The Navigators
The Navigators are an order of magic scholars that protect and practice the art of magic cartography. Magicartigraphy, as it is sometimes called, is a practice of creating magic-infused maps that allow passage to usually difficult or otherwise impossible to reach locations. Before expeditions into the Brumefringe, the these maps were used to navigate hostile wildernesses or circumvent inhospitable areas. As those frontiers closed, the Brumefringe became the almost entirely singular focus for the Navigators and all magic cartography has centered around passage through the Brume.
The Navigators are made up almost entirely of magical users, with non-magical folk taking up only administrative and other similar roles. No matter how one is imbued with their magical talent, it requires a knowledge and connection with the arcane to scribe the infused maps that Navigators deliver. Some are more talented in the craft than others, with some students rising through the Navigator's school rapidly and others spending a lifetime to only be able to craft simple maps.
Navigators can also be apprenticed and trained, which is often the case abroad (from Falkeswin) where Navigators may not be numerous enough to support a full school.
Using or reading a map is much less difficult, but still not without its own pitfalls. A captain can be trained by a Navigator to use a map or series of maps for his journey, but he will be unable to improvise upon them on the trip. Effectively using a map almost always consumes it and consumes it immediately - Captains with a one-way map cannot turn around more than a few hours journey, lest they lose their connection to the route. For example, looking at a Navigator's map half-way through a journey will show the already traveled section of the journey as erased.
To the untrained, the provided map looks almost like a cliche treasure map - simple drawings and markings, though with arcane script in certain areas. Reproduction or copied maps have been made, and unknowing captains have followed them to their demise. More convincing fakes and reproductions have sometimes been made and even magic-infused, but these are fraught with their own dangers. Identical, or nearly identical maps used at the same time have caused unworldly catastrophes, rending ships in violent ways. Ships have become fused with each other or have been seen in multiple places at once, some ships even seeing a copy of themselves, immediately driving the crews of both copies mad.
Luckily, an experienced Navigator can sense when a created map has this danger, or if an existing map will lead to this end while it is being used. As well, the Navigators take great care to use only assigned regions of the Brumefringe on certain dates in an effort to thwart such instances.
The Navigators are made up almost entirely of magical users, with non-magical folk taking up only administrative and other similar roles. No matter how one is imbued with their magical talent, it requires a knowledge and connection with the arcane to scribe the infused maps that Navigators deliver. Some are more talented in the craft than others, with some students rising through the Navigator's school rapidly and others spending a lifetime to only be able to craft simple maps.
Navigators can also be apprenticed and trained, which is often the case abroad (from Falkeswin) where Navigators may not be numerous enough to support a full school.
Magicartigraphy
Making the maps to navigate the Brumefringe is a lengthy, expensive process. Crafting a map requires special papers, treatments, and inks made from rare ingredients. These ingredients and methods vary by map, by Navigator, and by availability. The overall quality is defined by all of these agents, the skill of the Navigator, and the relative difficulty of what the map is trying to accomplish.Using or reading a map is much less difficult, but still not without its own pitfalls. A captain can be trained by a Navigator to use a map or series of maps for his journey, but he will be unable to improvise upon them on the trip. Effectively using a map almost always consumes it and consumes it immediately - Captains with a one-way map cannot turn around more than a few hours journey, lest they lose their connection to the route. For example, looking at a Navigator's map half-way through a journey will show the already traveled section of the journey as erased.
To the untrained, the provided map looks almost like a cliche treasure map - simple drawings and markings, though with arcane script in certain areas. Reproduction or copied maps have been made, and unknowing captains have followed them to their demise. More convincing fakes and reproductions have sometimes been made and even magic-infused, but these are fraught with their own dangers. Identical, or nearly identical maps used at the same time have caused unworldly catastrophes, rending ships in violent ways. Ships have become fused with each other or have been seen in multiple places at once, some ships even seeing a copy of themselves, immediately driving the crews of both copies mad.
Luckily, an experienced Navigator can sense when a created map has this danger, or if an existing map will lead to this end while it is being used. As well, the Navigators take great care to use only assigned regions of the Brumefringe on certain dates in an effort to thwart such instances.
Demography and Population
The Navigators are spread around the world, but have only small chapters and guilds in most countries, especially those that are landlocked or otherwise uninterested in distant sea travels. Some Navigators operate independently of the Order, but it would be very difficult for one to teach oneself the ways of magic cartography without at least some interaction with members of the Navigators.
The Navigators of Edeoxes are mostly concentrated in Falkeswin, with smaller delegations in the other coastal nations. They operate mostly like a business, but are still somewhat government-adjacent. Excepting Falkeswin, where they still enjoy some official prestige and hold some sway in (very limited) sectors of government, governments no longer use the Navigators as court wizards and mages. They operate similarly in Akend, but the states there generally have little interest in their maps. Shokinkazi has their own brand of Navigators and, while officially related, are quite independent from those in Edeoxes. While the product may be the same, their methods and traditions have diverged wildly. In addition, the closed nature of the Eastern Kingdoms has limited the eastern Navigators' spread of knowledge in any major way to those in the West. This does not seem to bother most, as many Edeoxen Navigators judge the Western methods preferable or superior.
The Navigators of Edeoxes are mostly concentrated in Falkeswin, with smaller delegations in the other coastal nations. They operate mostly like a business, but are still somewhat government-adjacent. Excepting Falkeswin, where they still enjoy some official prestige and hold some sway in (very limited) sectors of government, governments no longer use the Navigators as court wizards and mages. They operate similarly in Akend, but the states there generally have little interest in their maps. Shokinkazi has their own brand of Navigators and, while officially related, are quite independent from those in Edeoxes. While the product may be the same, their methods and traditions have diverged wildly. In addition, the closed nature of the Eastern Kingdoms has limited the eastern Navigators' spread of knowledge in any major way to those in the West. This does not seem to bother most, as many Edeoxen Navigators judge the Western methods preferable or superior.
Foreign Relations
The Navigators currently enjoy a tight relationship with the crown of Falkeswin, still having some influence in affairs of seaborne navigation and travel. They are consulted on manners of certain maritime laws and provide maps for distant patrols that may need to navigate treacherous areas or areas near the Brumefringe. The Crown owns and allows usage of the Amberfolt Magicartigraphy College to the Navigators. This is where the leaders and most senior Navigators reside and work. It is also where the Navigator's most major school is located, servicing and boarding students as young as preteens to train and learn under the wizards of the order.
Other nations opinions vary, mostly based on their relation with Falkeswin. After the wars of Lemaroux's gate, the Navigators have oft been viewed as an extension of Falkeswin's sea-based imperial endeavors by many nations. While they are happy to have the service available and magicartigraphy in their country for private and government expeditions, the trust the Navigators once earned as a neutral, international order is gone.
Other nations opinions vary, mostly based on their relation with Falkeswin. After the wars of Lemaroux's gate, the Navigators have oft been viewed as an extension of Falkeswin's sea-based imperial endeavors by many nations. While they are happy to have the service available and magicartigraphy in their country for private and government expeditions, the trust the Navigators once earned as a neutral, international order is gone.
