Finding Aid: IM-MC-2078.1011
Waver Velvet, Lord El Melloi II: Personal Papers
Manuscripts, Institute of Magecraft
Arranged by Andrea Vargas
Descriptive Summary
Creator: Waver Velvet, Lord El-Melloi II.
Title: Personal Papers.
Dates: 1998-2066
Quantity:125 cubic meters (125 phase boxes)
Abstract: Waver Velvet, known formally as Lord El-Melloi II, was one of the founders of the study of magic circuit inheritance as well as an early developer of alchemical artificial intelligence and took part of the destruction of the Fuyuki City Holy Grail. As a professor at Clock Tower and active member of the mage community, he left behind a vast collection of research and correspondence that holds significant historic value.
Collection No.: IMC-MC-2078.1011
Language: English
Repository: Archibald Library, Institute of Magecraft
Biographical Sketch of Waver Velvet
Best known as Lord El-Melloi II and inventor of circuit expansion theory, Waver Velvet was born 11 October 1977 in London, son of Sybil Velvet and Matthew Kent, the former of whom held the Velvet family crest. A third generation magus, Velvet entered Clock Tower at age thirteen having taken the written entrance exam and passing with extremely higher marks.
Initially an alchemist, he spent some time with evocation theory and was the unofficial apprentice of Lord El-Melloi I, Kayneth Archibald, until Archibald's death in 1996. Because both men competed in the Fourth Holy Grail War, held in Fuyuki, Japan, Velvet was thought responsible for Lord El-Melloi I's death. This was disproven by later evidence, although the Archibald family has never named the magus responsible for the first lord's demise.
Following some time off after the war, Waver Velvet completed his certified magus degree with a renewed focus on alchemy in fall of 1997, under the supervision of Ioana Starswirl. He proceeded continue his education at Clock Tower, becoming a master magus of alchemy in fall 1999 after working with alchemical artificial intelligence. It was during that time that Velvet also became a friend of the Archibald family, helping them to recover after three years of discord and warring branches in the wake of Kayneth Archibald's death. Waver Velvet was given the title of Lord El-Melloi II in gratitude and proceeded to serve that post as a representative of the Archibald family. His time as Lord El-Melloi II and administration of the ley lines in the counties of Devon, East Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, Surrey and West Sussex were peaceful, with no incidents of renegade mages or extreme action taken.
From 2000 to 2004,Waver continued his focus on artifical intelligence, using his own inherited mystic code, the volumen hydragyrum, as the primary subject. He taught introduction alchemy courses on Clock Tower's London campus at this time in exchange for use of the labs. He became a full time faculty member in 2005, taking the Heinrich Khunrath lecturer seat in the alchemy department which he occupied until his retirement in 2064.
As a professor, he proceeded to make himself open to students, in particular mages from younger families, and was often a thesis advisor for those outside of his own department. He soon became noted for finding students with vast amounts of potential and training them to reach it, gaining no small amount of acclaim in the process. It was also during this time period, he also began to research magic circuits, compiling data that eventually lead to the publication of his most well known treatise, On the Independent Development of Magic Circuits and Its Implications for Magecraft: a Case Study.
In 2011, he became the thesis advisor for Rin Tohsaka, starting a life long collaborative relationship and friendship between the two. Five years later, in 2016, they banded together with the Archibald house and various other mage families to take apart the Fuyuki Holy Grail. This brought them into conflict with the Einzbern family and the Mage Association itself, and eventually the Association lost in a battle that both Tohsaka and Velvet described as being on the same scale of the Holy Grail War itself. Following their defeat of the Association, the two were faced with a potential sealing designation. It did not come to pass, and the two later co-wrote the 2026 bookThe Fuyuki Grail Wars: A Complete History, which explained the exact circumstances in depth.
Following the Holy Grail's destruction, Waver Velvet returned to his research, publshing .s On the Independent Development of Magic Circuits and Its Implications for Magecraft: a Case Study in 2021. Within the text, he presented concrete evidence that magic circuits can be expanded in one's own lifetime. This demonstrable evidence proceeded to create a new conversation about mage culture that Velvet himself engaged in for the rest of his life.
Velvet's studies began to be expanded upon from 2022 onward, with he himself participating in at least five of them - the most famous being the Prague Association Study whose results were published in the text Towards a New Understanding of Circuits and Magic Inheritance. He continued to teach during this time period as well, training such notable mages as Alphonse Aleric, Christine Archibald (Lord El-Melloi III),Olivia Broomwood, Clemente Constanto, Flat Eskandros, Louisa Hammersmark, Alessandra Martel, Williams Ponderosa, Valerio Sorto and Francis Zar.
