[MaxWilson]

I don't know that I agree about the impossibility of casting Call Merkavah with national troops. At least with Hinnom, you have S3 casters and can forge Starshine Skullcap, Crystal Coin, Ring of Sorcery, Ring of Wizardry, Skull of Fire. Getting to S7F3 then takes either 80 Fire gems of empowerment (S3F2 + Starshine Skullcap/Crystal Coin/Ring of Wizardry/Skull of Fire) or 50 Fire gems + 60(?) Pearls (S4F1 + Starshine Skullcap/Crystal Coin/Ring of Sorcery/Ring of Wizardry). Normally that would sound like a lot, but when you're already talking about blowing 220 pearls on the spell it sounds more like sales tax. Or in other words, even if you use a pretender it's not going to be a whole lot cheaper than that.

You can save more if you happen to have access to Dimensional Rod or Staff of Elemental Mastery. S3F1 + Starshine Skullcap/Crystal Coin/Ring of Sorcery/Ring of Wizardry/Staff of Elemental Mastery = S7F3.

-Max