Tag: path-emph-magus
Order of the Broken Sun
Posted on July 16, 2022 in Steel-Realms
Pervasive Overview: The Order of the Broken Sun are a formal – though mysterious and closed – recognized order of occult practitioners of the Steel Realms. Membership is by sponsorship of an existing member only. It is a small and obscure order with its only chapter house in Karolak (and are bonded there) of the Northern Merchant Cities. They are an order of magi that seek to walk between light and dark, good and evil. They are known to seek to understand the Unholy Trio and Church of Darkness in order to fight it better. Rumors about of dark worshippers abound, though nothing has ever been proven of any accusations – there have been many. Their militant ways (unafraid of physical combat) and confrontation of the Orrish and followers of the Unholy Trio also go a long ways to refute such claims. This organization has a documented history. A few times they have been mistaken for or assumed to be Sable Magi and persecuted by mistake.
Sorcerers Prohibited: This order, as with all formal and accepted Occult Orders and Institutions & Factions of the Steel Realms Heartlands, has an official policy to not accept Practitioners of Sorcery into their ranks. This has been true since the Purge of the Hidden in CY 5009 – CY 5311, and is duty bound to report them to the Guild of Solars when they are encountered.
General Motto: “I seek to lay bare the shadow and bathe in its mystery.”
Any association with an Occult Order of the Steel Realms beyond mere name association follows the standards of Institutions and Organizations of the Magi and the template of a Fantasy Occult Order; This order’s scope is only Organizing.
The general perception by outsiders even mostly the same even with similar organizations/communities and sages. The organization is known to field a few members within 200 miles of its home in Karolak to assist with hunting Orrish. They send their members out to ranges of 500 miles to hunt fallen and abandoned temples of the Church of Darkness and bolt holes of Orrish raiders for clues about their culture, habits, and vulnerabilities. They are known to partner with other orders in their explorations and a few have been recorded as being members (although usually secondary and support roles) of famous adventuring bands, highguards, or bannermen.
PRESTIGE: Familiar (+1) within 500 miles of Karolak / Established (+2) within the principality of Karolak itself.Prestige can effect interactions wherein the character may draw upon the association of the institution if it is relevant; Adjusting social interaction outcomes by the noted amount.
• Leadership: Unknown.
• Home: The Merchant City of the North, Karolak.
Symbol(s): The symbol of the order is usually a black sun rising above a sea of yellow OR a black staff with the butt painted gold or gilded in light bronze; This represents the idea of embracing the duality in order to understand.
> Each member has a (scryable) plaque, an embroidered patch on 3 articles of clothing, an institutional arcane focus
Signifiers: The culture of this order demands that they carry with them a “black book”. Many have been seen inscribing in this book, adding to the knowledge of their fabled Black Sun Library. Yet when any are opened there is nothing within – the tome appears to be empty, though the pages obviously reflect signs of age and wear. None use their real names in dealing with outsiders. A few of the most powerful wield “Baighent’s Flame” – the common purple-ish ink used in occult grimoires & spell books in the Steel Realms; this manifests as a bolt of the same color flame.
- General Thematic Emphasis: Light, Dark, Shadow
- General Thematic Frailty: Fire, Lightning
Patronage: Unknown principal or venerated entity, if any.
Unknown parent organization, if any.
Basic Membership Service Overview
Liberal Institutional Payment Policy
This generally follows the basic elements of the Trivial rank for Institutions.
Basic Outsider/Guest Services: The institution maintains the Standard Occult Reliquary of the Steel Realms for members only, not guests.
- Lodging + Sustenance:
- Supplies + Travel:
- Rest + Recovery:
- Knowledge/Sage: Orrish History services; up to level 5
Benefits by Institutional Rank
All members can sell paraphernalia and information gained that would add to Orrish History knowledge to the order. This is often goods and knowledge only archeologists would be interested in, but can turn a tidy profit for members; The order pays well, though thats not saying much for that type of goods unless its a truly unique find. All members of Minor rank and above are issued a Institutional Mystical Focal Point.
