony Palgrave** - (human male, approx 14-16 centuries ago) Englishman in the early 1930's, scholar of esoteric science, clairvoyantly explored Earth's magical past, determined esoteric energies were shielded by Earth's mass from the galactic center. Earth was colonized from Mars 100,000 years ago.
4. **Lieutenant Colonel Martin Fitzgerald Andrews** - (human male,

≈

{\displaystyle \thickapprox}

7-8 centuries ago) of the Callidore Colonial Exploration Corp. Married to Angela, a biologist and Colonial Science Foundation administrator reviewed reports of Hawking radiation blocked by a nebula. They observed a leviathan as they flew over the sea.
5. **Mel Thenreyal** - (Alka female, approx 10-11,000 years ago) Alonaral Spiritsinger recruited to operate the Avalani Molopor to evacuate her home world, Alonaral, before the implosion of the "Dreadstar" and smothering of magic by the Withering Light. The Draolani--the Enshadowed--contrived to evacuate only some of the Alon to the new world, Callidore.
6. **Prince Maralathus** - (Alka male, approx 4,000 years ago) Callidore Prince of the Second House of the Imlaradi kindred of Alka Alon, heir to High King Amasarel's rule over the First City of Tyranalon.  Accomplished spear dualist, poet, and inventor of irionite.  He learned from the Met Sakinsa of the theft of the Celestial Mother egg by the Beldurrazeko, a servant of the Formless, in the distant past and wrote "The Theft of the Queen."  It is his memory of a conversation with Parasemus, a grandson of Mel Thenreyal, Callidore will move beyond the obscuring nebula protecting Callidore's magic from the Withering Light.  Maralathus' memory also reveals the Celestial Mothers of the past had moved Callidore to pull the entire planetary system back behind the nebula cloud to safety.
7. **Raer Rinthon the Bitter** - (Alka male, approx 4 centuries ago) Representative and agent for the Alkan Council. He was present when the stone cask with the Celestial Mother's Egg was interred in the Arsenal, the sentencing of Davachan, the execution of the Kilnusk king, and his execution of the Alkan king, Kanarthiel, on order of Parasemus, the Emissary from the High Kings.
8. **Umank** - (Karshak male, approx 5 centuries ago) Stonesinger who discovered the figures supplied by Alkan Councilmember Emariel for the Perwyn Bay reclamation project were wrong; if that project was activated, the limestone under the island would collapse.  Unfortunately, Umank was unconscious for four days and the project was started. Umank saved the humani Director Charles Avital from fight with Emariel, an Enshadowed.  Umank revealed all of this to Dr. Lilastien.
9. **Aza'methet the Old** - (neither male, nor female, plausibly exists beyond time) A creature who measured time by the rotation of the galaxy, with two minds "constantly in a state of war with each other."  Aza'methet could perceive and manipulate the very dimensions, the primal energies that comprised the universe. "Time, space, physical dimension, energy, gravity, order, entropy, and other components of reality were as apparent […] as sunlight and raindrops were [to Minalan]."  Its race had been spawned in the fourth great generation of being. Aza'methet had been pursued by hunters through the ages. So it was that One Without Form discovered and sought to destroy Aza'methet. Their battle waged across dimensions and eternity. Wielding magics of outrageous power, Aza'methet defeated and consumed the One Without Form.

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## Early years

(Summary of key events before the attack in Boval Vale.)

Inarion Academy \* Ducal War College at Relan Cor \* Farisian Campaign \* Itinerant Warmage \* Spellmonger

Minalan was born to Rinden, a master baker in Talry-on-Burine, and Sarali from a miller family in Poom Hamlet. It was rumored there that her family descended from Magelords who fled Wenshar, on the outskirts of the Magocracy.

> ... When the Narasi tribes that were my father’s ancestors swept down from the steppes on the decadent Imperial lands, Mama’s ancestors had fled south ...
> ... having intermarried with Narasi over the generations until there was no trace of their Imperial past in their features ... - Minalan
>
>

 Minalan was the only boy born after five girls and named after his maternal great-grandfather.

