D6-3 High Tower of Magic

Written by Adsmalley

This structure is so tall that it can be seen during daylight hours even before the Argentum F2-1 Channel Lightower as it is more than double the height of the next tallest structure in the Channel Cities, which happens to be the Bell Tower of the Grand Cathedral of the Church of the All Father. With the shadow of the High Tower stretching over top of the cathedral directly to its east, this is cause for even more animosity between the cities of Gorled and Dorgard, not to mention the from the Church of the All Father towards the High Tower of Magic.
The High Tower has a couple hundred full-time residents within its walls, as the vast majority of the members live elsewhere and only travel to the tower either for council meetings or for research in its massive and extensive library.

This article not only details the structure of the High Tower of Magic buildling, but also includes details of the globe-spanning organization. At least those that are public, although rumors abound about what other secrets the High Tower holds, but generally only members know some of them, and even then there are only a handful that have access to all the secrets of this building and organization. It is steeped in mystery, rumors and protected by some of the most elaborate magical protections and wards in existance outside of the haunted ruins of the long-desolate Ruglund Empire.
This powerful guild is comprised of a very large portion of the spell casters within the Channel Cities (~60%), as well as throughout much of the rest of the known world (~30%). They have a huge fortress within the city of Dorgard, which includes sleeping quarters for any visiting members and a vast library covering everything from historical narratives to ancient magical tomes of knowledge. This library is believed to be the second most extensive within the world (after the library on the Isle of Stars, of course (see below)).

by Aaron Smalley

by Aaron Smalley

The structure of the guild, unlike many of the other guilds (who have a Guild master elected from the general membership who runs it) is administered by the High Seat, who is elected by the High Council (36 members representing nearly every variety of spell caster, usually from within their own numbers). The members of the High Council are elected by the Lower Council (again, usually from within their own ranks, and having served in such a position for a minimum of 10 years). The Lower Council is elected by the General Membership (216 members) from any member that has been an "active" member with the guild for a minimum of 10 years. All positions in the High Council and the Lower Council are elected for 10-year terms (or until the person steps down or passes away, at which time a new person is elected to the position). It is possible for members of the High Council and Lower Council to serve for more than one term in each of the Councils, although it is not very common.
Usually the identity of the High Seat is not known or talked about outside of the Council meets that are held four times a year.

There is also the Warden (who is appointed by the High Seat with a majority approval of the High Council), this is typically a lifetime position, which handles the security of the fortress, and the library, as well as overseeing the day-to-day operations of the fortress. This position currently held by Finst Datolorous (a very talented gnome of considerable renown and power). It is also rumored that he also handles the "recruitment" of "renegade" spell casters. Rumors also speak of untimely and strange deaths of those who refuse to join the guild, but no one knows for sure if these stories are true (at least not that is willing to say.
The educational and affiliation aspect of the Guild is also divided up into 4 individual "Colleges" each representing one of each of the differing realms of power. With Essence (the largest "college" (~62% of members), Channeling (18%, most of whom also have some affiliation to one of the common religions (except for the church of the All Father due to the extreme animosity that exists between the High Tower and the Grand Cathedral across the river)), Mentalism (17%, it is believed that a large portion of Mentalism users are not actually organized, but the Society of the Silver Wind is a minor thorn in the side of the High Tower's ability to recruit from those who can weave the Mentalism Realm of magical energy), and Arcane (the most difficult, dangerous and smallest at only 3%).


Return to D6 High Tower District of Dorgard.

Purpose / Function

Ensure that the magical arts never again reach the degree of corruption to cause another incident like the one that resulted in the fall of the Ruglund Empire that destroyed and corrupted the Forbidden Plains. i.e. the one in one-thousand chance (results from a natural roll of 66, followed by another natural roll of 6 or 66) of causing a tear in the fabric of universe that can cause inter-dimentional rifts to open and the unthinkable from entering the world, or that can cause other strange and un-natural phenomenon. Note that this comes from the Rolemaster system, which is and has always been a d100 system (thus more granularity and greater range of "successes" and "failures" as well as a very tactically detailed "Critical" system that is one of the core parts of the system that make it so popular with most of its players), in which a natural "66" roll always causes unusual results (be them successes or failures).

Alterations

hehehe... funny...

Architecture

Too complex to explain here, but rumors say that the tower is actually larger on the inside than it is on the outside due to some portions of the tower extending into other dimensions or possibly having gateways to other realms or even other locations within the World of Ærnth.

Defenses

Too numerous to list and too complex to explain here.

History

This is not public knowledge... So don't ask, until you have become a member and earned the trust of the Lower Council...

Tourism

Not-applicable-Not Gonna Happen, EVER!!!

Type

Acropolis / Citadel