A wizard is only as good as his spells," people will often say. It is
telling however, that this statement is only made by people who have never
been wizards themselves.
Those of us who have chosen to pursue a sorcerous career know that a
knowledge of spells is only one small facet of the successful magician.
Equally vital are a quick wit, a soothing tongue, and, perhaps most
important, a thorough knowledge of back alleys, underground passageways, and
particularly dense patches of forest, for those times when the spell you
knew so well doesn't quite work after all.
-- The Teachings of Ebenezum, Vol. I
Wizards are constantly subject to negative publicity. A case in point. One
elderly wizard of my acquaintance, whenever he was bothered by unexpected
guests, would immediately cast one of three spells upon them, either turning
them to stone, transforming them into segmented worms, or blasting them
entirely out of the kingdom....