Circuit expansion theory dominated much of Velvet's later life and his work on artificial intelligence faded into the background. His publication history covers much of the ground here, but there are two events that they do not address. The first was a incident occured in 2024, in the town of Snowfield, California, USA. A rogue mage, with no Association affiliations, attempted to begin a Grail War in the town. Velvet took it upon himself to investigate the claim, finding a flawed version of the system he had worked to destroy in 2016. With the assistance of the Mage Associations' Enforcers, the war was shut down in it's early stages. Velvet also participated in the 2034 student riots against Clock Tower's decision to cut the practical portion of the entrance and graduate studies examinations and sustained a broken arm. He later helped to sit down and resolve the student grievances along side other faculty members with Clock Tower's director.
Around 2058, Velvet's work began to slow. He continued to publish, but at a slower rate, and his academic responsibilities became lighter. He chose to teach fewer courses during Clock Tower terms and decreased the number of graduate students that he worked with. This lighter workload continued until his retirement from Clock Tower in the year 2064.
Velvet's two years of retirement were entirely unremarkable. He passed away on 24 October 2066, at the age of 89, from a myocardial infarction. Having never married and having not fathered a biological heir, his family crest was given to Christine Archibald, the younger child of Ismene Archibald, who in addition to receiving the Velvet family crest was given the title of Lord El-Melloi III.
A portion of Velvet's remains lie buried in his family's plot outside of London. The remaining ashes have been interred within the Archibald family vaults located in Hastings, England.
Scope and Content Note
The Waver Velvet collection consists of 125 boxes, spanning the years 1998-2066. The collection primarily contains research and correspondence. Due to the creator's sheer volume of research interests, coupled with production of content, the collection needed to be divided into 3 distinct series.
Series 1: Research and Writings
The first series contains all of Waver Velvet's research notes and compromises 54 phase boxes. Most of these notes are contained in spiral bound notebooks, with looseleaf pages being given their own folders whenever appropriate. Included are his drafts of various articles on both artificial intelligence and magic circuits, as well as early drafts for accounts of the Grail Wars. With few exceptions of computer print-outs, all of these documents are hand written.
Series 2: Correspondence
Series two contains correspondence - both sent and received - and is held in 66 phase boxes. Due to Velvet's preference for technology, a number are printed out emails. The letters are arranged alphabetically by the name of who he was communicating to, with folders being given to any individual who had ten or more letters to their name.
Series 3: Photographs, Miscellaneous Formats and Other Groups
The third and final series of the collection contains 4 phase boxes of photographs, a first edition text with lengthy notes within and personal items.
Arrangement Notes
Whenever possible, the miscellaneous letters have been arranged by chronological order.
Name and Subject Terms
Personal Names
Alexander, the Great, 356-323 B.C.
Archibald, Christine, Lord El-Melloi III 2026-.
Archibald, Ismene, 10th head of the Archibald house, 1991-.
Archibald, Kayneth, Lord El-Melloi I, 9th head of the Archibald house, 1959-1996.
Archibald, Octavian, 11th head of the Archibald house, 2023-.
Tohsaka, Rin, 6th head of the Tohsaka house, 1988-.
Tohsaka, Tokiomi, 5th head of the Tohsaka house, 1957-1996.
Sophia-Ri, Theodore, 8th head of the Sophia-Ri house, 1929-2006.
Velvet, Waver, Lord El-Melloi II, 1977-2066.
Corporate Names
Alchemy Guild -London.
Clock Tower.
Clock Tower - Faculty.
Clock Tower - Faculty - Alchemy Department.
Mage Association.
Mage Association - London.
Mage Association - Russia.
Mage Association - United States of America.
Prague Association.
Spanish Institute of Magecraft Research.
Geographical Subjects
Czech Republic - Prague.
Egypt.
France.
Greece.
Japan.
Macedonia.
Spain-Barcelona.
United Kingdom.
United States of America - California - Snowfield.
Subjects
Alchemy.
Alchemy-1850-Present.
Alchemy -Artificial Intelligence - 2000- Present.
Artificial Intelligence.
Evocation -1850-Present.
Heroic Spirits.
Holy Grail War.
Holy Grail War - 1996.
Holy Grail War-2006.
Holy Grail War-End.
Holy Grail War -Snowfield.
Magic Circuits - 1850- Present.
