1. Beth, The Magician
If the party want to check the garden surround before they enter they
will find that the wall and railings continue all the way around what
appears to be a circular garden roughly 100 yards in diametre. There
are identical gates at each quarter but all except the first one (the
North one) are locked. Nothing the PCs can do will open these and all
attempts to climb the railings will fail.As they enter the garden all tiredness drops away from the PCs and all wounds are healed. No magic works here except the Magician's. The garden is much bigger on the inside than on the outside and is an idyllic place. Small streams flow from ornate fountains between intricate beds of every imaginable type of flower. Many trees offer shade from the Sun and fruit grows in abundance all around. Multi-coloured gravel or paved paths wind through the garden, all eventually leading to the centre where there is a flat, grassy area. In the exact centre of this stands The Magician.
He
is a tall, dark man who radiates confidence. He wears a white robe
fastened at the waist by a three stranded gold cord in the form of a
snake eating its own tail. He has a rich scarlet cloak and a gold
circlet on his brow. In his right hand he holds a wand. In front of him
is a stone table with four objects on it.A wand of sprouting wood, a gold disc inscribed with a pentacle, a silver goblet (always) full of water and a silver (ornamental) sword.
Beth (pronounced Bet or Bayt) does not usually tell the PCs his name at this meeting, prefering his title of Magician. His full name is the Magus of Power and he will definitely not reveal this.
He greets the party warmly saying:'Aleph, my friend, it has been a long time' Aleph will look confused but smile anyway 'and I see you have bought company. Be welcome travellers. Rest here in my garden a while and refresh yourselves. No doubt you have had a tiring journey so far.'
He gestures and a huge, striped marquee appears, inside can be seen tables laden with food and couches to rest on.
'I am the Magician and, since I know who you are, that will suffice for introductions, we will talk further in the morning.'
He gathers up the items from his table and moves off into the garden, ignoring any attempts to talk to or hinder him. For some reason nobody will be able to follow or track him, the path will take them a different way.
Inside the marquee the food is plentiful and good and the couches are very comfortable. Eventually the Sun will set and a normal night will follow.
The Next Morning
On waking the party will spot the Magician by his table talking to Aleph. As the party emerges from the marquee he says:'Good morning my friends. Unfortunately we do not have time to talk as the High Priestess is already waiting for you. I trust the food and accommodation was satisfactory.
I have some gifts for you that will hopefully aid you in your quest......'
He hands out the four keys to different party members going in Presence order. He gives them out in the correct key order which is Wand (Fire), Disc (Earth), Cup (Water) and Sword (Air) but does not draw attention to this.
'These are the keys to the Four Kingdoms, use them wisely. Now you must hurry, I'm sure we'll meet again. Take this path and look for her temple in the river.'
He directs the party to a path that leads them, after a remarkably short time, to the south gate from the garden which is now open.
Rewards
Staying with the Magician gains each character 1XP
The Magician
I Saw the Man.
His figure reached from earth to heaven and was clad in a purple mantle. He stood deep in foliage and flowers and his head, on which was the head-band of an initiate, seemed to disappear mysteriously in infinity.
Before him on a cube-shaped altar were four symbols of magic--the sceptre, the cup, the sword and the pentacle.
His right hand pointed to heaven, his left to earth. Under his mantle he wore a white tunic girded with a serpent swallowing its tail.
His face was luminous and serene, and, when his eyes met mine, I felt that he saw most intimate recesses of my soul. I saw myself reflected in him as in a mirror and in his eyes I seemed to look upon myself.
And I heard a voice saying:
--"Look, this is the Great Magician!
With his hands he unites heaven and earth, and the four elements that form the world are controlled by him.
The four symbols before him are the four letters of the name of God, the signs of the four elements, fire, water, air, earth."
I trembled before the depth of the mysteries A touched... The words I heard seemed to be littered by the Great Magician himself, and it was as though he spoke in me.
I was in deep trepidation and at moment I felt there was nothing, before me except the blue sky; but within me a window opened through which I could see unearthly things. and hear unearthly words.
THE SYMBOLISM OF THE TAROT by P D. OUSPENSKY
His figure reached from earth to heaven and was clad in a purple mantle. He stood deep in foliage and flowers and his head, on which was the head-band of an initiate, seemed to disappear mysteriously in infinity.
Before him on a cube-shaped altar were four symbols of magic--the sceptre, the cup, the sword and the pentacle.
His right hand pointed to heaven, his left to earth. Under his mantle he wore a white tunic girded with a serpent swallowing its tail.
His face was luminous and serene, and, when his eyes met mine, I felt that he saw most intimate recesses of my soul. I saw myself reflected in him as in a mirror and in his eyes I seemed to look upon myself.
And I heard a voice saying:
--"Look, this is the Great Magician!
With his hands he unites heaven and earth, and the four elements that form the world are controlled by him.
The four symbols before him are the four letters of the name of God, the signs of the four elements, fire, water, air, earth."
I trembled before the depth of the mysteries A touched... The words I heard seemed to be littered by the Great Magician himself, and it was as though he spoke in me.
I was in deep trepidation and at moment I felt there was nothing, before me except the blue sky; but within me a window opened through which I could see unearthly things. and hear unearthly words.
THE SYMBOLISM OF THE TAROT by P D. OUSPENSKY
