"Ah, Carson interests you? A genius, if ever there was one. Perhaps you would also like to read his most famous publication about magic, known as On Magic. Or perhaps you'd like to take a look at his accounts, or read about the school he founded, known as the Carson Institute? There is also a book on Carson's Law, which explains Riiga's level of technology thanks to Carson's Letter.

 

Sage Nicolas Kristof Carson

"And because the many furies of the earth -- great waves, ravaging fires, quakes, hurricanes -- are so vast in power and effect, that I do declare they are neither a chance occurrence of Riiga, nor are they the residual product of the gods, but are under command by the mind of the earth itself. And the mind of the earth does not do what any man or woman wants, because it cannot be asked of, or beckoned at, and it does not feel mercy or regret, as it is only righteous in its actions, and this in itself is justification for all who fall victim to an untimely demise at the hands of nature." ~Nicolas Carson~

Undoubtedly one of the greatest minds ever, Nicolas Carson delved into many areas of science and magic, and, at some point in his life, was an explorer, a botanist, a geologist, a chemist, an alchemist, an astronomer, a mage, a sage, a physician, a doctor, a physicist, a spiritualist, a teacher, a cartographer, a navigator, an inventor, an artist, a philosopher, a biologist, an architect, a linguist, and more. His father was Dorian Carson, who was a very scientifically-minded and clever man, though Carson enjoyed both science and magic, finding it easy to switch mindsets back and forth. He has one known descendant that lives in Central, and that is Jaron Carson the alchemist, the richest man in Central.

History

 

Central

Nicolas was born in 5976BD in the city of Lyte. Even though Dorian Carson was predominantly a doctor, his wife died of an illness very soon after Carson was born. Nevertheless, Dorian remained a sturdy rock of support for Nicolas as he grew up in the safety of the city's early days. Dorian was a doctor for the rich and noble, and as such, he spent lots of time in Lyte's palace with the Hireos there. It should go without saying that anyone who spends a large amount of time with Hireos has their life extended. Nicolas, too, spent much of his time there, and so he grew up slower and would live far longer than any normal person.

Dorian was very hard on Nicolas and schooled his son personally, teaching him everything he knew to such an extent that Nicolas saw his father as some sort of all-knowing figure, even as Nicolas became an adult. Dorian didn't like magic and believed only in the power of fact and knowledge. On top of all things, Dorian made an effort to put on a strong front for people. He would never let on how he was feeling. At first, Nicolas took this on board, but it wasn't long after this that he began to go off on his own mental tangents.

Little is known about Nicolas's intellect as a child. As he was schooled only by his father, there was almost no evidence of Nicolas's schooling accomplishments. It is known, though, that he was indeed very clever, because he would often visit the temple sector of Lyte's palace to discuss intricate matters with the wise men and women. People recalled him speaking of scientific areas of study, and also recall him being especially keen in magic. His father, however, forbid Nicolas from " any act or display of genius". All papers and projects Nicolas did were kept completely private between him and his father, and it's said that Nicolas carried these with him until the day he died. They are rumoured to be buried with him.

In the year 5822, when Nicolas was 154 years old (still a young man), his father died in an accident at the wharf involving a faulty crane. The next morning, though terribly upset by his father's death, Nicolas approached the wharf's owner with an extraordinarily detailed diagram showing a new type of crane -- one that wouldn't malfunction like the one that killed his father did. The owner took one look at the diagram and had the new cranes being built within a week. It was in this same year that Nicolas was asked to accompany a fleet of ships sailing to explore the land to the west. They claimed that they couldn't do without his apparent architectural genius. As he had nothing left in Lyte to stay for, he accepted and sailed with them.