Minor Rank
This generally follows the basic elements of the Minor rank for Institutions.
Benefits:
- Thematic Emphasis Adjustments: Darkness [prowess +1]
- Thematic Frailty Adjustments: Fire [ineptitude -1]
Major Rank
This generally follows the basic elements of the Major rank for Institutions.
Benefits:
- Thematic Emphasis: Darkness [dominion +2], Light [prowess +1]
- Thematic Frailty: Fire [ineptitude -2], Lighting [ineptitude -1]
Preeminent Rank
This generally follows the basic elements of the Preeminent rank for Institutions.
Benefits:
- Thematic Emphasis: Darkness [dominion +2], Light [prowess +1], Shadow [prowess +1]
- Thematic Frailty: Fire & Lightning [ineptitude -2]
Ascendant Rank
This generally follows the basic elements of the Ascendant rank for Institutions.
Benefits:
Revealed Knowledge: What is written in the Black Books goes straight to the goddess Gloombringer as knowledge. She knows the source, date/time/place it was inscribed and the ink vanishes as it’s written.
- Thematic Emphasis: Divination [dominion +2], Earth [prowess +1]
- Thematic Frailty: Fire [ineptitude -2]
Internal Culture
- Must be literate in at least 1 language
- Must possess Cryptography 1, Orrish History 1, Divine Phenomenology 1
- Must possesses a “Pen of the Order” – a custom pen of the highest quality (100sc minimum!) made by the character for writing in their Black Book of the order; the order is typically willing to loan a member the funds to secure this item.
CONTACT: As a minor mystical order, when a members bridge Mystical Focal Point item is destroyed, the administrators of the order will know. All members can use mundane means, such as post, messenger, and parcel services. Secure access points for such options can be established through affiliated civic and personal alliances; Relationships can be set up with vendors who will front or represent the institution in a particular locale for a small fee or percent of service activity billing.
- All Institutional Mystical Focal Point are tuned to the “” in the Home Office of the order in Karolak.
Sworn to Secrecy: The order is perceived as enigmatic and not necessarily trustworthy. When probed about nearly anything, they repeat their motto, or such phrases as “The gods dwell in darkness through which only they can see, we merely try to peer through the edges.”
Adopt a New Name: Members give up their past identity. They usually take a new name “Nox-___” where the last part is anything they want. It is a hyphenated name, with no last or first distinction – again reflecting the duality of their beliefs. Most of the time, not even other members are aware of their true name, and they go to lengths to obscure it.
Typical Member Motivations: Collect more knowledge and items relating to Orrish History.
Typical Member Fears/Aversions: Using real names. Dealing with Lightbringers.
Explanation of Institutional Tenets
Institutional Tenets by Measure
Trivial Tenets:Minor Tenets:
Major Tenets:
Expectations by Institutional Ranks
Minor Rank
This generally follows the basic elements of the Minor rank for Institutions.
Requirements: Lesser Attunement for mystical benefits; Oath/Vows(s) to follow , Tithe/Dues (month/annual),
Major Rank
This generally follows the basic elements of the Major rank for Institutions.
Requirements: Lesser Attunement; Oath(s), Tithe/Dues (month/annual),
Preeminent Rank
This generally follows the basic elements of the Preeminent rank for Institutions.
Requirements: Lesser Attunement; Oath(s), Tithe/Dues (month/annual),
Ascendant Rank
This generally follows the basic elements of the Ascendant rank for Institutions.
Requirements: Lesser Attunement; Oath(s), Tithe/Dues (month/annual),
Buildout for an Institutional Background for characters.
i20™ Background Details
@Character Inception, Characters gain an Attribute Score Increase (ASI) from either their Background's Vocational ASI OR as their Archetype's/Class Pathway ASI. These will be specified as either explicit or chosen from a Attribute Group(s):
BACKGROUND = +1 Intelligence/Reason and +1 Charisma
The character needs to be clever and affable enough to obscure the nature of their order and not draw unwanted attention on themselves.
