Aeldis Arcanum
Aeldis Arcanum is a method of expedited construction created by the Archmage Vyliar’faeien which applies facets from multiple schools of magic. The method is a hybrid technique reliant on combining practical applications of the magical schools with channeling through runic circles. The schools of magic employed during the process, in varying degrees, include abjuration, conjuration, illusion, and transmutation.
The process of Aeldis Arcanum revolutionized magical construction for thousands of years following its employment during the War of the Scourge. Under the purview of the Archmage Vyliar’faeien, the method augmented the Varian Coalition’s ability to expand their areas of operation as well as stabilized numerous humanoid settlements through the early years of the Age of Restoration. Since the end of the Second Era, the exact methodology regarding Aeldis Arcanum has remained exclusive to the Arcane Society. Reportedly, no more than a few mages at any given time can correctly conduct the rituals of Aeldis Arcanum within the Arcane Society. For eligible clients, expedited construction using this specific method presents one of the most expensive services the Society can ever provide. The method influenced numerous offshoots and secondary methods that continue to see more widespread use in the present day.
At the Vyliar’faeien’s resignation from the Arcane Society, the magical organization became the sole provider of the famed construction process. However, prior to his departure, the archmage enacted a final stipulation that limited the number of individuals who could possess the knowledge and means to carry out Aeldis Arcanum, branding his work the sole purview of the Grand Magister and the Magisters Magni. Successive generations of the Arcane Society’s upper echelons circumvented this limitation by instructing promising mages of the process in separate parts. This practice yielded an imperfect version of Aeldis Arcanum, which cut its effectiveness significantly; but even in its imperfect form, the method still had enough demand among foreign powers.
In the latter half of the Second Era, one of the Arcane Society’s most lucrative services stemmed from construction teams whose main duties constituted of completing tasks employing the derived process from Aeldis Arcanum. Many mages and scholars alike attempted to replicate the method using the scattered knowledge made available by the Arcane Society, efforts which continued to the modern day. Within Varia, the results amounted to varying degrees of success, though to public knowledge none have yet to match to the original in neither efficiency or scale.
The Decree of Nosium and the aftermath echoed internal disagreements within the Arcane Society. Traditionalist camps argued that the allowances made with Aeldis Arcanum’s teaching and employment represented the detrimental shift to the Arcane Society’s original goals and visions. Their opponents, dubbed “Continentalists,” aligned with furthering the Arcane Society’s presence on Varia, pushing for a more political agenda. The traditionalists, however, possessed an overwhelming majority in light of the devolving state of Varian politics. The brief schism came to an end with internal reforming of the Society’s policies and the instating of a completely new iteration of the Magisters Magni headed by the Grand Magister Elivan Faeien. Among the many changes enacted by the new hierarchy, Aeldis Arcanum, along with other similarly potent developments made by the Archmage Vyliar’faeien, returned to the exclusive state that the organization’s founder ultimately intended for his major works. Aeldis Arcanum regressed into a near fabled, guarded secret of the Arcane Society known only to the Grand Magister and the Magisters Magni.
Abjuration
The utilization of magic to construct structures, sometimes of massive proportions, required adequate protection for perpetuity. Aeldis Arcanum integrated protective magics against the effects of mundane circumstances. However, the usage of abjuration in the process has also been linked to the presence of illusionary materials as abjuration served as a means to rendering possibly transiet materials permanent.
Conjuration
The school of conjuration bolstered the movement of materials inherently provided by the school of transmutation. In the cases of large scale construction, conjuration contributed to instantaneous transportation and placement. This school is credited for Aeldis Arcanum's remarkable time efficiency.
Illusion
Aeldis Arcanum purportedly relied on a magical technical drawing technique to create designs which, through the rest of the process, could be turned from time and materials into reality. Magical theorists also have reason to believe that illusion magic was utilized to fill in physical imperfections in materials or missing portions discovered during the building phases of Aeldis Arcanum.
Transmutation
The methods of magical construction has focused on the manipulation of matter, such as in the transformation of materials to their transposition. Aeldis Arcanum proves no exception to utilizing these applications. The capability of Aeldis Arcanum to shape materials into the appropriate structures as well as place them was no novel achievement by magical standards but the scale in which it achieves them exemplified the usage of transmutation as a tool of construction.
An example of the runic augmentation circles used in an imperfect iteration of Aeldis Arcanum.
