Tag: path-emph-magus
Barlogue Blackguild
Posted on March 3, 2021 in Steel-Realms
Barlogue Blackguild 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 Barlogue Blackguild‘s order only remaining chapter hall was their southern most one – The Tower of Meridiem, in the freehold city of Beryl.
- Occult Theme/Motif: Black Hands & Eyes, Black Trailing Wisps
Tower of Meridiem
Adosian Brotherhood (Occult Order of Necromancers)
Posted on November 3, 2020 in Steel-Realms
Adosian Brotherhood 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.
Hall of the Hanging Dead
The infamous home of the order in the city of Ados. The free city of Ados is home to the feared and barely tolerated loose confederacy of wizards practicing their necromantic arts. They have but a single Order House, in the city itself. It is here that all apprentices are trained and where common research is done. It is referred to as “The Hall of the Hanging Dead”. They are known to records all business transaction in the “Adosian Flourish” of Mercat – lending a sinister air to its script.
Cannot summon/bind or control elementals.
House Narcosa (Necromancer Order of Salt Shore)
Posted on November 8, 2016 in Steel-Realms
House Narcosa 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.
“Order of Narcosa, The House of Necromancy”: House Narcosa (sometimes referred to as a ‘guild’) is one of the only 2 major notable institutions to focus on Necromancy in the realms. Understandably so, as their livelihood deals with the undead mostly, and there is a lot of fear and misunderstanding of their order. The order also has a special relationship with the fallen death god Djerduth. The order promotes the old gods ways, carrying on the religious traditions of death as a natural part of life, and seeking its mysteries to better understand the living. Far from the “death-worshiping anemic” its enemies portray it as, its members are the most physically fit and robust of wizardly orders – they practice medicine and are adherents of physical exercise and know the body and its workings like few others. The order serves as healers even in some places, such as North Gate Garrison They are THE premier operators against the undead there and other places in the north, though they number few and ways are kept secret. The Narcosan Watchers is a sect in the order that learns to repair the worst bone and tissue breaks, and can even repair animations.
Deepstone Archive of Rhylan in the Forest of Rhyl is overseen by the Duke of Rhyl’s house mages and priests, in addition to Rhylander Green Conjurists and House Narcosa – helping to keep copies of a lot of it in the Libraries of Port Towne.The small order has been around for thousands of years. It is a fortified tower atop a granite 120’ x 70’ shelf that pushes 20’ above soil level.
Resolute: The lands and city of Reedbed was sacked, it stood. The town of Salt Shore burned, it stood. The shipyards of Salt Shore burned and the city sacked… it stood. Pirates took control of Salt Flats for years… it stood. The Purge of Hermenna ousted every malign master and apprentice along the shores of Lake Caolite in 9120 – it was left untouched. Each time the order survived and came out to treat the wounded and bury the dead. Every time some would-be ruler of the town surrounding it threatened the order, the threats quickly stopped. It is unknown what leverage the order has, but no one has tested it. The order is famous in the north, all around the massive Lake Caolite. Disease outbreaks, seasonal debilitation’s, crop death, clashes of armies, plague… always will they be there. The clergy of Aerna, even the White Sisters, admit to their prowess (albeit grudgingly). When possible, they maintain a fast sloop in Salt Shore, and can go anywhere on the shores of the lake to aid after any disaster – no questions asked, no port dues, no tithes.
- Occult Theme/Motif: Red & White Feathers/Streamers
- Presence Levels: Preeminent in northern heartlands; Order houses all over the north…
- Major: Township of Saltmarch, Lake Caolite (shores)
- Minor: North Gate Garrison, Lim, Arminsted
- Trivial: Twin Springs, Karolak, Soriano, Thurlow
- Alliances: None
- Occult Focus: Schools of Magical Study…
- Major: Necromancy
- Minor:
- Trivial:
- Familiar Specialty: Lesser Homonculous
Fetus like flesh creation @6th (in addition to any other familiar!); AC 12, HD: 1/HP = 4 [Cost = 180 silvers] Dexterity/Wisdom 15, Strength (half creators current; 5), Charisma 3, All Others 10
Never sleeps, never tires, cannot be charmed or slept; sees through illusions. Speaks with creators voice.
Stealth +4, Perception +3, Athletics +3 & Gets creators proficiency bonus. - Potion Specialty: Detect Life [Major Cost Portion/unlimited (2 at a time) for Major Presence]; INT x 10′ range, per Detect Magic
- Scroll Specialty: False Life- “Stolen Life”; Ritual (DC 13) practiced in the Heartlands using special oils and written on prepared skin of a fallen foe (150 silvers) gains an extra +1 HP and immune to Chill Touch until the spell ends or HP used.
- Lore Specialty: +1 Lores when trained for Cleric 1: Undead, Animations/Constructs, Diseases, Poisons.
