- I Cast...Brainstorm!
- Posts
- I Cast...Brainstorm issue 32!
I Cast...Brainstorm issue 32!
A weekly newsletter of ideas and advice for D&D Dungeon Masters, players, and fans
Dave Palmer
November 14th, 2025
In partnership with
This week — The Fel and Xarkorian College of the Magical Arts
Thanks for reading I Cast…Brainstorm!, a weekly newsletter with ideas and advice to help make DM-ing and playing D&D (and other TTRPGs) easier and more fun.
You can say hello, share feedback, and let me know what you’d like to see in the newsletter at [email protected].
And please share our link with your friends and fellow gamers, so they can join us, too. https://icastbrainstorm.beehiiv.com/
Let’s brainstorm some fun!
In this issue...
What a busy and fun but mostly busy week!
Happy to say I had time to continue brainstorming the Fel and Xarkorian School of the Magical Arts — you can meet the founders and take a look at the grounds below. In future issues I’ll build out the town and introduce the current crop of students.
Thanks for reading, and have a great week!
Fel and Xarkorian
Fel and Xarkorian met as young adventurers of rival parties, exploring the same ancient tomb, and they instantly hated each other. Xarkorian found Fel much too bossy and opinionated, and Fel was quite vocal about the reckless destructiveness in how Xarkorian employed the Weave, and how stupidly tall he was.
Fate intervened deep within the tomb as their respective parties were both destroyed in a battle against a lich and her undead army, leaving the two mages to join together to survive the onslaught. They combined their talents in clever ways, and soon destroyed the powerful lich. They looted the complex and left, never declaring they would stay together, but never parting ways again.
Their bond was forged in battle and strengthened by trust as they explored farther and delved deeper into their study of the Weave. As they traversed worlds both real and esoteric, and their power grew, their companionship blossomed into love.
As they got older, their desire for travel waned, and when they found the ruins of an ancient tower on the outskirts of a small, bucolic village, they decided to settle down and focus their energy on excavating the ruins and furthering their mastery of the Weave. A few years later, a young mage arrived at the tower, and asked to apprentice with the couple. Fel was especially interested in training the mage “the right way”, and thus, the Fel and Xarkorian School of the Magical Arts was born.
They now have anywhere from 4 to 8 pupils, ensuring each receives wholistic and personal training that leverages the student’s individual strength with the Weave. Their students are known to be some of the most formidable and principled mages of the age.
Fel Flinstynn
Late middle age, human
Personality - serious, warm but not friendly
Alignment - LN
Type - Abjurer Wizard
Values - The safety of the students, and the continuation of the school
Goals - To find a student who could take over the running of the school
A short, stout woman with a commanding presence and ice-blue eyes, Fel wears robes of white with golden accents. Her robes’ voluminous sleeves often hide her hands, and the wand of yew that she uses to focus her command of the Weave. Her white hair is worn in a single, long braid down her back.
Known for her mastery of protective wards, illusions and enchantments, she teaches defensive magic, as well as the traditions and ethics of spellcraft. Fel insists on discipline and thoughtfulness when using magic. Foolhardiness or carelessness will result in immediate expulsion, yet Fel understands that to grow, students must stretch, and she rewards curiosity. Though she is not known to make jokes, and she doesn’t laugh often, when she does, the sound is unmistakable — a low, mirthful chuckle that fills the room with warmth.
Xarkorian of Crompp
Late middle age, human
Personality - passionate, intense, jovial
Alignment - CG
Type - Evoker Wizard
Values - The quality of the students and the reputation of the School
Goals - To travel the planes with Fel
A lithe, thin human man with a bald head and a close-cropped salt-and-pepper beard, Xarokorian’s eyes gleam with mischief and wisdom. He loves a good joke, and a good story, whether true or nor. He moves with a lurching gate, and is never without his tall staff of orange-painted ironwood.