After a fight with his sister Urah, 13-year-old Minalan was assigned punishment duty of building the early morning fires in the huge ovens. In his anger, Minalan started the oven fire with magic -- a fire that his father witnessed. After a discussion between the two, his father took Min to the Baron’s castle to have the Court Wizard, Master Tilo test him. The magic tests proved that Minalan had strong talent, enough that he might be able to attend one of the academies, a chance that few common-born magi get. (See Childhood, below.)

> ... Master Tilo continued our daily lessons, which included teaching me to read and figure, as well as schooling me in some of the more basic magical exercises every mage needs to know ... - Minalan
>
>

Minalan later discovers that there were some convoluted negotiations between his Baron and some other nobles to get him into the school.

### Inarion Academy

Minalan was accepted at Inarion Academy and attended there for seven years.

> ... I was shocked. I never expected to get in; after all, I was a peasant, or at least a commoner, and the Inarion Academy was built for the magically inclined nobility — Old Imperial nobility at that. Or at least wealthy Coastlords, Sealords, or Riverlords. Ignorant Narasi commoners became hedgemagi or village spellmongers, they just didn’t go to one of the finest schools in the Five Duchies to learn the arcane arts ... - Minalan
>
>

Academically, Minalan fairly shined. He was selected for special tutoring by the journeymen for more advanced studies. All students were expected to help with the cleaning and maintenance. Early on Minalan baked rolls for the head cook and they promptly put him on the pay ledger, so he was able to earn some coins while a student. After being at the academy for 5 years he took and passed the Journeyman’s exams.

It was during his last two years at Inarion that he met Pentandra, who he assisted with her studies into Sex Magic, producing some thaumaturgical papers.

At his graduation, Minalan not only was handed his diploma, but was also handed duchy conscription into royal service for the Farise campaign. He was ordered to immediately report to Relan Cor for warmage training.

### Ducal War College at Relan Cor

Under the baleful eye of Master Durgan Jole and his fellow warmage instructors, 200 bookish, often foppish magi--including the baker's son Minalan--drilled, sparred, and marched, while learning the fundamentals of warcraft, cantrips, and spells to befuddle, distract, maim and destroy their enemies. After six months, the graduate "sparks" had turned into a pack of vicious and highly efficient killers adept at the craft of warmagic.

### Farisian Campaign

Upon graduation from Inarion, Minalan was drafted in Ducal service to fight against the Mad Mage of Farise. He was ~21 years old and spent about 6 month Campaigning in Farise.

### Itinerant Warmage

For two years, Minalan fought in several campaigns as a mercenary warmage after being discharged from the Duke's army.

### Spellmonger

Minalan served as spellmonger in Boval Vale for six months before the gurvani invaded. He'd known and served with Sire Koucey, the local lord of Boval and Brandmont castle, while on campaign in Farise. Min considered Koucey an excellent drinking companion, a competent officer, and a fierce fighter. The lord had invited Minalan to his fief if ever Min wanted to settle down. Tired of the life of mercenary warmage, Minalan accepted Koucey's offer. During his tenure, Min set fire retardant spells all around the village of Minden's Hall. He apparently was settling in with his apprentice Tyndal--a local boy--and a shop in Minden's Hall.

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### Childhood

Minalan's father is Rinden, a master baker in Talry. He is a lay-brother for Briga, the goddess of fire, baking, etc. He is a doting father and loving husband, peace loving, but fiercely protective of his family.

Sarali, Minalan's mother, comes from a miller family in Poom Hamlet, also in the Castali Riverlands, but about 50 miles from Talry. Sarali's family had located there some 100 years ago, coming from near the Kulines--a mountain chain in the North.

> Family history said that they were nobility – legend said royalty – from some long-forgotten petty-kingdom in Wenshar, on the outskirts of the Magocracy.  The name Manuforthen was somehow attached to the legend, though if that was the name of an ancestor or the name of the kingdom, no one was sure.
>
>

Minalan is the youngest six children and the only boy with five older sisters: Ladra, Borsa, Litha, Dara, Urah.

In Spellmonger Litha, is named as the 2nd daughter, but in Mists, Borsa is named as the 2nd daughter, Urah is named in both as the youngest, but Dara's position is never mentioned.

Ladra is married to Rask (Journeyman Baker), their oldest daughter is Frentine.

