The Arcana of Toft
The Arcana of Toft is the self appointed center of magical study and arts in Enga. It might sound presumptive, but given the level of distrust most people have of mages in Enga and the fact that no other city has made such a claim, it's not inaccurate. The city was founded following what the mages refer to as “The Great Scourging” in the nearby Jarldoms, it has flourished over its more than 1,600 year history. In the world today, it is a source of pilgrimage for mages and magic users the world over and a source of great wonders.
Demographics
Race:
Firar: 75%Ulda: 10%
Aldr: 15%
Skratte: >1%
Profession:
Gandbera: 85%Service/Support/Merchant: 15%
Government
Ruled by The Council of 12
Seniority/authority within the city:
The leaders of Toft maintain a strict noninterventionist mentality when approached to aid one Jarldom or another. While they do not prevent individual wizards/mages/warlocks/sorceresses etc. from helping whomever they please, they also do not allow guilds/colleges to intervene in the wars of the Jarls.
Seniority/authority within the city:
- Councilor (Members of the Council)
- High Gandbera
- Senior Gandbera
- Gandbera
- Novice Gandbera
- Initiate Gandbera
- All Others.
The leaders of Toft maintain a strict noninterventionist mentality when approached to aid one Jarldom or another. While they do not prevent individual wizards/mages/warlocks/sorceresses etc. from helping whomever they please, they also do not allow guilds/colleges to intervene in the wars of the Jarls.
Defences
In a city of nearly 20,000 mages, few outsiders think about defenses as necessary concern. When nearly every citizen of the city has the potential to be a walking weapon, this isn’t a normal concern. However, the city has taken measures to prepare for the potential of an attack, however unlikely. Firstly, the city lies in the Vally of Toft, and is thus defended by the natural landscape. The only pass into the valley (Black Pass) is manned by members of the guilds, most frequently by members of the Bellum Divinos, though each guild contributes a few members. Additionally, the Scutum Album built and man a massive wall that rings the city and is itself a magical shield.
After the last attack by the Jarldom of Akylli, the council set in place magical protections to defend the valley in the case of an overwhelming attack. The nature of the wards is a closely guarded secret, known only by the ruling council.
After the last attack by the Jarldom of Akylli, the council set in place magical protections to defend the valley in the case of an overwhelming attack. The nature of the wards is a closely guarded secret, known only by the ruling council.
Industry & Trade
Exports:
- Primarily magical goods and services. For the right price, most magical items can be made or repaired. However, most mages in the city trade in knowledge first as a payment vs. coin.
- Mostly textiles and other merchant goods.
- Luxury goods are also sought in large numbers.
- Paper and book binding materials can never be provided in quantities that are sufficient and fetch a higher price within the city.
- Spell components
Infrastructure
The Blue Tower
Assets
The Grand Library
Located in the Blue Tower and accessible by any registered mage, the Grand Library is the largest library in all of Enga. Its range of subjects encompasses all things magical and non-magical. It is said that if you have the right coin or right amount of time you can find the answer to any question within the library. At least, that is what is said.The Repository
Located within the Blue Tower (under it supposedly) is the largest collection of magical items in the world. Accessible only to the Council members and the senior members of the guilds (there is a list), it contains items both mundane and those considered too dangerous to be left in the world.Guilds and Factions
History
873 B.B. - Founding
860 BB - The Master Gandbera council established.
689 BB - Construction Of the Blue Tower
412 BB - Blue Tower Complete
68 BB - The Summoning
1 BB
134-135 BA - Guilds at War
392-396 BA - A Demand
642 BA - Population 22,772
771 BA -
- Wizards fleeing persecution (See The Great Akylli Scourging) travel to the Far East of Enga in search of a safe place to practice their arts.
860 BB - The Master Gandbera council established.
- The 6 eldest wizards form the council and begin to organize the efforts of Toft in the wider world, word goes out to any mages that wish to come to Toft are free to join them.
- Influx due to Scourging in different Jarldoms
689 BB - Construction Of the Blue Tower
- Excavation begins for the foundation of the Blue Tower. The towers construction is done with both magical and standard techniques and is built into the side of a mountain.
