House Magia
Believing in self-determination, curiosity and personal responsibility, House Magia is a formidable force of incredibly gifted sorcerers. Their unique abilities, coupled with their values of freedom and strength, make them both dangerous opponents and powerful allies. Though they respect the agency of others, they see no contradiction with striking down those who get in their way. In pursuit of their goals, House Magia may resort to deception or violence without hesitation, using their magical prowess to achieve their objectives.Their determination, mercurial moods and unyielding nature make them a force to be reckoned with.
House Magia's magical abilities influence its behavior and agendas greatly. Its sorcerers are capable of using magic in ways that most mortals can only dream of. They can cast spells that control minds, summon otherworldly creatures, and even manipulate time and space. However, this great power comes with a price. The sorcerers of House Magia must constantly be on guard against moral or magical corruption, lest it turns them into power-hungry tyrants or insane lunatics.
Structure
Aster Isarne, Patriarch of the Arcane Bloodline, currently rules Magia from the city of Cruxis. The nobles of House Magia are made up of feuding Bloodlines, held in check by a ruling council of their elders or most powerful spellcasters. The leadership of House Magia is determined by a complex system of elections and sometimes lethal duels every decade. The councilors and the most powerful sorcerers of each Bloodline participate in the elections, and the winner assumes the mantle of leadership. This system of leadership ensures that the government of House Magia remains a force to be reckoned with, but who rules and towards which goals is never a given for too many years. It also creates an environment of intrigue and power struggles: most recognizable names in Cruxis are incredibly gifted and ambitious magicians with flexible morals, always seeking to gain an advantage over their rivals, either through politics or brute force.
In time of peace, Magia prefers a relatively loose political structure, with each Bloodline wielding distinct influence over their city's various affairs. The Isarne and Astralis Bloodlines, in particular, hold a significant sway in the power dynamics of Cruxis. The former, being the wealthiest and most versatile Bloodline, descended from the leader of the city’s original founders, holds a position of prestige and reverence within House Magia and the world at large. The latter’s potent divination abilities and celestial connections allow them a foresight that guides their political maneuvers, and they aspire for a future where they replace Isarne to govern Cruxis in accord with their own wisdom and virtue. Despite the occasional internal conflicts and the struggle for power, all the Bloodlines remain loyal to Cruxis as a whole, ensuring their combined strengths keep the city flourishing and protected from external threats.
Influence in Pauza
House Magia's control over magic has made them a force to be reckoned with in Pauza. Their Sorcerers are in high demand for a variety of services, ranging from transportation and entertainment to outright war, intelligence gathering and illicit schemes. The various Bloodlines within House Magia are known for their flexibility and creativity, being capable of offering unique spells that are perfectly suited to their clients' needs when working together. This has made them a popular choice for those seeking a little extra edge in their affairs, and their command of spellcasting does not come cheap. However, those who can afford their price are seldom disappointed, as House Magia's Sorcerers are some of the most talented and powerful magic users in the land.
Conversely, trade, as well as mercenary work in the form of magic for hire, also play a crucial role in their city's own economy and survival in its otherwise unforgiving and isolated northern location. The Pyrebind Bloodline, renowned for its shrewd traders and diplomats, as well as Isarne’s own diplomacy and wondrous craftsmanship, play a key role in ensuring that a steady flow of opportunities and gold continues to make its way to Cruxis.
The Nine
Cruxis and House Magia were founded six hundred years ago by nine powerful sorcerers and their families, allies and servants: Isarne, Astralis, Thanat, Nyx, Vritra, Zephyros, Reveria, Pyrebind and Atrum. Today, there are many more sorcerous bloodlines and magical traditions that flock to Cruxis, but the nine most powerful dynasties still bear the names of their ancestors.
Isarne, the Bloodline of Arcane
The most ancient and prestigious lineage within House Magia, Isarne descends from sorcerers who sought built Cruxis to hone their mastery of pure magic. A boundless drive for independence and prowess in researching, crafting and utilizing magical artifacts are a hallmark of this bloodline. These artifacts serve as both family heirlooms and status symbols within the bloodline's hierarchy.
Astralis, the Bloodline of Heaven
With divine ties to the stars, Astralis stands as prodigies in divination magic, engaging in cryptic dialogue with celestial entities. The elves of Astralis, guided by a young seeress of unparalleled potential, envision a future where their celestial wisdom guides the destiny of Cruxis , challenging the reigning influence of the Arcane Bloodline.
Thanat, the Bloodline of Death
This ancient lineage mastered necromantic arts, with some members even embracing undeath themselves. They specialized in death magic, capable of animating corpses, draining life energy, casting curses, and summoning and binding fiends. A cataclysmic retribution five hundred years ago decimated them to the last. Now they are forever bound to a macabre eternity as the deathless loremasters of House Magia.
