Wizards' Imperial College Council

The Council of the Wizards Imperial College are the leadership of the school, but also the de-facto head of magic use across the Empire. It is a large and egalitarian group made up of several representatives of each 'official' school other than the school of Necromancy, which is attached to the college of Abjuration.

A note is useful here: The practice of necromancy is complex in the Empire, with any desecration of dead bodies completely off limits but the binding of spirits and incorporeal beings walking a thin line of respectability, or at least legal acceptance; the use of Speak With Dead is a common practice in any death or murder investigation. For that matter, other unofficial schools of magic such as Dunamancy and Chronomancy are also usually bundled into Abjuration. 

Overview of the Imperial Wizards' Council

The Imperial Wizards' Council of Khazigur is a secretive and powerful body within the empire, tasked with overseeing and regulating all matters arcane. Organized into four hierarchical circles, the council wields substantial influence over both magical and political landscapes.
It is assumed by many people with some, but incomplete knowledge, that the Obscurati is more or less an overlapping group to the Wizards' Council; in fact, the Obscurati at times seems to run the council, and at other times they are more of an agency, acting as a paramilitary arm of the council to put its more vigourous or violent edicts into action. Both groups are co-edpendent and have a great deal in common, other than the fact that the Council is for the most part, publicly known and the Obscurati actually get their robes a little bloodied from time to time.

Key Members

• Archmaster Wizard Dimasco : A stern and commanding figure, renowned for his mastery over evocation. He is a visionary leader who often pushes the council's agenda in the empire.
• Master Bartimus Rakkir: As both a duke and a conjurer of great power, his influence extends over the central portion of Naarod, Khazig's northern territories. He is known for his ambitious and sometimes ruthless strategies, his lavish tourament during the Yuletide, and his beautiful wife Rianon, a member of the Witches' Guild.
• Master Wizard LaFoy: Originally an exile from the Tiwwari tribelands, his mastery of abjuration under Dimasco’s guidance has made him a formidable protector of the realm. His unique background brings a fresh perspective to the council.

This ancient council actually claims descent from the dark wizard-kings of the former empire of the Cumaeans, not the current Khazigiri Empire which emerged from its ashes more than ten thousand years ago, though the 'Imperial' in the name refers to the current political structure. Very little is concretely known about those distant progenitors, of course, but the council keeps a thick roster of traditions as well as scrolls and grimoires dating back to those more primitive times, and a few precious items a great deal older still from the Elven Interstitials and Second Elven War. Elaborate rituals and ceremonies acompany each meeting and official council, held once every five years, though the mundane operations of the council are straightforward. Membership is by unanimous appointment of the inner circle of seven after the completion of a significant trial, quest or magico-scientific advancement, and requires the patronage of at least three members of the Second Circle or six members of the Third Circle. Generally a complete geneology is required even for the first circle, which naturally favors the nobility for whom their descent and heraldry are a matter of critical importance, but some exceptions have been made in the past for members such as Master LaFoy.

Structure

• Fourth Circle: The largest and most inclusive, consisting of numerous wizards who manage lesser magical tasks and regional concerns. They are often involved in public duties, acting as the face of the council in local disputes or minor magical incidents. Many of the rank-and-file professors of the Wizards' College are also members of the Fourth Circle.
• Third Circle: Composed of experienced magicusers who handle more serious magical threats and oversee magical experimentation and research. They also play a role in crafting laws related to magic.
• Second Circle: These elite members serve as advisors to the highest echelons of power, including the royal court and the various higher ranks of regional nobility. They focus on high-stakes diplomacy and strategic planning, dealing with threats both mundane and mystical. While a Baroness or a Count might have a member of the Third Circle advising them, A Duke or an Earl would likely have a member of the Second Circle, should they include magic users in their councils.
• First Circle: The innermost circle of the Council, consisting of the seven most powerful and trusted members, including Archmagister Dimasco, Master Bartimus Rakkir, and Master LaFoy. This circle directly advises the Emperor and makes decisions on the gravest threats and opportunities facing the empire. While they may occasionally be manipulated by the Obscurati, they more often are the ones setting the priorities and deploying the agents of that shadowy faction to do their bidding at home and in foreign lands.

Culture

Though generally secretive and willfully obtuse, nevertheless most council members wear richly embroidered robes with symbols of their magical and religious affiliations. Their power is arcane rather than divine, but at their level, where certainly even the Angels know them on a first name basis, their attire and accessories are often flavored with Celesii Magni iconography and elements of folklore—using relics and icons as magical tools, and calling upon saints and angels for power.

