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There’s this site that one of them social media platforms recommended to me in an ad that was actually interesting. It’s a writing site, for stories, called Vocal. I had a poke around and it’s a place for people who like to write, to publish their work for other people who like to write, to read. There’s top stories, communities, and the focus of this newsletter, competitions.

The reason the algorithm spit this one out at me is that I’m a big fat fantasy literature nerd. And it just so happened that Vocal were running a ‘Fantasy writing challenge’. Now, to participate you had to sign up and pay a members fee, but frankly, I’m probably exactly their target audience and I was more than happy to pay the fee to participate. If it meant even just the judges would read my story, that sounds like fun. And it turned out 10s of people gave it a read, which was heart warming, and some left some lovely comments.

So I entered. I didn’t win, or come in the top 25, but I enjoyed myself. I’m definitely doing it again. But honestly, I don’t think it’s my best work, there was a time constraint that managed to confuse me somewhat and I only gave it one real revision, but, if you’re interested, here it is:

How dragons came to the valley

There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. Of course there were creatures that came down from the mountains or out from the depths of the rainforest, but certainly nothing you would call a Dragon. Dragons are rare creatures, capable of sustained flight, extraordinary breath, and in possession of biological characteristics that make them the master of their environment. No, there were not always dragons in the Valley.

There weren’t always dragons in the world at all. There are widely accepted theories that describe how and when dragons came to play a role in history, but that is a well trodden path. If you want to learn more about that I would recommend Master Vanda Perateen’s study. There isn’t anything necessarily unique there, but it is not as dry as the work that comes from the naturalist colleges. What I imagine you don’t know is how dragons came to the Valley, more than a century after the discovery of the first Dragon, and with an ocean in between them and the nearest known dragon territory.

That story starts where you might expect, in ‘the Valley’ itself. The lush, crater-like casm that bisects the eastern edge of the Temcocoa rainforest. The Temcocoa spans millions of miles and is home to countless flora and fauna. Within you would find a catalogue of creatures and insects, and surely countless more that we are yet to discover. In the Valley, soaking in the sun from the break in the canopy, you would find the crooked college. A building made of the deep brown and green materials that surround it, camouflaged with a combination of drooping leaves, sprawling trees, and the best illusory magics in the hemisphere.

The college itself is a series of connected buildings that follow the twists and curves of the trees. Inside you’d find branches and leaves incorporated into the function, and outside you’d find balconies and workshops built into the sides of the wood.

In the crooked college itself you would find Professor Alegre, a tall, sturdy, halfling man with deep brown wavy hair and a perpetually affirming smile. He has been a resident of Temcocoa for some twenty years and has been looking after the college as a research outpost for just as long. He invites a host magi from across the world to study the Temcocoa, to help me unearth its secrets, and to experience what it means to be in a world unlike that you would find anywhere else on this world.

But you are here for the Dragons in the Valley. How it came to be the home of one of the most dangerous True Dragons in existence. How the Temcocoa was irreversibly changed to be a pressure cooker for magical creatures. That story begins, as far too many stories of this nature do, with a young mage. Anwen, a talented abjuration mage who came to the crooked college to discover new species, and came to the professor to perfect her illusory magics.

***

On a dreary Tuesday, an especially humid afternoon, the professor called Anwen and two other senior students, Trevor and Jarn, to the common room. Each arrived in their own time, as was customary in the midst of work. The common room is a circular room that wraps around the trunk of ‘Xate’, the tree which nowadays serves mostly as a notice board and a ladder. Around the room there are neatly packed boxes of books, and reports, and snacks, next to large well cushioned chairs where most of the students do most of their reading.

The students made their way to the room and into their chairs one at a time, Anwen came last, trudging mud and dripping rain onto the floor with an apologetic smile. ‘Sorry professor, your message sounded urgent so I didn’t want to waste time drying off, can someone help me?’ she said. The others came to their feet with sympathetic eyes and helped dry her off. ‘Thanks.’ She said stepping out of her still dripping thigh high boots and taking the towel from Jarn to dry her shoulder length, stark white hair.

‘I was in the middle of an illusion that had a swamp toad completely fooled, when a beautiful snub billed Toucan flew through it! I had to follow it, and of course I forgot about my own illusion and, well, you can smell the rest.’ Forgetting about one's own illusion is one of the lesser risks of the art. The professor waited for Anwen and the others to finish fussing before walking to the centre of the room and starting,

‘I am sorry to take you away from your work everyone. It sounds like I did you a favour though Wen. But I do hope I did not interrupt too much. There is something I have to tell you and I couldn’t hold out on you any longer.’ The students found their way back to their seats and brought out their workbooks. This was the same room they used for the professor’s infrequent but long lectures, so they knew the drill. The professor noticed and laughed to himself. ‘No, no lecture today I’m afraid. Something far more exciting. I have received a message from Headmaster Charn at the University of Exorus.’ Everyone’s attention peaked, ‘Yes I thought that might have an effect.’ The professor chuckled again, ‘It seems the University has come into some new money and Master Charn, having read our last reports, is looking to further sponsor our research. He has asked us for three things and I would ask them of you before I respond.

