At the Wizards' and Alchemists' School, Ulrun takes up the Chair of Intangible Studies in an ancient and slightly preposterous ceremony. Wearing a colourful robe of a style that was popular centuries ago, he is required to walk seven steps backwards with his head lowered and a scroll held between his knees. He then has to sit on the chair (without looking at it). At this point, he is to raise his head and intone a line of Classical Reman poetry. The professorial cap is placed on his head by the High Wizard, before the other faculty members throw scrolls at him.
If he didn't know this was the genuine ceremony, Ulrun would be sure they were winding him up. A small party follows.
Later, Deputy High Wizard Janna shows Ulrun the office he's inherited. It's small and cluttered, and comes complete with an empty drinks cabinet, several shelves of esoteric tomes, a stuffed parrot on a perch, and a thick layer of dust. "No one's been in here for a while," Janna says apologetically. "I'll make sure the cleaners come round. Now, I promised you a couple of interesting trinkets. I believe they're in here." She opens the desk drawer (it sticks solidly, and she has to use a petty incantation to dislodge it). "Yes, here we go." From the drawer, she takes out a rather jaunty hat, and an elaborate wand.
"Van Helmont called this a Hat of Pluvial Protection," she says, "so it should be no surprise that it protects the wearer from rain - as by the minor incantation. Ah, it also changes colour on command."
[Jaunty Hat of Pluvial Protection: allows the wearer to remain dry during rainfall (as the petty spell 'protection from rain'). The wearer may also cause the hat to change colour at will.]
The wand is about eighteen inches long, and made from some sort of heavy, dark wood bound with silver rings. On one end is a cloudy blue stone, gripped by a small metal hand. On the other is a little statue that looks like a looming rabbit with wings. "This is traditionally called the Unnameable Rod," Janna says, "ah... no one is sure why. It was bequeathed to the Chair of Intangible Studies in 1754, in lieu of a gambling debt, and has been passed down ever since. It's rather a frivolous device - it lets you make your spells look more dramatic. Glowing eyes, clouds of arcane smoke, choruses of chanting spirits, that sort of thing."
[The Unnameable Rod: any spell cast while holding the rod is made more impressive, by the addition of light, smoke and sound effects of the caster's choice. However, the spell will require one or more additional magic points, depending on the complexity of the effects.]
"Both of these items are yours for as long as you hold the Chair." She smiles. "Which will be for life, unless you somehow disgrace yourself in the School's eyes."