For Aeldis Arcanum, a layered runic augmentation multi-circle was more than likely used. The largest of the circles demarcated the site of construction. At least one circle, utilized for the school of transmutation, included the appropriate building materials. The caster, or the architect as some may refer to the individual, appropriated one runic circle; from that point, they served as the foreman to the magical construction, controlling, accelerating, and even stopping the process as needed. It was also possible that at least one circle was dedicated to integrating the technical drawings to the ritual, though this practice has been considered redundant in light of the architect's circle.
The process of Aeldis Arcanum revolutionized magical construction for thousands of years following its employment during the War of the Scourge. Under the purview of the Archmage Vyliar’faeien, the method augmented the Varian Coalition’s ability to expand their areas of operation as well as stabilized numerous humanoid settlements through the early years of the Age of Restoration. Since the end of the Second Era, the exact methodology regarding Aeldis Arcanum has remained exclusive to the Arcane Society. Reportedly, no more than a few mages at any given time can correctly conduct the rituals of Aeldis Arcanum within the Arcane Society. For eligible clients, expedited construction using this specific method presents one of the most expensive services the Society can ever provide. The method influenced numerous offshoots and secondary methods that continue to see more widespread use in the present day.
History
The First Era: Development and Early Use
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The Archmage Vyliar’faeien presumably began developing Aeldis Arcanum during the waning years of the First Era, based on purported personal logs of the process. Initially intended to revolutionize the construction capabilities of civilizations prior to the War of the Scourge, the method’s development continued throughout the conflict and saw practical use after its perfection. Aeldis Arcanum’s first notable appearance occurred after the establishment of the Varian Coalition where it was heavily utilized to quickly establish bases and fortifications as well as conduct maintenance on existing structures during the Day of Dusk. Scholars estimated that the savings in both time and resource expenditure caused by Aeldis Arcanum shortened the overall duration of the War of the Scourge, by providing an invaluable advantage to the Varian Coalition.
The Vyliar'faeien's Development Log of Aeldis Arcanum, as translated and provided by the Arcane Society: Log 1
On my way to the academy today, I noticed a pair of children assembling a flimsy structure with wooden blocks. Beyond them, the horizon was occupied with the city’s latest construction of a citadel. Both rather commonplace occurrences here, by all means, though it stirred a line of thinking.
Many great structures, cities, and kingdoms have come to physical existence over millennia of efforts from architects to masons. What time and materials have been put to such construction when magic, as a theoretically unlimited resource, remains untapped in what I believe is its full potential. Mages have often been employed for the semantic tasks of construction, from transport to arrangements of materials and even safety. Yet from my observations, utilizing magic as the driving force to construction, versus humanoid labor, sees seldom use beyond the elven kingdoms.
Over the coming years, I intend to conduct further research on this subject before committing to any time intensive project. I shall take note of any bouts of inspiration. Perhaps it may serve well as a recreational venture.
On my way to the academy today, I noticed a pair of children assembling a flimsy structure with wooden blocks. Beyond them, the horizon was occupied with the city’s latest construction of a citadel. Both rather commonplace occurrences here, by all means, though it stirred a line of thinking.
Many great structures, cities, and kingdoms have come to physical existence over millennia of efforts from architects to masons. What time and materials have been put to such construction when magic, as a theoretically unlimited resource, remains untapped in what I believe is its full potential. Mages have often been employed for the semantic tasks of construction, from transport to arrangements of materials and even safety. Yet from my observations, utilizing magic as the driving force to construction, versus humanoid labor, sees seldom use beyond the elven kingdoms.
Over the coming years, I intend to conduct further research on this subject before committing to any time intensive project. I shall take note of any bouts of inspiration. Perhaps it may serve well as a recreational venture.
The Second Era: the Method and the Architect
In the immediate post-war period, the Vyliar’faeien consolidated Aeldis Arcanum as his exclusive property and, as the founder of the Arcane Society, that of the magical organization. The move simultaneously propagated and curbed its usage during the Age of Restoration, making Aeldis Arcanum a sought-after service for most growing settlements while its usage remained under the firm control of the Vyliar’faeien. More often than not, the famed archmage personally oversaw its usage throughout the continent, while limiting the application of his methods. During the first millennium of the Second Era, the Vyliar’faeien employed Aeldis Arcanum in the constructions of the Arcane Society’s Grand Arcaneum, the Palace of Avington in Avon, and the vast majority of the city of Ehreal in Grandia, including the Golden Citadel. For these accomplishments, the Vyliar'faeien also garnered the title of the "Architect."At the Vyliar’faeien’s resignation from the Arcane Society, the magical organization became the sole provider of the famed construction process. However, prior to his departure, the archmage enacted a final stipulation that limited the number of individuals who could possess the knowledge and means to carry out Aeldis Arcanum, branding his work the sole purview of the Grand Magister and the Magisters Magni. Successive generations of the Arcane Society’s upper echelons circumvented this limitation by instructing promising mages of the process in separate parts. This practice yielded an imperfect version of Aeldis Arcanum, which cut its effectiveness significantly; but even in its imperfect form, the method still had enough demand among foreign powers.
