The Arcane Order

The Bonechill Accord

After the realm-threatening events that transpired involving the dark mage Villiame Hellbrand just before The Great Eruption, the leaders of Efria initiated the Bonechill Accord to keep arcane arts and magic items in the hands of only those who could be trusted with them.

The leaders of the humans, the hill dwarves, and the wood elves threw aside their differences and held a summit on Bonechill Island, the stronghold of the late Hellbrand. To this day, the tenets of the Bonechill Accord remain in play across all civilized societies in Efria.

From the Bonechill Accord arose The Arcane Order—a hierarchical regulation agency which holds dominion over arcane education, services, and the handling of magical items. Now a well-established Mage campus, The Arcane Order is based in the ancient stronghold of Qehz Hole, a castle-like collection of towers and vaults carved from the flanks of a long-dead volcano on Bonechill Island. It is home to the Institute of Arcane Arts.

For various reasons, the Order does its best to keep their activities and any arcane arts away of the public eye.

Joining the Order

It is technically illegal to wield arcane magic or possess magic items until registered, though this is not consistently enforced throughout Efria. These untrained and unregistered users of the arcane arts are considered “amateurs.” An individual is not considered legitimate or a member of the Order until registered with a regional branch.

Any registered arcane spellcaster is welcome to join the Order. They have few obligations to the Order but receive little benefit from membership other than the right to make use of the Institute’s guest quarters and peruse the Order’s libraries at their convenience. If they also choose to join The Spellpool Guild, they would have access to the Order’s mighty Spellpool.

Additionally, it is possible to gain special trust of the Order, earning exclusive benefits as a result.

Membership Dues

The base dues for members of the Order are a modest 10gp per month, which includes general library access and a bunk in the Institute’s guest quarters. A member of The Spellpool Guild pays an additional 20gp per month. Novices at the Institute are required to pay a total of 200gp per month in tuition for the instruction they receive.

Regional Branches

In addition to the headquarters and the Institute of Arcane Arts at Qehz Hole, the Order maintains a regional branch in each of the major settlements in Efria. Regional branches are staffed with Officers of the Order and will have a sanctioned magic shop, arcane academy, library, wayfaring service, enchanting service, and registry under their umbrella.

There are occasionally Order-affiliated arcane facilities in the smaller settlements in Efria but these locations are limited in their offerings.

Settlement
Qehz Hole
Efria City
Westreach
Eastrock
Baysyde
Cliffhold Castle
Ta'izz-Ghazal
Gottskar
Rhunailin
Vam Moldur

The Registry of Arcane Casters

The Registry of Arcane Casters is a magical tome used to catalog all known arcane casters in Efria. It exists in several places at once, and any changes made in one “copy” are simultaneously updated in all the rest. Only certain high-ranking Officers of the Order possess the arcane ability to edit the tome. All members of the Order are listed in the Registry with their level and benefits.

There is at least one copy based in each of the regional branches of the Order, and at Qehz Hole. The information in the tome is automatically organized and specifics can be recalled immediately by the proper personnel.

Order Trustees

Some arcane magic users come to be particularly respected by the Arcane Order, and thusly gain certain exclusive privileges. To be an Order Trustee is a high honor and is not to be taken lightly. A Trustee is expected to hold themselves with dignity and be good depictions of the Order.

Depending on where a member is in the hierarchy of the Order, they may gain automatic Trustee statuses. A Trustee of a given level may entrust another individual up to their own level but no higher. It is frowned upon to entrust an individual who is not already a member of the Order, but it does happen on rare occasions.

Order Trustee I - "Amber"

• May purchase common magic items.
• May hire the services of The Wayfarer's Union.

Order Trustee II- "Jade"

• May purchase minor magic items.
• Base membership dues are waved.

Order Trustee III – “Topaz”

• May purchase medium magic items.
• Additional dues for being a member of the The Spellpool Guild are waved.

Order Trustee IV – “Pearl”

• May purchase major magic items.
• All potential dues are waved and receives a bonus salary of 100gp per month.
• Receives 25% discount on The Wayfarer's Union services.

Typical Members

Registered Caster

The bottom tier of the Order, these members are arcane casters of any style or level that have been registered and certified for arcane usage by a Mage of the Arcane Order at one of the regional branches. Citing the minimal benefits that they gain from their status within the Order, registered casters tend to sidestep paying their monthly dues. The Order considers any payment received by these casters to be a donation, and it does not bother to enforce payments. However, a current monthly payment must be made if a member is attempting to utilize the Spellpool, libraries, or bunks.

