The Preamble to the Raid on Spurhaven RPG and Board Game

Last month I made a post on the Draken Games Catalogue # 8 and the two free mini-games that were included in this issue. I have read through the Raid on Spurhaven rules and have found what you might call the back story of the game. Here are some excerpts:

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"Many years ago, during the Second Orc War, a renowned local magic user called Abramor poured much of his powers into a magical artefact to help halt the Malthian invasion: a spyglass that allowed him to direct battle magic. Using it from atop his tower on the heights, he helped the Free Peoples defeat the invaders. Abramor was left drained: his School of Magic broke up and his last act was to create six runes that would allow a magic user to recreate his battle magic, so long as they have his spyglass.

Abramor told people of his legacy, but by then his mind was failing and few took him seriously. He died alone in his tower in poverty. Though the heights do at least bear his name, the tower is now in ruin. His spyglass and runes were remembered only as folklore, repeated as a rhyme by local children:

‘If orcish evil comes to pass
Then find again the eye of glass,
That’s hidden in Abramor’s Tower
Along with words of magic power,
Magic user heed this verse
To stop orcs with a deadly curse’

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‘Aldus,

The orcs have found proof that the old rhyme about Abramor is true. You must stop them finding what they seek! We shall march south at double speed to try and assist in the defense of Spurhaven against the main war party.’ “

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Raid on Spurhaven

Les Cinque Dragownes

Les Cinque Dragownes was a tribunal created by John Uskglass, during the middles ages to help in the regulation of English magic.

The crimes the Cinque Dragownes tried were the following:

1. Evil Tending: magic with an inherently malevolent purpose
2. False Magic: pretending to do magic or promising to do magic which one either could not or did not intend to do
3. Selling magic articles, like rings, hats, coats, shoes, etc. to people who could not be expected to control those powerful articles
4. Pretending to be a magician or pretending to act on behalf of a magician
5. Teaching magic to a unsuitable person

Johnathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke

Post #52

The Language of Birds

“There is nothing else in magic but the wild thought of the bird as it casts itself into the void. There is no creature upon the earth with such potential for magic. Even the least of them may fly straight out of this world and come by chance to the Other Lands. Where does the wind come from that blows upon your face, that fans the pages of your book? Where the harum-scarum magic of the small wild creatures meets the magic of Man, where the language of the wind and rain and he trees can be understood, there will we find the Raven King.” ¹

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke

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¹Thomas Lanchester, Treatise concerning the Language of Birds, Chapter 6.

The Superiority of Scottish Magic

“The magician of Athodel ruled his own island. Athodel is one of the western Isles of Scotland. The island of Athodel has either sunken or has, according to some, has become invisible. Some Scottish historians like to see Athodel as evidence of the superiority of Scottish magic. The Raven King lost his kingdoms, but if the island is indeed invisible and the magician still reigns over the island it must defiantly prove that Scottish magic is superior to English magic. If you can follow that form of logic.”

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PS: I really didn’t believe I was going to reach my goal of fifteen posts this month. Like most months it just happens. I do hope to complete some projects that are currently littering my workbench in this coming month.

Magical Books from the Duke of Roxburghe Library

"When an auction of the Dukes books was announced there were seven texts dealing with magic among his collection. Mr. Norrel and Arabella, Jonathan’s Strange’s wife were both interested. Norrel to add to his collection and Arabella meant to surprise her husband with a volume or two of magical texts. Mr. Norrel out-bid everyone to obtain all seven texts, one in which, he paid the princely sum of 2000 guineas.

Rosa et Fons was a mystical meditation upon magic by an unknown fourteenth century magician.

Thomas de Dundelle was a text describing the life of the Raven Kings first human servant, Thomas Dundelle.

The Book of Loveday Ingham was a day-to-day account of the fifteenth century magician of Cambridge.

The History of Seven: although the text was rather muddled and was written in English, Latin, and an unknown fairy language. The text told of the city in Faerie named Seven. The text was quite jumbled. The author would often leave off his narration of Seven and make numerous accusations against some person that had did him some harm.

The Parliament of Woman: was a sixteenth centaury allegorical account of the wisdom and magic that belongs particularity to woman.

Exerciatatio Magica Nobilissima:  was a seventeenth centaury attempt to describe all English magic.

Two last text were snapped by Norrel on the last day of the auction.

The Mirrorir of the Lyf of Ralph Stokesie:  was a volume that Mr. Norrel was totally ignorant about of its existence. This was the wonderful book that Norrel paid the 2000 guineas for. In addition, Norrel also purchased the Decameron."

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel, Suzanne Clarke

Fairies and Men Both Have the Faculty for Magic

“According to Richard Chaston (1620-950) both men and fairies have the faculty of reason and of magic. In men reason is strong while magic is weak. With fairies, magic comes very naturally to them, but by humans standards they are barely sane.”