Anwen put her notebook away and looked around at her classmates, they each looked as curious as she felt. ‘First, he asks that we accept two more students as soon as the seasons permit the trip.’ He paused to gauge their reactions. ‘Master Charn has already selected the candidates for their temperament, skill, and their perceived ability to live in the, and these are his words, “environments in which we endure.” What a sweet heart. He says if we are to continue doing such great work we should share it with more of our fellows.’ There was some shrugging and some nodding but the consensus seemed positive.

‘Of course this would mean we will need to build out the college to accommodate them before the seasons change.’ The consensus unanimously dropped, there was a full and thoughtful pause,

‘Will the construction be sponsored separately to our research Professor?’ Jarn asked, shooing away the silence. Jarn was the oldest student at the college, a light grey skinned orc with a tight top knot and the only student with experience in the construction of the college that already existed.

‘It would indeed.’ the professor said.

‘Then I say let's do it. We need more space for them, sure, but it means we can finally build out a mechanical shop. I’m tired of transumiting the damn trees.’ The professor and Jarn both looked expectantly at the others. The consensus raised back up, the nodding resumed and the professor smiled.

‘Good.’ Jarn scribbled something in her book as the professor continued. ‘Secondly, our Headmaster was intrigued by Trevor’s research comparing the weather patterns and meteorological phenomena of the Valley to the channelling of energy for evocation. One of the students who will join us is to assist you in the continuation of this work for three months when they arrive.’ Trevor blushed and tried to hide his embarrassment but the pride he felt was evident in his smile. The other students nodded with appreciation. Trevor was an exceptional, quiet, human mage with a particular talent for evocation manipulation that everyone at the college had found useful at some point.

‘Thank you professor.’

‘Not me Trevor, your work is exceptional, keep going. But what Master Charn has asked me to put to the rest of you is this; that we each consider how we might pivot our research toward a more combinative approach. To take more time to explore other disciplines and how principles from other fields might be applied in our work.’ After a moment of contemplation Jarn spoke up again with a frustrated sigh,

‘What in the world does that mean? Professor, that’s not our method, we study, we whittle, we test our hypotheses, draw our conclusions, and iterate. Arbitrarily challenging our work with some other principles is surely a distraction?’ Trevor seemed to shrink into his chair as he watched Jarn, she noticed, ‘I’m sorry Trevor. I mean I. It’s not how I do things, you know I respect your work.’ Jarn gave what she imagined was a reassuring smile, but was in fact more of a shrug. ‘It doesn’t make sense to me.’

‘Perhaps, Jarn.’ Said the professor. ‘But he would not ask if it were arbitrary. He has sent with this request new research from Professor Goldrik, a study of how innovation can more rapidly form from this, what he calls “combinative approach”.’

‘From Goldrik? Professor, please, I don’t mean to be rude but Goldrik is a few trips short of the murmurs. He’s not even a practising mage.’ Trevor looked shocked, Anwen being the only student in the room who had actually met Professor Goldrik frowned her disapproval and waited for the professor to react. His expression remained amiable as ever and he said without remorse,

‘Well Jarn, that was rude. Professor Goldrik has done exceptional work and single handedly carried the progression of divination for years. The magic he was doing before you even knew the word is an enormous contributing factor to why we are able to speak to our fellow scholars across the sea. As you well know.’ Jarn rolled her eyes but listened, ‘Furthermore, because he does not practise any more does not mean he has lost any of his wit, or skill.’ The professor gave her a concerned look, ‘Besides Master Charn, and I, only ask that you lend time to consider the idea. You are of course welcome to refuse, but if you, or anyone else for that matter, does, then I will expect a detailed argument as to why you do so to present to the Headmaster. Anyone who does give it due thought, I would like a write up of your thoughts on the matter too. And if you end up adopting a principle from outside of your specialty, as Trevor has done with meteorology, I will personally ensure your work gets back to the Headmaster myself.’

Jarn sighed and sat back in her chair, the others nodded along and made a note in their notebooks. ‘And the third thing, Professor?’ Anwen asked while she wrote, with water still dripping onto the floor.

‘Yes, thank you Arwen. Thirdly, the headmaster has asked if we would lend our aid to two missions. One in the bedrock mountains where he wants someone skilled in performing illusions under extreme conditions and with an affinity for particularly large works. Again his words were, “I can think of no magicians better equipped.” To tell you the truth, I would personally like to aid the Headmaster in this expedition, but I am long past my field days, and so I present the opportunity for you all to consider.’ He paused for a moment but no one seemed to jump.