### Love Interests

Minalan was a naturally lusty lad with plenty of opportunities to find willing partners. He successfully evaded entanglements but for three women.

Lady Pentandra Anna Bennurvial
Minalan's first serious relationship was with Pentandra. Although fond of each other, they did not consider their relationship to be one leading to marriage. Their friendship grows and develops with world changing consequences.
Alya of Boval Vale
Minalan rescued Alya from a band of gurvani attacking her sister's farm in Boval Vale. He was attracted to Alya not only for her comeliness, but her native intelligence, steady fortitude, and bravery. Alya won Minalan's heart and devotion by being his emotional touchstone, grounding him despite the outrageous events that swirled around them. They married after the events of Warmage. See more below.
Lady Isily of Branwen
Isily, a shadowmage working for the Queen, was ordered to seduce Minalan--not that it took a lot of work on her part--and conceive a child by him in a plot to gain leverage over the Spellmonger. This she did prior to Minalan and Alya's wedding. Ismina is the daughter resulting from that dalliance, born a few months after Minalyan.

Baroness of Greenflower - Isily became more obsessed with Minalan after she left 'Mother's Family,' marrying Dunselen as a means to further her plans for Minalan and provide opportunity to ensnarl him into her fantastical imaginings. A deranged Isily ambushed and raped Minalan in the Snowflake Chamber conceiving a boy, Istman. Later, Alya righteously led a mission to confront Isily and confiscate her irionite. Isily's mind was burned away by the destruction of her witchstone in the ensuing fight.
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### Adulthood

Alya
When Alya moved into Minalan's quarters during the siege of Brandmont Castle, their dalliance turned into love. Given they were in the most terrible of situations and almost certainly were going to die, it was inevitable that Alya became pregnant with their son, Minalyan. During Warmage, Min sent Alya and Tyndal to his family in Talry-on-Burine to be safe and to prepare for their wedding. In *Spellmonger's Wedding,* Min, Penny, Alya, Tyndal, and the rest of his family contended with unexpected guests, welcome and unwelcome. Manalyan was born in Sevendor, but when Alya's labor became dangerously difficult, Minalan had to help them both through a complex magical working, a byproduct of which created Snowstone.
Alya became pregnant again during *High Mage* and she gave birth without complications to a healthy daughter named Almina. Alya was pregnant with a third child, but lost the baby at the Greenflower Mage War while fighting Isily. Alya was injured and her mind was fractured in the magical explosion when she shattered Isily's irionite shard. (The shard's explosion also destroyed Isily's mind, leaving her in a persistent vegetative state.) Minalan became desperate to find a way to heal Alya, so launched a complicated collection of actions against Olum Seheri to recover the enneagram of the Handmaiden and install it in his magolith. Over about two years, Alya did recover, but with some odd differences.
When Minalan was interrogated by Szal the Yith in Anghysbel, his love for Alya brought him back to life. She was his 'constant.'
#### Children

Minalyan
Minalan's first son by Alya and the heir to the Barony of Sevendor. During the birthing, Alya and baby Minalyan were perilously close to death. In desperation and at least partially by subconscious action, Minalan synthesized the many arcane energies of the crisis to save them and in an explosive side effect, created Snowstone.
Almina
daughter by Alya
Ismina
daughter by Isily born a few months after Minalyan, his relationship with her is just beginning as he starts to delight in all of the children's play while at Spellgarden
Istman
son by Isily; heir to the Barony of Greenflower. He is still a baby/toddler but is a happy child that everyone takes to, even Alya.
Rinden (Father)
Master Rinden continues to provide Minalan with the quiet wisdom of peasant artisans un-spoiled by power politics. Their years together in Sevendor and the road trip to Vanador only brought them closer as adults. Minalan holds his dad as a role model for fatherhood and--as a basic part of his being--is loath to disappoint him.
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## Notable Relationships

Nobles \* Deities \*  Apprentices \* Other Notable Relations

### Nobles

Minalan maintains relationships with many nobles throughout the realm (see also Other Notable Relations), but a few are especially notable:

Pentandra
Pentandra Anna Benurviel, also known as Penny, was initially a love interest of Minalan during their last two years at Inarion Academy. Three years after they graduate, Pentandra recruits nineteen warmagi to aid Minalan in the siege of Boval Castle. Their relationship morphs into a close and trusted friendship. She is the person who most influences the Spellmonger's exercise of political power, first as a mentor, then as advisor. She is the Baroness of Vanador and Court Wizard to Duke Anguin.
King Rard
Duke Rard IV, House of Bimin, Duke of Castal, becomes King Rard I of the Kingdom of Castalshar. Initially a relationship of convenience, Minalan and Rard came to respect and trust each other. Rard admires Min's loyalty, sense of honor, and focus on the good of the kingdom. He seems dismayed at his son Tavard's behavior and singular lack concern for anything but himself. Similarly, he feels constrained by Grendine's ruthless machinations. Rard is deeply ingratiated to Min for the rescue of Rardine from Olem Seheri.
Anguin
Duke Anguin of Alshar rose to the coronet early in life due to the assassination of his parents. The Arcane Orders under the direction of Min, bankrolled Anguin's restoration to his Northern Capital, Vorone. When Minalan informed Anguin about the planned raid on Olum Seheri, the young Duke joined the expedition where he would rescue his future wife, the then Countess Rardine. Like his uncle, King Rard, Anguin holds the Spellmonger in highest esteem and trusts his counsel.
Rardine
Initially, at odds with Minalan (she tried to assassinate him once), after being rescued from Korbal largely because of the Spellmonger, she became more amenable to his guidance and advice.
Grendine
Daughter of the Alshari Ducal line, Lady Grendine married Rard to become Duchess of Castal and later Queen of Castalshar. She was a manipulative and ruthless force in forging the new realm of Castalshar. Queen Grendine is also known as 'Mother', head of the Kingdom's Royal Intelligence Agency, The Family. Operatives called sons and daughters serve as spies and assassins across the land. Minalan was initially inducted as a son in The Family, more to exact some control over him than to use him as an intelligence asset. Grown wary of her unscrupulous machinations, Minalan distanced himself from 'Mother's' control eventually resolving into a more tenuous and circumspect relationship. Grendine's primary focus after the establishment of the kingdom is to ensure Tavard, her son with Rard, succeeds to the kingship.
Arathanial
The Baron of Sendaria, he is loosely allied with Baron Minalan of Sevendor, both out of respect for Minalan's battlefield prowess and the economic increase of commerce throughout the Bontal and affiliated areas. Minalan considers Arathanial a friend and supported him for election as Count of Lensely, although results of Arathanial's campaign are not yet known.
Salgo (alt. Sago)
Count and Lord Marshal of Castal, then Castalshar. Warlord who supported Minalan in Council to suspend the bans and make the Spellmonger a Marshal and warrant to destroy the gurvani in Castal. They surreptitiously agreed to back each other against the intrigues of court.
Tavard
Prince and heir to the throne of Castalshar, Tavard is the foolish son of Rard and Grendine, defined by his own sense of privilege and nobility. He is a lackluster leader, especially in military matters where he is befuddled by the concept of strategy and lacks competency in any of his martial adventures. His policies as Duke of Castal are abysmally arrogant and focused on his own aggrandizement. Of course, he is frustrated in all of his self-perceptions by Minalan, thereby earning the Spellmonger undeserved enmity.
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### Deities

There are many gods and goddesses of the Narasi, Imperials, Sea Lords, as well as a host of minor local deities who sometimes present themselves corporeally when drawn by compelling need or appropriate invocation. Minalan has made only a few persistent. That is, they can remember their actions and interactions from one appearance to the next, and they can appear at will so they can intentionally support Minalan's efforts on behalf of the humans on Callidore. **These are the deities Minalan made persistent, so each has a continuing relationship with him:**

Briga
Briga is the Narasi goddess of fire, inspiration, and baking, and is the patron goddess of Minalan. Her priestesses are referred to as Flamesisters.
Herus
Narasi God of Travelers, messages, crossroads, thieves, commerce, magic, gambling, liars, storytellers, benevolent assistance, shoemakers, and a few others
Ishi
Goddess of Love and Beauty. Ishi is one of the Narasi pantheon.
Trygg
the Mother Goddess of Narasi religion. Her domains include motherhood, childbirth and marriage. She is also a patron of witches.
Slagur
the Imperial God of Games, Lore and Wine
Couther
the Narasi God of Hospitality
Sisu
God of the Hunt for the tribes of North Elpea
Falassa
the crone goddess of Herbs, the protector of the low things and defender of the Tal Alon
Bova
Watcher of the Herds, craft goddess, besides milking, calving, cheese making, leatherwork, and butter churning, she takes an occasional foray as a psychopomp (the spiritual guide of a living person's soul).:

