Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 1798783" data-attributes="member: 2012">ARCANE ORDERSymbol: Exterior view of the towers of Mathghamhna against a blue circle.PurposeThe Arcane Order is a college & guild of arcana. Magic is taught, explored, and researched, and members benefit from a sharing of knowledge. The college is also an extension of the government of the Domain of the Arcane Alliance.Leader: Chancellor Japheth Arcane (CG human male, Wiz9/Guildmage10); see page 23 of D&D Tome and Blood for this character’s full statistics.Current ActivitiesBefore anything else, the Arcane Order is a place for the charismatic and intelligent to come and learn the ways of the arcane magical arts including bardic magic, sorcery and wizardry. Mathghamhna is both a campus and guild for arcana and its students are taught many aspects of magic. The members of the Arcane Order follow the teachings of the Patron of Magic, Immotion. Thus, its members are forbidden from learning and practicing the Forbidden Art, the evil of necromantic magic. The guild does restrict its members from worshipping other good (and some neutral) deities of magic, but the worship of Math Mathonwy or Xuar is forbidden.The research of magic is highly valued by the members of the Arcane Order. Details on creating and destroying spells, magic items, and even minor artifacts fill the many libraries of the college’s staff and students. Of course, there isn’t a library more diverse, in the ways of magical research, then the Grand Library of Mathghamhna. To the members of the Arcane Order, knowledge is power. The college’s motto is “Publish or Perish”. (The many sorcerers & bards of the Arcane Order also take this to heart, creating wonderful treatises, plays, and ballads in the spirit of arcana.)The Arcane Order is more than just studying and researching though. The college’s forced exile from the Kingdom of Thallin has brought about the need for its members to band together. Now, the Arcane Order is as much a political entity, as a magical one. Soon after relocating Mathghamhna magically, Chancellor Arcane began forming alliances with several communities located on the adjacent islands on Lake Qualitian.Together, the Arcane Order and these communities have formed the Domain of the Arcane Alliance. As a result, the members of the Arcane Order have become the magical eyes and ears of Mathghamhna, which isn’t just the name of the college of arcana anymore. It has become synonymous with the entire Domain of the Arcane Alliance.Campaign NotesFor years, the Arcane Order was a bastion of magical knowledge in the Kingdom of Thallin. The college was highly respected, by the aristocracy and common citizens alike for the school’s views on working within the community, without overly burdening it at the same time. For many years the wizards, sorcerers, and bards of Mathghamhna had worked alongside the guilds and colleges of the Capital City of Fruen, striving for its esoteric goals and providing special magical services to the city to keep it safe from its enemies.The former King, Travathian Dragonguard, held Japheth Arcane as one of his most trusted subjects, as well as a good friend. He knew he could always count on the denizens of Mathghamhna for aid in times of need. And Chancellor Arcane was glad to give it, as allowed his school to prosper and remain protected within Fruen’s city walls. Whether scrying, research, potions, or custom magical gear, Japheth always knew the King would call upon him and would pay fair value for the college’s wares and time.The King also granted graduates of the College of Arcana citizenship, which lead many wizards and sorcerers to settle in Thallin. Fruen became know for the many low towers and spires but by local arcanists. Eventually, the fame of the school attracted other institutions to Fruen such as the Bardic College of Thallin and the Esoteric Order of the Mooncalf.However, times have changed.King Dragonguard’s sudden passing on the 10th of Hela of this year was a blow to the kingdom and the arcanists living in Thallin. Travathian’s son, Varath, was crowned king only moments after his father died. The young King, who would become known as the Mad One, began a systematic restructuring of Thallin’s military into a dark force dedicated to the evil deity, Nether, Sword God of Hate and Tyranny. His reformed royal guard, known as the Fury of the Dragon began terrorizing and subjugating the citizens of Fruen.Worse than this, Varath soon declares arcanists to be heretics and begins sending waves of evil priests and assassin after known arcanists. This evil force, known as Nether’s Deathtide, sweeps through Fruen seeking out arcanists. Most of those captured are executed on the spot and their homes or towers destroyed. Magical treasures are looted and those that radiate a arcane magical aura are destroyed. Those few artifacts discovered disappear into the possession of the High Priests of Nether.The Bardic College is completely destroyed, it’s members unable to withstand the onslaught of the Deathtide. The Esoteric Order is taken over by the Deathtide, its arcanist members either killed or imprisoned. Its remaining members are given a choice, work for the divine glory of Nether and King Varath or perish. Many convert to save their lives, other refuse and are burned at the stake along with their family members.Only the Arcane Order was strong enough to resist the initial onslaught. Japheth Arcane knew it would only be a matter of time before King Varath came for his head too. He refused to let Mathghamhna be destroyed by the Mad One. Thus, he and the regents of the Arcane Order used a properly worded wish, along with the power of several secret artifacts, to teleport Mathghamhna from Fruen to an isolated island on Lake Qualitian.Those members of the Arcane Order who had yet to leave Fruen, quickly followed their Chancellor in a retreat from the Mad One’s forces. Most relocated to other countries or locales in the Eastern Shores, most notably to the Duchy of Minar, to the south, or the Wind Cities, to the north. Japheth knew he needed allies and the Domain of the Arcane Alliance is the result. This alliance was struck between the Arcane Order and three small communities located on the same small island chain that Mathghamhna had relocated to. These communities are Elsedria, a town of outcast humans, elves and fey from the Knotwood, Half-pint, a hairfoot village known for its aqua vitae, and Mathtown, a new town that has sprung up near Mathghamhna.The Arcane Order lost many members during the initial months of the Arcanist Purge and those that relocated to other places soon found their way to Mathghamhna to renew their allegiance to the Arcane Order and its Chancellor. Now, those that granted citizenship by King Travathian are considered full citizens of the Domain of the Arcane Alliance, regardless of where they live.[ATTACH]156554[/ATTACH]</blockquote>

Verification