2920, Evening Star2920, First Seed2920, FrostFall2920, Hearth Fire2920, Last Seed2920, MidYear2920, Morning Star2920, Rain's Hand2920, Second Seed2920, Sun's Dawn2920, Sun's Dusk2920, Sun's Height36 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 136 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 1036 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 1136 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 1236 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 1336 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 1436 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 1536 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 1636 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 1636 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 1736 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 1836 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 1936 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 236 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 2036 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 2136 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 2236 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 2336 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 2436 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 2536 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 2636 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 2736 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 2836 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 2936 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 336 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 3036 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 3136 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 3236 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 3336 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 3436 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 3536 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 3636 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 436 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 536 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 636 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 736 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 836 Lessons of Vivec, Sermon 9A Dance in Fire, Chapter 1A Dance in Fire, Chapter 2A Dance in Fire, Chapter 3A Dance in Fire, Chapter 4A Dance in Fire, Chapter 5A Dance in Fire, Chapter 6A Dance in Fire, Chapter 7A dying man's last wordsA Fair WarningA Game at DinnerA Hypothetical TreacheryA Less Rude SongA scroll written in bloodA Short History of MorrowindA worn and weathered noteAedra and DaedraAjira's Flower ReportAjira's Mushroom ReportAncestors and the DunmerAntecedants of Dwemer LawArcana RestoredArkay the EnemyAzura and the BoxBiography of Barenziah v IBiography of Barenziah v IIBiography of Barenziah v IIIBiography of the Wolf QueenBlasphemous RevenantsBone, Part OneBone, Part TwoBreathing WaterBrief History of the Empire v 1Brief History of the Empire v 2Brief History of the Empire v 3Brief History of the Empire v 4Brown Book of 3E 426Chance's FollyCharwich-Koniinge, Volume 1Charwich-Koniinge, Volume 2Charwich-Koniinge, Volume 3Charwich-Koniinge, Volume 4Cherim's Heart of AnequinaChildren of the SkyChimarvamidiumChronicles of NchuleftConfessions of a Skooma-EaterCorpse Preparation v ICorpse Preparation v ICorpse Preparation v IICorpse Preparation v IIIDagoth Ur's PlansDarkest DarknessDeath Blow of Abernanitdecoded packageDirections to Caius CosadesElante's NotesElone's Directions to BalmoraFellowship of the TempleFeyfolken IFeyfolken IIFeyfolken IIIFighters Guild CharterFive Songs of King WulfharthFor my Gods and EmperorFragment: On ArtaeumFrontier, Conquest...Galerion The MysticGalur Rithari's PapersGhost-Free PapersGrasping FortuneGreat Houses of MorrowindGuide to Ald'ruhnGuide to BalmoraGuide to Sadrith MoraGuide to VivecGuide to VvardenfellGuylaine's ArchitectureHallgerd's TaleHanging Gardens...Hanin's WakeHanin's WakeHomilies of Blessed AlmalexiaHonor Among ThievesHospitality PapersHow Orsinium Passed to the OrcsIce and ChitonIncident in NecromInvocation of AzuraKagrenac's ToolsLast Scabbard of AkrashLegions of the DeadLives of the SaintsLord Jornibret's Last DanceMages Guild CharterMaster Zoaraym's TaleMessage from Dagoth UrMessage from Master AryonMission to Vivec -- from CaiusMixed Unit Tactics v1Mysterious AkavirMystery of Talara, Part 1Mystery of Talara, Part 2Mystery of Talara, Part 3Mystery of Talara, Part 3Mystery of Talara, Part 4Mystery of Talara, Part 5MysticismNchunak's Fire and FaithNerevar at Red MountainNerevar Moon-and-StarNerevarine cult notesN'Gasta! Kvata! Kvakis!N'Gasta! Kvata! Kvakis!Night Falls On Sentinelnote from the ArchcanonNotes from HuleeyaNotes on Racial PhylogenyOdral's History of the Empire 1Odral's History of the Empire 2Odral's History of the Empire 3Odral's History of the Empire 4On MorrowindOn OblivionOrdo LegionisOrigin of the Mages GuildOverview of Gods and WorshipPackage for Caius CosadesPalla, Book IPalla, Book IIPeke Utchoo's last wordsPlan to Defeat Dagoth UrPoison Song IPoison Song IIPoison Song IIIPoison Song IVPoison Song VPoison Song VIPoison Song VIIProgress of TruthProvinces of TamrielRealizations of AcrobacyRed Book of 3E 426Redoran Cooking SecretsReflections on Cult WorshipRels Tenim Journal PageResponse to Bero's SpeechSaryoni's SermonsSaryoni's Sermons ManuscriptScroll of TyroniusSenilius' ReportSharn's Legions of the DeadSilenceSithisSmuggler's IslandSong of the AlchemistsSpecial Flora of TamrielSpirit of the DaedraStarlover's LogSurfeit of ThievesTal Marog Ker's ResearchesTamrielic LoreTarer's Aedra and DaedraThe Affairs of WizardsThe Alchemists FormularyThe Annotated AnuadThe Annotated AnuadThe AnticipationsThe Arcturian HeresyThe Armorer's ChallengeThe Art of War MagicThe Axe ManThe Battle of Red MountainThe Black Arrow, Volume 1The Black Arrow, Volume IIThe Black GloveThe Book of DaedraThe Book of Dawn and DuskThe Brothers of DarknessThe Buying GameThe Cake and the DiamondThe Cantatas of VivecThe Changed OnesThe Consolations of PrayerThe Doors of the SpiritThe DowryThe Dragon Break Re-ExaminedThe Eastern Provinces...The Final LessonThe FirmamentThe Firsthold RevoltThe Four Suitors of BenitahThe