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### Apprentices

Minalan is a kindly master to his apprentices. He subscribes to the artisanal ideal of raising promising members of his craft in its traditions; however, traditions for high magi are still being developed so there are plenty of spontaneous innovations. Minalan all but adopts his apprentices into his family and is more than fond of them. They, in turn, are absolutely loyal to Minalan.

Tyndal
Minalan discovered Tyndal working in a stable in Minden Hall and took him on as his first apprentice. After Tyndal was knighted by Duke Anguin, Minalan provided noble and chivalric training to him.
Rondal
Rondal was left abandoned by his former master, Garkesku after the siege of Boval Castle, so Minalan brought him along as a new apprentice. After Rondal was knighted by Duke Anguin, Minalan provided noble and chivalric training to him.
Dara
A native of Sevendor, the creation of Snowstone jump-started Dara's magical talent. When she won the first Spellmonger's trial, one of her rewards was to become Minalan's apprentice.
Ruderal
Ruderal rescued the knights errant Sir Tyndal and Sir Rondal while they were on a mission. Forced to leave Ruderal in his captivity, the two knights liberated Ruderal and his mother. As much as Ruderal's raw rajira made him a good candidate for apprenticeship, his spark talent of reading enneagrams convinced Minalan that he needed to keep the boy close.:

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### Other Notable Relations

*People with whom Minalan has had substantial interactions based on loyalty, friendship, partnership, camaraderie, or other personal investment. These will be just names and links to that character’s article.*

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## Noble Titles and Warrants

#### Marshal of Castal and Alshar

Duke Rard of Castal and Duke Lenguin of Alshar gave Minalan warrant and commission naming him Special Marshal of Castal and Alshar, respectively, and assigned him 3,000 men to investigate and contend with the gurvani hoard. Afterward, Min squeezed as much leverage from the commission as he could to muster ample defenses and bring them to battel at Timberwatch.

#### Mage Knight

Minalan was knighted in *Warmage* on the field at the end of The Battle at Timberwatch along with the other surviving warmagi. He was also granted a domain of his choosing (with limits) and the right to be called Magelord by Duke Rard. Sir Minalan the Spellmonger and his apprentices are headed toward their reward in Wilderhall in the company of Captain Rago Redshift, when a disturbing report from the road sends them on an action-packed detour in the Wilderlands. *Victory Soup!*

#### Mage Lord

In the short story *Spellmonger's Wedding* he chooses his domain, *Sevendor*. The book *Magelord* explores his claiming of the domain and showing what magic in the service of the people can do. Minalan takes time away from the frontline to create the first ever magelands and organize the administration of magic for the Kingdom. When the dragons and gurvani invade Gilmora, Minalan calls his banners and heads back to the front.

#### Baron

During *High Mage* Minalan attends the Royal Court, as a result of the Battle of *Cambrian* and in recognition of the domains Minalan has taken in conquest, King Rard raises Minalan to the peerage as Baron of Sevendor.

#### Count Palatine

Duke Tavard exiles Minalan from Castal for a period of three years after the death of the prince heir, at the end of *Necromancer*. Duke Anguin of Alshar invites Minalan to be Count Palatine of the newly established Magelaw county, created north of Vorone across Northern *Alshar*. Anguin's speech that raised Minalan to the rank of Count, adeptly summed up some of Min's major achievements, below is an excerpt:

> Since before my coronation, Minalan has taken it upon himself to see to the defense not just of the Wilderlands, but of the entire realm. He has loosed the chains that bound magic to irrelevancy and turned it into the sharpest of swords against our foe. In him the ancient wisdom of the Archmagi lives again – more, for he enjoys, it is said, the counsel of Alka Alon and the gods, themselves. - Anguin, Duke of Alshar
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## Book Summaries

