Alabaster Brotherhood
Magic is one of the greatest forces in existence. None deny this. As such, it only makes sense that many nations would seek to wield it. The Alabaster Brotherhood represents the efforts of Tamasia to master the forces of magic.
Structure
The hierarchy of the Alabaster Brotherhood is based on the arcane power wielded by its individual members. This is done by grouping them into nine circles based on what spells they are capable of casting. Thus, an apprentice who can only cast spells of the 1st Circle is a member of the 1st Circle. There have been no brothers of the 9th Circle in centuries.
Members of each circle are technically equal in rank, although in practice seniority plays a role. Only those of the 3rd Circle and above are considered true members. The rank of an individual brother is distinguished by the number of bands on the cuffs of their robes. These robes are a strict uniform, and are alabaster with green trim.
There is no one brother in the organization that serves as a definate leader that stands above the others. Instead they answer directly to the queen of Tamasia. She has total control over the Brotherhood, and is capable of dismissing and imprisoning members for any reason.
Brothers of the 5th Circle or higher are allowed to take apprentices. These are technically immediately members as soon as they cast spells of the 1st Circle, although they are generally expected to go off on their own when they master spells of the 3rd Circle. Sorcerers and even warlocks are allowed in the Brotherhood's ranks, but they are often shunned by their peers.
Public Agenda
The Alabaster Brotherhood is dedicated, first and foremost, to serving the Tamasian throne. To this end, they can be whatever their queen requires, even including spies, thieves, or assassins if such unsavory work is required of them. Naturally, many Tamasian monarchs have flatly denied using them for such nefarious purposes.
Mostly, their arcane talents are lended to arcane research and law enforcement. This makes them fundamentally similar to the Order of the Arcane Eye, their counterparts in the Kingdom of Mandia. In fact, the two organizations have a long-standing rivalry and frequently come into conflict, especially when blackcloaks are caught operating outside their de facto jurisdiction.
Assets
The main asset possessed by the Alabaster Brotherhood is the privileges associated with their position. They are effectively above the law so long as they are on official business. Unfortunately, the officiality of their business is often difficult to determine in the moment. Any abuses discovered are dealt with harshly.
They have a headquarters in the city of Tamas. This building looks very plain, but is, in fact, an extradimensional space similar to a Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion. This structure includes offices, laboratories, an arcane forge, and even a prison for magical miscreants.
History
The history of the Alabaster Brotherhood began with the Third Rising. The invasion of the terrible mind flayers attacked the city of Tamas. They used their stone giant thralls to breach the walls, forcing the defenders to fight for their lives.
The queen was obsessed with protecting the city, and so she didn't order the armies to fall back to the castle. The soldiers were slaughtered in droves, but with their lives, they bought time. An association of mages used that time to set a series of arcane traps for their enemy.
By the time the lines broke, the city was a minefield of deadly wards. As the mind flayers had very little understanding of the arcane, they led their thralls straight into the deadly city. Pandemonium ensued, allowing the mages and soldiers to launch a counterattack, driving the beasts back.
After the Rising was defeated, Analia of House Tormell gave these wizards special privileges in exchange for their service. The once independent wizards became a true organization, and called themselves the Alabaster Brotherhood after House Tormell's signature color. They kept this name even after the Tormell dynasty ended.
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