‘You will consider it, I’m sure.’ He pursed his lips slightly, clearly disappointed, but his students shrugged. ‘The other is to the Al’lug’z desert. There have been sightings of a family of sand drakes traipsing unusually close to the city of Hafa. The naturalists from the Drewfort are already on route but given our geographical advantage Headmaster Charn expects we could beat them to the city and begin our research in the name of the University before the scholars of Drewfort even arrive.

Now, you know I do not personally condone such competition, however I do think this could be a wonderful opportunity for one of you. The Al’lug’z culture is vastly different from any that I think any of you have experienced, and the sand drakes are said to be a fascinating creature. What little we know is truly extraordinary, far removed from any of the creatures you’ll find here in the Valley.’ There was barely a beat of a pause while she waited to be sure the professor had finished before Anwen was on her feet,

‘I’ll go professor.’ He grinned back at her. ‘As you say, it should be something of an experience and I’ve been inspired by drakes since you yourself published on their arcana adjacent abilities.’ The professor took a moment to look around at the others, none raised a concern, most just looked on with bemusement at Anwen.

‘And what about your current studies Wen?’ It was her turn to look bemused, but an excited smile started to curl onto her lips,

‘“The refractive and diffractive patterns of light in the wetlands of Temcoca and its relation to energy and arcana” is not something I think anyone else is going to surpass us in professor, and the phenomena will certainly be here when I get back.’

‘It certainly will.’ He nodded. ‘Alright, well, tonight I want you to wrap up what you are doing, write a summary page for the new student who will arrive while you’re gone so they can get familiar with your work, and start packing. When you feel ready we’ll get you to the coast. I’ll make the arrangements.’ Anwen beamed at the professor. ‘We’ll send you to the desert to study the drakes.’ The other two stood almost simultaneously and came to embrace and congratulate Anwen. They knew her fascination with fascinating creatures was something she’d been missing since the monsoon season started.

‘If I give you some artefacts and papers to take with you Wen could you test some spells for me in the dry heat? I wonder how they’re affected by the humidity here and I think the results would be quite different?’ Trevor asked, Anwen smiled,

‘Of course Trevor, pack it up for me and I’ll wait for the hottest day.’ Trevor smiled and hurried off to get the things together.

‘Don’t forget your own research when you’re out there either Wen. Whatever Charn wants you to do, and whatever Trevor has you doing should be secondary. The mages in the desert use abjurals in a way I’m sure even you haven’t worked out yet. Learn it, and maybe you can bring it back here.’ Anwne smiled and embraced the ever serious Orc.

‘I will Jarn, of course I will. Can I do anything for you out there though? Even secondarily?’ Jarn smiled back at her,

‘Just come back safe please.’ Jarn put an assuring hand on her shoulder and walked out after Trevor. Professor Alegre came forward next,

‘Are you sure now Wen? I know it sounds wonderful but don’t take the decision lightly, it’s a long way and will take a long time to come back.’ She was still smiling and halfway to the door to start packing,

‘I know professor, I sailed here didn’t I? I’m sure I can manage it. Besides, sand drakes! In Al’lug’z no less. You know that’s where Master Lavore proved the existence of the true Dragon Latharath?’ The professor nodded. ‘I’ll be back though professor, there’s only so many creatures I can see in the desert but so many more for me to discover here still.’ She grinned at him one more time and left the room.

She found the travel case she used when she came to the Valley and packed the bare essentials. It took the most time to work out which books she would be able to bring. In the end she decided she could buy more clothes when she arrived and took out some she’d already packed in favour of two more textbooks. She separated her money into three pouches, one to leave behind, one to go in her travel case and another to accompany her in her satchel. Then, into the satchel she placed her spell notes, various common components any mage would never be caught without, and her latest attempt at a Kapok wood wand She spent the rest of the day saying her goodbyes to the other students and re-packing her bag with the various other ‘experiments’ the others wanted her to take with her.

The very next morning all of the college’s students came to the front of the college to see her off. The Professor had prepared all the necessary papers and writs to get her on the right ship when she arrived at the coast, as well as a map that she could strap to her back, and a small case that fit inside,

‘Inside this is one of the first Lavore coins. Unfortunately I haven’t yet been able to recreate one of my own but inside this one is the basics of the Al’lug’z language and should get you wherever you need to go.’ All of the students were shocked to see that the professor had such a rare artefact in his possession. ‘Go now and travel safe,’ the professor continued after an appropriate amount of basking in his students befuzelment, ‘remember, you represent the crooked college so above anything else, enjoy yourself. The only thing we ask that you bring back is sound work and knowledge to share.’ Anwen embraced the professor with a grateful smile, turned, and began the day-long trek to the road that would take her to the coast.

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