I have woken up with what I suspect is part of an Ars Magica scenario (official canon or fan made), and looking for the rest of it. Unless it is a dream, or some conflation from some other source(s).
A mage is flying above shadows/fogbank in the process of casting a spell when interrupted by (church) bells below. Left insensate, perhaps Temporary Twilight, the flying spell carries on for miles before failing and dropping the mage in a half frozen lake, wet robes dragging the mage below. Later in warmer weather the mage’s bones are discovered and properly buried. Rescuer is rewarded by talking wizard staff.
I was hoping it was something published or promoted in the Ars forums. I wanted details on the talking wizard’s staff, on the assumption it was a Magic Thing.
If it was something my brain invented without telling me, this may take a bit of work.
Assuming the “talking wizards staff” was originally the flying mage’s Talisman, then it sounds like it had at least one active (and continual) enchantment affecting it after its mage died. One active magical effect takes 275 years to warp the target to becoming a Magic Thing. Which may date the flying mage back to the Schism War.
Rescuer suddenly gets the Virtue Magical (Being) Companion.A pompous and opinionated advisor? If from the Schism War, perhaps bloodthirsty and eager to give the rescuer full support of its powers only when killing enemy wizards. With a low threshold for “enemy” perhaps.
That sounds like a character that won’t last long. Any other suggestions?
I would not make it that bloodthirsty, but rather a bit annoying. Not asking the rescuer to kill others, but going into a funnier direction. Like: Oi, don’t wave me around like an amateur, I am freezing, … hey, you are lying down in the cozy bed and make me stand here leaning on wall? Not fair!
Maybe it’s a very helpful staff…but for the mage who made it, not for the one who found it. Eg, the mage who made it had Low Self Esteem, so the staff was made to constantly talking her up. And now it does the same…but “You’re doing so good. That’s a great idea” is helpful for a powerful archmage, but DANGEROUS for some freshly gauntletted neophyte.
