Conclave of Magic

^{Adventurer, Scholastic}

The Conclave of Magic is a powerful organization that is self-tasked with maintaining order and balance for magic on Aerith. At the time of the Dragon Lords’ ascension, when all magic had gone wild, the founder and first Magus Drenkal Stormbringer, sought to bring order back to the world. Drenkal (a Copper Drakon in disguise) banded together a large group of arcane users to ensure balance was brought back to magic as a whole. The Conclave of Magic (or more commonly known as merely The Conclave) was formed. Drenkal knew that it was imperative for no loyalties, outside of The Conclave to be maintained to ensure the organization was kept separate and neutral from any one nation or continent. An island was created in the centre of the ocean, at the conflux of where the Magic Aspects meet. This is the very location where the Dragon Lords ascended and is the prime centre of magic power on all of Aerith. As such, this point does not belong to any individual or nation.
A hierarchy was established to help run The Conclave and has been maintained to the present. The leader of The Conclave is the Magus and is considered the most powerful force for magic on Aerith. The Magus has responsibility over The Conclave, its members and the health and well-being of magic itself. Each Root of Magic is represented, with the head of each Root answering to the Magus, while the members will typically specialize in one Root of Magic after their initial training.
The Conclave also sends out agents into the world to help with matters of magic and balance. These mages will often make a career out of helping various factions or individuals and may become heroes in their own right. Others may just stay and help serve The Conclave in more mundane ways, or teach at the main school on the premises.

History

The Conclave was founded over two thousand years ago by a Copper Drakon named Drenkal Stormbringer. In order to avoid detection from the Avariel who sought to end his life, he disguised himself as a Halfling. After forming the Conclave, in order to help support his endeavour, he recruited eight masters of the arcane arts; each one of them considered the best in their root of magic. One of these masters was named Hialdrim Steelrune, and he was the master Transmuter. Being one of the only people who knew of Drenkal’s true nature, he was entrusted with creating the island and Conclave headquarters situated at the nexus point of the world.
With their location secured, the nine of them went out and started to balance the forces of magic. During their time, each of them acquired various people who would help them on their journey. After a few decades of balancing magic and locking away any objects or destroying the knowledge of spells too dangerous for mortals to conceive, the Conclave was starting to look more like the massive order that it is today.
During this time a sorcerer named Esthor Galixaar was growing in power, claiming enchanted items and uncovering great knowledge in an attempt to become a god, and to finally gain control over all of Aerith. After he accumulated enough power and he felt he was ready to start his ascent into godhood, Drenkal knew what he must do. Shedding his Halfling disguise Drenkal fought Esthor for three solid weeks before the mad sorcerer finally fell and balance was restored. However, by revealing himself to the world he also revealed himself to the Avariel who were hunting him. The Avariel, having a duty to perform, approached Drenkal and thanked him for bringing balance back to the magic of the world. Before they were forced to fulfil their duty, they gave him one day to settle his affairs. Not wanting to waste any time, Drenkal returned to his true Drakon form, something he hadn't been able to do in a very long time, and he announced his successor to the Conclave of Magic. None were surprised to hear his choice was Hialdrim. After the day was done and his affairs were in order, Drenkal willfully and honourably gave himself up to the Avariel to receive his sentence.
Hialdrim ruled the Conclave for 300 years before he died of old age but in that time the Conclave grew exponentially becoming ingrained in societies around the world. From that point until the present day the Conclave grew to be the greatest magical school on all of Aerith. Before Hialdrim died he spent a year travelling the world trying to find his successor, not believing there was one out there that was worthy of his position of ultimate authority. Missing the companionship and advice of his Drakon friend and mentor Drenkal, Hialdrim was delighted to find a Green Half Dragon named Ghenesh Yarjerit. Wise, patient, and a little cunning, Ghenesh proved to be just what the Conclave leadership needed. With the leadership of the Conclave secured Hialdrim was now able to pass on to his peaceful death.
With Ghenesh’s long reign of 575 years coming to an end, he set himself out to find his next replacement, eventually settling on an Air Genasi named Zephyr who ruled with great distinction for almost 350 years. Most notably, Brenek, an Ogre Mage from Abereith, and the fifth Conclave Magus was present at the coronation ceremony on Starhelm. Caught directly in the blast of the Fractioning Brenek was instantly transformed into a Lich of great power, and held under the sway of the newly created Witch Queen.
Due to Brenek’s untimely demise, the Conclave needed to act fast and find a good replacement. It was a harrowing time for the Conclave and magic was left unchecked for a short time before finally a surprising and unique individual stepped forward in the form of Tamir, a Krysin of unequaled power, and the only Magus to come from the Necromancy Root. His rule of the Conclave lasted for about 220 before he had to lay down his post and search for another Magus. His obsession with destroying the Witch Queen forced him to realize he could not maintain his neutral stance with regards to her anymore. He would need to find a replacement. With no successor ready to take up the mantle within the Conclave Tamir set out to find an appropriate replacement. He first approached Lyle Tosscobble, a Halfling wizard of great power, living near the Portalguard Chain in the Barrier Guard of Denethen. Lyle had enough power but not the inclination to take the post so Tamir needed to find someone else. He then approached the Crystal Queen in Aspenshield to see if she would take up the mantle. She politely refused his request but immediately thought of an excellent candidate. Directing him to The Dragon Queen, an Eladrin who originally hailed from Aspenshield, and the Avariel before that, Tamir took her up on her offer. Eventually he came upon The Dragon Queen, whom he recognized immediately to have such an innate understanding of magic. She even somehow managed to befriend an ancient red dragon. Tamir had found his successor. Unfortunately, The Dragon Queen was not interested in taking him up on his offer and it took him another year before he was finally able to convince her to take the position. Once she accepted, Tamir was able to devote his energies to laying the Witch Queen low. Sadly, his attempt to destroy her failed and he died shortly after, though his control of Necromancy protected him from her corrupting influence.
For nearly 900 years now the current Magus of the Conclave, and its longest standing leader is The Dragon Queen, who rules with honour and discipline. The Conclave has never been stronger than under her rule.