Spellmonger \* Warmage \* Magelord \* Knights Magi \* High Mage \* Journeymage \* Enchanter \* Court Wizard \* Shadowmage \* Necromancer \* Thaumaturge \* Arcanist \* Footwizard \* Hedgewitch

> *This section summarizes major events by book.* ***Click on any green text to link to the indicated page**, especially the Book Pages with more complete synopses.* *Cliff Notes by chapter are also linked.*
>
>

### Spellmonger, Book 1

Minalan and Tyndal save the town of Minden's Hall. The Spellmonger wins his first witchstone by combat with a gurvan shaman. (See Gurvani War - Minden's Hall.)
Minalan travels north to consult the Tree Folk. On the way, Minalan and Tyndal save Alya from attacking gurvani. Resuming their journey, Min consults with Zagor, and discovers that Zagor has a large piece of Irionite. Zagor takes Minalan and Tyndal to the Aronin of Amadia. The Aronin modified Minalan's captured irionite, breaking the connection to Shereul and giving the stone the power to do the same to other witchstones captured from gurvani shamen.
See The Siege of Boval Vale.
Minalan returned to Boval Castle, warns Sire Koucey and his castellan Sir Cei, of the coming gurvani hoard. Min then travels to Tudry, returning with several bands of mercs to Boval Castle. The additional troops participate in several actions against the besieging gurvani, and loyally support the Spellmonger in the siege. A competing spellmonger, Garkesku, is envious and schemes to replace Minalan. Neverthless, Min agrees to distribute witchstones to him and his apprentices (one of whom is Ruderal) in defense of the castle. The youngest apprentice, Urik, goes mad with the power. Minalan and Tyndal fight and destroy Urik.
A captured gurvan warrior, Gurkarl, tells the Spellmonger of the base treachery committed by Koucey's grandsire against the gurvani, explaining the gurvani thirst for vengeance.
Gurvani sappers undermine the castle wall. With a small force, Minalan assaults the tunnel entrance and magically duels with a gurvani shaman possessed by Shereul, the Dead God. On the brink of defeat, Min was saved by Pentandra and the nineteen warmagi that she recruited to join the Spellmonger (for witchstones). Minalan successfully and explosively destroyed the tunnel. The mages that accompanied Pentandra were Azar, Astyral, Bendonal (probably), Carmella, Curmor, Delman, Forandal (probably), Hesia, Horka, Mavone, Reyman, Rolof, Rustallo, Reylan (probably), Sandoval, Terleman, Taren, Wenek, and possibly one other.
Several days later, after capturing and distributing enough irionite to equip all of the warmagi, Minalan confronted a misled and abusive Koucey, who just had Pentandra thrown into the dungeon. Garkesku poisoned Koucey's mind and turned him against the Spellmonger. With no other options, Minalan captured Koucey and his cadre, technically rebelling against the deranged lord, but protecting the people of Boval Vale from his insanity.
The Spellmonger and Pentandra discovered a molopar hidden beneath the castle and contrived a way to transport all of the humans to safety. The mages that helped open the molopar portal could not travel through it. They confronted the Dead God, Shereul, in the castle's bailey. On the cusp of dying gloriously, the Tree Folk, led by the Aronin, intervened and held Shereul while the human mages escaped through a small magically portal.
See Spellmonger Cliff Notes.
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### Warmage

