01-04-2023, 04:08 AM
(This post was last modified: 01-05-2023, 02:57 AM by Enginseer-42.)
So with the revelation that Aen is coming to town, I got nostalgic for this writeup and decided to give it a go of updating it to fit Chances Requirements. Just to be clear this lore is NOT yet approved.
The Garnet Tower
The Pillar of Passion.
The third tower of the Cycle of Aen, the Garnet Tower is home to the Magister of War. Aenish walking the Garnet path are typically practitioners of Fire magic as their primary form of spellcraft. Where the Holy magi of the Diamond tower are typically concerned with matters of good and evil, and of the corrupting nature of evil, the Pyromancers of the Garnet tower are concerned with lesser forms of conflict. Wars for pride, for passion, for territory. If the mages of the Diamond path are the Invulnerable shield of Aen, those who walk the Garnet way are the burning sword of the Empire’s wrath. Those who walk the Aenish way of war are taught to act first and think second. Believing that the heart is pure, and corruption comes instead from the mind. Training in this way, they’re known for their quickness in battle, moving from one motion to the next with no time for planning or hesitation.
During the Aenish civil war, the Garnet tower initially declared support for Aethelwulf, son of the former Emperor Eiran, declaring Elizabeth a pretender and Usurper. However, when Aethelwulf attempted to get the Magister of War to fight alongside the Occultists of the Obsidian Tower, They and their Pyromancers rebelled on the spot. This led to the ‘Battle of the Burning Camps’ which nearly destroyed the Garnet tower sect, but crippled Aethelwulfs armies on the eve of battle with the armies of the Diamond Empress.
The Malachite Tower
The Pillar of Knowledge
The fourth tower of the cycle of Aen is the Malachite tower, home to the Magister of Scrolls. The Malachite path is one of Wind Magic, its practitioners taking to the skies held aloft on winds to journey throughout the nation swiftly, to chronicle all they see and to maintain the sprawling Bureaucracy of Aen. Alloying wanderlust to Duty, the Malachite path is one of rootless service to Crown and Country. Journeying wherever they are needed, and when that need is no more to pick up and move on to the next task. While all tower sects divide their disciples between walking the cycle and service to the kingdom, the vast majority of the Malachite towers Adherents choose service, rather than sectarian strife, with the Magister of Scrolls often being viewed as an aloof Bureaucrat, rather than a true competitor for dominance amongst the tower sects.
By some accounts, the Magister of Scrolls did not notice the war at all. More canny observers would note that the Malachite sect spent much time and effort preventing word of a war of succession from reaching the outside world. Aeromancers working overtime to ensure that no foreign power would be able to take advantage of this time of turmoil. With his followers spread so thin fighting the thousand tendrils of rumor, the Magister of Scrolls had no strength to spare to aid, or hinder, either claimant to the throne.
The Pyrite Tower
The Pillar of Industry
The fifth tower on the cycle of Aen is the Pyrite tower, a golden edifice, home to the Magister of Iron, those who walk the path of the Pyrite Tower practice Earth Magic, with many of its adherents coming from among the common folk of Aen, the Pyrite tower has garnered a reputation for being lower class. Magi of the Pyrite path serve the Empire of Aen as craftsmen and Engineers. While traditionally, they were more architect than engineer, following the conclusion of the war with Barsburg, the Pyrite tower has begun to adapt some of their fallen foes Magi-technology, reworked with proper Aenish sorcery, to serve the Empire.
During the Aenish civil war the Magister of Iron was the second Magister to declare loyalty to Empress Elizabeth in her campaign against Aethelwulf. Though some mages from this path fought on the front lines, the majority of their support was in arms and armor, as well as raw materials. As the Magister of Iron was responsible for running a majority of the Empire's metalworks and mines..
The Azurite Tower
The Pillar of Exploration
During Aens long century of stagnation, no sect or path suffered more than the Azurite Tower, the Sixth tower of the Cycle of Aen, the Azurite tower is the domain of the Magister of the Depths, and the Magi of the Azurite tower are water mages, charged with maintenance of the Navies of the Empire. Once the crown jewel of Imperial might, the Navy languished under the Reign of Eiran and his predecessor. Aethelwulf as well saw little purpose in the Navy as his ambitions were domestic. As such when the Rebellion began in the north, the Magister of the Depths, Louchan Frey forged an alliance with the Pyrite tower, both having long suffered from the predations of the Obsidian tower, and both with much to gain from the Empress’ ascent to the throne.