Current Membership

The Conclave of Magic started out as an organization to maintain the balance of magic and teach magic to those willing to learn. Over the years the Conclave has grown to the point where it is recognized by every other nation on Aerith as its own sovereign nation, with its own form of government, and laws for their citizens. The Conclave devised a three-branch system as the basis of their government, which includes the Academic Branch, the Communal Branch, and the Tribunal Branch. The organization of the Conclave is governed by the Academic, and Tribunal branch, but the Communal Branch is responsible for the ongoing operations of the city of Jazun.

The Academic Branch:

The Academic Branch is organized into a strict hierarchy, with a clear line of authority and responsibility over lesser members. The Magus is the ultimate head of The Conclave and everyone under it. They are responsible to make sure each Root has balance with each other. Under the Magus, each Root has an Authority controlling it and making sure it is balanced within itself. Savants support the Authorities, but it is up to each Authority to determine how many and what tasks each Savant is required to do. Some Authorities have a few Savants, some have a larger staff. Below them are the bulk of The Conclave members that are also further subdivided with levels of authority and rule of power.

The Magus:

The Magus is the ultimate leader of The Conclave. They are considered to be the most powerful arcane user in the world, and as such they are in charge of ensuring that magic, as a whole, is balanced. When it is not in balance, they convene with the Authorities to make sure the problem is resolved.

The current Magus is The Dragon Queen. She is an extremely ancient Eladrin who has led The Conclave for almost 900 years. Upon attaining the mantle of Magus all other connections to outside influences and loyalties must be dissolved, so that their judgment is not tainted by other matters.

Authority:

An Authority is a master of one of the Roots of Magic. They are tasked with making sure that their Root is balanced, and they also serve as an advisor to The Magus on all matters relating to their Root. The Roots of Magic are as follows: Abjuration, Conjuration, Divination, Enchantment, Evocation, Illusion, Necromancy, and Transmutation. Just like the Magus, an Authority cannot have any other connections to anything unrelated to their position within The Conclave. The Authority is also in charge of how their Root should be taught in the schools on Aerith, both on the premises of The Conclave and in the greater world.

Savant:

A Savant is a member of The Conclave that has advanced up a certain Root of Magic to be able to advise the Authority on matters of that Root. Each Authority chooses how many Savants they want to advise them, and their numbers are not equal. Savants are often required to perform large tasks deemed too big for regular members but not big enough for an Authority’s attention. A Savant has no Rule of Power over members of Roots of Magic other than their own. If they wish to engage other members of different Roots, they need to approach the Authority of the Root in question and ask for aid.

