The Archmages

“When I was offered the title of archmage, I was both honoured and humbled. To think that the world would think of my lifelong research as something to be celebrated… in my opinion, I was simply following my passion and I held a strong belief in the quality of my work. But ah, they do say that belief is power in this world, no?”

-- Thorsten Amber-Eye, Archmage of the Reliquary

An Archmage is an accomplished practitioner or researcher of magic who has been recognized for their contribution to the Galorian Alliance as a whole. It is an extremely prestigious title, only held by a small handful per generation. To be an archmage means one has not only demonstrated considerable magical prowess and talent; it means that said talent is so extraordinary that everyone has unanimously agreed the practitioner has benefited society.
Each Archmage is given a unique title, often one related to the holder’s specialty of expertise. The Eladrin, like all fey, placed a great amount of power in names and this aspect is suspected to be a carryover from their traditions. Thus, the title of Archmage became not only a badge of academic excellence, but also a symbol of having entered the ranks of modern legends.
The Archmages of history date back beyond the First Era, but many of them have unfortunately been lost to the ravages of time.

Requirements

An Archmage’s greatest asset is their own power and knowledge. Second only to that is the amount of pull their title has within Galorian, and even international, society. Unlike a politician or celebrity whose power lies solely in social influence, an archmage earned their fame through rigorous study and training and has proved it to a wider audience. An Archmage may possess the power to warp reality as they see fit, or they may be the only person in the world who hold the key to ancient knowledge and history. Each archmage often has a signature specialty no other mage in the world can replicate. Thus, an Archmage who speaks will always find people who will listen-- if not out of respect, then fear or awe.

History

The term ‘Archmage’ in antiquity was given to any mage in a position of authority over an organization, such as mage’s guilds or schools. Over time, the term shifted to specify only the most exalted and powerful of magicians, a concept borrowed from ancient High Elven tradition. Towards the late Mythic and early First Eras when High Elf cultures began to stabilise, much cultural significance was placed on academic achievement and magical prowess. Some cities based their entire hierarchies around magical ability: the most powerful wizards and druids ruled over the population. Other historical interpretations suggest that the concept of Arch-mageship was a rite of passage for scholars who wished to be recognised. Thus, as cultures began to mingle in modern times, ‘Archmage’ gradually became synonymous with ‘being of great power and knowledge’.

Notable Holders

Currently in Galoria, there are four living archmages:
The Archmage of The Muse
A High Elf Bard, founder and current Loremaster of the College of Glamour in Aldheim. She was bestowed the title for her work in reviving many ancient elven texts and legends that were thought to have been lost in the Sundering.
She is the only mage in Galoria who has been able to re-open the millennia-dead Feygate ruins that lie amongst Aldheim forests. Although attempts to directly contact any fey or Eladrin civilizations has been unsuccessful, her prowess effectively makes her the only living plane-walker to date.
The Archmage of The Reliquary
Thorsten Amber-Eye
A Dwarven Wizard, most known for single-handedly unearthing over a hundred ancient artefacts across innumerable archaeological expeditions, and for curating multiple museums across Galoria. He earned his title not only through his recovery of these magic items, but also contributing to their proper care, usage and containment.
Thorsten is a walking encyclopaedia of relics and magical equipment. Many of these items are incredibly ancient and dangerous, and Thorsten is the only man alive who can utilise such objects.
The Archmage of Industry
Grendel Pepperbox
A City Gnome Artificer of considerable renown, Pepperbox is more widely known as the Gnome who single-handedly kickstarted the industrial revolution. Although his career began as an inventor of mundane tools and weapons, he was also the first to incorporate magic into such inventions on a grand scale, earning him his title. Pepperbox’s eye for artificing is next to none, and rumours say that he could turn even the most innocuous of junk objects into lethal weapons.
The Archmage of Light
A gifted Sorcerer of unknown race or gender, the founder and principal of the Behenian Institute of Zaman. They are notoriously reclusive to the public eye, though Institute students who have met them in person report a decidedly wild and chaotic personality. Despite that, they earned their title for being perhaps the single most powerful caster of Evocation magic in modern history. They are said to be able to cast ‘any spell under the stars’, and apparently has demonstrated magical firepower great enough to sink a small island.

Type

Magical, Honorific

Related Locations

• The Alliance of Galoria

Title or Tag?

Archmages are not only extremely competent academics, but also extremely competent casters. A single Archmage has enough magical talent to take on an entire squadron of mundane soldiers and still win. It has been suggested that the Galorian Council seeks to title Archmages as a way to keep track of them, and to keep them on the Council’s side...