The Amethyst Academy
FACTION OVERVIEW
The Amethyst Academy is a magical school for sorcerers and wizards, where students learn magic in remote castles and secluded universities. Directed by a shadowy cabal of powerful archmages, the Academy also operates an enterprising mage guild that controls the manufacture of magical wares and orchestrates an influential arcane syndicate that provides occult counsel to the nobility of the continent. However, the Academy was dealt a terrible blow following Halarahh's destruction, as the city was home to its greatest stronghold: the Inscrutable Tower. Elder Eldrick Runeweaver leads the Academy’s efforts to access the tower and safeguard the secret lore within. Meanwhile, their survey teams conduct ongoing research regarding delerium’s supernatural qualities and unknown dangers. The mages plan to harness the crystals’ vast energies to craft magical items and power new arcane spells.HISTORY
The Amethyst Academy was one of many schools for young wizards and sorcerers in the mageocracy of Halruaa which came into the controversy around the time of the Halruaan Civil War. A war that pitted traditional Halruaa wizardry training versus a growing desire of those who wanted to push the boundaries of acceptable magical practices. The Amethyst Academy had taught many extreme teachings prior to the controversy and wanted to be allowed to openly practice, but politically the Amethyst Academy was willing to accept political oversite as a compromise and was not one of the academies that pushed for a civil war. When the time came to choose sides the school itself sided with the traditionalist faction and refined its teachings despite many of its students and alumni siding with the rebelling forces. After the war, many academies faced extreme persecution as did many young arcanists. The fears from the civil war had pushed the people from paranoia to unjustified persecution of those who are gifted with the arcane. The Amethyst Academy located children who manifested magical talents rescued them from their fearful and paranoid communities and educated them in hidden strongholds and far-away castles so they might wield their abilities with trained and refined control. The secret school gradually grew into a secret society in its own right. Sequestered in unseen universities to hide from the mage-slaying Knights of the Sacred Flame, the mages pooled their knowledge. They conducted research into arcane and cosmological phenomena and developed the modern practice of wizardry. Over time, the Amethyst Academy secured allies amongst the nobility by providing them clandestine magical services and occult counsel, crafting enchanted heirlooms, protecting their castles with arcane wards, and teaching their heirs magic. When these schemes were discovered by the Faith of the Sacred Flame, a renewed series of brutal inquisitions and vengeful witch-hunts began. What had been a shadow conflict between paladins and sorcerers for centuries spilled into outright war between noble houses who championed the Faith, and those that supported the Amethyst Academy. These conflicts ended with the Edicts of Lumen. Enacted three hundred years ago, this landmark treaty stopped the murderous suppression of arcane magic by the religious ministry and established a new balance of power between mages, the Faith, and the nobility throughout the continent. The Amethyst Academy's success in standing up for the magically gifted, keeping a level-headed approach through multiple crises, providing arcane service to the nobility, and the quality of their teaching in the arcane arts has in the eyes of the nobility cemented as the top arcane academy in Halruaa. The Edicts of Lumen bestow extensive protections, full autonomy, and economic advantages to the Amethyst Academy (and other academies), but also require the Academies to observe strict standards of mercantile neutrality and political non-intervention. Most importantly, it grants the academy guardianship of any child who demonstrates magical aptitude until they come of age and master their abilities. In exchange, the agreement stipulates that all arcane spellcasters are disinherited from any land, rank, or titles, including the scions of noble and royal families. Since the Edicts, Academy mages may work magic without fear of oppression from church or state, allowing it increasingly to turn its attention to global magical affairs and extraplanar happenings. However, the direction and focus of the Amethyst Academy dramatically shifted following the destruction of Halarahh, and their greatest stronghold was cut off from them. While the Amethyst Academy outwardly upholds the Edicts of Lumen, in recent years some have claimed the mages furtively flaunt its restrictions and disregard the terms that forbid dark magical practices. Others suspect the mages are weaving an arcane conspiracy to control commerce and influence politics while shielding themselves from the wrath of the Sacred Flame.
ATTIRE
Members of the Amethyst Academy each wear a set of rings made from exotic arcane metals. The number of rings worn corresponds to the highest level spell they can cast. Known as academy rings, these are magic items that identify them as an Academy graduate, and often permit access to Academy strongholds. A set of five or more functions as a ring of spell storing, and some allow control over a shield guardian. However, each set is made for a specific individual, and only that person may attune that set of academy rings.
ORGANIZATION
More information coming soon!
Known Members
- Thordrin Stonewall - A grumpy old dwarven professor who is looking forward to retiring.
- Nimble Quill - An eager new graduate hoping to prove themselves.
- Cogsworth B. Copperpot - An addled old diviner confused about his own predictions.
- Murdok the Caller - A know-it-all conjurer with a knack for having the perfect spell prepared.
- Corvus Greysky - A grim necromancer with a morbid sense of humor.
- Elvira Evermore - A stern abjurer who takes magic use very seriously.
- Luna Mumph - A young gnome illusionist who seems lost in her own world.
- Ithian Munk - An elf transmuter who is always misplacing his alchemical reagents.
- Neptune Lee - A charismatic enchanter who likes to boast about his accomplishments.
- August “Gus” Elderfire - An experienced evoker who never does things by the book.
The Amethyst Academy does not currently have a dedicated base of operations in Halarahh. Indeed, one of their most important objectives is reclaiming the Inscrutable Tower, so it can be used for such purposes! They do have Emberwood Village accommodations, for the time being, as most Academy members simply make use of local accommodations with notable members Archwizard Eldrick Runeweaver and River have booked a permanent suite in the Red
Lion Hotel. However, the Amethyst Academy is believed to have the ability to secretly teleport across several locations throughout Halarahh. Being able to quickly bring in support from a faraway stronghold as the Amethyst Academy has many great fortresses, libraries, and universities. Most notable are the Enigma Ziggurat in the City of Aluarim, and Paradox Castle in Maeruhal.
Goals
- The Amethyst Academy safeguards occult secrets that would be abused and feared by the wider world. What others view as dangerous, we seek to understand.
- We cannot allow the brutal suppression of arcane magic to ever occur again, so we respect the Edicts of Lumen. We must maintain the trust of the nobility and avoid arousing suspicion and hostility from the Faith of the Sacred Flame.
- We use wealth accumulated by selling magical services to educate young mages and support further arcane research. Our students are our future, and they must be kept safe.
Beliefs
- We rigorously study and carefully teach arcane magic. We value eldritch knowledge, through which we may harness the power of the cosmos itself.
- Mages can accomplish incredible wonders by working together effectively. We are protected and strengthened by our disciplined hierarchy.
- There is no such thing as evil magic, but some mages misuse magic for evil purposes. Unfortunately, those who do not practice the arcane arts rarely grasp such nuance.
Members Traits
We act businesslike and professional when dealing with the wider world. We put arcane theory into magical practice. Innovation, creativity, and invention must have purpose. We do not trust outsiders, and don’t volunteer information that is not requested or required. Non-magical folk rarely grasp arcane matters anyways.Ranks
- Amethyst Apprentice (rank 1)
- Amethyst Alumnus (rank 2)
- Amethyst Prefect (rank 3)
- Amethyst Professor (rank 4)
- Amethyst Archwizard (rank 5)
- Academy Directorate (rank 6)
Type
Educational, School/Academy
Location
Notable Members
Comments