A Survey of Magical Activity in Éran
From Eran
To his excellency, Eian Angerion III, the Archduke of Elda.
Sire, it is with great pleasure that I respond to your request for a survey of the arcane societies and power groups in Éran. Magic is a powerful force in this world and no sovereign should be ignorant of those who wield it. Thus, without further ado, I begin my examination of the magical groups of note that I know of.
The West
As is common knowledge to anyone with even a passing fancy in magic, the mage guilds of the old empire have dominated the history of magic here in the west. Today as in times past, they are without a doubt the most powerful gatherings of magical power in the west. Even so, their grip is not an exclusive one. The druids are generally left to their own devices, having proven over the centuries (despite the folly that initiated the Druidic Wars 600 years ago) that their powers are by and large used for benign aims and at any rate, would be quite difficult to track down and regulate in the wilderness homes and their ubtle use of magic. It is however not easy to keep track of all arcane magic-users either and should those with the willingness and ambition to employ means forbidden by the laws of the mage guilds wish to defect from these to work his arts in hiding, it is mostly possible for them provided they do not attract the undue attention of the law. This is of course not as easy in more civilised lands such as Brennèl and the Errion Valley, but in the northern lands and Calmir Region, where the rule of law is not as firm, such rogue wizards can often do, with a bit of guile, do as they please without fear of repercussion. Lastly, there are the few wizards who choose not to associate themselves with any guilds and are simply too powerful for anyone to want to meddle with. These are mostly left to their own devices, but watched so as to ensure they do not plot too damaging activity.
Brennèl
As your excellency is no doubt aware, our empire has a proud history of magic and indeed, as with most other civilised arts, the sorcerous traditions of the entire west have their origins in our Academy of Arcane Studies. Sadly, like the empire itself, the sorcerous society that was once the pinnacle of magical achievement in Éran is now a fragmented shadow of its former glory. The fabled Star Tower remains perhaps the greatest repository of magical knowledge in Éran and whilst the wizardry's historic close ties to the ruling classes have made mages slightly more common here than in neighbouring lands, I am afraid these very same ties have limited the mastery of the magical practitioners of our empire. Too many are concerned with nothing more than petty political ambitions, abandoning the common cause of deepening magical studies through cooperation, a unity that has helped the guilds advance the magical for so many centuries. I fear they have learnt little from the folly of the last Magewar. Were the Academy and its branches throughout Brennèl united and working together, Brennèl would yet again be the supreme magical power in Éran. Alas, like the rest of our once-proud nation, the future of our Academy looks to be blighted by rifts of personal ambition and intrigue.
Errion
Our powerful neighbour has a longstanding and distinguished tradition of warmagic. Few others can compare with the skill of the Erro war mages that train in their armies alongside common soldiers in the field of martial wizardry. Though their warmages are begrudgingly respected and acknowledged as members of the national forces, wizards are by no means loved and punishment is harsh and swiftly executed by the warmages whenever magic is unlawfully used.
Irros
If there is any group worthy of mention in this survey it is undoubtedly the wizards of the Baronies of Irros. Nowhere else in the west is magic celebrated like in Irros and nowhere else do you find as many practitioners of the Art as here. The splendid Golden Tower is as active as any sorcerous site has been in this age. Although it is hyperbole of unknowing ones to compare them to the ancient archwizards of Isandor, it is perhaps not unfitting to speak of Irros as their heirs of the lost empire of magic, as they are perhaps the most skilled wizards in all of Éran and could in time become the first magocracy in the west since Isandor itself ruled this land millenia ago. If the might of Irros continues to grow as it has up until now, we can only hope that they do not succumb to the same arrogance and megalomania as our ancestors, for the Baronies could yet become the new major power in the west if their growth continues unchecked. I urge you my lord not to take developments in the Baronies lightly. The fate of the west could one day stand and fall with this nation on the rise.