Grants proficiency in and/or adds the indicated level(s) to…
Cryptography +1, Ritual Phenomenology +1, Orrish History +1, Divine Phenomenology +1, Literacy in all languages the character can speak at the time of @Character Inception.
i20 REPLACES d20 skill proficiency > Check = skill level + modifiers (Prof. Bonus not used).
i20 Skills REPLACE d20 skill proficiency: Add the skill level + modifiers to the check ( Proficiency Bonus not used).
A single Result Check to assess Success or Failure AND quality which may be impacted by conditions which indicate a Lack of Capability (Unfamiliar, Unproficient, etc.). The GM can { } Narrate it, and players may request an appropriate impact when anything other than a basic outcome is indicated. Character Points are Rewarded by the GM to improve Skills (and other Features). > i20 Skill Map
A Mighty Pen: @5th level, the character can use spend 1 Essence top Attune their “Pen of the Order” and the Prestidigitation cantrip to turn it into a rod, staff or spear and back again. As long as they possess this pen all damage causing cantrips visual manifestations look purple (same as Baighent’s ink).
Warlock Profile for the Order
The Warlocks of the order are a special dispensation within. They cannot rise to great heights, but are considered a type of “Special Operator”. They are considered to have a Minor Rank. They must pay a single Cost Portion (200sc) per month instead of any normal tithe or organization fees – this pays for their Baighent’s ink for their Black Book. Only Pact of the Tome is available, and the Patron is Gloombringer. Sworn & Beholden: Gloombringer sends her agents out on missions in which they have no choice – spying and embedding with other parties to report on/document their activities; This never jeopardizes the party the warlock travels in directly and sometimes her agents are given clues to help them survive! They may ultimately be working against their own self interest, but such is never clearly seen for what it is. The goddess and her motives are inscrutable, her warlocks gain the “Revealed Knowledge” of the Ascendent Rank.
Eldritch Invocation > “Facade of the Magus”: REQUIRED – The Black Book of the order becomes the Book of Shadows; Gloombringer reveals the mystic formulae chosen by the character only to them, who are Sworn and Beholden. Whenever the character uses a mystic formulae, it appears as if it is a Wizard version of it – they appear as a clumsy, slow magus when casting. The character can cast Mage Armor (to cover for the giveaway of using Light Armor Familiarity) & Detect Magic (to more seem like they are a magus) both 1/Short Rest cycle, though are forbidden to display the Eldritch Blast cantrip (Gloombringer will suppress it) to keep the warlock’s nature hidden). They gain Occult Phenomenology +1.
- Book of Ancient Shadows: If the warlock takes the Book of Ancient Secrets as an Eldritch Invocation, they gain additional benefits: Mage Armor & Detect Magic become ritual spells and are added to the book instead of usable 1/Short Rest cycle. If they have enacted the “A Mighty Pen” bond, they may take the eldritch blast cantrips and it appears as the firebolt cantrip to mask their warlock nature.
iCore™ Background Details
Further Institutional Details
Sable Magi (Dark Order)
Posted on November 23, 2021 in Steel-Realms
The institution maintains the Standard Occult Reliquary of the Steel Realms for members.
In exchange for unscrupulous service to the powers of darkness and evil, the Sable Magi gain occult knowledge and power. This is not a true “order” of wizards, just a label for a group that leverages the Unholy Trio’s desire for personal power. Many rationalize their choice as having no impact overall – the balance between light and dark is actually what is being served. A full 10 years of pledged service during which time they may say no only twice. After that, they are hunted and killed. The Sable mark makes them vulnerable to the powers of darkness. It is obscured and removed after 10 years of service. There are three to five sable “towers”; Some are caves, only 2 are actual towers in ruins of fallen cities in the east. This organization has a documented history.