Member:

Members make up the bulk of The Conclave. Most join The Conclave and work on improving their skill and knowledge with a certain Root, but there are a few who just want to learn about magic in general. While each member needs to eventually lay claim to a specific Root to follow, some embrace it fiercely, disdaining other Roots, while others just follow along as necessary without having any real preference of one Root over the other. Many members of The Conclave can go their entire career and never advance, or even desire to advance. Others may stay on and teach at the school, or find employment at other schools across all of Aerith. Some spend their time working for the Authorities doing various tasks around the world, big and small. Members are broken up into 6 levels with most having a Rule of Power over lesser members. While not all members who first enter The Conclave are new to magic, they will be segmented into these six categories shortly after arriving. As members progress, they find themselves advancing through these levels, some quickly, some less so. The following are the different levels from the entry level to the highest level: Novice, Apprentice, Mage, Master, Grandmaster, and Archmage.

Mission Chancellors:

Working as intermediaries between the Tribunal and the school, Mission Chancellors play a vital role. They can be either a member of the Tribunal, or a member of a Root, but not both. They have the authority to send members on missions, and assign teams as they see fit.

Member Hierarchy:

Rule of Power:

In the Conclave the Rule of Power is the authority to command those of a rank lesser than their own, provided they are pursuing the same Root. With the exception of The Magus, no Rule of Power has any official authority over someone from a different Root.

Novice:

A Novice is someone who has just joined the Conclave and they have yet to choose a Root. These pupils are just learning the basics of magic and will sometimes be sent out on ‘field trips’ to test out their abilities in the real world. They are never sent out on their own and it is up to their headmaster to determine whether they are ready or not. Novices have no Rule of Power. (1st level Arcane wielder)

Apprentice:

An Apprentice is a member who has already chosen their Root of Magic and are working with stronger magic users to learn from them. Some Arcane wielders will come to The Conclave after having already learned the basics of magic. They may be new to The Conclave but they are not new to magic, so they do not start as a Novice. Apprentices have no Rule of Power. (2nd to 4th level Arcane wielder)

Mage:

A Mage is a member who is proficient in their chosen Root of Magic. They are the majority of The Conclave members and are typically agents of their Root’s Authority. They work alone or in groups, with Apprentices, or sometimes Novices, and they are the face of The Conclave to the greater world. Mages have Rule of Power over Apprentices and Novices. (5th to 13th level Arcane wielder)

Master:

A Master is a Mage who has mastered their Root of Magic. Most Masters transition from their active Mage duties to teaching students or recruiting new members to The Conclave. Masters have Rule of Power over Mages, Apprentices, and Novices. (14th to 16th level Arcane wielder)

Grandmaster:

A Grandmaster is a Master who has graduated to very high levels of magic. They are able to cast some of the most powerful spells known. They are extremely proficient in their Root and have mastered many of the other aspects of magic as well. Grandmasters have Rule of Power over Masters, Mages, Apprentices, and Novices. (17th to 19th level Arcane wielder)

Archmage:

An Archmage is the highest rank one can reach as a member in The Conclave. Archmages have theoretically mastered not only their own Root but magic as a whole. Like Grandmasters, they can cast some of the most powerful spells known and with greater proficiency. They have also unlocked access to some of the more intriguing and helpful abilities of any Arcane wielder. Archmages have Rule of Power over everyone in their Root except Savants, Authorities, and The Magus. (20th level Arcane wielder)

Magic Users in The Conclave:

Arcane wielders of all kinds exist in The Conclave, from Wizards, Sorcerers, Bards, even some Fighters, and Rogues. Races of all kinds also populate the membership of The Conclave. In fact, all who wield Arcane magics may join and all who join must select a path to affiliate themselves with. In this way the organization of The Conclave can remain orderly and intact. However, it is typically the Wizards who hold any true stock in the progression and loyalty to their Root, though there have been some notable exceptions.
The main difference between Sorcerers and Wizards on Aerith is that Sorcerers tap into their personal pool of power naturally, and Wizards learn how to do so in organized and regulated systems, typically in schools. The Conclave is the largest and best-equipped school in all of Aerith and they have no affiliation with other outside influences. They are there to teach magic, plain and simple, and maintain the balance of magic throughout the world.
Wizards in Aerith either choose to cast their spells using a focus (like a wand, orb, or other item) or they prefer to use a component pouch. Those who use a focus prefer the expediency and ease with which to cast spells while those who use a component pouch like the physical and material aspects of connecting with their magic. To them it is more accurate and natural. Whichever way they choose they typically abide by their choice throughout their career. However, those who join the Conclave learn how to use both as part of their training.

