22.17 Cornelius, the god of magic.

Known as one of the First Gods of Avalon, Cornelius was the fourth and last of
the originals, creator of the first guilds, inventor of the nascent Charming
skill, and the last to imbue Avalon with a great part of Himself. His
creativity, essence to the realm of magic, has known no bounds. When mortals
walked the earth long before the Guilds of Avalon consolidated their
professions and their skills to the standard forms known today, He gifted the
world traits core to mortalkind: epiphany, creation, genius and insanity.

Throughout history He has appeared as though in answer to mortalkind, to
restore man's creative raison d'etre and once again whisper the wisdom of
Magic in the ears of mortal men. As far as mankind records, Cornelius has no
moral compass; life is for the consuming, whether destructive or creative. The
darkest reaches of Man are as known to Him as the brightest and to what Great
Plan that Mind works remains hidden from even his followers.

If one looks to the Order of Magic, one sees the most secretive and difficult
Order to obtain admission. Since time immemorial, Cornelius has chosen
personally each worshipper, for a special quality only He can judge is
requisite. His followers explode with energy, with ambitions, with fighting
nous, financial talent and savoir faire. No border has been left uncrossed by
the Order of Magic -- its tendrils have reached into every part of the world.

The Order of Magic are permanent pupils in the ways of combat, war and
conflict, diplomacy and riches, so that in each quarter they may learn from
Him how to master and call upon that mystical epiphany so unique to Magic,
which skirts the edge of madness and genius. Legends say that the Order was
born from the excesses of the God himself and His indulgence in mortal vices.
For the entertainment and philosophical ponderings of the Order, the temples
of Magic overflow with wine and gastronomic delights. One does not need to
look far to see the full array of human temptations and excesses enjoyed.

While the Order is secretive, Cornelius himself is known for His great
openness to mortals. Those who seek his audience learn quickly of his incisive
remarks and smooth words but also the intense scorn with which he treats the
ignorant and permanently baffled. His empathy extends to those who have made
something of His gifts, who have minds individual, who are or will become
great leaders of action, and who mask their intentions like Himself in layer
after layer of subterfuge and deception -- if just for the confusion of
others.

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