Aldêa
It is perhaps our good fortune that the elves of Aldêa stand between us and Irros. Our knowledge of the true depths of their learning is limited as the fair folk remain ever cautious of sharing their secrets with the shorter-lived races. Magic is widely taught among the elves and I speculate that the tree lords are not heedless of their placement between three such ambitious nations as Brennèl, Errion and Irros and have capable resources to protect themselves. That they have maintained self-rule over the centuries is a testimony to the power that lies hidden in the sylvan glades and though I cannot say for sure, I believe the elves have retained more of the knowledge of the ancients than they would want humankind to know of.
The Northern Frontier
The Nothern Frontier suffered perhaps more than any other region in the west from the Third Magewar when the magnificient Crystal Tower was razed to the ground in just one night, destroying the wealth of arcane knowledge hidden in its chambers. The deep scars are visible still and the mage guilds that do exist in these lands hold but a tenuous grasp of the region. Consequently, the north has become something of a haven for rogue wizards who wish to practise forbidden and secret arts or exercise their powers in ways forbidden to them in more civilised lands. The druids of these lands are perhaps greater protectors of the land and people from the abuses of magic than the guilds, as they have greater numbers here than anywhere else in the west. Even so, they are, as is their nature, hesitant to intercede unless grave dangers present themselves. To the far north, the shamans of the Hjorni clans practise their own brand of animistic magic, mastering shapeshifting and spirit magic. I have even heard it said that some of them know of the very rare and highly coveted art of chronomancy. If this were true however, I suspect the Hjorni Clans would be much more powerful than they are.
The Steel Lands
On the banks of Lake Onyx in the city-state of Treus, The Ruby Tower still prevails as the centre of magical learning in the Steel Lands. Despite its proud history, it can no longer compare to the great towers in Brennèl, Irros and the Campi however and its hallowed halls are far from crowded these days. Even so, it remains one of the main deterrents from perhaps the vilest threat in the west spreading its hand further. Yarzul, the dreaded lich king that took posession of the princehold of Rosgorth 50 years ago has proven himself one of the most powerful and fearsome sorcerers on the face of Éran and his grip on the region continues to strenghten. It is surely only a matter of time before he must either be destroyed or spill into the southern lands bearing death and destruction with him. Beware this my lord, for he is perhaps the greatest threat to the safety of Éran seen since the Third Magewar five centuries ago. Another place worth mentioning is the tragic fate of the citystate of Tia. Once a place of magical learning that rivalled, possibly exceeded the Ruby Tower, Tia has now become a place of darkness and evil. The Steel Landers have dubbed it the dead city, and it is most apt, for the dead walk the streets of this city freely and foul necromancers rule its people. This cruel twist of fate happened only 30 years ago when the armies of the lich king isolated the city state from its allies. Since then, their armies of undead have held the old sorcerer from taking the city, yet one cannot but wonder if its citizens have already fallen to a more cruel fate than the lich king could have bestowed upon them.
The Campi Region
The Emerald tower. phaerie. druids.
The Northeast
I must confess that my knowledge of the affairs of magic in the Northeast is fairly limited. I have not visited these lands myself and have had few reports reliable enough to form a trustworthy picture of the power hidden in this region. Regretfully, I can only present Your Excellency with the bare outlines and tidbits of hearsay that I myself find plausible.
The Storm Horns
runes. items.
The Amrê
the elves. the phaerie.
The Coast States
s.
The Southeast
I noted with curiosity, sire, your notabene on the south-east in your letter. Is it wrong of me to suspect that this note is the reason you have asked me, a lowly magical scholar who really knows far too little of the happenings of the outside world in the sanctum of my tower, to comply with your request when you could easily have asked someone much more familiar with the intricate affairs of magical societies in the west than I? Although it is true that I have travelled these lands in search of knowledge, I must remind your excellency that this was more than a decade past and some of the things I write of have undoubtedly changed since then. Even so, others no doubt remain true and I shall do my best to accurately portray the Southeast as I recollect it.