In the latter half of the Second Era, one of the Arcane Society’s most lucrative services stemmed from construction teams whose main duties constituted of completing tasks employing the derived process from Aeldis Arcanum. Many mages and scholars alike attempted to replicate the method using the scattered knowledge made available by the Arcane Society, efforts which continued to the modern day. Within Varia, the results amounted to varying degrees of success, though to public knowledge none have yet to match to the original in neither efficiency or scale.
The Third Era: the Method and Conflict
With the outbreak of geopolitical conflict during the Third Era, foreign powers sought to employ the services of the Arcane Society in erecting strongholds and fortresses during these warring periods, mirroring the actions of the Varian Coalition during the War of the Scourge. The Arcane Society acquiesced to select commissions during the First Continental War and the early centuries of the Third Era thereafter. Aeldis Arcaneum had indisputably contributed to the escalation and perpetuation of conflicts between opposing nations, actions which, by proxy, violated the Avonian Accords and brought about an arbitration by the major powers of the time. By 258 3E, the impact of Aeldis Arcanum’s employment had been deemed a sufficient enough threat to the overall balance of power during the Convention of the Accords in Avington. The discussions during this convention culminated in the Decree of Nosium, which declared Aeldis Arcanum’s employment during wartime, between warring nations, an official taboo.The Decree of Nosium and the aftermath echoed internal disagreements within the Arcane Society. Traditionalist camps argued that the allowances made with Aeldis Arcanum’s teaching and employment represented the detrimental shift to the Arcane Society’s original goals and visions. Their opponents, dubbed “Continentalists,” aligned with furthering the Arcane Society’s presence on Varia, pushing for a more political agenda. The traditionalists, however, possessed an overwhelming majority in light of the devolving state of Varian politics. The brief schism came to an end with internal reforming of the Society’s policies and the instating of a completely new iteration of the Magisters Magni headed by the Grand Magister Elivan Faeien. Among the many changes enacted by the new hierarchy, Aeldis Arcanum, along with other similarly potent developments made by the Archmage Vyliar’faeien, returned to the exclusive state that the organization’s founder ultimately intended for his major works. Aeldis Arcanum regressed into a near fabled, guarded secret of the Arcane Society known only to the Grand Magister and the Magisters Magni.
Methodology
The exact details of Aeldis Arcanum have not been publicly disclosed by the Arcane Society. However, generations of derived processes and attempted replications give insights to facets of Aeldis Arcanum’s methodology and application. A properly conducted instance of Aeldis Arcanum yields physical structures, sometimes of enormous proportions, that take only a significantly smaller fraction of the building time, power, and resources to complete compared to manual, and most other magical, approaches. In its entirety, Aeldis Arcanum represents the pinnacle example of hybrid magical processes, combining revolutionary magical theory in runic circle augmentation with aspects of multiple schools of magic in significant measures to achieve the aforementioned goal.Schools of Magic
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Transmutation provides the indisputable foundational school of magic for Aeldis Arcanum. Otherwise, the other schools of magic involved in Aeldis Arcanum has been the subject of theory and debate. The other three schools listed here have received credence from analyzing offshoot methods, whether official or not, developed in the aftermath of Aeldis Arcanum's proliferation during the Second Era.
The Vyliar'faeien's Development Log of Aeldis Arcanum, as translated and provided by the Arcane Society: Log 37
The manipulation and placement of materials, which arguably construes the very basis of construction, falls under the purview of the school of transmutation. However, these capabilities already exist, and is employed, with magic presently known to us, albeit the requirements involve much investment in time and skill of the mages involved. Mere assembly should not by my end goal here, but an evolution. What is the purpose of creating a new method if not to revolutionize the means by which the present conduct a task? The most ideal result is the ability to construct even the most daunting of structures within significantly less intensive costs on time and resources, at the employment of magic.