Standard Rank Links
- Apprentice: A character just graduating is given 4 apprentice chain links. This symbolizes the awareness of the living, the eyes that behold north, south, east and west and allow the apprentice to determine their direction; They are painted to look like an eye.
> 5th Apprentice link; “Inner Eye”: If the apprentice can survive a test of physical endurance (DC 10 Constitution) while reciting the proper ritual seeking knowledge (DC 10 Arcana) they are given a 5th link -a black eye – to add to their Chain of Authority, and allow them to seek Eye of the Child.
Honors and Medals Links
- Eye of the Child:
- Square Link: Essentially 2 eyes. It allows the wearer to remove 2 of the apprentice links and use them in a Lesser Homunculus – where they transform into real eyes and allow the Necromancer double the bonded range.
- Rounded Link: The Necromancer may have the guild tattoo an eye upon the palm of their hand. It requires a 1 HP sacrifice permanently. The eye can see as the dead see up to 60′ – even in total and magical darkness. When the Necromancer casts False Life, it grants them 1 extra HP.
- Caress of the Dead: At 3rd level/2nd level Cleric, the character may Offer to Djerduth 1 hp permanently to transform one of their hands into a Crawling Claw that operates as a normal black hand but can detach. If it dies, it will reform after a Long Rest.
| Threshold | Offering |
|---|---|
| 1st | |
| 4th | |
| 7th | |
| 11th |
Death God’s Servants
The guild members can gain Piety from the death god; they must have Religion as a skill
Adventures
Narcosa CycleHouse Malor (Occult Order of Dunstrand)
Posted on July 8, 2016 in Steel-Realms
House Malor 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.
House Malor is the confederation of arcane and occult aware operators that has its only patronage in the ducal rulers of the Grand Duchy of Dunstrand. Their primary goal is the stability and safety of the duchy and its rulers. It is both an order, and at its top positions sits a hereditary household in direct alliance with the ducal family. It is not a secretive order within the confines of the duchy, though there are many rumors regarding the upper echelons of its members. One not need practice magic to be a member – it has many lower order members that can detect and spy upon those who do practice. They provide secure and swift (or instant) communication between members, order houses, and ducal offices – all in service to the rulers and safety of the Duchy of Dunstrand. This powerful order has crafted their own extensive set of occult items for its members – Malorian Items. Their communication is handled through a chartered associate connection with the Trail Doves.- Occult Theme/Motif: None
- Motto: “Security through information.”
- Symbol: A White Pigeon on a diagonal red slash, leaning right and gripping a scroll.
- Periaptery: To denote the magus’ initial training, a charm of iron and wood bearing wings wreathed in a chain is worn.
- Talismanen: “Lens of Discernment” Allows the Attuned (only works for who it was made for) to see codes and symbols through the illusory script and learn the security protocols and passwords past the orders’ various magical alarms, magical wards, etc.
Talismanen: To denote the continued association, a the periaptery has the Eye of Delleb inset into it.
The Eyes of the Order: From the heart of the orders power are drawn crystals that adorn the accouterments of the order. These crystals are secretly placed in meeting halls, council chambers and places of important congregation. They can be used to scry from The Panopticon, and to detect magic read surface thoughts.
Occult Style
Occult Styles Thematic Emphasis: Divination, EarthFrom the Panopticon crystal on rod of office. Adds detect thoughts, still total # = prof bonus
Thematic Ineptitude: Fire, Biomanipulation
Thematic Mastery: Divination
Thematic Frailty: Fire
Organization
- Head of the House
- Master/Mistress of the House (x3)
- Master of the Barque Chapel
- Master of Doves (Mailai)
- Master of Sceptres
- Journeyman of the order (x7)
- Chainforged Master: Oversees the making of the orders’ mystical chains
- Apprentice Arcane of the House (x9 to 15); Apprentices who have finished their initial training and pledged themselves to the order.
- Apprentice Servile to the Order (x11 to 22); These are magi in training. They may advance to Apprentice Arcane, or simply leave the order after their training is complete. They are not entrusted with much knowledge of the inner workings of the order.
- MageGuard of Malor (2 Journeyman, 4 Apprentice Arcane); serves with the Duke and his personal guard.
Service and Tenets
Oath(s): I hereby swear, upon penalty of censure, exile, and even death if it betrays the ducal interests and leads to death, mayhem, and division, that…
- High Oath: Dedicated to the causes and higher members of the order
- Lesser Oath: Casual and lower members of the order
- Oath of Erudition: Passing mages and occultists – The magic I practice, acquire, and that which I witness, shall be reported to authorities of House Malor along with any impressions and ideas that said magic may be against the betterment of the Ducal family and/or the stability of their lands.
Milestones of Service
Ranks
Red Crook: A contact for the order in a locale, they keep a Red Rookery for sending messages. Given an Eye of the Order, under protection of the order. Tithe 10% (rookery expenses paid by the order).
