Never Question My Methods

[Part one of five.]

New York City’s unofficial wizard can sometimes be found in Central Park. He has a pointy hat, a cloak, and a staff with jingling bells and stars. He also has a long white beard. It’s a Santa Clause beard, actually, but you get used to it.

Sandals are his preferred footwear, and his glasses have been repaired with string. Occasionally during conversation, he will close his eyes in deep thought.

His name is Blackwolf the Dragonmaster, and he isn’t in New York by choice. He was assigned to the city by the High Istari (1), a group of seven mages who realized that New York was in danger of losing its imagination.

I met Blackwolf in June 2006. He was reading AM New York by a fountain in Central Park. Often, you’ll find people from The Daily Show or David Letterman filming segments for the show in this part of the park. I had just bought a small microphone for my iPod, and was walking around recording noises to add to music. Blackwolf’s costume was very elaborate, and there was something familiar about him, so I walked up  and asked him if he was an actor.

“What I am, is New York’s unofficial wizard, sir,” he told me, and then he proceeded to detail his origin as the humble Paidraig of Abbelaix, the high servant of the King in Ireland before the time of Christianity.

While Blackwolf has a natural storytelling ability, I found the written version of the tale on one of his websites. Here is a brief excerpt from the novelette-length story:

Padraig of Abbeyleix, son of Saemus, was the only child of that warrior’s bloodline, his mother having died in childbirth. As a boy, Padraig had always considered his father to be a hero; indeed, the vast majority of Saemus’ moral characteristics would serve him immensely when, in his later years as Blackwolf, he would pass these same qualities on to his own son, the Mage and Sorcerer, Master Yen Sid. But it was during his youth — specifically, his teenage years — that Padraig of Abbeyleix underwent his most important education . . .

Despite being handy with a sword, Padraig preferred being caretaker to the royal court, and was extremely content with this. But his life took a sharp turn when Vasamoose, (see proper spelling bellow) Visomus a bishop, planned to assasinate the High King of Ireland, by planting a poisoned goblet for him at Paidraig’s retirement party.

Paidraig, after singing a song for the King, accidentally knocked over this poisoned goblet. While this was a source of merriment in the dining hall, Vasamoose, Blackwolf told me, “Inwardly seethed with wrath,” and cursed Paidraig to walk in the shape of an old man by day, and a black wolf by night. “Hence, my more legendary name, Blackwolf.”

Eventually he was discovered by the seven mages known as the High Istari, who were impressed at how the legend of Blackwolf had spread throughout the land. They were looking for a Dragonmaster, someone to stoke the fires of imagination throughout the land, and watch after the dragons who cannot live without it. It was clear to them that Paidraig was the man for the job. After a trial period of one year, the dragons decided that Blackwolf should be the permanent dragonmaster, hence he was made immortal.

And then he was dispatched to New York City.

To be continued

(1) Blackwolf describes the High Istari as a group of glowing men in beards and cloaks.