The Arcana Pansophical

All Tal’Dorei’s greatest mages fought at the Battle of the Umbra Hills. They saw the incursion of demons and devils firsthand, and were rightly terrified that the spawn of the Betrayer Gods could ever return to the world. It was clear that the Divergence did not wholly prevent supernatural evil from infringing upon the world, and the mages of Exandria must prevent future “surprises” of this nature. The mistakes of the Age of Arcanum must never be repeated. Considering this, Yurek Windkeeper, high enchanter of Syngorn and a well-respected arcanist, reached out to the realm’s most trusted and capable mages, and together they formed a private society called the Arcana Pansophical.
The Arcana Pansophical is respected, if somewhat feared, in most human settlements. Syngorn and other elven communities see the Pansophical as allies, as the roots ofthe society began with Yurek within Syngorn itself. Kraghammer only respects members that are dwarves, and treat the rest with mistrust.

Structure

• Enchanter Yurek Windkeeper Maker, Elf Wizard (Enchanter). Founder of the Arcana Pansophical, Yurek generally stays within Syngorn as the nexus of the order, acting as consultant to the Wardens of Syngorn.
• Alchemist Oz Gruude Maker, Halfling Alchemist. A rather ornery halfling, Gruude’s interests lie in refining the latent magical elements in the “dormant” world, traveling often to continue his research.
• Seer Gloria Ios Maker, Human Wizard (Diviner). One of the great oracles of divination, her visions have sent her to Vasselheim, acting as a reaching arm of the organization.
• Magus Seanor Wiles Maker, Human Mage Tutor Extraordinaire. A humble-looking traveler, his specialty is finding fresh and emerging talent and helping them refine their arcane gifts.
• Planerider Ryn Maker, Tiefling Planar Studies Specialist. A keen student to Yurek who has grown into a master of planar travel and arcane ley line patterns, Ryn is still mid-study, often darting between realms to complete her research.
• Tinkerer Quash Dentdruggle Guide, Gnome Construct Specialist. Obsessed with the development of autonomous and living arcane constructs, he is holed up in his laboratory within Kraghammer.
• Arcanist Allura Vysoren Guide, Human Wizard (Abjurer). Member of the Tal’Dorei Council and retired adventurer, Allura has helped maintain the political significance of the Arcana Pansophical within Emon.
• Elementalist Drake Thunderbrand Guide, Dwarf Wizard (Evoker). Driven to bind the physical elements of the chaotic planes to his will, Drake is a prodigy of new incantations in the field.
• Realmseer Eskil Ryndarien Former Member, Human Archmage. A Maker for most of his life, he grew frustrated with the politics and limitations of the order and retired to Westruun to pursue his own interests.

Public Agenda

The chief priority of these powerful arcane specialists is to maintain the “Truth of Magic,” a strict code enacted to never again allow the rampant misuse of magic seen in the Age of Arcanum. General members are referred to as “Guides,” while the higher circle of members who deal in judgment and oversight are called “Makers.” At least one member is established at each place of arcane learning. Membership is largely kept secret unless out of necessity, though the existence of the order is relatively common knowledge. Anyone found to be practicing magic is logged and checked up on routinely, as misuse of magic is grounds for arrest, judgment by the Makers, and punishment outside of the local law. Even so, their reach and oversight are not without limits, and many dark and terrible dealings manage to go unseen by the Arcana Pansophical.

The Pansophical’s myriad rules on the use and misuse of magic are detailed at length in centuries of amendments to the full text of the Truth of Magic. Though the Truth’s bizarre intricacies, the Truth’s preamble establishes three unbreakable edicts:

• “In the eternal interest of the preservation of harmony within the realm of Exandria, we, the Arcana Pansophical, establish the Truth of Magic, and three edicts from which none shall stray. Those arcanists found in gross violation of the Truth will be punished by the full extent of this order—beyond the reach of any local law.
• Though the study of Necromancy shall be restricted to none in the interest of magical understanding, the animation of the dead is a violation of the Truth.
• The Arcane is a tool to be wielded for the good of the people. To use its power in the pursuit of wanton destruction or murder is a violation of the Truth.
• Though the jurisdiction of the Pansophical supersedes the power of local laws, a mage who willfully breaks the laws of the land is in violation of the Truth.”

Type

Geopolitical, Magocracy