The Mages of the Azurite tower frequently come from the upper classes and the Nobility, commanders of fortress ships and masters of the tides, they are typically proud, and inventive, shifting capably to adapt their tactics in the face of change. Many of the other Tower sects allege the Azurite tower is too close with the Nobility, but given the Azurite towers high standing, they often make their complaints quietly.
The Smokestone Tower
The Pillar of Mysteries
The Seventh and final standing tower of the Cycle of Aen, the Smokestone tower is home to the Magister of Veils. The Magi who walk the path of smokestone are Practitioners of the Metaphysical magics, they study the mysteries of the world and the true underpinnings of creation. Few outsiders know how to find the halls of the Magister of Veils, and fewer still know the truth of what goes on within. The Sect of the Smokestone tower are skilled, yes, but also often frustrating to deal with, speaking in riddles, half-truths, and omens. Alloying outright deception with truths that could be found nowhere else to lead seekers to where they need to be.
Their service to the empire of Aen is as spies, seers, and oftentimes assassins. The closest of the seven towers to the former eighth tower, many accuse the Magister of Veils of having Occult sympathies, and as the Tower had officially declared its support for Aethelwulf, that claim has none too small support. This is however muddied by the fact that it was a Magi of the Smokestone Tower who revealed Aethelwulf’s secret alliances with the Obsidian tower to the Diamond Empress in the first place.
The Shattered Tower
The Pillar of Opposition.
The Obsidian tower casts a long shadow throughout Aenish history. The former home of the Magister of Death, the Obsidian tower has been a figure of horror so consistent throughout the History of Aen that its magi became figures of folklore. Even now, decades after it’s shattering in the Aenish civil war, Aenish commonfolk will regale their children with cautionary tales of the laughing dead, the Occultists of that dark edifice. The first and only tower to ever be laid low, it was shattered by the former Magister of Heavens, channeling white magic through a device powered by a spire cluster obtained by the Magister of Depths and constructed by the mages of the Pyrite sect. The cataclysm broke the tower, and the land for miles around. Now little more than a blackened pile of rubble covered in vines and lichen, the death of the Obsidian tower was an end to the inward turning of the cycle of Aen, in its absence, the Aenish people have turned outwards once more for their challenges. With his last stalwart allies broken, the few nobleman who had stood by Aethelwulf abandoned him with the breaking of the tower and he was captured shortly afterwards ending the Civil war.
The Imperial Court
Though common wisdom holds that the true power of Aen rests within the Towers, and there is a grain of truth to that, the Nobility of the Imperial court hold no small sway themselves. Though lacking in Magical might compared to the Magisters, the Nobility hold many ancient rights and advantages, and often serve in the military and manage the more mundane aspects of Aen’s economy. Though many among the Tower Sects disdain those Magi who choose family and house over Magister and Tower, the Nobility nonetheless command the loyalty of a sizable minority of Aenish magi.
Mystical Inheritance*
One of the keys to the Tower's power is the curious rite known as Inheritance. When a Mage of Aen dies, if their magic aligns with one of the Towers of Aen, a portion of that magical power can be drawn from them in a magical rite known as Inheritance. Once extracted it can be immediately transferred into the body of a blood relative, granting them a measure of their fallen forebear's magical potency. For one to be such an Inheritor, one cannot have developed magic of their own. The process kickstarts the non-magi’s magical abilities and helps them to develop into full fledged Magi in their own right. Many Inheritors have experienced a form of Ancestral connection, drawing wisdom and strength from their forebears in times of need.
Thanks to this practice, the Tower Sects have an abundance of Magi, many more than is typical, it is in part this abundance of Magi which has given Aen the strength to stand as a great power on Aegis for nearly two thousand years.
With the shattering of the Obsidian Tower, there can be no further Occultist Inheritors.
(*Basically just a fluff way of playing a Mage now. Kind of get an Avatar TLA style ‘past lives’ thing going on, though any significant or plot relevant information would need an event or other means of admin approval to unlock. Otherwise it’s no different than Cosmic Mages having a bond to their star. While I liked the original writeup of Inheritance, I admit it was a tad complicated and impractical for play.)