**The Court at Wilderhall**
Minalan spent the next several days meeting individually with the Duke's councilors building support for his proposals.
The Spellmonger met with Master Dunselen, **the Court Mage, the** **Lord Marshal**, Count Salgo (alt. Sago), Count Kindine, **the Prime Minister**, the Alshari Prime Minister **Count Angrial**, **Duchess Grendine** and her daughter **Rardine.**  Grendine was the Duchy's spymaster whose *nom de guerre* was 'Mother'.  And she invited Minalan to be a 'Son.'  **One of Rardine's ladies, Isily**, a shadowmage to whom Min was to grant a witchstone as part of the deal with 'Mother.'
**Censor General Hartarian** formally requested custody of Minalan from Duke Rard. Duke Rard rhetorically trapped Hartarian and ordered all Censorate operations to leave Castal.
Minalan, the Spellmonger, **Marshal of Castal and Alshar** gathered his troops and his command staff, including Bold Asgus, Captain of the Orphans, Captain Kaddel of Wenshar, master of the Hellriders, Rogo Redshaft, captain of the Nirodi Free Mounted Archers, and Sirs Pendolan and Kelear of the Warbirds.
Three weeks after leaving Wilderhall, Minalan's expeditionary force reached Grimly Wood for their first major engagement. See **Grimly Wood.**
**The Battle of the Lantern**
**Kitsal Hamlet** - As Minalan's army moved towards Tudry, he, Azar, Astyral and twenty Hellriders rode ahead into Kitsal Hamlet and into a place of abysmal horror. Psychically, Minalan was deeply wounded by the horrors he had relived while thaumaturgically dissecting the magical working.
**The Battle of Tudry** - Using largely conventional but brilliant tactics, Min and his wizards provided instant communications between the maneuvering elements of his combined forces to crush the opposing forces. About 9,000 goblins, 1,300 men, and a thousand horses were killed. Because of a magical lightning attack on the armored cavalry, nearly a thousand nobles were killed. In the aftermath of the battle, Marshal Minalan appointed Azar in command of Castle Megelin and Astyral as master of the Tudry outpost.
**Vorone** - Minalan determined in Kitsal Hamlet that Shereul's shamans had constructed a powerful spell cast over Vorone and its people that inspired dread. The ensorcellment also built upon Duke Lenguin's inclination to indecision, resulting in his large army remaining bivouacked around Vorone, rather than deploying in defense of Alshar. Movone and Isily tried unsuccessfully to get Lenguin to join his army with Minalan's near Timberwatch. It fell to Minalan to force the issue:

> So I decided that the best thing to do would be to go appeal to His Grace myself. Maybe it was a dumb move, but it was frustrating watching the troops at Tudry scramble to deploy and know that the rightful Defender of the Realm was sitting on his fat ass in a pleasure palace, watching (I’m not lying) the third jousting tournament in as many weeks . . . to determine just who would command his army. -Minalan
>
>

Minalan began his political conquest of Vorone by first bribing Court Mage Thinradel with a witchstone; the bribe was hardly necessary. That night, the Spellmonger crashed a court party with his colleagues, locked all of the doors and seized control of the ballroom. Minalan then bullied and blackmailed the duke into ordering his army to Timberwatch.

> I could care less about your honor, your dignity, or your position – but you have an army sitting outside your walls, and I want to borrow it if you aren’t going to use it. - Minalan to Duke Lenguin
>
>

**The Battle at Timberwatch** - Lenguin led his army to Timberwatch just a few hours before that battle commenced. The gurvani hoard outnumbered the humani on the field by at least 3 to 1. Carmella and Bold Asgus prepared the battlefield with emplacements and siege engines. Over two days of fighting, the magi and Alshari battled the goblins. Minalan raised a fire elemental epic in size and lethality. Then came the dragon. Horka eventually drove the worm away at the cost of his own life and hundreds of others. Despite hard fighting and heroism, the human army reeled from the sheer numbers of gurvani. At the edge of bitter defeat, Duke Rard led a Castali army that reinforced the strength of Minalan's warriors. Taren unleashed a spell that temporarily blinded the gurvani. Seizing the advantage, Minalan, Duke Lenguin, Duke Rard, the magi and the armies of Alshar and Castal assaulted their enemies from three sides. The battle was won and the remaining foe routed.
In celebration of their victory, Rard and Lenguin knighted the magi. All of them, including Pentandra, Tindal, and Rondal.

> I took a knee as Minalan the Spellmonger, and rose as Sire Minalan, Knight Magi. Both Dukes put their hand on the sword that did it, a high honor.
>
>

That night, Lenguin was assassinated in his sleep by Isily. Minalan confronted her and Rardine. When at Rardine's signal, Hamlan moved to kill Minalan, Tindal slew the treacherous servant with a warwand. The Spellmonger leveraged his acquired advantage over Rardine to remove himself from direct control of the "Family" and squeeze concessions in favor of the High Magi.
See Warmage Cliff Notes.

### Magelord

See Magelord Cliff Notes.
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### Journeymage

**Kasari March**

See Journeymage Cliff Notes.

