Sagidunnus grins. "Careful who you say that too, as well. That comes dangerously close to suggesting that relying on magic might weaken a civilization. It's not against the Code, but some senior magi might be as offended as if it were. And they're more than capable of making you suffer for it. Turns out it's pretty easy to cause people to take actions you don't want."

"I'll keep that in mind. I don't think it's really about relying on magic though so much as relying on things that make it hard to collaborate. For all we know the gnomes' power was just based on different magic."

"Many scholars say it was! Can't seem to agree which magic, though. The Gnostic tradition is relatively new. I've yet to find a satisfactory answer."

"I wish it really was just a single event. Not a continuous effect that acts on people who relearn too much about what they knew."

"The Forgetting? Seems like it may have been both. Whatever it was doesn't seem nearly as powerful today as it was then, or the whole of Grawtosh would be corrupted by now. Good thing, too. I admit I'm deeply curious what the original effect looked like when it worked on someone's mind, but I doubt even Praeceptor Nora could experiment safely with that."

"True enough. I still feel that the continuous effect is the more insidious part though. A temporary setback would be different."

"Tell that to a senior mage with decades of hoarded knowledge. But if you're thinking really long term, sure."

"Yes, that's what I meant. It's a good point though, if it was just the slow degredation the outcome would have looked quite different."

"What about you? Any ambitions to name?"

"In the short term I got my own offer for a good apprenticeship if I can show enough progress in the near future so that's my current focus. In the longer term, I'm less sure, I want to learn a little bit of everything. I'm particularly interested in how a place like Grawtosh works. I've already stumbled into some stranger corners of the school and I've heard of so many more."

"Oh yes, exploring Grawtosh is a longtime tradition. Never know what one can find. It's my master's area of study, though, not mine. I prefer subjects that behave more reliably. Like people." He chuckles dryly. "Who offered to take you on as an apprentice?"

"Primus Centho." He smiles. He isn't quite sure why he got the offer but he's still proud.

Sagidunnus whistles. "Centho the Silent? Head of the Dreamers? Wow. You must have pulled some strings to slip in past Philotheus. No wonder he's been upset lately."

"I made a good impression on Magus Lilian Weald when she visited hometown. She wrote me a letter of recommendation but apparently she also sent a message ahead of arrival. I didn't realize Philotheus was aiming for the same apprenticeship."

"You didn't know?" For the first time, Sagidunnus looks genuinely aghast. "You're joking. Philotheus has been angling to work under Praeceptor Centho for years. Most of us expected he would, at some point. Not that I blame him; Centho is Head of his Order, after all, and if you're paying attention, the man has a lot more pull with the Council than you'd expect from an Order that size."

"I didn't have much time to socialize before he made the offer and I've had a somewhat chilly reception with others in the order since then."

"You don't say! I suggest you make friends quickly. Philotheus isn't the type to take an insult like that lying down. You probably didn't know this either, but he got kicked out of the Order of Vision for letting a rivalry go too far. Only the Dreamers would take him in after that, talented or no."

"I'll do my best. Thank you for the heads up. It's good to have at least a starting point towards resolving this."

"Luck and skill." Sagidunnus waves. "It's been...fascinating."

"You're welcome." And with that he walks off. He... has a lot to think about now. Should he try to talk to Philotheus now? It's not exactly the most advantageous time but... it's also a very public chance. Philotheus is unlikely to do anything much with such an audience. He's not really sure what to say either though. Up until now he hasn't really questioned why he was offered the apprenticeship. He figured that Lilian told Centho some of the truth of what happened. But maybe this is actually as much a test for Philotheus as it is for him.

He frowns. Maybe he's been too passive about this. He doesn't think dramatically confronting Philotheus would be productive but being a loner hasn't helped him either. If he has any chance of getting out of this... besides having the Devisors save him or finding enough evidence to have the staff take action... okay now that he's actually taking a step back there have been a lot of options he's been ignoring.

Still, trying to be social is at least unlikely to hurt. He'll go see if he can join Philotheus's group.

Perhaps ten apprentices eye Alex as he approaches, most looking to be in their mid to late teens. There are some upturned noses and expressions of open disgust on their faces, but also a few of curiosity. It's mostly people Alex has only seen or met in passing, if at all, at least as far as Alex can recall.

Philotheus himself graces Alex with a nasty smile. "Lads, looks like Shadwick's outdone himself this time with the party planning. Hired a provincial chirurgeon and everything. Are you going to dissect a dog for us?" There's sniggering around the circle at this, though not from everyone.

He was braced for that. He makes a show of checking his pockets. "I don't seem to have one with me. Besides, I don't think his excellence requires additional entertainment as a complement."

That earns a muffled snort from one of the Dreamers, swiftly silenced by a look from Philotheus, who returns fire. "I agree, Shadwick's demonstrated talents reflect well on the Order. His taste in guests, on the other hand, leaves much to be desired."

"I'll freely admit I have a lot to learn. That's why I spend so much time studying. Why Primus Centho made me the offer he did is a mystery. I expect a magus like him never has just one purpose for such a choice."

"So you're questioning his judgment, is that it? I suppose we ought to expect such impoliteness from a stumble-tongued barbarian." Without taking his eyes off Alex, he makes an unfamiliar gesture that might be magical, drawing his fingernails across his throat and mouth.