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel, Susana Clarke

The Library of Hurtfew Abby

“The library of Hurtfew Abby was dearer to its possessor than all of his riches. Norrell constructed a beautiful jewel box to house his hearts treasure. The bookcases which lined the walls on the room were built of English woods and resembled Gothic arches laden with carvings. There were carvings of leaves (dried and twisted leaves, as if the season artist had intended to represent autumn,) carvings of intertwined roots and ivy-all wonderfully done. But the wonder was nothing to the wonder of the books.

The student of magic learns that there are books about magic and books of magic. Both are available, the former for two or three guineas from any reputable book seller. The later are extremely rare and can be had for above the price of rubies. At Hurtfew all the walls were lined with bookcases and all the shelves were filled with books; books of magic.”

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

This is my second reading of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. Although there are a couple subjects I am interested in, these subjects that I somehow over looked or gave them a very lite coverage, I am sure to find other nuggets along the way.

Have all of England’s Magicians been trained by Other Magicians?

“There have been very few of England’s magicians that have not learned from another magician. Gilbert Norrel and Jonathan Strange are examples of magicians that were self-made. Mr. Gilbert Norrel being what you may call an academic magician, spent years locked away with his books and spells. Although Jonathan Strange’s only text was a copy of the Raven King he seems to have a natural inclination toward magic.

Very little is known about the Raven King’s early years, but it is assumed that the Raven King learned both magic and Kingship while at court of the King of Faerie.

Another seemingly self-made magician is Thomas Godbless (1105?-82) of Nottinghamshire. Although Godbless did spend some time with the Raven King, he had been practicing magic for years before this encounter."

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke

Four Sub-collection Directories

Here are three sub-collections that perhaps I should have created a lables for:

1. Dreams
These posts are either fictional recorded dreams or posts that mention dreams.

2. A Host of Characters
These posts represent descriptions for charcters in role playing games.

3. Magic
These posts are fictional magic spells or rather mention magic.

4. Libraries

Books on Magic by Peter Watershippe

“The Faire Withering, published in 1444, is a remarkable book that features a detailed account on how English magic declined after John Uskglass left England. Although the text contains many precise accounts of spells, many reviewers consider this text to be an angry book, but not so as Watershippe’s two other books:

A Defense of my Deeds while Wrongfully Imprisoned by my Enemies in Newark, 1459-60
Crimes of the Faire King, 1461?"

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Susanna Clarke

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Interesting Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell entry on Board Game Geek

I cannot say I know what to make of the "The History and Practice of English Magic" page other than it is some sort of game based off Susanna Clarke's novel; an interesting find, at any rate...seems to be a complete list of all the texts mentioned within the Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell novel.

Keep Your Signs and Your Shrouds to Yourself

"Tressa Norne (Nan-yang Maru): "I saw the sign of Yu-lao in fire floating in the day-sky. I saw his spectral moon rise and vanish in mid-heaven. I understood. But——" And here she suddenly showed an edge of teeth under the full scarlet upper lip: "Keep your signs and your shrouds to yourself, dog of a Yezidee!—toad!—tortoise-egg!—he-goat with three legs! Keep your threats and your messages to yourself! Keep your accursed magic to yourself! Do you think to frighten me with your sorcery by showing me the Moons of Yu-lao?—by opening a bolted door? I know more of such magic than do you, Sanang—Death Adder of Alamout!"

Chapter I The Yezidee, The Slayer of Souls, Robert W. Chambers

Risk Godstorm Edition Deity Divine Powers

The divine powers have the following powers that can be used when a player chooses to play one of their gods.

God	Divine Powers
God of Dealth	"When the god of death attack, opposing armies do not go back to the Underworld, but are placed with the defenders players reserve armies instead."
Goddess of Magic	"When the goddess of magic attacks or defends reroll all 1's"
God of the Sky	"When the God of the sky is in godwar, roll an additional die."
God of War	"When the god of war attacks, he wins all ties."

John Uskglass and the Restoration of English Magic

“I have never heard of him,” said Childermass. Vinculus looked at him with amusement, “Off course not. You have lived your life in the Mayfair magician’s pocket. You only know what he knows. “So! Said Childermass, stung. “That is not so very trifling is it? Norrel is a clever man and Strange another. They have their faults, as other men do, but their achievements are still remarkable. Make no mistake; I am John Uskglass’s man; or would be, if he were here. But you must admit that the restoration of English magic is their work, not his.”“ Their work, scoffed Vinculus! "Theirs? Do you still not understand? They are the spell of John Uskglass’s doing. That is all they have ever been. And he is doing it now!”

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel, Suzanna Clarke

Post #51

More Mention about John Uskglass’s Early Years

A Host of Characters

“The Raven King resigned over his domains for over three hundred years, his kingdom being part of Faerie, Northern England, and lands beyond (a land on the far side of Hell). At the age of fourteen he had already created the system of magic that we employ today. Or rather, that we would employ, if it had not been lost. His was a perfect blending of fairy magic and human organization-their powers were webbed to his own terrifying purposefulness.”

