The College of Flesh

The College of Flesh, located within the city-state of Ilah, is an arcane institution that pushes the boundaries of scholarly and magical dedication. Known for its extreme and controversial practices, the college holds a singular philosophy: true knowledge demands the ultimate sacrifice of self. Its members, devoted scholars and mages, undergo a harrowing transformation, offering their own flesh and blood to create magical artifacts and, ultimately, to craft their magnum opus—the Corpus Thesis, a book made entirely from the scholar’s body. This thesis serves as both their final academic work and their phylactery, binding their soul and granting them lichdom, thus ensuring that their knowledge and essence endure eternally. The College of Flesh represents the intersection of academia and necromancy, where scholars seek transcendence through the sacrifice of their mortal forms, all in pursuit of forbidden knowledge.

Structure and Hierarchy

The College of Flesh is organized into several distinct orders, each focusing on different aspects of the institution’s core philosophy. The hierarchy is rigid, with each level representing a deeper commitment to the college’s ultimate goal: the transcendence of mortality through the sacrifice of the self.

The Initiates: New members, often from various backgrounds—whether aristocratic, arcane, or scholarly—begin as Initiates. Their primary role is to serve the college while studying its teachings. They are not yet required to offer their flesh but instead learn the philosophical underpinnings and rudimentary alchemical and magical techniques. Their time as initiates is a test of their dedication and resolve.

The Fleshbound: Once an initiate has proven their commitment, they undergo a ritual where they offer the first piece of their flesh, often a small token such as a fingertip or ear, which is transformed into a magical artifact. This marks their ascension to the rank of Fleshbound. At this level, they begin to experiment with the creation of magical scrolls, tomes, and relics using their own body parts. The Fleshbound are taught to view these sacrifices as a necessary step towards greater knowledge and power.

The Flayed Scholars: These senior members have sacrificed much more of their physical form, often to the point where they are barely recognizable as humanoid. They have mastered the art of flesh transmutation, where entire limbs or organs are offered to create powerful magical items. Flayed Scholars are revered within the college, as their sacrifices symbolize their near-complete dedication to the pursuit of knowledge.

The Fleshwrights: The highest-ranking members of the College, the Fleshwrights, are those who have ascended to lichdom. They no longer possess a living body, having willingly surrendered their mortality to become undead beings of immense power and knowledge. As liches, they guide the college’s philosophical direction, preside over the most complex rituals, and safeguard the most powerful and dangerous tomes created by the college’s members.

Rituals and Practices

The rituals of the College of Flesh are elaborate and often macabre, blending elements of necromancy, alchemy, and arcane magic. Each ritual is designed to further the college’s goals of transcending mortality and deepening the collective knowledge of its members.

The Ritual of the First Sacrifice: This initiation rite is performed when an initiate is ready to become a Fleshbound. The initiate must choose a part of their body to sacrifice, which is then alchemically transformed into a magical artifact. The artifact is usually a tome or scroll that contains a piece of the initiate’s knowledge, infused with the essence of their flesh. The process is painful and dangerous, but it is considered a vital step in the initiate’s journey.

The Ascension Rite: The final and most secretive ritual of the College of Flesh is the Ascension Rite, in which a Flayed Scholar seeks to become a lich. This process involves the complete offering of their mortal body, which is slowly replaced by necromantic energy. The ritual is said to be both excruciating and enlightening, as the scholar’s consciousness is transferred into a phylactery, granting them immortality at the cost of their humanity.

Philosophical Debates

Within the College of Flesh, there are ongoing debates about the nature of sacrifice and the pursuit of knowledge. Some members argue that the ultimate goal is not just the accumulation of knowledge but the perfection of the self through sacrifice. Others believe that the true purpose of the college is to transcend all mortal limitations, including the need for a physical body.

The Purists: This faction believes in the sanctity of the original flesh and argues that the sacrifices should be minimal and meaningful. They emphasize the importance of the initial offerings, seeing them as a way to purify the scholar’s mind and soul.

The Transcendentalists: Opposed to the Purists, the Transcendentalists advocate for more extreme forms of sacrifice, believing that the complete abandonment of the physical form is the only way to achieve true enlightenment. They see the lichdom as the pinnacle of scholarly achievement, where the self becomes a vessel of pure knowledge, unbound by mortal concerns.

The Preservationists: This smaller faction is concerned with the ethical implications of the college’s practices. They argue that while the pursuit of knowledge is essential, it should not come at the cost of one’s humanity. They advocate for a balance between sacrifice and preservation, suggesting that there are other ways to transcend mortality that do not involve the complete surrender of the self.

Influence and Power in Ilah

The College of Flesh wields significant power within Ilah, both politically and magically. Its members are respected and feared, as the artifacts they create are often sought after by the most powerful individuals and organizations in Cairngorm. The college’s influence extends beyond the city-state, with its agents and relics found throughout the continent.

Political Connections: The college maintains a complex relationship with the ruling powers of Ilah. While officially independent, it has deep ties to the city’s elite, who often seek the college’s aid in exchange for political favors. The college’s members are known to advise the city’s rulers, offering their unique perspective on matters of state and strategy.

Guardians of Forbidden Knowledge: The college is also known as a keeper of dangerous and forbidden knowledge. Its libraries contain scrolls and tomes that detail rituals and spells too dangerous for general use. The college sees itself as the guardian of this knowledge, ensuring that it is only used by those who truly understand its implications.

Outsider Perception: To the outside world, the College of Flesh is both a beacon of scholarly achievement and a source of fear and mistrust. While some see the college’s members as dedicated scholars, others view them as dangerous zealots who have sacrificed their humanity for power. The ethical debates surrounding the college’s practices are a source of constant tension between Ilah and its neighbors.

From Body to Tome

The Corpus Thesis in On the Corpus Thesis, by Ebrithar Calos, Acolyte of the College of Flesh

Founding Date

Unknown, before the rise of the Ninirite Empire

Type

Educational, School/Academy

Leader

Varrund Stonevein

Location

Ilah