A few times members of the Order of the Broken Sun have been mistaken for Sable Magi – sewing confusion and chaos. This has been on purpose at times and by accident others.
Sorcerers Prohibited: This order, as with all formal and accepted Occult Orders and Institutions & Factions of the Steel Realms Heartlands, has an official policy to not accept Practitioners of Sorcery into their ranks. This has been true since the Purge of the Hidden in CY 5009 – CY 5311, and is duty bound to report them to the Guild of Solars when they are encountered.
House Du’Orlok (martial mages of the Riverdans)
Posted on November 8, 2021 in Steel-Realms
The existence of House Du’Orlok is shrouded in absolute secrecy. Hiding right under the nose of House Malor of Dunstrand, it is a secret order serving a branch of the ruling line of the Riverdan of Monaides. Over time, an aura of “normalcy” surrounds their home, and it is remote and technically off limits to House Malor being in the Riverdans. They are known as militant mages – conjuring mystical weapons and armors, blowing things up, summoning creatures to do their bidding in support of protecting the Riverdan of Monaides, and trusted to be employed in secret by rulers of other Riverdans. The institution maintains the Standard Occult Reliquary of the Steel Realms for members.
Those who formed the House Du’Orlok are a countering force to House Malor in Dunstrand. The members of House Malor suspect the presence of these high art practitioners, but have not been able to prove anything – and even so, mostly ignore them as long as they stay in the Riverdans. They have a loose partnership with the magi of the Tower of the Cloud Gazers to the south.
The magi of the order generally wear armor, carry a wizard’s blade (slim sword/rapier), and some are known to use a shield. They have no known symbol, color, or ornaments – they work in secret as much as possible and do not advertise themselves.
Places of the Order
Basterson’s Mill
Orlok Keep
About/Chronicle of House Du’Orlok
Knowledge is broken down by ease of discovery/availability & Meticulous Record Keeping may improve usability; Any attempt to know more than what's Pervasive will require a reference, source, knowledge, check, or access to someone who can get or provide either of these. Specific Lores may increase the chance of knowing specific elements.
Pervasive Knowledge / Very Easy Difficulty
Members of the order present themselves as conjurers, wielders of magical power made manifest in the material.
Scarce Knowledge / Hard Difficulty
Thought to be exterminated as part of the Purge of the Hidden, the remainder of their order chose to go underground but found a means of living. Those who would not abide by its tenets were killed. A few individuals are thought to have survived and fled into the deep north. One order changed its ways, adopted a new Patron and continued on, marrying into the family that ruled Riverdan of Monaides.
Rare Knowledge / Very Hard Difficulty
Ehrameine The Promiser bargained with a great entity of Order in a place beyond the stars called the Fortress of One. In return for an everlasting expression of lawfulness and order and to promote such things, her bloodline was gifted with its power of the Aether Storm. A ritual would awaken it to be developed in any that possessed it, or it could be taught by a blood relation bound to it that could already practice its gifts. To abandon it is to kill the spark; it requires a major ritual to re-awaken. This ritual has multiple copies kept in Tower of the Stag and Basterson’s Mill – but none are allowed to leave the confines of the warded room they are in, in Orlok Keep.
All characts must replace one of their languages with “Wizard’s Masque” – they appear to employ low magic means and mask the presence of their high art capability. It can be scrutinized, unless a character gives up a full skill proficiency.
Guild of Solars (High Magistry Order of the Realms)
Posted on June 10, 2021 in Steel-Realms
Guild of Solars is a standard Occult Order of the Steel Realms with standard benefits geared to the magus.
– Command of Occult arcane powers and entities. The institution generally follows the Occult Culture of the Realms; It maintains the Standard Occult Reliquary of the Steel Realms for members and the Mystical Discernment service of the Ryadian Oblis in most of its chapter houses and affiliate locations.
