Feeling uneasy and listless after a day of tedious work, you take hesitant steps toward Issar Roon's study. Your feet feel heavy, as though caked in dried mud, and your body responds slowly to the demands sent by your head. You are not sure if a story will help, but it's better than going back to your cold, dark sleeping niche.

The warm air and glowing candles do little to lighten your mood as you enter. The old man seems oblivious to your empty thoughts and greets you in his usual, gruff manner.

Back for more, are you? I don't have any additional information regarding the Primeval Dragons, if that is what you desire. It will be many centuries before they return, and that is not a foreseen certainty.

Having already forgotten the ending of the old man's previous story, you ignore his comment and slump to the floor. You try to sit respectfully on the old man's rug, but are sure that you've failed.

I think today I shall return to Madara, or more specifically, the Edemi Islands off the coast of Madara. It is there that rebellion was a constant against the emperor Nicol Bolas, for while the ancient dragon controlled the Empire of Madara with an iron claw, the tiny islands of Edemi off its coast refused to bend to his will.

But let us dive deeper into detail today, beyond the Emperor, deeper into the Edemi Islands. The Edemis consist of two large landmasses named Argenti and Kusho. It is on Argenti that I will concentrate today, for there is a being that resides on the island that is of much interest. His name is Lord Magnus.

A bit deeper still, and one can learn that Lord Magnus resides on the southern half of Argenti, watching over the woods and wildlife. The northern plains of the island are ruled by Lady Caleria, but again, that is information for another day. Lord Magnus is a benevolent leader—unlike a certain Elder Dragon—and does little to intervene in the daily lives of the forest dwellers. Most don't even know he exists, controlling the forest's growth when needed.

If one wished to dive even deeper, one would find within these woods Lord Magnus's home, the Sylvan Library. This is a place of magic and mystery, avoided by most who reside within the woods. Housed by a gigantic deformed tree, Lord Magnus's throne allows anyone who sits within to become the avatar of the forest. Rumor has it that Lord Magnus could control anyone who put themselves on the throne, but only one has been known to have survived merging with the forest, and she will not talk of it.

You remember a piece of what the old man said about forest avatars and Maro-Sorcerers on a previous visit, and wonder aloud if Lord Magnus fits within that classification.

No, Lord Magnus is not a Maro-Sorcerer, though he holds a similar position within the forest. He was not created by the Argenti forest, the process by which all Maro come into being. Lord Magnus is a very powerful human druid with an age no one is quite sure of. It is unclear how the relationship first originated, but Lord Magnus is much like a Maro protecting his forest when sitting upon his throne. There have even been reports of the druid manipulating the forest without the aid of his throne.

So, why am I telling you of this man? It is because of his small but important role in the final rebellion against Madara, an event that brought Nicol Bolas to his knees.

When Lady Caleria led a renewed Edemi Islands rebellion, Lord Magnus lent his support. The Edemis, including Argenti, were invaded by Madara's feared Kentsu, and the situation looked dire for Lord Magnus. He was of old age and had grown weak, unable to repel invaders from his shores. When Ayesha Tanaka led a Kentsu force against the Sylvan Library itself, Lord Magnus's defeat was assured, with his body fading into nothing.

With Lord Magnus removed from his throne, Ayesha Tanaka sat herself within it in hopes of finding the power to cure herself and her student, Kei Takahashi. She was quickly overwhelmed by the power of the forest however, and succumbed to its will. She became a new avatar of the forest, but it was the forest that controlled her.

It was Ayesha Tanaka's knowledge of the Kentsu forces that allowed the Argenti woods to repel its invaders. Using her energy to direct its power, the woods fought with a vigor that Lord Magnus had been unable to summon. Within minutes, the invading force had been decimated, and Ayesha Tanaka was released from her seat of power, healed.

With the exorcism ended the voice of Lord Magnus rang throughout the Sylvan Library, demanding Ayesha Tanaka's departure. Though his body had gone, Lord Magnus remained the guardian of Argenti, and did not trust the Kentsu woman. In fact, legend says that as Ayesha Tanaka fled, Lord Magnus returned to his throne with a renewed aura of energy and power emanating from him, ready to protect Argenti once more.

And that, my young student, is the short story of how Lord Magnus managed to defeat Nicol Bolas's army, eventually leading to the Emperor himself being driven from the lands of Madara. It is not known if Lord Magnus manipulated Ayesha Tanaka into helping him, but the books suggest that it is so. I cannot say either way myself, for I have not met the man.

Has my tale energized you? Relieved you of your pain? Perhaps it has not, but I hope that you are able to sleep well tonight. Come see me again if you require another tale, but bring dinner next time.

The old man's eyes gleam with his last words. The thought of food in his mind gives the old man a look of youth and energy, not unlike Lord Magnus's rejuvenation. You wish the thought of food could do the same for you, but feel it a futile effort. Still, you resolve to stop by the dining hall for a small bit of sustenance as you close the door behind you.