### Thaumaturge

**The Building of Vanador**
**The Nemovorti Wars: Gaja Katar**
### Arcanist

**The Nemovorti Wars: Shakathet**
**Baiting of a Gilmoran Count**
### Footwizard

**Minalan’s Quest** Minalan organized an expedition to the mysterious land of Anghysbel in the north. His quest had the following goals:
1. Find Ameras, the daughter of the Aronin of Amadia/Angriel and the Alka Alon secret arsenal.
2. Find a possible installation built by the Ancients that may have survived.
3. Find a substance that can help create snowstone.
4. Find the lost Wilderlord domain of Anferny. The expedition party included Alya, Tyndal, Taren, Gareth, Lilastien, Fondaras, Ithalia, Masters Suhi and Azhguri, Natia, Ormar the alchemist, and Forseti, Tyndal brought several gentlemen as guards. Two Kasari rangers and four or five other Kasari also became part of the group.

Alya insisted that she would accompany Minalan, despite the many reservations he posed. The other members of the expedition were Tyndal, Taren, Gareth, Lilastien, Fondaras, Ithalia, Masters Suhi and Azhguri, Natia, Ormar the alchemist, and Forseti. Tyndal brought several gentlemen as guards. Two Kasari rangers and four or five other Kasari also became part of the group.
After appointing Pentandra to be in charge of Vanador and the magi, Minalan attended the "Palace Opening" for Anguin's palace in Verone. Min met with Markadine, Sir Kersal (the Steward of Verone), Ishi, King Rard, and Duke Anguin. The Spellmonger smoothed the way for a treaty with the tribal gurvani, assured Rard he had no intentions to war with Tavard, and received a concerned warning from Ishi about the coming trip. Later, Briga chimed in:

> “I wanted to warn you, Minalan,” she said, her expression unchanged.  “Anghysbel is dangerous.  Ishi was correct: the gods cannot see into that land.  Or have any interaction with you, while you’re there.  At least nothing overt, that I can tell.  That place . . . it concerns me.”
> “It scares you,” I accused.
> “It’s a volcano – I like volcanos,” she insisted.  “I should be able to manifest almost at will, there.  But with no magic, that includes divine magic.  And necromantic magic.  No songspells, no irionite, and certainly no Imperial magic.  So you will be well and truly on your own.”
>
>

Before leaving Vanador, Minalan met Gurkarl and signed the agreement with Ashakarl. The Goblin King led thousands of tribal gurvani in revolt against Korbal, but his power was weak.  Neither Ashakarl, nor Minalan needed another enemy.  It was on this basis they reached an agreement.
Fondaras served as the expedition's guide, as well as the Kasari rangers, who had made the trip multiple time afore.

## References

1. ↑ Mancour, Terry. Footwizard: Book 13 Of The Spellmonger Series. Chapters 39 through 43. Kindle Edition.
2. ↑ Mancour, Terry. Spellmonger: Book One Of The Spellmonger Series . Kindle Edition. pg. 63
3. ↑ Mancour, Terry. Spellmonger: Book One Of The Spellmonger Series. Kindle Edition. pg. 137
4. ↑ Mancour, Terry. Spellmonger: Book One Of The Spellmonger Series . Kindle Edition. pg. 138
5. ↑ ~24 years old (book 1) - 2 years (Mercenary warmage) - 6 month (Spellmongar in Boval) = ~21.5 years old upon leaving Farise. (~21 arriving in Farise)
6. ↑ Mancour, Terry. Spellmonger: Book One Of The Spellmonger Series (p. 50). Kindle Edition.
7. ↑ Most of the family information is taken from *The River Mists of Talry A Spellmonger Short Story*.
8. ↑ Mancour, Terry. Warmage: Book Two Of The Spellmonger Series (p. 454). Kindle Edition.
9. ↑ Mancour, Terry. Warmage: Book Two Of The Spellmonger Series (p. 495). Kindle Edition.
10. ↑ Mancour, Terry. Warmage: Book Two Of The Spellmonger Series (p. 709). Kindle Edition.
11. ↑ Mancour, Terry. Footwizard: Book 13 Of The Spellmonger Series. Kindle Edition. Ch. 4.

### **Glossary**

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