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel, Susanna Clarke

Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Volume III

I have slowed down on the reading lately and have finally gotten to the third volume of Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. I am now about two thirds through this thick and fascinating novel.

Volume III, John Uskglass

“It is the contention of Mr. Norrell of Hanover-square, that everything belonging to John Uskglass (The Raven King) must be shaken out of modern magic, as one would shake moths and dust out of an old coat. What does he imagine he will have left? If you get rid of John Uskglass you will be left holding the empty air.’

Johnathan Strange, prologue to The History and Practice of English Magic, pub., John Murray, London, 1816”

Tolkien on Magic

“Magic produces, or pretends to produce an alteration in the Primary World; it is not an art but a technique; its desire is power in this world and domination of things and wills.”

J. R. R. Tolkien, On Fairy Stories

Risk Godstorm Edition Game Miniature Deities

One of the first decisions you must make, that is after you choose the four plague lands, in the Risk Godstorm Edition board game is to choose the pantheon you want to use during the game. Each faction, (Babylonians, Celts, Egyptians, Greeks, Norse) has its own set of gods. There are gods of war, death, the sky and a goddess of magic.

Peoples	God of Death	Goddess of Magic	God of the Sky	God of War
Babylonians	Druaga	Ishtar	Marduk	Gilgamesh
Celts	Arawn	Brigid	Lugh	Nuaoa
Egyptians	Osiris	Isis	Ra	Set
Greeks	Hades	Hekate	Zeus	Ares
Norse	Loki	Freya	Ooin	Thor

Players roll one die and the highest rolls picks the pantheon of their choice. You keep rolling until every player has had a chance to pick a pantheon.

Magic Preformed by J. Strange and Mr. Norrel

“Among the feats of magic that Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel performed in 1810 are: causing an area of the Bay of Biscay to silt up and having a vast wood of monstrous trees spring up and destroy twenty French war ships; causing unusual tides and winds to baffle French ships and destroy French crops and livestock; the fashioning of rain into fleets of ships, walled cities, gigantic figures, flights of angels, etc., etc., in order to frighten, confuse, or charm French soldiers and sailors.”

De Generibus Artuim Magicarum Anglrum, Francis Sutton-Grove

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel, Susana Clarke

An Encypted Telegram is Received

The following telegram came, encrypted, to the governments special agent Victor Cleves:

"Washington "April 14th, 1919."

"Investigation ordered by the State Department as the result of frequent mention in despatches of Chinese troops operating with the Russian Bolsheviki forces has disclosed that the Bolsheviki are actually raising a Chinese division of 30,000 men recruited in Central Asia. This division has been guilty of the greatest cruelties. A strange rumour prevails among the Allied forces at Archangel that this Chinese division is led by Yezidee and Hassani officers belonging to the sect of devil-worshipers and that they employ black arts and magic in battle.

"From information so far gathered by the several branches of the United States Secret Service operating throughout the world, it appears possible that the various revolutionary forces of disorder, in Europe and Asia, which now are violently threatening the peace and security, of all established civilisation on earth, may have had a common origin. This origin, it is now suspected, may date back to a very remote epoch; the wide-spread forces of violence and merciless destruction may have had their beginning among some ancient and predatory race whose existence was maintained solely by robbery and murder.

"Anarchists, terrorists, Bolshevists, Reds of all shades and degrees, are now believed to represent in modern times what perhaps once was a tribe of Assassins—a sect whose religion was founded upon a common predilection for crimes of violence.

"On this theory then, for the present, the United States Government will proceed with this investigation of Bolshevism; and the Secret Service will continue to pay particular attention to all Orientals in the United States and other countries. You personally are formally instructed to keep in touch with XLY-371 (Alek Selden) and ZB-303 (James Benton), and to employ every possible means to become friendly with the girl Tressa Norne, win her confidence, and, if possible, enlist her actively in the Government Service as your particular aid and comrade.

"It is equally important that the movements of the Oriental, called Sanang, be carefully observed in order to discover the identity and whereabouts of his companions. However, until further instructions he is not to be taken into custody. M. H. 2479

"(Signed) "(John Recklow.)"

Chapter III Grey Magic, Slayer of Souls, Robert W. Chambers

Lord Portishead’s Books on Magic-October 1807

The following is a small list of books purported to have been written by Lord Portishead, a fictional character found in Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell novel.

“By the time Lord Portishead had given up magic in 1808 he had written the following books:

• The Life of Jacques Belasis, Longman, London, 1801
• The Life of Nicholas Goubert, Longman, London, 1805
• A Child's History of the Raven King, Longman, London, 1807 (this volume was illustrated by Thomas Bewick)”

A Gentleman with the Thistle-Down Hair, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, Susanna Clarke