Religious Tension can also influence their magical practices and their political goals, leading to ever-shifting factions within the council that vie for influence and control. The fact that they could literally summon forth a lesser Celestial virtually on demand gives them a much different perspective on faith and religion than the common person. As such, the citizens of Khazigur especially and the Empire at large tend to view the council with a mix of fear, respect, envy and suspicion. Some may believe the wizards are protectors and wise counselors, while others might suspect them of scheming for power or meddling in dangerous forces.
The Emperor himself certainly is both grateful for and suspicious of the Council, which is often involved in various mystical undertakings, such as safeguarding the city and the Empire from supernatural threats, conducting esoteric research, and managing the magical education of the city's elite. But he ensures they remain disassociated from mundane politics, other than using their powers to influence the decisions of enemy nations or foresee potential crises. While he wouldnt' dare move against them directly, Emperors of the past have disbanded the council on more than one occasion and the Wizards' School has been shut down many. many times in its long history.

While in the past, some wizards have been caught up in coup attempts and uprisings around ruler legitimacy and the transfer of power from one Emperor to the next, the Cazaxanes family from which the Emperors descend have been indulgent enough to keep the Wizards happy but also brutal enough to make a clear point should any wizard circle decide to engage in seditious or treasonous acts. The Emperors are steeped in divine power stemming from their Celestial selection and the blessings of the Heirodules, and the current Emperor Ulyrius IV is also known to be a powerful Cleric of Phanuel, the Angel over Kings and the power of the unquenchable sun.

Assets

Magical Artifacts

• The Scepter of Seiros: A powerful artifact capable of amplifying magical energy, used primarily in rituals that affect the entire city or in matters of national defense.
• The Mirror of Myriad Futures: An ancient mirror that shows possible outcomes of significant decisions. It is used by the First Circle to aid in making strategic choices for the empire.
• The Codex Elemental: A comprehensive tome containing knowledge and spells pertaining to elemental magic, including rare spells known only to the council.

Properties

• The Arcane Sanctum: The hidden headquarters of the council, located in a demiplane accessible only through a portal in the deepest vaults of the House Absolute. It serves as both a meeting place and a repository for the council’s most dangerous artifacts.
• The Library of Echoes: An extensive library containing magical tomes, scrolls, and documents detailing centuries of magical research and history, accessible only to Third Circle members and higher.
• The Observatory of Celestial Convergence: A tower equipped with magical instruments that observe and analyze celestial and planar alignments. It helps predict events of magical significance.

Resources

• A Network of Ley Line Maps: The council maintains a detailed and secretive collection of maps showing the ley lines across the empire, which they use to monitor and tap into magical energies.
• The Elemental Wellsprings: Several guarded locations where natural magical energy pools, providing potent raw magic that can be harnessed for large-scale spells or emergency uses.
• The Heart of Teniel: This is both a literal magical dictation stone that can pinpoint and summarize any book in the Teniel Library, as well as a specific archive area that is off-limits to anyone not on the council where forbidden original books such as the Pronarion of Sabaoth and the Codex Methicus Sar Temuril are kept under extreme levels of security.

Allies and Servants

• The Obscurati: An elite group of magically enhanced warriors sworn to protect the council and execute its will discreetly. They are often seen as shadows flitting through the political landscape of Khazigur.
• Summoned Entities: The council has pacts with various celestial, infernal, and elemental beings that can be called upon for assistance or information.

Special Privileges

• Exemption from Law: Members of the council, especially those of the higher circles, are often exempt from many of the laws that govern ordinary citizens, and have favorable inheritance laws, giving them a considerable edge in executing their duties without legal hindrances. While the nobility often enjoys these priviledges as well, technically membership on the council does not make one a noble. 
• Access to Forbidden Magic: The council has the authority to research and utilize types of magic that are typically banned in the empire, under the justification of state security and magical advancement. A large complex of dangerous dungeon 'testing zones' is rumored to exist under the college where magical beasts are kept and magic experimentation is carried out.

Prin Umbră la Lumină ("From Shadow to Light")

Founding Date

-1687

Type

Research, Council

Leader

Archmaster Wizard Dimasco

Ruling Organization

The Obscurati

Location

Teniel Library

Notable Members

• Master Wizard LaFoy