Magic Circuit - Studies - Circuit Expansion.
Magic Circuits - Studies - Inheritance.
Magic Circuits - Studies - Sociological Impact.
Mercury-adverse effects.
Mercury-Analysis-Handbooks, manuals, etc.
Mercury as a working fluid.
Volumen Hydragyrum.
Form and Genre Terms
Manuscript-letters
Manuscript-personal papers.
Manuscript-notebook.
Administrative Information
PROVENANCE
The Waver Velvet collection was donated by Ismene Archibald in 2070, four years after Velvet's death. As the tenth head of the Archibald household and friend of Velvet's, she was the one to clean out his Clock Tower office as well as his home in Godalming, England.
PROCESSING NOTE
There was no particular order to the Waver Velvet collection. As such, great strides were taken to maintain chronological order whenever possible.
Detailed Description of the Collection/Container List
Series 1: Research and Writings
Arranged alphabetically by subject, then chronologically.
Box 1 - Alchemy, general - 1998-2014
Box 2 - Alchemy, general - 2014-2039
Box 3 - Alchemy, general - 2040-2066
Box 4 - Artificial Intelligence - 1998-2001
Box 5 - Artificial Intelligence -2001-2005
Box 6 - Artificial Intelligence - 2006-2011
Box 7 - Artificial Intelligence - 2012-2017
Box 8 - Artificial Intelligence - 2018-2021
Box 9 - Artificial Intelligence - 2024-2066
Box 10 - Evocation - 2000-2020
Box 11 - Holy Grail War - 2011-2015
Box 12 - Holy Grail War - 2016
Box 13 - Holy Grail War -2020-2026
Box 14 - Holy Grail War - 2026-2040
Box 15 - Holy Grail War - 2041-2065
Box 16 - Magic Circuits - 2004
Box 17 - Magic Circuits - 2005
Box 18 - Magic Circuits - 2006
Box 19 - Magic Circuits - 2007
Box 20 - Magic Circuits - 2008
Box 21 - Magic Circuits - 2008
Box 22 - Magic Circuits - 2009
Box 23 - Magic Circuits - 2009
Box 24 - Magic Circuits - 2010
Box 25 - Magic Circuits - 2011
Box 26 - Magic Circuits - 2011
Box 27 - Magic Circuits - 2011
Box 28 - Magic Circuits - 2012
Box 29 - Magic Circuits - 2012
Box 30 - Magic Circuits - 2013
Box 31 - Magic Circuits - 2013
Box 32 - Magic Circuits - 2014
Box 33 - Magic Circuits - 2014
Box 34 - Magic Circuits - 2014-2015
Box 35 - Magic Circuits - 2017-2020
Box 36 - Magic Circuits - 2020-2022
Box 37 - Magic Circuits - 2023-2026
Box 38 - Magic Circuits - 2027-2030
Box 39 - Magic Circuits - 2031-2034
Box 40 - Magic Circuits - 2035-2038
Box 41 - Magic Circuits - 2039-2042
Box 42 - Magic Circuits - 2043-2047
Box 43 - Magic Circuits - 2048-2053
Box 44 - Magic Circuits - 2054-2059
Box 45 - Magic Circuits - 2060-2066
Box 46 - Volumen Hydragyrum - 1998
Box 47 - Volumen Hydragyrum - 1999
Box 48 - Volumen Hydragyrum - 2000
Box 50 - Volumen Hydragyrum - 2001-2002
Box 51 - Volumen Hydragyrum - 2003-2005
Box 52 - Volumen Hydragyrum - 2006-2010
Box 53 - Volumen Hydragyrum - 2011-2015
Box 54 - Volumen Hydragyrum - 2017-2021
Series 2: Correspondence
Arranged alphabetically by correspondent, then chronologically.
