Encounter-a-Day

by Anagorius Magnuff, D.D.Arc., D.D.Art, Artificer of the First Echelon

Wizards all around the world use a variety of implements to help them in channeling their magic. While not strictly necessary, it does have a noticeable effect on the capabilities of those who would wield the powers arcane. In particular, novice wizards find it much easier to manipulate magical energy with an implement of some sort.

Nevertheless, there are those who conjecture that an implement is but a cane for the weak (sometimes literally) or even that the implements usefulness is purely psychosomatic. These sorcerers believe that it is the person doing all the work, and the implement only serves to give them confidence.

The theory that they are completely unnecessary would seem to be refuted by the fact that the many varied cultures have all developed similar implements. If it were purely psychosomatic, then how would one explain that the Shinnok of the east, the Galomie from across the seas, and the wizards of this land all use rods for defensive magics or crystals for divinations?

On the other hand, it is accepted fact that the most powerful of wizards are fully capable of bringing their full might to bear even without an implement. Indeed, they would fare no better by the possession of one. In the end, it is a question for scholars to ponder over.

Listed below are some of the common implements and their associated strengths. Implements can be divided into three overarching categories.

Lengths

Lengths are long, thin implements, often made of wood or bone. They are typically the first implement a novice will be taught with and are by far the most common implement in use. Rare is the wizard who does not have at least one length, if not two or three, on his person.

Canes: Generally made to waist-height for the intended user, a cane is sturdy and capped with a metal figurehead. Canes are used for supportive magics of both offensive and defensive natures.

Rods: Similar in style to a cane but slightly shorter and having a more ostentatious figurehead. Sometimes also referred to as scepters. Rods are excellent for manipulating force, especially for creating shields.

Staves: Crafted to be about the wielder’s height give or take a foot, staves are prized as incredibly versatile and powerful implements. A staff is good for both offensive and defensive applications of force, though it is not as specialized and thus not as powerful as either a rod or a wand.

Wands: Nicknamed “boom sticks” by peasants, a wand is a thin length about a foot long. They are used for manipulating forces into offensive attacks.

Clears

The clears are somewhat dissimilar, and some do not actually classify them as a group. As it is the custom, however, I shall group them together here. The common thread amongst them is a manipulation of fates, whether directly or indirectly.

Bowls: Bowls are an interesting implement in that, unlike most, they are not useful without preparation. A bowl must be filled with an appropriate liquid and a medium, such as water and tea leaves. Bowls are used to look into past and current events as well as for healing.

Cards: Decks of fortune telling cards, ironically, are not actually useful for telling the fortune, except perhaps as a parlor trick. Rather, those who use this particularly rare implement pull on the strings of fate. The cards are a cruel mistress, however, as a bad draw can spell misfortune at an inopportune time.

Crystals: Including crystal balls and shards of quartz (amongst others), crystals are used in predicting what is to come and in contacting other realms such as the realm of the dead. They are also good for dealing with possessions.

Cloths

Finally, we are left with cloths. Any respectable wizard school will have no part in teaching the ways of cloths, and rightly so. They are tools of scoundrels and cowards and any caught using them deserve to be excommunicated. I will present them here despite this, however, as knowledge is never so dangerous as a lack thereof.

Cloaks: Long wraparound capes laced with silver and moondust. Cloaks aid their users in sneaking and generally avoiding detection or notice.

Masks: Not always made of cloth, masks may also be made of rigid materials such as wood or ivory. As one might assume, they are used for disguise and impersonation.

Scarves: Long and thin cloths wrapped around the neck. Scarves aid in the creation of illusions and in controlling the minds of others.

Veils: Similar to masks except more delicate and always made of a fine gossamer fabric. Used by seductresses and charlatans in confidence scams.

And thus ends your first guide on the important types of magical implements. This list is far from exhaustive, however most other implements are but variants on existing ones. For example, swords and daggers are commonly used in place of canes and wands respectively, while dice might be used instead of cards.

However, knowledge of such other implements at this point in your academic career is tangential and you will not be expected to learn them.

While all students will be taught in the use of canes and wands first, it is recommended that you begin pondering what implement you will use for your freshman and sophomore theses at your earliest opportunity.