Sorcerers Prohibited: This order, as with all formal and accepted Occult Orders and Institutions & Factions of the Steel Realms Heartlands, does not accept Practitioners of Sorcery into their ranks since the Purge of the Hidden in CY 5009 – CY 5311, and is duty bound to report them to the Guild of Solars when they are encountered.
The Guild of Solars is the largest and most wide-spread occult order in the Steel Realms. It has offices and satellites all over the realms, and where it is unwelcome by virtue of ordinances or agreements, it has used its considerable power with the High King to allow a non-occult branch of the order: The Solarian Scriveners.
Moderators: The competition between the institutions of Quizmans Magusterum and Theurgi Emporium stays peaceful and this is closely monitored to prevent violence by the Guild of Solars. There is a general low key animosity towards these two more commercial orders, outside of them many orders are antagonistic, but not openly adversarial.
- Occult Theme/Motif: None
Tower of the Cloud Gazers (southern heartlands)
Posted on May 24, 2021 in Steel-Realms
Tower of the Cloud Gazers is a standard Occult Order of the Steel Realms with standard benefits geared to the magus.
– Command of Occult arcane powers and entities. The institution generally follows the Occult Culture of the Realms; It maintains the Standard Occult Reliquary of the Steel Realms for members and the Mystical Discernment service of the Ryadian Oblis in most of its chapter houses and affiliate locations.
Sorcerers Prohibited: This order, as with all formal and accepted Occult Orders and Institutions & Factions of the Steel Realms Heartlands, has an official policy to not accept Practitioners of Sorcery into their ranks. This has been true since the Purge of the Hidden in CY 5009 – CY 5311, and is duty bound to report them to the Guild of Solars when they are encountered.
The Tower of the Cloud Gazers is an Illusion order in the southern heartlands, in the Duchy of Fhayl near the headwaters of the Falcon River – near the edge of the Edgelands of Umbak . It was founded in CY 6911. Mizras is openly venerated, and the partnership with the priesthood to study tactics and adapt them to their occult methods and practices is openly displayed. The priests of Mizras find the entire partnership odd, but amusing, and it feeds into their coffers as well.
Rumors swirl that there is some honoring of Malek, though nothing is openly displayed or practiced in such regard. The tower turns out about 5 magi every other year, that tithe to both the clergy of Mizras and their own order. A few become mercenary magi, and some are known to work with House Du’Orlok in the Riverdans of Dunstrand.
- Occult Theme/Motif: Flash and Crash of Blades
- Motto: NONE
- Symbol: NONE
- Periaptery: To denote the magus’ initial training, a face mask of black leather, stitched with a black tear on the inside for each rank in the order.
Talismanen: To denote the continued association, a red tear stitched on the opposite side, inside the mask. This tear is burned away if the affinity with the order is ever broken.
Internal Workings are Shrouded in Mystery: The actual operations of the order are shrouded in mystery, even from its apprentices. Like the school they focus on, they keep the workings a secret, or misdirect. When necessary, the order will send a representative as “Magus Blackwell” – similar to generic “Smith”. Titles, ranks, and accolades are ephemeral, illusory, they mean nothing. The age, gender, and real appearance is always hidden behind powerful illusions that have never been unmasked.
Locations
The “tower” refers to both the compound and tower it is part of. It houses a walled (11′) compound with a smithy and stable. A 7 story tower roughly 30’ at the base. Stables, barracks and training yards make up the rest. A small chapel to Mizras is on the west side of the tower. Inside the tower is noted that the windows on the outside do not match the ones inside. Supposedly there is only one entrance, the Shieldhouse – a small entry chamber connected to the base of the tower. A large set of double doors, single large, or sometimes a single small door bars the way into the tower. The stairwell at the center is called the Red Stairs – it is a place of magical traps and kill pockets that no one has ever survived. Two attempts have been made on public record, both ended in the quiet and bloody removal of all the attackers.
