therookery | Wands and Staffs.

FORM: Crystal.
SENDER: Newt Scamander.
RECIPIENT: Everyone with a crystal, though the message itself is directed toward fellow magic users/mages in particular.
WHAT: Wizards and mages and their proper tools.
WHEN: Early Justinan/June, after the Grand Tourney.
WHERE: The Gallows
NOTES: Unintentional (and otherwise) sexual innuendo, magic talk, Newt making an unintentional fool of himself (but what else is new?), etc. Will add more warnings if they become necessary. There is probably a good chance this post will not be safe for work.

[Trying desperately not to think about the recent news about the phylacteries, Newt mostly focuses on his own work in the Research division. But during his down time, his mind yet lingers on the uncomfortable possibilities of said recent news, and so he tries to distract himself by sating his own curiosity about something he's happened to notice about the native mages in Thedas.]

Hello all! Pardon me if I'm not using this crystal device correctly; it's, oddly enough, more advanced than some of the Muggle technology from my own home.

If we haven't yet met, my name is Newt Scamander, and I'm a rifter. [A brief pause as he considers what he wants to say next. Perhaps it isn't wise to announce himself as a rifter with magic so openly, but, frankly, he would like to reach out and connect with others with magic, to get himself familiar with the magic of this world if he can help it. It's much preferable to dwelling on the phylacteries, after all.]

A wizard rifter, to be precise, and so this message is mostly geared towards mages and others with magic themselves, particularly those native to Thedas.

And because it must be said, no, this message is not about phylacteries of any kind.

I can't help but notice that you lot use staffs to conduct your magic instead of wands. I just wanted to know: what is it like using such large tools to do so? Do not get me wrong, the staff work I have seen so far has been very impressive. And they are very neat-looking, and seem to make for good weapons, especially for hitting things. But they also seem so unwieldy? And a pain to carry around everywhere. Do you charm them to make them lighter?

I myself use a wand, which is much smaller and of a different kind of build. Perhaps, if you would be willing, we might compare our instruments some time?

[Newt says all of this with a completely straight face, entirely unaware of how he sounds. He is genuinely curious, and he's engaged with some very interesting conversations through these sending crystals before. He looks forward to the responses, though he can't yet know how they might turn out.]

Honestly, the magic of this world is fascinating, and I look forward to learning more about it.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A Wizard? (They are few and far between on his world. Maedhros can't help looking curious.) As far as I know, staffs serve several purposes. When one is on a hike, for example, it can be used to enhance stability - as well as cast spells.

(He now has some ideas about improving staffs. Thank you, Newt.)

The Wizards of Arda are usually...wizened. Or, rather, that is the form they choose? I do not know for certain. They are mysterious and they only involve themselves in the matters of Elves and Men when necessary. (When the Wizards deem necessary.)

Yes. I suppose I am a mage, here, though.

That's what I've known them to be used for. Enhancing stability on a hike, I mean. But they seem to be the instruments of choice for the mages here.

[He's happy to provide inspiration, if unintentionally.]

Really? That is interesting. We have wizards and witches of all ages and sizes. We usually wizen when we grow older, though, there are aging spells and charms.

I am curious as to the differences between the titles - if any exist.

I do not know any Wizards or Mages that use smaller implements. They could be easily lost or crushed in a fray.

(Maedhros has his father's spirit when it comes to crafting and perfecting.)

My people seem to cease physically aging after a certain point. I find the changing appearance of Men fascinating for that reason. Using a spell to alter what is natural seems a shame.

From what I can understand so far, I think it is a matter of linguistic preference, depending on the environment one finds oneself in. We all use magic, after all. Though, I would say the mages here use it more combatantly than most of the wizards and witches at home that aren't Aurors or work for the Ministry.

They could. But wands are tougher than they look. My own has been through countless experiences that really ought to have crushed it. [Not to mention the various teeth marks marking it, both his own and those of various creatures of varying size and danger.]

Really? That seems an aspect of immortality most would pay a steep and high price for, from what I know of people.

Well, it does come in handy when one needs to disguise oneself. So it can be quite the useful tool to have.

Are these Aurors your soldiers? (The Elves possess some magic, but it's not the same as what the Wizards can do - at least not completely. He does not believe the Wizards (of Arda) to be evil, though he is wary of them.)

I am curious how they are made. Are they formed out of wood or metal? (Metal would last longer, but wood makes more sense. The magical properties of Yavanna's trees cannot be ignored.)

Because people are vain. (Maedhros used to be vain too. Morgoth taught him to either embrace his scars or go mad. Or both.)

How would you disguise yourself? As another person? As a monster?

More like police, or, really, guardsmen might be a better term for them, seeing as they are our main line of defense against dark magic. I suppose you could consider them soldiers, yes, though they technically aren't an army. My older brother works as an Auror, actually.

The making of them rather depends on the one making them. And most wand crafters, as far as I know, keep their secrets when it comes to their craft. But yes, they use wood, and a part of a creature, such as a dragon heartstring, the hair of a unicorn, or a phoenix feather. Picking out a wand is quite the process, especially since most witches and wizards do it as they're about to leave for school.

They are indeed. Among...many other things. [Which is the most polite way Newt can think to put it.]

Well. Some of us can change into animals. But that is a powerful magic that requires time and effort. There are various repelling charms and other, more simple disguises.

Wands and Staffs.

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