[Balanor]

Mystra, the goddess of magic, sat brooding as she watched the mage duel carry on, destroying more and more of the defending mage’s irreplaceable scrolls, magical research, and laboratory. Despite the fact the two mages were of relatively low seasons, the magic protections and summons they had were lasting so long that even her patience was growing thin while waiting for the winner to emerge.

Her thoughts strayed to the angry confrontation she had with Tempus, the god of war and battles, a short time ago. He was the last in a line of angry or distraught gods who claimed her generosity with the benefits of the Weave were upsetting the Balance. Tempus had gruffly called up a vision of a mage who spent nearly an hour casting protective magic on himself; and then proceeded through a heavily guarded underground enemy encampment alone. Hours later his protections still remained and scores upon scores of dead men lay in his wake as he handily destroyed the enemy leader with receiving little more than a scratch

Her thoughts returned to the mage duel as yet another magic wand used its last bit of energy trying to pierce the magical barriers around the mages. She sighed in sad acquiescence, and with just a thought, the Weave changed and shifted, causing the durations of many spells to shorten. As both mage’s protections failed, the battle quickly ended with the messy death of the intruder. Now the remaining mage was left to salvage what little remained of his magical work.

It was done, she thought grimly - already as the cries or curses from the mortal realm rose in her name. The other gods should have been happy, but they too were already receiving the same chorus from their faithful as all magic-users everywhere -even the gods- felt the change.

Some sense of Balance has been restored she thought, but the cost was high for everyone - the gods included.

[Balanor]

Mystra had been watching the effects the changes in the Weave were producing, and it was no surprise to her when Tempus arrived in Nirvana seeking an audience. In fact, she was slightly surprised it had taken him almost a minute longer than she had anticipated.

He entered her audience chamber with a stiff bow and proceeded to speak without any further formality, “Mystra. While much improved...”

“There are still changes that need to be made,” she interrupted. “Yes, I know.”

She conjured up an image of several mages in a dark labyrinth, surrounded by floating, sparkling particles. The two gods could tell at the same time one mage noticed a trap looming right in front of him. Brazenly, he did not slow and simply walked across it, his elemental protection shielding him from the blast of fire that occurred.

“No longer will that spell afford such protection,” said Mystra, and with a thought she changed the weave. The next mage that decided to follow suit was fried to a crisp as his reduced protection shattered under the trap’s extreme fire.

A shadow stirred near Mystra and softly whispered “Good. Perhaps that will make my worshippers more necessary.”
A second later Mask appeared by Mystra’s side watching the images.

The next scene shifted to a mage and cleric casting fire spells on their weapons, and strength, dexterity, and constitution enhancements on themselves. They then proceeded with their warrior companion through a crypt filled with undead. The burly warrior had to swing twice as often and hard, even with his magically empowered weapon, to equal the destructive force of either the mage or cleric when they hit their targets.
With another thought, Mystra reduced the power of the magical flame on the weapons, and the duration of the ability enhancements. Tempus nodded in satisfaction as the warrior, still battling furiously and covered in his own blood, smashed through the remaining undead as the mage and cleric fell back due to the multiple wounds they sustained in melee.

The warrior, now victorious, smashed the last skeleton warrior just as the skeleton’s axe split his skull with a sick crack. After having tended his own wounds, the cleric hurried over to the fighter and began the incantation to raise him from the dead.

“Diamonds, I think. Yes. A Diamonds to Raise the Dead. A Flawless Diamond Resurrect the Dead,” murmured Mystra.

As the fighter’s split skull miraculously healed and life returned to his blank features, the cleric furrowed his brow as he searched frantically for the diamonds they had been paid with during their last adventure. Cursing Mystra’s and the fighter’s name, his thoughts quickly turned to getting out of the forsaken and expensive crypts that had just financially ruined him.

After hours more of scenes like this, Tempus and Mask retreated from the audience chamber as Mystra continued watching image after image in her perpetual efforts to bring Balance to the magic of the world.


The above represents IC explanations for further spell changes in Thay in the ongoing attempt to maintain a balance between spellcaster and non-spellcaster clsses in the PW. Please note that many of the changes made now appropriately represent modifications made in D&D 3.5 rules to address game balance with spells as well.

If you have any questions or concerns, please PM Thayan.