The following letter was delivered by courier to Vornavis, entrusted to reach Malvernus. It was sealed with a bit of jade green wax bearing the design of a flame-wreathed scorpion.

~~~

Salutations Malvernus,

I understand that you are back in Vornavis.  I regret to have missed your visit in the early hours this morning, especially as there is a matter I would like to have discussed with you given your unspoken role in this region.  I am writing to you regarding a matter that has finally seen official resolution recently, though its root cause still lingers.

For the past two and a half years, I have been pursuing further study that incorporates advanced rote Elemental magic with the more commonly practiced circles of Construction, Civilization, and Agriculture, which of course are the foundations from which some of our most prominent cities and towns rise.  This has been directly inspired by the challenges faced in the immediate aftermath of the disaster at Talador.  Many relief efforts and volunteers were hampered by the hurdles of transporting goods and people over long distances ill-prepared for such routes, and while much of the relief has been a genuine help to those refugees impacted, there is much that can still be done to help them continue to improve their fields and their roadways.

I had sought a research grant to support this about two years ago with the Chantry College, as this was a topic that had a specific tie with the Empire, and, at the time, also had an immediate need for support in order to prevent further loss of life of Imperial citizens.  As months passed with no response, I resigned to the fact that the grant was not approved; this was finally confirmed in person two weeks ago.  Regardless of that outcome, I had continued my attempts to further refine these circles in a way to improve the infrastructure leading to the relief camps and to hone how irrigation might better improve the croplands surrounding them.

Throughout it all, I was faced with a specific challenge that remains incredibly difficult to overcome, and one which I had hoped the grant might have helped partially fund, if not entirely:

There is no suitable location in Solhaven to pursue advanced magical studies.

I feel that this lack of formal presence within the Vornavis-Solhaven region is a tragedy.  We have two prestigious entities that serve to facilitate this research, study, and practice of magic that for some reason have shunned this part of the Empire. I was delighted to hear of the recent opening of Wizard's Guild structures on the distant islands of Mist Harbor and Kraken's Fall; I am dismayed that such a cause for celebration continues to elude our local residents and visitors.

Malvernus, I would like to humbly request your assistance in petitioning either the Hall of Mages or the Wizard's Guild of Elanthia to formally establish a presence in Solhaven so that the mages and other magic practitioners may further their studies and contributions in a structured and safe environment.  Ideally the two could work in collaboration with the other, but any resolution that provides this outcome would be far better than what we have now.

While there are some excellent private workshops in town, such as the one in Cairnfang Manor itself, they are still a far cry from a proper facility that is geared toward these more complex activities.  This, of course, only encourages less safe research methods -- a fact that less scrupulous members of the Hall have taken advantage of countless times in the frontier north of here, free of any checks and balances that the Hall might ensure are in place to address potential tragedies before they can manifest.

I hope that you will consider my request.  Regardless of the outcome, I will be continuing with my research, hampered as it is locally, or taken elsewhere to other cities that have proper facilities, such as further south in the Empire or outside of it to Ta'Illistim.  Should you like to speak further in person regarding this matter, please do let me know.  And, should you wish for a list of others who share a similar desire, I would be happy to provide a formal petition with names and signatures.

Respectfully,
Phanna Green