Order Staff: There are at least 10 wizard trainers (usually 12-13), 2 priests of Mizras dedicated to meshing the school with the warriors’ way, 2 warriors and their own apprentices learning to habituate themselves to magic.
Mundane Staff: Two dozen cooks, cleaners, teamsters and groomsmen support the order. There are beginner barracks outside the tower for first year students, then the barracks over the smithy and finally 1 level of the tower for the last two classes. The order manages 3 additional ‘refuges’ that are part of a battle temple of Mizras. These give them normal mundane support and safety. Only some basic healing, local knowledge books, and a few Teachings of War copies are stored in these places:
- 1 – Temple of the Final Rush in
- 2 – Firstspear Temple in
- 3 – Blackforge Temple in
Benefits
The order offers little support beyond initial knowledge and basic refuge.
In Good Standing: All powers granted by the institution are available as the rules allow, assuming they are in good standing with the occult institution and its bonds.
D20D20 Power List
Incarna X Power List
About/Chronicle
Common Knowledge / Easy Difficulty
Most Recent History
Commonly Understood Origins
Commonly Understood Development
General knowledge…
- Key Places
- Key Entities
- Key Concepts
Raenbal’s Revenge: Baron Raenbal’s son (of Fandelok), trained by the order, tried breaking in with elemental conjurings and a band of adventurers to loot the place in CY 8413. His remains were returned to his family, with no explanation. The Baron assembled a small mercenary army of nearly 50 and assaulted the tower to avenge his son. They all met the same fate – but all their gear was stripped. The bloodied bodies were piled outside the compound and the baron forced to pay to haul them away. Additionally, a warrior-priest of Mizras called out the baron for single combat. The baron had to pledge a large amount of money split between the order and church in order to avoid fighting to his death. This is all counted as a single incident.
Umbak’s Lament: Umbak pursued a band of Grollen raiders to its gate in CY 8822. The duchy’s western frontier was a common clash point between the two peoples. The Grollen are generally loved by the followers of Mizras (next to their patron goddess, he is the most venerated), and so they were given refuge. All were young, wild, and horribly wounded, and the Umbakians outnumbered them 4 to 1. The order asked the Umbakians to take their weapons and break them, and return home in victory – the Grollen were defeated. They would not, and so the Grollen armed themselves and rushed out the gate, dying swiftly in their state. However, a few were seen to flee into the tower. The Umbakians did not hesitate and invaded the order’s compound. What exactly happened is not documented. What is known is that not one of the knights left the tower alive, and half the rest, all total about 2 dozen soldiers and knights, were killed. All the knight’s horses were seized, and their bodies tossed over the walls, stripped of armor and weapons. It is generally believed there were no Grollen inside the open gate to the compound, that the order suckered the Umbakians in to get revenge for their brothers in war. Since it cant be proven, Umbak was forced not to take any action.
Uncommon Knowledge / Average Difficulty
Every time a member of the order is killed, or reckoned to be, there is never a body.
There is no cemetery or epitaph for the order.
Rare Knowledge / Very Hard Difficulty
Elves have never been in order. Ever.
Obscure Knowledge / Near-Impossible Difficulty
Originally the school was founded by a group of retired adventurers. A priest of Mizras, a warrior of Mizras, Daste the arch-rogue and Holstein Cloudmantle – an Illusion specialist. These retired men founded and ran the Cloudmantle Academy, which grew to become the Tower of the Cloud Gazers. Daste was the last to die, he was a half elf and lived to the age of 187.
By then, his elven heritage was a secret, and it was thought he was a mighty magus named Belrade. He had broken with his brothers of the Salamander Guild as well – they thought him dead. He had merely taken the profits of the academy, and the accoutrements and equipment of his dead companions and used the bureaucratic insight of his guild to create something long lasting. Originally, the presence of Mizras worshipers was the security for the academy, but over time they became part of the practice.