Gold Ribbon of MeritThe Hope of the RedoranThe Horror of Castle XyrThe House of TroublesThe House of TroublesThe Importance of WhereThe Legendary ScourgeThe Locked RoomThe Lost ProphecyThe Lunar LorkhanThe Madness of PelagiusThe Marksmanship LessonThe MirrorThe MonomythThe Old WaysThe Pig ChildrenThe Pilgrim's PathThe Posting of the HuntThe Prayers of BaranatThe Ransom of ZarekThe Real Barenziah v IThe Real Barenziah v IIThe Real Barenziah v IIIThe Real Barenziah v IVThe Real Barenziah v VThe Real NerevarThe Rear GuardThe Red Book of RiddlesThe Ruins of Kemel-ZeThe SeedThe Seven CursesThe Seven VisionsThe Third DoorThe True Nature of OrcsThe True Noble's CodeThe War of the First CouncilThe Waters of OblivionThe Wild ElvesThe Wolf Queen, Book IThe Wolf Queen, Book IIThe Wolf Queen, Book IIIThe Wolf Queen, Book IVThe Wolf Queen, Book VThe Wolf Queen, Book VIThe Wolf Queen, Book VIIThe Wolf Queen, Book VIIIThe Wraith's Wedding DowryThe Yellow Book of Riddlestradehouse noticeTrapUnnamed BookVampires of Vvardenfell, v IVampires of Vvardenfell, v IIVarieties of Faith...Vernaccus and BourlorVivec and MephalaWhere Were You ... Dragon BrokeWithershinsWords and PhilosophyWords of Clan Mother AhnissiYellow Book of 3E 426Zainsubani's Notes |
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Response to Bero's Speech by Malviser, Battlemage
On the 14th of Last Seed, an illusionist by the name of Berevar Bero gave a very ignorant speech at the Chantry of Julianos in the Imperial City. As ignorant speeches are hardly uncommon, there was no reason to respond to it. Unfortunately, he has since had the speech privately printed as Bero's Speech to the Battlemages, and it's received some small, undeserved attention in academic circles. Let us put his misconceptions to rest.
Bero began his lecture with an occasionally factual account of famous Battlemages from Zurin Arctus, Tiber Septim's Imperial Battlemage, to Jagar Tharn, Uriel Septim VII's Imperial Battlemage. His intent was to show that where it matters, the Battlemage relies on other Schools of Magicka, not the School of Destruction which is supposedly a Battlemage's particular forte. Allow me first to dispute these so-called historical facts.
Zurin Arctus did not create the golem Numidium by spells of Mysticism and Conjuration as Bero alleges. The truth is that we don't know how Numidium was created or if it was a golem or atronach in any traditional sense of those words. Uriel V's Battlemage Hethoth was not an Imperial Battlemage -- he was simply a sorcerer in the employ of the Empire, thus which spells he cast in the various battles on Akavir are irrelevant, not to mention heresay. Bero calls Empress Morihatha's Battlemage Welloc an accomplished diplomat but not a powerful student of the School of Destruction. I congratulate Bero on correctly identifying an Imperial Battlemage, but there are many written examples of Welloc's skill in the School of Destruction. The sage Celarus, for example, wrote extensively about Welloc casting the Vampiric Cloud on the rebellious army of Blackrose, causing their strength and skill to pass on to their opponents. What is this, but an impressive example of the School of Destruction?
Bero rather pathetically includes Jagar Tharn in his list of underachieving Battlemages. To use an insane traitor as example of rational behavior is an untenable position. What would Bero prefer? That Tharn used the School of Destruction to destroy Tamriel by a more traditional means?
Bero uses his misrepresentation of history as the basis for his argument. Even if he had found four excellent examples from history of Battlemages casting spells outside their School -- and he didn't -- he would only have anecdotal evidence, which isn't enough to support an argument. I could easily find four examples of illusionists casting healing spells, or nightblades teleporting. There is a time and a place for everything.
Bero's argument, built on this shaky ground, is that the School of Destruction is not a true school. He calls it narrow and shallow as an avenue of study, and its students impatient, with megalomaniac tendencies. How can one respond to this? Someone who knows nothing about casting a spell of Destruction criticizing the School for being too simple? Summarizing the School of Destruction as learning how to do the maximum amount of damage in the minimum amount of time is clearly absurd, and he expounds on his ignorance by listing all the complicated factors studied in his own School of Illusion.
Allow me in response to list the factors studied in the School of Destruction. The means of delivering the spell matters more in the School of Destruction than any other school, whether it is cast at a touch, at a range, in concentric circles, or cast once to be triggered later. What forces must be reigned in to cast the spell: fire, lightning, or frost? And what are the advantages and dangers of each? What are the responses from different targets from the assault of different spells of destruction? What are the possible defenses and how may they be assailed? What environmental factors must be taken into consideration? What are the advantages of a spell of delayed damage? Bero suggests that the School of Destruction cannot be subtle, yet he forgets about all the Curses that fall under the mantle of the school, sometimes affecting generation after generation in subtle yet sublime ways.
The School of Alteration is a distinct and separate entity from the School of Destruction, and Bero's argument that they should be merged into one is patently ludicrous. He insists -- again, a man who knows nothing about the Schools of Alteration and Destruction, is the one insisting this -- that damage is part of the changing of reality dealt with by the spells of Alteration. The implication is that Levitation, to list a spell of Alteration, is a close cousin of Shock Bolt, a spell of Destruction. It would make as much sense to say that the School of Alteration, being all about the actuality of change, should absorb the School of Illusion, being all about the appearance of change.
It certainly isn't a coincidence that a master of the School of Illusion cast this attack on the School of Destruction. Illusion is, after all, all about masking the truth.
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