Transmutation may serve as the most reasonable base, though I foresee the possible significance of illusion, conjuration, and abjuration magicks. Illusion may provide the alternative extensive necessity of materials and time. Conjuration may provide an option to truncate the times on larger instances of material movement. Moreover, through abjuration, constructs assembled utilizing magic, and perhaps with magic, require some form of protection, if not utter permanency. I have a colleague who has studied the latter for decades now, who will hopefully provide his insights on that possibility.
The manipulation and placement of materials, which arguably construes the very basis of construction, falls under the purview of the school of transmutation. However, these capabilities already exist, and is employed, with magic presently known to us, albeit the requirements involve much investment in time and skill of the mages involved. Mere assembly should not by my end goal here, but an evolution. What is the purpose of creating a new method if not to revolutionize the means by which the present conduct a task? The most ideal result is the ability to construct even the most daunting of structures within significantly less intensive costs on time and resources, at the employment of magic.
Transmutation may serve as the most reasonable base, though I foresee the possible significance of illusion, conjuration, and abjuration magicks. Illusion may provide the alternative extensive necessity of materials and time. Conjuration may provide an option to truncate the times on larger instances of material movement. Moreover, through abjuration, constructs assembled utilizing magic, and perhaps with magic, require some form of protection, if not utter permanency. I have a colleague who has studied the latter for decades now, who will hopefully provide his insights on that possibility.
Runic Circles
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The Vyliar'faeien's Development Log of Aeldis Arcanum, as translated and provided by the Arcane Society: Log 274
The caster. The plans. Materials. And the intended site of construction. The materials available in one while the area of flux, where these materials are intended, remain sequestered. The runic circles provide the catalyst to transporting and moving the building materials. Meanwhile, the caster interacts with the plans to assemble the materials into their appropriate forms.
This approach currently remains in its theoretical stages as it seeks to marry varying schools of magic conducted through ritual circles. My greatest doubts lie in whether a chain approach would output enough magical power to create all possible designs. Moreover, too much reliance on exact provisions that I may yet have to invest more time in transient materials provided by the school of illusion. Still, my current intention is to conduct a test to benchmark the current capabilities of this method, focusing on quality, time, and scale. I will adjust my methodology based off those results, and perhaps look further into arcane augmentation depending.
The caster. The plans. Materials. And the intended site of construction. The materials available in one while the area of flux, where these materials are intended, remain sequestered. The runic circles provide the catalyst to transporting and moving the building materials. Meanwhile, the caster interacts with the plans to assemble the materials into their appropriate forms.
This approach currently remains in its theoretical stages as it seeks to marry varying schools of magic conducted through ritual circles. My greatest doubts lie in whether a chain approach would output enough magical power to create all possible designs. Moreover, too much reliance on exact provisions that I may yet have to invest more time in transient materials provided by the school of illusion. Still, my current intention is to conduct a test to benchmark the current capabilities of this method, focusing on quality, time, and scale. I will adjust my methodology based off those results, and perhaps look further into arcane augmentation depending.
At the crux of the process, runic circles enabled Aeldis Arcanum to conduct its intended purpose, to expand the possible scale of its construction, and to maximize the efficiency of its time and resource cost. In most cases with magic, runic circles served as a catalyst in the spellweaving process required to even achieve a desired effect. The various aspects of Aeldis Arcanum had been achievable feats through chaining magical processes, without explicit reliance on runic circles. However, the Vyliar’faeien was theorized to have conducted these processes utilizing runic circles and then layered their usage to achieve end result of Aeldis Arcanum. The circles provided a stabilizing effect to the interactions of the differing schools, though the extent of construction done with Aeldis Arcanum hints that their effects had also been magnified.Thus, the Vyliar’faeien’s utilization of runic circles in Aeldis Arcanum may have been one of the first examples their usage as a tool of augmentation, more so than just an impetus for the intended result.
An example of the runic augmentation circles used in an imperfect iteration of Aeldis Arcanum.
For Aeldis Arcanum, a layered runic augmentation multi-circle was more than likely used. The largest of the circles demarcated the site of construction. At least one circle, utilized for the school of transmutation, included the appropriate building materials. The caster, or the architect as some may refer to the individual, appropriated one runic circle; from that point, they served as the foreman to the magical construction, controlling, accelerating, and even stopping the process as needed. It was also possible that at least one circle was dedicated to integrating the technical drawings to the ritual, though this practice has been considered redundant in light of the architect's circle.
“For some period during the Second Era, there was no nation, no kingdom, or city in Varia which did not possess a work crafted by Aeldis Arcanum. Calling the Archmage Vyliar’faeien the “Architect” was no understatement, for the modern Varia was built by his designs.”
Schools of Magic
Architecture
Construction
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