Notable Locations of House Malor
Omnipresent: In every city (and most towns) in Dunstrand is a place to get homing pigeons at the very least to return to Dunstrand City and the order house there.
Members of its order will generally not be found within the Riverdans – as they have no authority nor do the locals support them (though they will not simply hinder them because of their affiliation). In the north of Dunstrand, the twin river counties, the order has a harder time operating. While they nominally have unfettered access, the rulers of the northern counties are known to keep the counsel of the Lightbringer clergy, not House Malor, on matters of the occult.
Characters of House Malor
Benefits:
- Access to libraries of knowledge
- Spell Libraries
- Access to Red Rookeries (messenger pigeons used by the house members – found in all major cities/towns)
- Red Satchel: A [minor magical item] holding a messenger pigeon kept in stasis – every member carries one
- Access to the pure metals mined only in Dunstrand: silver, tin, copper, iron – for making their chain of service
iCore™D20 Order Powers
Forging the House Malor Chain of Office: Grey Link at every third level achieved, Copper Link if Divination learned, Silver link if Arcane Eye learned, Iron Link when 7 divination spells learned, Black iron link when a master of Cryptography, Bronze link when True Sight is learned, Crystal link if Scrying is learned.
Background: Scion of House Malor
A Scion of the House is a magus raised from a young age to be part of the house operations. They are dedicated to the mission of the house and steeped in its lore. Scions are housed in guild halls, and travel to all the halls and places of importance to the house. They serve in ceremonial and official capacity, witnessing many events and tending to the needs of house members.
- Skills: Arcana, History
- Lores: Dunstrand +2, House Malor +2; choose 1 from: Law, The Deeping, Cryptography for a +2 bonus
- Spells: Locate Object goes to 1 mile and lasts 30 minutes within Dunstrand; The character may cast Commune with Nature 1/Long Rest while within the confines of the Duchy of Dunstrand – the casting with cause 2 levels of Exhaustion until a short rest is made. All divination spells last only half duration for the first month the character leaves the duchy.
- All other members of House Malor treat the character as if they are Familiar in terms of resisting scrying. All members are required to leave a lock of hair in the guild hall that they were educated in.
Irya’s Chosen
A select few females of the ranks of Scions are chosen to serve in the Irya’s Chapel. This is a sacred place to Ezrilus, the goddess of magic. Human women are brought at the age of 14 to be tested in the eyes of the goddess. They are required to make a Constitution check DC 12, using their Intelligence modifier. They must not be evil or selfish in nature or outlook. Regardless, the victim suffers 1 HP of damage permanently. If the succeed, they take 2 HP damage and their eyes will slowly change to a glittering silvery pale grey over the next 4 years. They become a living link to the power of the goddess, and serve in the Panopticon to channel her power. In exchange, they gain a +1 save against magical affects other than those in the Panopticon, Darkvision 20′, and Resistance to cold. They gain Disadvantage on Stealth checks. The chosen lose the ability to cast any cantrip which uses fire and cannot bear children.
Specialized Knowledge – Arcane Eye: If Silver link forged, can cast up to 4th level divination/detection spells through it.
Specialized Knowledge – Detection: For each grey link in their chain, while within the Duchy of Dunstrand, the duration and/or range is doubled (choose 1).
Incarna Core
A full allowance of starting currency + tithe (50% value of all goods, lands/taxes, property/production)
Benefits:
For each level of sorcery: 1 spell of highest level on gaining new sorcery level
For each level of math: 1 parlor trick
For each level of cryptography: A ring on the rod of office
For each level mana sense: A number of items equal to the achieved level which holds a single use of any spell the apprentice has.
For each 6 months of service: An apprentice rank spell
For each year of service: A novice rank spell
Each guild hall has a Occult library ranging from +1 to +4 with research assistants for a cost (added +1)
For 5 years equiv. service: Teaching the basics of astrology (/iweb/game/pubs/incarnations/issues/vol1/issue2/#astrology)
For 10 year equiv. services: Training for horoscopy (skill path of astrology)
Halas Blaze School (occult order)
Posted on June 28, 2016 in Steel-Realms
Halas Blaze School 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.
Always a ‘Halas Blaze’: Halas Blaze School in Thurlow of the far north. The leader of the school always changes his name to Halas Blaze upon becoming head-master. They specialize in mercenary hirelings of younger mages, and are known for their fire school Elemental specialization. This order produces many a mercenary wizard employed by the Bank of the Silver Stacks.
Familiar-Killers: The wizards of this order are known to eschew the use of familiars, going so far as to sever their essence which allows this. In exchange for this, they are known to possess a ‘sight’ which allows them to detect familiars – to counter any intelligence gathering being done by them. They have no issue with the destruction of another wizard’s familiar, and using their hidden fire knowledge this way makes it so that it takes longer to be able to summon a new one.
- Occult Theme/Motif: Green Fire/Wisps