The School of Arbitration
The School of Arbiters in Kataria is renowned across Alathor for producing some of the most skilled negotiators, mediators, and diplomats. It is a prestigious institution, where individuals from all walks of life come to learn the delicate art of arbitration. Training there not only focuses on the mechanics of resolving disputes but also instills a deep understanding of the politics, customs, and laws of different regions.
Core Tenets of the School:
- Neutrality: Arbiters are trained to maintain absolute neutrality in all matters, their purpose being to ensure fairness in judgment without succumbing to personal biases or regional loyalties.
- Patience and Wisdom: They are taught that time, observation, and careful deliberation are the keys to achieving peace or resolving conflicts. This mirrors the Grand Arbiter’s own long-lived patience.
- Advanced Specializations: Beyond the standard curriculum, students can specialize in the laws of specific nations, diplomacy between magical factions, or even dealing with supernatural or celestial disputes.
- The Silent Oath: All graduates of the School take a solemn vow known as the Silent Oath, pledging to uphold the principles of justice and neutrality. Those who ascend to positions of power across the nations often hold this vow as sacred.
Structure
The Grand Arbiter (who, unbeknownst to most, has held the position since the school's founding) presides over the school, though most believe this to be a ceremonial title passed down through the ages.
Master Arbiters: These are the senior instructors who teach the complexities of negotiation, law, and mediation. Some of them are involved in the inner circle that knows the Grand Arbiter's true nature.
Journeymen Arbiters: Once students have completed their initial training, they are sent out into the world as Journeymen Arbiters to gain practical experience before they can return for final mastery.
Culture
The School of Arbiters, nestled in the heart of Kataria, is a prestigious institution dedicated to the art of arbitration, diplomacy, and law. It is revered across the nations of Alathor, producing individuals skilled in resolving disputes and maintaining balance within volatile political landscapes.
The culture of the school revolves around a deep respect for neutrality, wisdom, and restraint. Students, known as Arbiter-Initiates, enter the school with the understanding that they will leave their personal biases, nationalistic loyalties, and personal ambitions behind. The School of Arbiters believes that only by setting aside the self can one truly serve the world.
The Silent Oath—a vow taken upon completing one’s training—binds each Arbiter to the values of impartiality and dedication to peace. Honor, discretion, and justice form the cornerstone of the school's teachings. Arbiters are expected to listen more than they speak, observe more than they judge, and act only when all avenues of peace have been explored. These principles are so ingrained in the institution that an Arbiter found acting with prejudice can face banishment from the ranks, a fate considered worse than death by many.
Beyond their diplomatic duties, Arbiters are also expected to continue their education, studying the laws, customs, and political intricacies of all known regions. This makes them highly sought after by rulers, councils, and magical factions alike.
Inside the School, life is one of discipline and study. The halls are filled with whispered discussions, legal debates, and meditative practices. The training is both intellectual and spiritual, with many Arbiters learning to center themselves through rituals that combine philosophy with physical practice, such as katari, a meditative form of swordplay.
History
The School of Arbiters was founded in the early days following the collapse of the Nakhasi Empire, at a time when chaos and war gripped much of central Alathor. The school’s origins are steeped in mystery, as the public records indicate that the school's leadership has passed through many hands over the centuries, though this is a carefully crafted deception.
In reality, the school owes its founding and centuries of guidance to a single figure—the Grand Arbiter Valtheris Norrikai, a Thalorim who has quietly shaped the destiny of Kataria since its formation. Valtheris, using his considerable lifespan and subtle influence, helped stabilize Kataria and establish the republic as a bastion of peace and diplomacy after the Nakhasi Empire’s collapse. His efforts ensured that Kataria would not fall into the chaos that consumed so many other regions in the aftermath of the empire’s downfall.
The School of Arbiters was established as both a neutral force in the political landscape of Alathor and as an essential tool for resolving disputes between nations, kingdoms, and magical factions. With time, the influence of the school spread far beyond Kataria, and soon, almost every nation in Alathor had a Kataria-trained Arbiter within their courts.
Though the Grand Arbiter’s true identity has remained hidden for centuries, his masterful control of politics and diplomacy has allowed the school to operate without attracting undue attention. The public face of the school presents a series of "Grand Arbiters" throughout history, each claimed to have served their term and passed on. In truth, these figures are fictional, and Valtheris has retained control, ensuring the school’s mission remains pure and uncontaminated by the corruption or biases of mortal rule.
Today, the School of Arbiters continues to serve as a central force for maintaining peace in a world still recovering from the scars of war and empire. Through their training, Journeymen Arbiters spread across Alathor, quietly shaping political landscapes with their neutral counsel, while those who know the school's deeper secrets remain dedicated to protecting Valtheris' identity and ensuring the continued stability of Kataria.
Type
Educational, School/Academy
Leader Title
Location
Notable Members
