Circle of Masters

The Circle of Masters within The Berythian Tradition is an elite and powerful body, embodying not only the highest level of magical proficiency but also holding authority over political, diplomatic, and economic decisions. As a cadre of decision-makers, they play a vital role in guiding the Tradition’s course in both arcane and mundane matters. Membership in the Circle of Masters represents not merely an advanced mastery of Berythian magic but a trusted position with responsibilities that influence the Tradition’s relationships within Draksineon and beyond. These Masters are aligned with the elemental columns of the Carabod Sadhes (The Procession of the Elements), an ancient framework that categorizes practitioners into their elemental focus of Fire, Earth, Water, or Air. These distinctions become essential at the Circle’s level, as each Element’s foci delineate the Masters’ roles both within the Order and the world around them.
Those aligned with the Column of Taharjin, or Fire, lead the internal governance of the Order. Representing the primordial energy of creation and change, Fire is seen as the vital element from which all others emerge. Masters of Fire are responsible for the regulation, discipline, and education of Berythian mages, overseeing training, elemental alignment, and the rites that keep the Tradition unified and resilient. Their mastery over Fire extends beyond spells to the nuanced balance of power within the Order, ensuring that the teachings and methods align with Berythian ideals. Fiercely protective of the Tradition’s internal sanctity, these Masters hold the authority to intervene if a mage’s conduct or teachings threaten the unity or stability of the Order.
The Column of Eadthuum, or Earth, is linked to matters outside the Order, primarily the stewardship of the Berythian Tradition’s relationship with the common populace, especially the peasantry. Earth, the solid and life-sustaining element, is viewed as the foundation for both mundane survival and alchemical practice, and Masters of Earth bring this grounding to their role as liaisons with the laypeople. They are the diplomats to the working class, securing essential alliances, overseeing charitable endeavors, and negotiating with guilds and landholders. This role reflects the Berythian respect for laborers and farmers, whom they see as the lifeblood of society, sustaining the world much as Earth sustains life.
The Column of Daovbehna, or Air, represents those Masters who maintain relationships with the nobility, overseeing the Tradition’s political alliances and securing favor among those in power. Many Masters of Air are nobility themselves, a natural pairing due to Air’s association with intellect, freedom, and ambition. Their work ensures that Berythian interests align with noble agendas, reinforcing pacts that allow the Tradition’s practices to flourish under aristocratic protection. Air is also the element associated with the scholarly, those who focus on study and intellectual expansion; accordingly, these Masters also serve as advisors, bridging scholarly efforts with strategic statecraft to safeguard the Tradition’s influence within the political elite.
Masters of Haldorm, or Water, occupy a nuanced position focused on artisanship, trade, and mercantile activities, representing the Tradition’s interface with craftsmen, artisans, and merchants. As Water embodies change, adaptability, and the flow of resources, these Masters foster trade relationships, support craft guilds, and oversee the production of magical goods essential to the Berythian economy. Their mercantile expertise supports the financial and material needs of the Tradition, grounding the mystical in the tangible and ensuring that the Order remains a powerful economic force within Draksineon. Additionally, as the element most connected with fluidity and secrecy, Water Masters work within a network of artisans who keep sensitive projects discreet, protecting the Tradition’s practical knowledge from exploitation.
The Circle also shares certain responsibilities across columns, especially in its complex interactions with the Congregation of the Ascended, the Church that holds sway over much of Draksineon’s spiritual life. Here, Masters from each Element contribute their unique perspective to manage religious diplomacy and to ensure the Tradition remains aligned with (or unchallenged by) the Congregation’s doctrines. Fire Masters may lead negotiations around doctrinal boundaries, Earth Masters conduct charitable engagements to build goodwill, Air Masters influence aristocratic church-goers, and Water Masters liaise with clerics engaged in artistic or mystical practices.
Masters within the Circle are deeply immersed in their elemental discipline, embodying the Berythian belief that Matter—the physical world—is the truest reality and ultimate domain of study. Over time, their advanced training and isolation within the Carabod Sadhes renders them increasingly absorbed in elemental command, relying heavily on the Altoric Guard to interpret and execute their will. This focused mastery often leaves them detached from ordinary social interaction, leading to the development of a specialized cant shared only between the Masters and their Guards, allowing communication on matters of utmost importance without compromising their protective detachment.
In the Circle of Masters, Berythian philosophy manifests as a complex balance of mystical, pragmatic, and ethical stewardship, echoing the Tradition’s ancient conviction that each Element sustains not only the physical world but also the societal order. This elite body, embodying the strengths and virtues of the Carabod Sadhes, guides the Tradition’s path forward while upholding its reverence for the material world and the elemental forces that underpin its existence.