• Registered Casters have access to the “Precocious Apprentice” feat (Complete Arcane, page 181).

Novice

Novices are current Pre-Mage students at the Institute. The core curriculum takes around 6 months to complete, depending on the aptitude of the student.

• Novices are usually 1st or 2nd level arcanists.

Mage

A Mage is a graduate of the Institute of Arcane Arts's core curriculum. They spend most of their time engaged in their own researches and interests, away from Qehz Hole but they usually visit regional branches twice a year to pay their dues. Occasionally, a Mage will return to Bonechill Island to consult with colleagues who remain at the Institute year-round or to make use of the Order’s excellent libraries.

• Mages are usually arcanists of at least 3rd level.
• Mages have automatic Order Trustee I status
• Mages have access to the “Collegiate Wizard” feat (Complete Arcane, page 181).

Scholar

Scholars are Mages residing at the Institute, pursuing higher education. They are researchers and lorekeepers. Scholars have no formal duties, but they receive no stipend either. The chief benefit they enjoy for their membership is a safe and secure home in the company of other brilliant Mages who can often assist with their work.

• Scholars are usually an arcanist of at least 4th level.

Collegian

Collegians are Mage residing at the Institute, pursuing higher education, and instructing novices. They often take long sabbaticals to pursue their own researches, but in general, they are expected to remain at the Institute for several months at a time to provide a reasonable course of instruction. In exchange for their time and trouble in teaching novices, Collegians are paid a stipend of 30 gp per caster level per month.

• Collegians are usually an arcanist of at least 5th level.
• Collegians have automatic Order Trustee II status.

Officer

Officers fulfill administrative and enforcement duties for the Order. They staff the regional branches. Officers answer to Overseers.

• Officers are usually an arcanist of at least 8th level.
• Officers have automatic Order Trustee III status.

Overseer

The leaders of the Order who answer only to the Chancellor. Overseers split oversight into several domains, each Overseer leading one domain.

• Overseers are always arcanists of at least 10th level.
• Overseers have automatic Order Trustee IV status.

Title	Domains of Oversight
Overseer of Education	Curriculum, Student Matters
Overseer of Lore	Libraries, Research
Overseer of Items	Magic Item Shops, Enchanting
Overseer of Wayfaring	The Wayfarer’s Union
Overseer of Spells	The Spellpool Guild
Overseer of Warding	Security, Groundskeeping
Overseer of Council	Diplomacy, Public Relations
Overseer of Registration	Registry, Personnel Matters

Chancellor

The head of the Order. An Archmage whose own research concerns an ancient, universal magical grammar known as the Language Primeval.

Common Prestige Classes

Many Mages eventually take levels as a “Mage of the Arcane Order” (Complete Arcane) and join The Spellpool Guild, if for no other reason than to gain access to the Order’s potent Spellpool.

In addition, many members pursue the path of the “Loremaster” (Dungeon Master’s Guide), reflecting the scholarly inclination of the organization.

Members who are powerful enough often aspire to become an “Archmage” (Dungeon Master’s Guide).

To join the The Wayfarer's Union, a Mage must have taken at least one level of “Wayfarer Guide” (Complete Arcane), and to charge for their services, it is mandatory to have taken all three prestige levels.

It’s not unusual for a high-level member of the Arcane Order to have a couple of levels in two or three of these prestige classes, acquiring a smattering of abilities from each.

Magic Item Regulation

Very few Mages have the ability and training needed to create magic items. However, a myriad of wondrous magical items and artifacts of untold power lie hidden around the realm, lost in time from ages past, waiting to be uncovered. To limit misuse and potential damage, the Arcane Order attempts to restrict access to these items.

Due to their value and power however, these items are highly sought out by adventures and other intelligent creatures. Under the Bonechill Accord, items that are recovered are supposed to be turned into the Order for processing and compensation. Although many treasure seekers make a living from selling them to the Order, it’s well-known that this portion of the law has become poorly enforced. Many illegal items have found their way into unapproved hands.

