Arcanis ~ The Kingdom of Mages
"For every Magician who has ever been ridiculed, chased from their home, or been chastised as a demon worshiper can find peace, solace, and kinship. We dedicate this Magicians Academy." Octavius Devarnas, Archmage of Arcanis. 2nd Era.
Demographics
Arcanis is welcoming to any of the population of the world of Edri, but Arcanians tend to be born and raised within the community more than rely on immigration for their population increases. Each citizen belongs to a 'Great House' within the community, each based upon the citizens magical affinity. There are five houses amongst the Kingdom of Arcanis, Vitae, Arcanus, The Eye, Flora, and The Hand. Each house is a part of the intricacies of Arcanian culture, and each plays an important part of keeping the kingdom running smoothly.
Government
The Magicians Academy is the single most important building in Arcanis, housing both the students and masters of the arcane arts. Within this academy the leaders of the great houses rule over the Kingdom, led by the wisdom of the Archmage. Each house exists independent of each other but working together as a whole for the betterment of the Academy and the Kingdom. The Archmage also doubles as the Councilor seat of the Council of the Enlightened.
Defences
The four earth elementals standing guard of the four corners of Arcanis are simply called "The Guardians". Great stone beasts in the shape of a muscular man, hunched over from carrying it's own massive weight, they stand as sentinels over Arcanis, waiting to be summoned if needed.
Aside from the Guardians, the images of Arcanis are not a force to be reckoned with themselves. Each of the five great houses are able, and willing, to defend themselves if necessary through their own magical practice.
Infrastructure
The essence of Arcanis is Magic. It flows through every building, through every pipe, through the trees, and through the air. Great crystals sit inside beautiful domed arches throughout the city, providing magical power to lamps, heat to bath houses, moving art pieces spread through the city. Arcanis itself also sits as a giant rune, a magical spell to protect the city if needed. Its roads, infused with magic, provide the necessary conduits to bring to life four enormous earth elementals tasked with providing safety to the land. Arcanis produces no major industry aside from its magical talent, so no buildings of industry dot the landscape.
Assets
The Kingdom of Arcanis is a minimalistic kingdom. It's people do not own weapons, do not provide industry through raw materials, and do not seek out items of a mundane nature. Its assets lie in it's incredible amount if magical talent. Arcane Mages sell their services to farmers looking to burn crop fields for fallowing. Those studied in healing magic offer their services free to all who ask. Illusion Magicians sell their skills to the Vellenthian showman, creating beautiful scenes for theaters, or delightful creatures of children's imaginations for parties. Magic fuels the kingdom's coffers.
Guilds and Factions
The Magicians Academy is the centerpiece of the Arcanian Kingdom. It is where the life of every magician begins at the age of 7, and where they will live until their 23rd Starcycle. Each student is thoroughly tested throughout their time in the Academy, and as their specific preference in magical abilities manifests, they are placed into specialislzed houses belonging to five different schools of magic.
The 5 Great Houses:
Aracanus - The house of the master of the Arcane, the Elemental Magicians, capable of drawing the elements of the world to do their bidding. Calling upon fire, water, wind, and sand.
Vitae - Masters of the Healing Arts, Menders of Bones, Magicians of the Heart. These generally gently spoken Magicians are sought after all over the world of Edri for their magical abilities. They heal what others cannot, bring those who knock upon deaths door back from the darkness. Many royal families have sought after their services for generations only to be turned away. The Healath do not accept payment for their services, and often are seen living in simple tents on the roads, travelling upon the backs of donkeys and llamas.
The Eye - House of Illusion, Masters of Enthrallment, Seekers of Truth. These Magicians are well known throughout the land of Edri as performers, dancers, musicians, accompanied by their gift for visual magic they are able to create realistic worlds, or world beyond comprehension with a flick of the wrist, all created by their ability to control light and sound. They are also well known as Truth Seekers, their abilities used by Law Enforcement to gain inside knowledge of criminal organizations by use of illusion spells to disguise themselves, or create elaborate scenarios to help capture those who step outside the laws.
Flora - The All Seeing, The Travellers, The Wise. The house of Windas is composed of Magicians who dedicate their lives into reading the unknown. Seeking out prophecy, meditating at places of power, trying to get glimpses of the future, and sometimes the past. This is the smallest house within the five great houses, as the majority of its members never truly find what they are seeking. Many of the Magicians in Arcanis see the house as a waste of valuable time that could be spent learning more 'practical magic'. The only notable member is Rylon Grace, a magician blessed (some say cursed) with the ability to see the last few moments of a Magicians life, through their own corpse.
The Hand - The Caretakers, The Broken, The Ungifted. The house of Allod is composed of the dropouts, the misfits, the common man. It is they who are unable to cast the intricacies of magic, unable to gather the essence of the universe, to see the future, to heal the sick. They tend farms, run the local shops, caretake the Academy, and keep Arcanis running while the Magicians practice their craft.
History
Founded in 3473 A.D.W., only 3 years after the First Dragon War, the Kingdom of Arcanis was built on the foundation of the protection of the magical arts, and a refuge for the people who practice it. After the banishment of the Great Dragon, and the establishment of the Unified Kingdoms the Magicians of the world found themselves spread out among the other great kingdoms, some without purpose roaming the lands. Some kingdoms welcomed the Magicians with open arms, hoping to utilize their talents, while others turned them away, beliefs held strong against their practice. The Cathedral of Fire cast all Magicians from Ember, justifying their actions as divine will. The Witches of Scorn insisted the Magicians would attempt to usurp their power, and the Kingdom of Harvest saw their magical abilities as laziness, and against the toil of man.
And so, during an age of still barely formed alliance a powerful magician by the name of Octavius Davarnus sent a magical eagle to quest for a land the Magicians could call their own. Thus was founded the Kingdom of Arcanis, which to this day has prepared young Magicians in the magical arts via its Academy, provided magical services to all Kingdoms in the land, and has carved itself into the very fabric of Edrian Society.
Architecture
The architecture of Arcanis is formed by the very magic that seeps from the ground. Each building is owned by one of the Great Houses of Arcanis and each is adorned with its colors and it's own unique architectural details. Yet each building flows into the next with a subtle grace only seen in the likes of the Kingdom of Romance, Vellenthian. Former Architects of Edri have spent much time in Arcanis, working with magicians both great and small, making sure details of magical natures are woven throughout the city. It is said that even the homes, shops, and places of leisure in Arcanis are woven with magical spells fueled by the great Crystal's throughout the city, all funneling back to the Great Crystal within the Academy.
Geography
Nestled in a valley within the heart of Edri, Arcanis is guarded on most sides by great forests and mountains. A small river runs glacial waters into the city, and the Magicians Academy sits upon a large plateau above the city. It is said that if one is permitted to the office of the Archmage, one can see the a great magical sigil from his balcony that is the city itself, surrounded by towering mountains that protect its citizens.
Natural Resources
Arcanis provides almost no material resources to the outside world. Its economy is almost completely based on labor of magic, while it provides the simplest of resources to it's own ends.
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments