The first and central precept of the Arcane Tower in Lisma is the Precept of Balance.
There is a balance between life and death. One does not exist without the other. Life's ending, the descent of the living down into the starless night of death, is the contrast that sweetens, enriches, illuminates life.To consider life without death, to long for freedom from suffering, this poisons life. And it poisons power. At the heart of every arcane act or intent must be the knowledge of its double nature. To heal with power is to make the final end more bitter.
To bring light thickens the remaining darkness. Life and death must be the double masters of arcane art.
This is the first and central precept. All others follow from it, as does the orientation, the commitment, the moral certitude, of practicioners of the arts. Thus every new student at the Arcane Tower begins their studies in the Undertower. As death doubles life, so the Undertower doubles the Tower above the ground. In the Undertower, the only lesson is the Precept. The final moment of these studies takes each student down below the final floor of the Undertower. Below or somewhere else. Into the Deep.
You have been here, alone in the motionless dark, for hours, or maybe days. Death and life vie with one another in your thoughts. You are, frankly, terrified.
As a new student to the Arcane Tower, your studies do not progress far before you are caught up in many things beyond your control. Undead have been manifesting extremely frequently, terrorizing the citizens of Lisma. People claim to have seen you in places where you can't possibly have been. The time has come to plunge yourself into these unfolding mysteries.
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Here are four short prelude texts that set the tone and setting (and provide some illumination of events external to the plot) of the upcoming module The Double: Lisma, which will be posted before the year is over.
I have posted these as separate files for the benefit of those who have already downloaded the first text earlier.
10 - A Masterpiece, Genuinely Groundbreaking 9 - Outstanding, a Must Have 8 - Excellent, Recommended to Anyone 7 - Very Good, Deserves a Look 6 - Good, Qualified Recommendation 5 - Fair, Solid yet Unremarkable 4 - Some Merit, Requires Improvements 3 - Poor Execution, Potential Unrealized 2 - Very Little Appeal 1 - Not Recommended to Anyone
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