- The Jarldom of Akylli located directly to the north of the mountain range Toft was built in attacked the city with little warning. They were perhaps unprepared for the result. By this point almost 8 thousand mages called Toft home. They rallied quickly and slew most of the attackers before the end of the first day. The council forbid retribution against the Jarldom, fearful that such a strike back would motivate the other Jarls to attack.
412 BB - Blue Tower Complete
- Construction of the Blue Tower is completed. In its walls it can house 7,500 Gandbera, the associated servants and attendants, as well as libraries (there are at least 14) and safe spaces for casting spells.
68 BB - The Summoning
- 2 Senior members of the Collegium Sonti summon a Pit Fiend named Sc’Raxe in the lower halls of the Collegium’s Sanctum. Sc’Raxe swears enmity on the entire Toft Arcana then attempts to slay the 2 summoners. The ensuing fight is brief before the two Gandbera send the fiend back to the Nine Hells, but he swears revenge on them and any Gandbera from Enga he finds.
1 BB
- The ruling 6 Master Gandbera are contacted by the Hoystr Gothi of Ulf to assist in contacting the Aesir.
- The Breaking
- In the later part of the year the Ruling council was expanded to 12 and declared a strictly non-interventionist policy.
134-135 BA - Guilds at War
- A small dispute between two guilds escalates to a short but brutal street war. It takes the intervention of the council and three full other guilds to put an end to it. The guilds involved are censured and their council seats stripped for a period of 25 years.
392-396 BA - A Demand
- Jarldom of Akylli demands tribute of Toft and threatens “to annihilate” the Gandbera if they do not pay. The Council refuses. This starts a period of conflict that hadn’t happened between the two for almost a thousand years. By the end of this period, the Jarldom had dropped its demand, and is now pay tribute to Toft.
- Arnora Thok, a female Gandbera and senior member of the Mortuis is the first of her guild to discover the secrets to becoming a Lich. When she decided to complete the spells to enter full Lichdom she does so in the city to Toft itself. The Master Gandbera in the city all felt the spell as it was cast and the council was immediately called. Within little time, they mustered their most powerful spell casters and set forth to capture the new Lich. It was not an easy process. An entire section of the city was decimated in the fight but before the sun rose that day they had imprisoned Arnora Thok in a hidden area in the under keep beneath The Blue Tower. Her spell books and all her possessions were sequestered in a separate area of the Blue Tower, locked away under powerful spells. Other members of Arnora’s guild managed to steal away her phylactery shortly after and have been periodically feeding souls to it to keep her alive.
642 BA - Population 22,772
771 BA -
- The Hoystr Gothi of Skali contacts the Council of Toft to ask if they can assist in ending the Fimbulwinter. The council refuses. Specifically they tell Skali “We once let our curiosity and lust for greater understanding override our responsibility to this world. We will not make that mistake once again."
Architecture
Most of the structures in Toft are of stone construction as stone is the most abundant resource in the mountainous area the city lies. However, the styling of the various structures is as varied as the magics practiced in the city.
The main feature of the cities architecture that is commented on by every new visitor is the roof of the houses. Each is a different color. Some are subtle differences, but no two houses or buildings in the city have a roof of the same color, meaning that if you want to find a specific dwelling or business, mages in the city are just as likely to give you a description of the roof color and walk away, assuming that you understand.
The main feature of the cities architecture that is commented on by every new visitor is the roof of the houses. Each is a different color. Some are subtle differences, but no two houses or buildings in the city have a roof of the same color, meaning that if you want to find a specific dwelling or business, mages in the city are just as likely to give you a description of the roof color and walk away, assuming that you understand.
Geography
Located in the Ogledi Peaks, the area around the city is rugged mountainous terrain that is not passable without extreme effort.
The Black Pass, the only safe route through the mountains, is under constant guard by the Bellum Devinos. The pass itself is easily traveled and sees a high number of merchant and goods traversing it daily.
The Black Pass, the only safe route through the mountains, is under constant guard by the Bellum Devinos. The pass itself is easily traveled and sees a high number of merchant and goods traversing it daily.
Natural Resources
- Stone
- Some ore (Iron, silver, gold)
Alternative Name(s)
The Arcana of Toft, The Arcana
Type
City
Population
23,781
Inhabitant Demonym
Arcanits, Gandbera
Location under
Included Locations
Owning Organization
Characters in Location
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