The Sulfieri (sul-fi-Ar-i)

The Mages of the Eberan Coasts
In the regions and countries of Southern Czerelan, and the northern coastline of Amracet, a guild of mages holds dominion over arcane matters in these realms. The Sulfieri is the largest group of Arcane Practitioners in the Known World and are active in the lands of Oracesis, Valleon, Hallen-Coredesh, Haskana, Rindra, and the Sapremar Basin. They have agents serving as political and royal advisors in the upper echelons of nine countries, sponsor the education of thousands through their arcane universities, and have a hold on their monopoly of teleportation magic throughout the realms in which they are active.
The Origins of the Sulfieri
The true origin of the Sulfieri is not expressed to the public. It is a tightly kept secret and only half of the truth is spread to those who read their histories in tomes and in lecture halls. Mainly to keep the true leader of their organization a secret, but also to keep up appearances as powerful mages.
The origin they tell you, is that the Sulfieri was founded by a group of wizards during the War of Anrinates. A war roughly 400 years before the events of the Ruination. The Kingdom of Syrcasia, ruled by King Anrinates III, began long campaign southward into the lands of Ardocia. As the Syrcasians began to conquer the fledgling kingdom, many had to flee as swords and flames subjugated the realm. A group of mages banded together in Chorvo, three of which were from Chorvo, one from Ventern, and two from Ardocia. In order to save their land, they sought a weapon that was rumored to rest in a long forgotted Levanian ruin. However, after countless years of research by the Ventese Evoker known as Saldora Efrientiet. She had found the ruins of an untouched Levanian ruin, in which she and her crew were the only ones who knew of its whereabouts. They delved into the ruin and had to deal with a series of traps, and puzzles in order to obtain the weapon.
A brilliant magical artifact known as The Markiriale. With it's assistance, they managed to halt the advance of the Syrcasian army at the fortress of Ilita and push as defeat King Anrinates III himself. The guild was then founded, and they were given a fortress as a reward for their actions. A castle in Chorvo known as Gildiris Castle.
In truth, there is more to Markiriale than what is read in the books produced, or lectures spoken by skilled orators. To refer to Markiriale as a simple magical artifact to be used, should be insulting. But that is how it wants you to think. It wants you to believe that it is nothing, or that it can be controled by the will of powerful casters. Those same casters know to love and fear what they found in the ruins. For it wishes to lend it's power to them, for favors and services in return.
The Leaders of the Sulfieri
Much like the history and origins of the organization, much is kept from the knowledge of the public about who leads the organization. Makiriale wishes to be kept an utmost secret by those who know of his existence. The public leaders of the Sulfieri are the Sul Magni, led by a singular Magni'unum. As of right now, the current Magni'unum is Celeste Tarsis, a Half-Elven woman of great magical prowess who started her career as a talented initiate, and proving herself as one of the best guildmages of her time. Under her guidance, the Sulfieri has existed in prosperity for decades, and after she had initiated the Teleportation Doctrines, with the assistance of the lands of Oracesis, they are rich as well.
The Teleportation Doctrines Just under a decade ago, the Sulfieri created a treaty between themselves and the other lands of Oracesis after a serious teleportation accident occured. With the death of 20 people, one of which being Duke Orlando of Ventern. The Sulfieri gathered the courts of Oracesis and signed a treaty stating that laws should be put in place to ensure that all teleportation goes through the rigorous safety standards of the Sulfieri and their mages. Now, every teleportation cirlce in Oracesis is run by them directly, or the owners are fined by the Sulfieri and the crown that rules their land. Other forms of long range teleportation are also locked down by the Sulfieri. To ensure safety for the people of Oraceis, as well as to line the coffers of the guild. After this accord was signed, The Magocracy of Neasos removed all Sulfieri agents and repossesed all guildhalls owned by the guild as an act of protest. The Sulfieri however, have not flinched in the face of Neasoese dissent.
The Mages of the Sulfieri
Arcanists and scholars delving into ancient ruins or acting as royal advisors, students pouring through ancient tomes in quiet sanctums, and experienced archmages traversing the multiverse. The mages of the Sulfieri can encompass anyone who seeks knowledge and magical enhancement. Many skilled battlemages and spellsword mercs of Oracesis lend at least some of their knowledge to the Sulfieri, and every court in their influence has a royal advisor to assist in the matters of ruling, and to uphold the Teleportation Doctrines.

Structure

At the top of the Sulfieri sits the Magni'unum, the grand leader of the entire organization. They have the final say on any project, law, or codex produced by the other members of the Sulfieri.
Beneath the Magni'unum are the Sul Magni. They are lieutenants and second in command of the entire organization. four of them exist, each in different positions that preside over different aspects of the Sulfieri to best manage it efficiently. The Magni of Protectio, is the main head of protection and defense. They overview the security of Sulfieri institutions, the training of battle mages, and hired mercenaries getting assigned and paid. The Magni of Legaria, the head of diplomacy and foreign affairs. Meeting with diplomats, assigning foreign royal advisors, and organizing outreach programs are all things that fall under the umbrella of Legaria.

Culture

The Culture of the Sulfieri itself tends to be highly studious and arcanely driven. Those who are not members of the Sulfieri often see two different groups in the guild. The wandering mages, and the Scrollsniffers. Scrollsniffers, a nickname given to Sulfieri members, are usually those who reside in deep study, or live in Sulfieri fortresses. They are often seen as pompous, cold, and highly intelligent. Those who are met outside of universities, such as wandering mages, field researchers, and royal advisors, are generally found more favorable than those who are found in Sulfieri locations. They are usually more outgoing and sociable to those they meet in their travels. Some do it to survive easier outside the walls of the schools and castles, others are chosen for their abilities to socialize.

Demography and Population

Due to the location of their headquarters being situated in the Oracesin Kingdom of Chorvo, most of their members, known as sulfera are Oracesin. The organization has many native Chorvan sulfera, as well as members hailing from the nearby lands of Ardocia, Ventern, Cavada, Erconiti, and Ciore. While people from Oracesis are the most common to be found among the Sulfieri, they also have more foreign sulfera among their ranks as students, scholars, and guildmages. Farwinders make up a small minroity among the Sulfieri, those brave enough to face the long journey find warm climates compared to their frigid home. Haskanian and Vallais scholars travel to reap the knowledge held by the Sulfieri, and some of the Vereti make incredibly skilled battlemages in their guild's service. The Sulfieri has guildhalls and universities all around Oracesis. They also hold several halls and outposts in the Southern reaches of The Kingdom of Valleon and the northern coastlines of The Haskanian Empire. One of their largest universities was actually built as a gift for the leaders of the group by a Haskanian Emperor and is the main scholarly hub in Baricava, the Haskanian port city. It is host to countless students and scholarly pursuits, with hundreds of mages making up both faculty and researchers. In the heart of Ventern, sits the Evokers School of Defense. A school built to train battlemages and spellswords in the art of destructive magic. It has churned out mercenaries and skilled soldiers for other nations, but has also trained skilled battlemages for the Sulfieri to use as well.
Oracesin 35% Haskanian 18% Vallais 14% Syrcasian 12% Marcean/Teori 10% Vereti 7% Farwinder 3% Other 1%

Scoprire arcana, ascendi magicam.

Founding Date

25th of Arbortint, 3924 AS

Type

Guild, Mages

Alternative Names

The Sulfieri Guild, La Guilde Sulfieri, Goldeyes, and Scrollsniffers

Demonym

Sulfieri

Government System

Magocracy

Location

Gildiris