Preface

THE MAGI LETTERS

Edited by

Dianarama Ottorius

Imperial Magic Academy

and

Solsticia Quartermanus

University of New Pasifica

Preface

Perhaps no point of imperial history is as disputed as the brief period following the mysterious reappearance of the Suldan Stones, seventy-five years after their theft by Magi Sedgwick Demestheln in 425 A.I. The return of the Stones was documented when Magi Stephanus Demestheln restored them to the Justicum vaults after they materialized on his doorstep. But whether and how the remarkable events which followed—the assassination of Princess Ameliorene, the restoration of magic to the Shazar Pass, and the reform of magical education—were connected, remained unclear. Later history has attributed the confusion to the political maneuvering of then Head Councilman Master Desiderius Lastra. At the time, however, speculation ran wild. The most popular conspiracy theory described a Nirabian plot to monopolize the magic carpet trade. (This was later discredited as propaganda of the Imperial Carpet Weavers Union.) What truth was known soon became obscured by a rash of highly improbable histories churned out by hacks capitalizing on the political drama.

The personal correspondence contained in this volume was discovered when the Ardaya family papers were donated to the Justicum archives by the last surviving member of that family, Miss Genevieve Ardaya. The letters chronicle the weeks following the Stones’ reappearance, an account which must absolutely overturn all existing historical narratives. Not only are the actions of the principle players clarified, but political and personal motives emerge that were never even guessed by historians. The importance of this volume to even our general understanding of the history of the Imperial Realm cannot be overestimated, and we hope that scholars and laypersons alike will approach it with an open mind.

A number of scholarly aids and other supplemental materials have been appended.

Obvious errors in spelling, punctuation, and usage have been corrected. The inverted ‘g’ then in vogue has been silently amended.

The editors wish to thank the staff of the Justicum archives, the special collections librarians of the University of New Pacifica, Magi Patricia C. Wrede, and Magi Caroline Stevermer.