Features:

The Orders of their Roots (Abjuration, Conjuration, Divination, Enchantment, Evocation, Illusion, Necromancy, Transmutation) dictates the specialty of their class. All members specialize in one of the Roots, though they still have a rudimentary knowledge of all the Roots and magic in general.

The Tribunal Branch:

The Tribunal consists of hundreds of members, but a high council of three, called the Triumvirate, oversee this branch. The Triumvirate’s power is large and far reaching, and in certain, but rare times the Triumvirate can override decisions made by the Magus.
The Tribunal Branch focuses on the laws, codes, and contracts that the Conclave must deal in, both on Jazun, or in other parts of Aerith. On Jazun, the Tribunal enact and enforce the laws of the island, ensuring fairness and justice to its denizens, while maintaining the balance of magic. Outside of Jazun, they work with the local government to abide by and understand their laws and customs, in order for the Conclave agents to easily interact with the populace and influence their acceptance of Conclave dictates when it comes to the balance of magic.
In addition to the many agents the Conclave employs, the Tribunal can also support these agents with contractors that possess a wide variety of skills and resources. These contractors are not full-time members of the Conclave, but they work under the auspices of the Tribunal and its direction. Contractors can be as small as an individual, or as large as an entire mercenary company, depending on the need. The Tribunal may also retroactively award contracts to previously completed missions if they feel it is appropriate for their needs.

Goals

The main purpose of The Conclave is to maintain the balance in magic. The majority of members will be sent out to acquire powerful artifacts and magic items that might tip the balance and keep them safe. Some are sent to put a stop to people that are trying to tip the balance of magic, whether purposeful or out of ignorance. Some will take it upon themselves to recruit new members to The Conclave while others will teach prospective mages how to improve their magical capabilities. The Conclave is the largest school of magic in the world and will take in those they believe have magical abilities even if they currently do not show any signs of magic aptitude.

Resources

Aside from the myriad magical resources that the Conclave has at their disposal, including items, spells, knowledge, and people, the Conclave has a wide reach across the entire world. They have a presence in every continent, and have influence in all corners of the globe.

Notable Personalities

• The Dragon Queen (Magus) (f/elf)
• Edgar Wallcarver, Abjuration Authority – true-named (m/sea dwarf - Dovak)
• Lyan Gatemaster, Conjuration Authority – true-named (m/gnome – Starhelm)
• Marissa Foresight, Divination Authority – true-named (f/human - Starhelm)
• Glitter, Enchantment Authority – true-named (m/aarakocra – Sangor)
• Tempest, Evocation Authority – true-named (f/air genasi – plane of air)
• Orion, Illusion Authority – true-named (m/human – Dovak)
• Tranquil, Necromancy Authority – true-named (f/sun fallen – Abereith)
• Iswalz, Transmutation Authority – true-named (m/grippli – Cha’lla)
• Sabrina, Evocation Savant/Mission Chancellor – true-named (f/human – Starhelm)
• Echo, Conjuration Savant – true-named (f/human – Sangor)
• High Mage Ballantyne Moonmote, Illusion Savant/Mission Chancellor (m/high elf – Starhelm)
• Master Danica Portsmith, Divination Savant/Mission Chancellor (f/human – Dovak)
• Kathrine Artwia, Evocation Savant (f/human – Starhelm)
• Master Elric Lightdawn, Mission Chancellor/Professor of Conjuration (m/human – Sangor)
• Master Brassik Ironskin, Abjuration Savant/Mission Chancellor (m/dwarf – Starhelm)
• High Mage Acheus Alastima, Mission Chancellor (m/human – Jazun)
• Professor Robert Stareye, Professor of Divination (m/human – Starhelm)
• High Mage Blain Goldcoat, school of Abjuration (m/human – Starhelm)
• Mage Howard Thatch (m/human - Starhelm)

Type

Education, Magic

Related Historical Events

• 9006 PF
  The Conclave of Magic is Founded

Purpose: Universal balance of magic, and foremost school of wizardry
Membership: Arcane spellcasters, notably Wizards, Sorcerers, Bards
Base of Operations: Jazun, centre of the world
Symbol: Tree of Magic with its roots glowing
Notable Members: The Dragon Queen (Magus Edgar Wallcarver (Abjuration Authority Lyan Gatemaster (Conjuration Authority Marissa Foresight (Divination Authority Tempest (Evocation Authority Glitter (Enchantment Authority Orion (Illusion Authority Tranquil (necromancy Authority)