Vorwärts VI - Die Bewerbung / Forward VI - The application

[Nikolaus]

Werte Mitbürger,

wie viele bereits wissen habe ich bei der letzten Stadtversammlung offiziell angeboten eine Professur der Stadt zu übernehmen.

Die Entscheidung darüber trifft natürlich der Erzmagier. Es ist ihm jedoch wichtig, dass alle Bewohner der Stadt über die Bewerbung informiert sind und es gibt hiermit auch die Möglichkeit das jeder seine Meinung zu diesem Thema publik macht.

~Nalcaryos von Weißhafen~

//

Dear fellow citizens,

As many of you already know, at the last town meeting I officially offered to take on a professorship in the town.

The decision on this will of course be made by the Archmage. However, it is important to him that all residents of the town are informed about the application, and this also gives everyone the opportunity to make their opinion on this matter public.

~Nalcaryos von Weißhafen~

[Cartaphilus]

egarding Master Nalcaryos's application for professorship
As fellow colleague at the academy, I wish to share my considerations regarding Master Nalcaryos's proposition and offer my counsel. We shall first consider the arguments in favour of his application, followed by the arguments to the contrary.

Arguments in favour of Master Nalcaryos's professorship:

I. It seems that Master Nalcaryos is a worthy candidate for professorship. He is an experienced mage of venerable age. Records mentioning his name date as far back as before the destruction of Gobaith.

II. Furthermore, he is known to have been a citizen of Runewick since the days of the Bearers of Fire, ranking among them, and already applied once for professorship under Dean Djironnyma's administration.

III. Since his return to Runewick, Master Nalcaryos has been proactive in hosting academic lectures and planning construction projects for the betterment of Runewick. These are commendable efforts.

IV. In his speech at the last town assembly, Master Nalcaryos presented a reasonable political platform: He criticised Runewick's empty coffers, emphasised the importance of fostering Runewick's reputation as a magical institution, keeping public peace, and fortifying the cohesion of the realms to rid Illarion of the demon Preacerdhal.

Objections to aforesaid arguments:

I. Although Master Nalcaryos has since long practiced the arcane arts, his expertise and methods are not free of reproach. Notably, Cadomyr rejects Master Nalcaryos's participation in their planned examination of Reace and Acerd. Furthermore, his lectures have failed to rouse the interest of mages from beyond Runewick, such as our esteemed peers in Galmair, who were notably absent. (Addendum: The Academy of Runewick prides itself on being Illarion's leading institution of the magical sciences. As such, its professors ought to enjoy the trust of all their peers, both within and outside the Academy, so that the Academy may foster the cooperation between mages from all realms.

II. Although Nalcaryos has long been a citizen of Runewick, he was away for many years and just recently returned from his travels. Much has changed during his absence; the Bearers of Fire are no more, many of his old peers and compatriots retired or left Illarion, and many new arrivals became citizens of Runewick in their stead. As such, I believe that Master Nalcaryos's distant past in Runewick has little bearing on his present qualification as professor. The last record of his activity in Runewick before his departure refers to his previous application as professor, which was rejected in favour of Professor Deanna. A professorship is a great responsibility and should thus not be conferred hastily, but awarded only to those who served Runewick and its current people continuously and long enough to be familiar with their needs and wishes.

III. Though many ambitious projects were proposed by Master Nalcaryos, the public's support has been thus far limited, and no noteworthy progress has yet been achieved in the realisation of any of them. I believe the ability to motivate our fellow citizens to contribute to the realm's weal and to rally them to achieve Runewick's goals to be of paramount importance for an aspiring leader of the realm.

IV. Though Master Nalcaryos's vision is commendable, it lacks substance. Remedying the realm's fiscal problems does not require the appointment of a professor, but a rent collector, a role which last was filled by the probationary councillor Aswe. An immediate remedy could be achieved through private donations as well as public events to raise funds, such as treasure hunts. An aspiring professor should lead by example.

Raising Runewick's reputation as magical institution won't be achieved through lofty titles, but through assiduous academic work, which I deem to be Master Nalcaryos's greatest strength. His lectures revived the Hall of Elara, which is a commendable feat. However, a professorship is no prerequisite for academic excellence, but its reward. I advise to seek further cooperation with mages from abroad to truly raise the reputation of Runewick as centre of magical learning.

Runewick enjoyed peace and idyllic quietude for long, despite its dearth of professors. Crime is at an all-time low and our relations with Cadomyr are improving. Whilst our neighbours are menaced by untamed orcs and rebellious pirates, life in Runewick is calm and easy. It would seem that no professor is required to maintain law and order in Runewick.

Regarding Illarion's ongoing struggle with Preacerdhal, Master Nalcaryos offered neither an elaboration of his plans, nor why they require him to be made a professor, or why he should be put at the helm of Runewick's efforts against Letma. Many a war plan was devised by the realms over the years, few if any of them were realised, and none succeeded. Declarations of intention alone are, unfortunately, insufficient to achieve victory over the demon of Mount Letma. Runewick already stands in firm opposition to Preacedhal and her servants, and those willing to fight are sure to follow the clarion call of our allies in this struggle.

Conclusion:

With all this in mind, I advise against conferring the accolade of professorship to Master Nalcaryos. Instead I recommend him to be made a probationary member of the Academic Council, just as Master Drakull and Aswe were once made, so that Master Nalcaryos may work together with Master Drakull and prove his talents as administrator of the realm through meritorious service. I recommend to retain Master Drakull as councillor, lest the great responsibility and authority of the Academic Council shall rest again on the shoulders of one councillor alone.

Signed,

Doctor of the Faculty of Magic and Humanities, ambassador to Cadomyr

Addendum:

Regarding objection I: With the recent arrival of multiple new mages to Illarion, Nalcaryos's last lecture, too, gained the attention of several mages from outside of Runewick. A welcome trend which I hope will continue.

Regarding objection II: The town's archives are unclear on the relation between Nalcaryos's application for professorship and Deanna's subsequent promotion. Nalcaryos asserts that his application was not rejected in favour of Deanna, but that he withdrew it some time before Deanna applied to the Council.

Signed,