South Ideitess

They arrived in what is now South Ideitess and tried to begin many settlements. For many years they lived very simply. The human population of the West consisted of a few dozen families throughout perhaps 20 settlements, and no more. This lifestyle went on for almost 400 years, and still Nicolas Carson was living and breathing, and appeared no older than when the fleet arrived. It was then that he believed he was somehow blessed, and when he began to explore both magic and science at once, seeing truth in both. For most of his early years in West, he explored the land and recorded flora, fauna, and minerals. After all this time, he had many followers. Even though the people mutually agreed they would not become a society where they needed leaders to rule and guide them, they looked up to Carson. Empowered by his beliefs in his own blessed destiny, Carson guided a large number of people to the centre of the lush network of canyons and sketched a plan for a city. He showed the people there and immediately they began to work on this sketch on a finer scale. By the end of the day, they had numerous legible designs for a grand city. Such was the inspiration that Nicolas Carson breathed.

This city was called Trelinia (which was the name of Dorian's wife, hence its use in Trelinia in the East). It was completed in 5427 and took almost 50 years to build. In the centre was a giant building that housed all of those wishing to study both science and magic sometimes called the "Information House". The idea of the city was to protect the people of West and allow them to learn and study but also as a show of human genius and craftsmanship, and as such, the architecture was intricate and beautiful, and the colours of the city were soothing and mysterious, and the high walls and buildings whispered wisdom and elegance. Once word of this city reached Central, many scientists sailed across to find out what was happening, and a large percentage of them stayed in Trelinia. Carson gained his grand ranking of Sage (though he pretended he had no such rank) and the city was prosperous for a long time.

In the year 5004BD, Carson and some others went on an expedition, and he recorded all of the happenings in a book called Carson's Accounts. They travelled to the temple of Vyenri and discovered many new things. However, after the two or so weeks underground within the temple, Carson became blind. Though he was not worried about it, his fellow scientists were outraged. When he returned home and explained what had happened to everyone else, the new discoveries were almost completely ignored. The temple had somehow blinded their Sage and they blamed magic and the gods for this. Furious, a large gathering marched up to the temple and they ruined as much as they could: front columns were smashed, staircases were collapsed, walls were knocked down, and access to the lower levels of the temple suddenly became near-impossible. Carson was equally furious at his fellow scientists for what they had done and he decided to move.

North Ideitess

After a year, Carson and his loyal followers had enough supplies gathered and they left Trelinia and South Ideitess behind. The other scientists, though confused, were quick to scowl at Carson's back as he sailed up the west side of the continent. They arrived at the rich and expansive fields of North Ideitess and tried to start a town, but wild Nortu soon foiled this idea. They set sail again and settled at the mouth of a river there further north. Plentiful resources encouraged quick growth, and thus the city of Venzet was born. Jordan Forfax -- a burly man with red hair -- was an old friend of Carson's, and after an astounding incident involving a Nortu bull and Carson's life, he was elected to lead the people. Even if he hadn't been blind, Carson claimed he would not have accepted taking leadership over the people. He never wanted to have a top position over everyone else.

A few years later, it was discovered that there were other beings that dwell in North Ideitess. Despite its lush appearance, creatures of The Enemy often venture from a hiding place between North and South Ideitess. Forfax was quick to instill a new order known as the Legionites. As Carson was blind, there was little research he could do on the creatures to aid the Legionites, but he did what he could. In 4990BD, after a dream, Carson awoke saying he had seen what is now known as a Supreme Shimteak which was accompanied by three Great Shimteak. Though they did not speak, Carson said he felt they were telling him to build a wall, and they pointed on a map to where it should be built. Due to Carson's great reputation, very few argued against his request to have the wall built (Now called Carson's Wall) and two days after it was completed, a large army of The Enemy marched up from the south but was eventually beaten by the humans manning the wall. If the wall had not been built, the army would have gone through the land beyond and killed many more people. However, within a week of the army being defeated, Sage Carson died of unknown causes. He was 986 years old.

Officials said that Nicolas was buried beneath the eastern statue at Carson's Wall, on the "dark side" of the wall, and that his chamber was sealed off completely. However, this became less of a fact as time passed, and many people have ventured over all of Ideitess in the hopes of finding Carson's burial place, so that they may marvel at or steal the diaries and papers he kept with him his entire life. Officials still insist their original statement is complete truth.