Xarkorian can often be found often gazing at the stars from the observatory. He balances Fel’s grounded nature with a more passionate temper, encouraging students to question and explore and push themselves. He doesn’t fear power of any sort, and is an evoker at heart, though he loves divination magic as well, and is an expert on the planes and planar travel.
The Fel and Xarkorian School of the Magical Arts
Locations
1. The Gate
This area is reached by a winding dirt road from the town. A 10’x10’ guardhouse, always staffed by one of the students, watches over this wide iron gate that proudly displays the Fel and Xarkorian symbol. The wall that surrounds the school ranges from 12’ to 20’ in height (around the outdoor classroom, to prevent prying eyes).
2. The Tower
The main building of the school, the tower is 50’ across and consists of five floors. The bottom floor contains a large, comfortable common room with a large fireplace, as well as an office that Fel and Xarkorian share. Stairs wind along the wall to the second floor, where there are two classrooms, a quiet study room and a store room. The stairs continue to the third floor, where 8 tiny rooms act as the school’s dormitory. The floor above that is a large library, and the top floor is an impressive rotating observatory, with a huge shining telescope aimed at the heavens.
3. Stables
The stables has room for a dozen horses, and is always staffed by a student.
4. The Workshop
This large workshop is situated far form the living quarters, in case any student’s use of the Weave, or exploration into dangerous magics, goes awry.
5. The Quad
This large open area has a well at the center.
6. The Amphitheater
For demonstrations of large-scale magics, (and Xarkorian’s most “blasty” spells), Fel and Xarkorian constructed this stone outdoor classroom.
Brainstorming Links
You probably already know about the folks below, who are real inspirations to me, but if not, do yourself a favor and check them out.
The Arcane Library — masterpiece adventures, and Shadowdark, too!
https://www.thearcanelibrary.com
The Angry DM — so angry….so many great ideas….
https://theangrygm.com/
DMDave — on point analysis of D&D rules, and a ton of fun ideas
https://bsky.app/profile/dmdave.bsky.social
RPGBot — whip smart critique and explanations of 5e rules
https://rpgbot.net/
Sly Flourish — a DM’s best friend who is also a better DM
https://www.slyflourish.com/
Treantmonk — years of helpful advice and clever ideas
https://www.youtube.com/@TreantmonksTemple
If you like I Cast…Brainstorm!, you might also like these amazing newsletters with more great ideas, advice and news about RPGs.
|
|
|
Thanks so much for reading! I have a lot of ideas about how to build the newsletter into something even bigger and better, and if you like I Cast…Brainstorm! so far, please click on the ad below to help us grow!
Does your car insurance cover what really matters?
Not all car insurance is created equal. Minimum liability coverage may keep you legal on the road, but it often won’t be enough to cover the full cost of an accident. Without proper limits, you could be left paying thousands out of pocket. The right policy ensures you and your finances are protected. Check out Money’s car insurance tool to get the coverage you actually need.
Gifts for Gamers and People Who Love RPGs
You can also check out great gifts for the gamers in your life at the I Cast…Brainstorm store, which features all-original designs by yours truly on shirts, hats, mugs and other gifts!
www.icastbrainstorm.etsy.com
I Cast…Brainstorm! newsletter subscribers save 10% off everything in the store!
Your Ad Here!
If you have an online store that sells D&D or TTRPG themed things, let me know — I’d love to add it here.
What Do You Think?
How do you like I Cast…Brainstorm! so far? What’s working for you? What would you like to see more of? Or less of, or done in a different way? How’s the layout? Please let us know at [email protected]
The best HR advice comes from those in the trenches. That’s what this is: real-world HR insights delivered in a newsletter from Hebba Youssef, a Chief People Officer who’s been there. Practical, real strategies with a dash of humor. Because HR shouldn’t be thankless—and you shouldn’t be alone in it.
The original ideas in this issue of I Cast….Brainstorm! are covered under the Creative Commons BY-SA license — all content is free to use (including commercially) and change, with proper attribution.
You can read about the license here: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en