Magic Item Shops

A significant quantity of magic items that have been unearthed have been catalogued by the Order. A variety of these items are stocked in their magic item shops to the few individuals that have gained the requisite trust of the Arcane Order, subject to availability. Most of the Order’s magic item shops have an inventory of magic items that Certified Enchanters of the Order have already produced, but specific items can be requested. See section below for typical magic item availability.

It is important to note that the Order sells potions of cure wounds, but these items are in fact produced through divine magic. The Order takes a small commission on their sales, but most of the profit goes back to the local religious establishment who created the potions. These potions are not available to the general public. Any individual may visit religious establishments to receive the blessings of healing spells, but potions are not an everyday public item and are regulated by the Order.

Common Magic Items

These basic magic items carry less potent powers and are more frequently found than other magic items. An individual must be at least Order Trustee I to purchase common magic items.

Item	Cost (gp)
Potion of Cure Light Wounds	50
Wand of Detect Magic	375
Wand of Light	375
Bag of Holding Type 1	2,500
Weapons of Minor and Lesser Elemental Strengths	varies
Weapons of Minor and Lesser Bane Strengths	varies

Certified Enchanters

Most of the more unique and powerful items were created in ages past—times when arcane knowledge flourished. Still, the Institute has been researching methods of creation. Some Mages of the Order specialize in creating magic items and providing the service of enchanting.

The Certified Enchanters of the Order can reliably produce Common Magic Items and all strengths of Fundamental Enchantments. These items are frequently obtainable throughout Efria. An individual must be at least Order Trustee I to utilize these services.

Some Certified Enchanters can work with more specific enchantments, such as special abilities, but the Order as not approved the mass production and sale of such items. One may come across amateur and uncertified enchanters, but the Order considers the items they create to be unreliable, unsafe, and illegal.

Typical Magic Item Availability

The table below illustrates the chance (%) that a magic item supplier will have a given magic item in stock. Depending on the sourcebook the item originates from, there are varying degrees of likelihood. All sales are subject to applicable Arcane Order regulations and seller’s right of refusal.

Additionally, the table shows locations that generally do not have Order Regional Branches. If a sanctioned magic item shop is located in the settlement, there is still a small chance of it stocking a given item. It is also possible to come across an illegal bootlegger of items, but these deals are highly illegal and not recommended.

• The buyer may inquire about a given item once per week, at any one establishment.
• Artifacts are not available for sale by the Arcane Order.
• If the buyer is inquiring about Wondrous Items, deduct 30% from the likelihood.
• If the buyer is inquiring about Specific Armors, Specific Shields, or Specific Weapons, deduct 20% from the likelihood.
• If it is determined that an item with charge quantity (such as a wand) is in stock, a second roll (DM discretion) is made to determine how many charges it has.
• If the buyer is inquiring about Spell Scrolls, the roll is made for a given spell desired. If the spell is currently available, the rest of the scroll is randomly generated. It is also possible to commission a custom scroll to be produced by an Officer.
• If the buyer is inquiring about Magic Weapons, Armor, or Shields, a similar method to scrolls is used—depending on what the buyer wants. If an item enchantment is currently available, the item is enchanted to randomly generated from the group of items desired. It is not possible to commission these items completely from the Order, as they do not have stock of many mundane items. It is more common that an enchantment is added to an item that the customer brings in.
• Services of Certified Enchanters are almost always available at the Order’s Regional Branches.
• Depending on the item and location, it is the DM’s discretion to alter these percentages.
• The DM supervises rolls for likelihood of inventory.

Branch	Home Rules Compendium of Efria	Core 3.5e Sourcebooks	3.5e Magic Item Compendium	Other 3.5e Sourcebooks
Qehz Hole	100	80	70	50
Efria City	100	70	60	40
Eastrock	100	60	50	30
Westreach	100	60	50	30
Baysyde	100	50	40	20
Cliffhold Castle	100	50	40	20
Gottskar	90	40	30	15
Ta'izz-Ghazal	90	40	30	15
Rhunailin	80	30	20	10
Vam Moldur	80	30	20	10
Average Town	15	4	3	2
Average Village	10	3	2	1
Average Hamlet	5	2	1	0
Illegal Bootlegger	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies

Founding Date

17 AE

Type

Guild, Mages

Alternative Names

The Order

Location

Qehz Hole

Controlled Territories

• Institute of Arcane Arts
• Qehz Hole

See also
The Spellpool Guild
The Wayfarer's Union