The Immortal Wizards

Story tells of how the Wizards of Azhmar received their powers. Long before the Obsequious Tower was first created, and the world was still new and full of spirits.

Summary

A group of humans were camping in a cave in the high mountains of the north. A hunting party of men went out to forage one day and came upon a god. The god had just slain a great demon and lay dying of his wounds. When the god called out to the men for aid, the men spoke quietly among one another. Thinking themselves clever, they instead bound the god to the ground with stakes and emptied the water from their pouches. They then took out their knives, let out a wound in the chest of the god and filled their pouches. With no heed to his cries, some of the men went back to the cave and returned again with the rest of their tribe, carrying waterskins, pouches, and pots.
For a month they bled him. For a month they harvested his blood. They patched his lesser injuries and took great care not to let the chest wound bleed too freely, lest he die too quickly. When the god finally passed, drained and spent, the humans drank deeply from their pouches, and felt the power and knowledge of the god pass into them. It bestowed upon them unnatural abilities and gave them immortal life. What the humans failed to see was that the blood of the demon had mixed with the blood of the god, and had also turned them wicked and bent on destruction. With their newly acquired powers, they created the Obsequious Tower and began recruiting others to their order. Despite all their attempts of good faith with others, they could not help but demonstrate the might of their power at the Battle of the Gates of Azhmar  . Under all their cloaks of color they wear black, to signify their true purpose.

Historical Basis

The exact details of the beginnings of the Order of Azhmar are unknown. Although many have appeared elderly, there has been no indication that any Azhmerian Wizard possesses immortality. If there is some geopolitical agenda within the Obsequious Tower, it has not made itself known to external organizations or nations.
There have been however, reported sightings of humanoid sapients cloaked in black with abilities not considered normal. Whether or not these beings have any bearing on the Wizards of Azhmar is not confirmed.

Spread

Although the story dates prior to the Battle of the Gates of Azhmar, variations of the myth began spreading across the northeastern regions of Renúdetla; particularly after the fall of Golheim.

Cultural Reception

If the story is not believed in full, the historical reputation of the Wizards certainly brings apprehension towards the practitioners. Artwinians outside the Shoan Province are particularly disdainful, and typically unreceptive towards Shoan peoples by extension. Regardless of how vocally hostile some of the surrounding regions might seem however, there is never a shortage of peoples seeking the healing powers of the yellow robed wizards.