Box 55 - Bryce Archibald, 2000-2005
Box 56 - Bryce Archibald, 2005-2011
Box 57 - Bryce Archibald, 2012-2020
Box 58 - Bryce Archibald, 2021-2025
Box 59 - Bryce Archibald, 2025-2031
Box 60 - Bryce Archibald, 2031-2036
Box 61 - Christine Archibald, 2036-2042
Box 62 - Christine Archibald, 2043-2047
Box 63 - Christine Archibald, 2048-2050
Box 64 - Christine Archibald, 2051-2056
Box 65 - Christine Archibald, 2057-2060
Box 66 - Christine Archibald, 2060-2066
Box 67 - Ismene Archibald, 1999-2011
Box 68 - Ismene Archibald, 2012-2016
Box 69 - Ismene Archibald, 2017-2020
Box 70 - Ismene Archibald, 2021-2024
Box 71 - Ismene Archibald, 2025-2030
Box 72 - Ismene Archibald, 2031-2037
Box 73 - Ismene Archibald, 2038-2043
Box 74 - Ismene Archibald, 2044-2050
Box 75 - Ismene Archibald, 2051-2057
Box 76 - Ismene Archibald, 2058-2064
Box 77 - Ismene Archibald, 2064-2066
Box 78 - Octavian Archibald, 2041-2049
Box 79 - Octavian Archibald, 2050-2066
Box 80 - Ronald Ashford - 2019-2030
Box 81 - Ronald Ashford - 2031-2060
Box 82 - William Chesire - 2022 - 2034
Box 83 - William Chesire - 2035-2059
Box 84 - Olivia Broomwood - 2020 - 2030
Box 85 - Olivia Broomword - 2031-2043
Box 86 - Olivia Broomwood -2044-2061
Box 87 - Clemente Constanto - 2030 - 2060
Box 88 - Ward Grover - 2040 - 2050
Box 89 - Flat Eskandaros - 2024-2039
Box 90 - Aisling Fuireastal, 1999-2015
Box 91- Aishling Fuireastal, 2018-2030
Box 92 - Aishling Fuireasta, 2031-2059
Box 93 - Louisa Hammersmark - 2040 - 2059
Box 94 - Louisa Hammersmark - 2060 - 2065
Box 95 - Eve Kingsely - 2038 - 2045
Box 96 - Alessandra Martel - 2002-2022
Box 97 - Alessandra Martel - 2022-2043
Box 98 - Valerio Sorto - 2011 - 2030
Box 99 - Valerio Sorto - 2030-2055
Box 100 - Rin Tohsaka, 2011-2015
Box 101 - Rin Tohsaka, 2015-2016
Box 102 - Rin Tohsaka, 2016
Box 103 - Rin Tohsaka, 2017-2020
Box 104 - Rin Tohsaka, 2020-2024
Box 105 - Rin Tohsaka, 2025-2031
Box 106 - Rin Tohsaka, 2032-2038
Box 107 - Rin Tohsaka, 2039-2045
Box 108 - Rin Tohsaka, 2046-2056
Box 109 - Rin Tohsaka, 2057-2063
Box 110 - Rin Tohsaka, 2063-2065
Box 111 - Rin Tohsaka, 2066
Box 112 - Rosaline Tisdale, 2021-2038
Box 113 - Rosaline Tisdale, 2038-2066
Box 114 - Hannah Utterly, 2020-2039
Box 115 - Marcus Vargas, 2021-2026
Box 116 - Francis Zar, 2018-2030
Box 117 - Francis Zar, 2034-2040
Box 118 - Miscellaneous, 1998-2008
Box 119 - Miscellaneous, 2009-2029
Box 120 - Miscellaneous, 2030-2048
Box 121 - Miscellaneous, 2048-2066
Series 3: Photographs, Miscellaneous Formats and Other Groups
Arranged chronologically whenever possible.
Box 122 - Photographs
Folder 1 - 1977-1990
Folder 2 - 2011-2014
Folder 3 - 2016
Folder 4 - 2021-2030
Folder 5 - 2036-2059
Folder 6 - 2064
Box 123 - Personal Journals
Folder 1 -2001-2009
Folder 2 - 2016
Folder 3 - 2021
Folder 4 - 2031-3040
Folder 5 - 2050
Box 124 - Miscellania
Folder 1 - Copy of The Fuyuki Grail Wars: A Complete History, with personal note to Ismene Archibald
Box 125 - Miscellania
Folder 1 - Book of lines written in Greek
Folder 2 - Sketches, 2011-2015
Folder 3 - Five unsent letters, personal in nature
Folder 4 - Last will and testament (copy)
Notes:
This fic was originally posted on AO3 on 6 January 2013. It is mirrored here: /works/626570
This fic is a part of the series If Not Alexander, then Diogenes, and is available on AO3 here: /series/23756
A finding aid is an archival term used to provide metadata about primary resources in order for researchers to determine if the documents will be useful to their needs. Finding aid structure depends heavily on the creator and contents. The subject headings are derived from the Library of Congress subject authority headings (and some were invented as needed).
This wraps up all of If Not Alexander, then Diogenes. Thank you, everyone, for reading. A series post-mortem is here: if-not-alexander