Nyx, the Bloodline of Shadows
Originating from sorcerers who have steeped themselves in the power of the Plane of Shadow, the Bloodline of Nyx excels in harnessing magic related to illusion, darkness, fear, and stealth. A tragic magical mishap has morphed half of this bloodline into a sentient shadow entity, now ominously overseeing the city as a spectral guardian and an unexpected counselor. The whispers of these amalgamated sorcerers echo through Cruxis , providing guidance and arcane knowledge to the bold and inquisitive. The remaining members, unscathed but indelibly marked, persist in a blasphemous quest for arcane secrets, serving as the city's premier spies and founts of forbidden lore while toiling in secret towards their progenitor's revival.
Vritra, the Bloodline of Dragons
Originating from an ancient covenant with dragonkind, the orcs of Vritra are masters of elemental magic and transformation, shaping the elements or their own form to suit their needs. Known for their aloof attitude and secrecy, they consolidate power in the shadow of Cruxis under a pact of kinship with House Magia. Their true leader is a well-guarded secret.
Zephyros, the Bloodline of Storms
Renowned for their control over wind and lightning, the Stormcallers of Zephyros are some of the most visually striking and magically powerful sorcerers in House Magia. They are known for their fiery temper and their unpredictable nature. However, their ability to manipulate weather is invaluable for the city's agriculture, trade, and even defense. Despite their wild temperament, they have an unwavering loyalty to Cruxis and would not hesitate to unleash their wrath upon those who threaten their city.
Reveria, the Bloodline of Dreams
The Dreamweavers of Reveria specialize in manipulating dreams and the subconscious. They descend from philosophers and artists who tapped into the intricate webs of dreams and nightmares, adding an artistic flair to their magical practices. In addition to manipulating dreams and thoughts, they are well-versed in illusion magic, creating vivid, otherworldly spectacles that both captivate and bewilder. Members of this bloodline are celebrated for their creativity and open-mindedness. However, despite their generally carefree demeanor, they wield a darker side, utilizing enchantment magic to manipulate the perceptions and emotions of others.
Pyrebind, the Bloodline of Devils
Pyrebind are meticulous magistrates and shrewd planar traders, masters of infernal magic, and skilled at binding powerful servants through carefully worded contracts or profane rituals. The tiefling diabolists of Cruxis are valued for their proficiency in maintaining order within the city, managing disputes and maintaining an equilibrium among the often conflicting Bloodlines. Their lawful nature is oftentimes seen as a guise for the calculative and self-serving maneuvers they employ to maintain their position and power.
Atrum, the Bloodline of the Deeps
Atrum has been the unwavering shield of Cruxis since its founding. Seekers of lore and treasure in the most hidden reaches of Pauza, they learned to build their legacy in stone and steel. Atrum's members have developed robust martial aptitudes and a proficiency in dungeoneering and engineering, backed by formidable abjuration magic. Stepping up as Cruxis's caretakers and peacekeepers, valuing order and stability more than most other sorcerers, they tirelessly maintain and patrol the city and train its militia. Yet, their cultivation of defensive magic serves a dual purpose: they also need their abjurations to battle a dark heritage that constantly threatens to invade their minds and bodies.
Foreign Relations
Relationship with an allied clan
Despite their very different natures, House Magia and House Silversail have developed a strong partnership over the years. While Magia is known for their command of magic, Silversail is renowned for their business acumen and dependability. This makes them ideal partners for joint ventures that extend beyond mere trade. Together, the two houses have established vast networks of informants and developed hidden smuggling rings that operate in the shadows of Pauza. Additionally, they have been known to form mercenary expeditions to venture deep into the wilds, seeking rare and exotic goods and artifacts that are highly valued by their clients. Despite their occasional differences, Magia and Silversail have developed a deep trust, respect and even affection for each other, and their partnership shows no signs of faltering. (Avren was his family’s envoy in Silver Bay for a year before traveling to the Memorial Ceremony at the start of our story.)
Relationship with an antagonistic clan
Despite a shared interest in the supernatural, House Magia and House Dovraga have a tense and often hostile relationship. Magia disapproves of Dovraga's stern vigilantism and their tendency to destroy sources of power rather than studying them for the greater good of civilization. This fundamental disagreement and disregard for each other is best illustrated by Magia's casual indifference about their own Bloodline of Shadows' underground campaign of vengeance against House Dovraga, instigated by belief that Dovraga's Inquisitors deliberately sabotaged a critical ritual two decades ago. This has only served to further strain relations between the two houses, with each side viewing the other with deep suspicion and mistrust. Despite this, the two houses have been known to work together when their interests align, although such alliances are often short-lived and fraught with tension.
From blood and magic.