In examining the development of magic in the Southeast, your Excellency need to bear in mind not only that sorcerous activity has not been shaped by controlled organisation to the same extent as the west has by its extensive wizard guilds, but also that the Southeast never suffered the backlash of the people from the Third Magewar as wizards throughout the west did during the long years of the Magedeath. Quite the contrary, magic was acknowledged and celebrated as an essential instrument in saving the Southeast from disaster in the wake of the demonic invasions that followed the Magewar. The Demonwar that so devastated the region was however perhaps most devatasting of all to magicusers who were systematically destroyed by the infernal armies during those dark years.
Consequently, while magic is practised far more openly here than in the west, and the people's attitude towards it is a mixture of pragmatism and awe, quite unlike the atmosphere of mystery and distrust so prevalent even today in the west, magic is also more inaccesible to people. With few organised institutions to make the Art available and ensure its responsible use, magic too often becomes a tool for the power mad to abuse and dominate others with, a privilege exclusive to those with the means and power to acquire it and whomever they may deem fit to pass on their knowledge to. Magic is mostly taught here in a far more closed and guarded student-teacher relationship than in the west, where we pride ourselves on making magic as widely available as possible to those endowed with the Gift and the inclination to develop it and with no guarantee of fostering a responsible use of it as so prized in the west either.
The Old Realms
The Old Realms are lands unlike anything else in all of Éran. The people of the neoighbouring lands say the Old Realms were ancient even before they came to these lands. And unlike anywhere else, the entire region is ruled by magic-users of reputedly great power. I did not travel here myself, as I did not want to run the risc of exposing myself to the fearsome wizards of Altahkir. This is to my knowledge the only country in Éran ruled by a magocracy, and the wizards here have a reputation for cruelty to match their lust for power. Neighbouring Nenlos is even more mysterious as this deep woodland is apparently by druids powerful enough to repel to forces of its neighbours. Quite unlike the reserved nature of the druids as we know them here in the west! Lastly and perhaps most enigmatically, the kingdom of Ras Asnar is said to be ruled by an immortal god king, who enjoys the total devotion of his subjects. I should like to say more of this place my lord, but will instead merely offer gratitude that such strange lands are so far removed from us.
Sûlron
a
Azgarn
The citystate of Azgarn was no doubt one of the more fascinating places I visited during my journeys in these lands. Ruled by a great sorcerer, in order to protect the city from invasions both from its neoughbouring citystates, but also the dreaded snakepeople of the southern desert, this sorcerer king has somehow managed to bind large numbers of genies to his service. As such, these majestic magical creatures are a common sight in the streets of this wealthy and exotic city, as they not only guard the city from external dangers, but serve their master to protect and uphold order throughout the city as well. The grand bazaar is thus watched by one of these grand beings to uphold order there, just as a number of them unceasingly keep watch over the horizon for enemy forces and I am told even the king's courtesans have a Genie assigned to protect them from intruders. So pervasive is their presence, that when I entered the city and was bidden to reveal myself as a student of the arcane arts, a lesser genie was designated as my own personal watchdog! How this sorcery king has managed to command so many of them is anyone's guess and no doubt he is a man of great power. Still, I could not help but feel it demeaning that such noble beings should be put to such undignified tasks as they were. Should the sorcery king's ties that bind them to his service one day be severed, I feel the revenge of the genie could prove worse than any fate outside invaders could bestow on the city.
Dalsis
The city of Dalsis is ancient and its historians claim that it goes back to the first Era of this Age(!). Whilst I am in no position to judge the accuracy of such a claim, it does retain one legacy of ancient Isandor that has been otherwise lost to us: Mageblades. Aprt from the elven Bladesingers, nowhere else in Éran is this deadly combination of arcane arts and martial combat skills taught. Masters of both magic and the sword, the feared and awe-inspiring Mage Blades constitute the elite in the Dalsis army and their presence has kept the city safe from invasions for as long as they have recorded its history.
The Great Wastes
a
The Far South
a