The Empire of Aen
Were you to look upon old maps of Aen, you would see them represented as a perfect circle, in the truly ancient maps, as a sunburst, with rays spreading outwards from that circle. The Empire of Aen is one of Tradition, even now, in the dawning days of what many herald as a new golden age, the old ways are held in high esteem. For even as the Diamond Empress took the throne in the months after the of the blackguard heir and the shattering of the Obsidian tower, she reaffirmed the roles of both Tower and Cycle, she did not sweep aside one thousand years of tradition, but as she says, swept aside one hundred years of complacency. Had the ancient Aenish been able to topple the tower of Occultism, they would have. This is the new character of Aen, turning their ancient traditions of sorcery and magic to fresh challenges even as the old lay trampled underfoot, eyes that long turned inwards turning outwards once more.
The first consequence of this was that the spreading Empire of Barsburg, so long a challenger to Aen’s power, was no longer of secondary concern to the political games of the Imperial Court and Competitions of the Tower Sects. With the empire now turning it’s newly invigorated might to war in earnest, alongside the aid of the Huskarls of the Vdalish Moot, the war against Barsburg was a long and brutal affair, with the ancient depths of the Aenish imperial reliquary opened and sorcerous weapons not seen since the first age unleashed upon the Empire of Artifice to ensure it's destruction and conquest.
Now, over half a century after the fall of Barsburg and consolidation of it's territories, the eyes of the Empire turn towards their once vassal, Meranthe. Agents of the Empress and her Magisters making their way eastwards for purposes only known to those loyal to the Empire.
The Eight Towers and the Cycle of Aen
The Cycle of Aen
The Aenish view the world as a series of cycles, and that in order to prosper a people must see to each spoke of the wheel in turn. All things drive the wheel forwards, and even calamity has its purpose, in bringing forth those heroes who will drive Aen into the future. Each Tower represents one step upon the Cycle of Aen, and each tower's walkers each have a role to play in Aenish society. For all this vaunted tradition there is fierce competition among the Tower sects for promising students, and for prestige in the eyes of the Emperor and Nobility. While once the Magisters of the Towers were petty lords in their own right and laws unto themselves. Following the civil war the Magisters all pay Homage to the Crown of Aen. The Magisters of Heavens, Industry, and Depths hold a particular place of Honor, for their steadfast support of the Empress during the war. It is for this reason that the Aenish flag now bears the colors of White, Gold, and Blue.
With the Breaking of the Obsidian Tower and the End of the civil war, Aen has heralded the end of a cycle of stagnation, and the beginning of a cycle of glory. And the Magi of the Towers are eager to seize their place within it.
With the Breaking of the Obsidian Tower and the End of the civil war, Aen has heralded the end of a cycle of stagnation, and the beginning of a cycle of glory. And the Magi of the Towers are eager to seize their place within it.
The Diamond Tower
The Pillar of Peace.
The first tower of the Cycle of Aen, the Diamond Tower is the home of the Magister of the Heavens. Those who walk this tower's paths practice Holy magic, and are sworn to defend the people of Aen from the evils that walk the land.
Thus, to follow the flow of the cycle is to first walk each tower's paths in turn, tearing out those shadows that might take root before finally turning to the world at large. Once they stood in opposition to the Obsidian tower, but during the Aenish civil war that structure was at last shattered, though not without the sacrifice of the Magister of the Heavens, Heironymous Oriov
During the Era of Exploration the lands around the Diamond tower became home to many displaced refugees from the continent of Britannia, while they formed a significant underclass in the region, they were largely a footnote among those who followed the Magister of the Heavens. Until the Aenish civil war, where these Britannian expatriates as a whole lent their support to the then Governess of the Northern Territories, Elizabeth Bertarian, in her bid to claim the throne following the death of her uncle, the Emperor. In no small part due to this aid, the Diamond Tower and the Magister of Heavens supported Elizabeth in the Aenish civil war.
The Emerald Tower
The Pillar of Sustenance.
The second tower of the Cycle of Aen, The Emerald Tower is home to the Magister of the Fields. The mages of the Emerald Path focus upon nature magic, and generally focus on ensuring the people of Aen are fed. The wilderness in Aen has long since been supplanted with the aid of these mages. With ancient forests replaced with overgrown orchards, the grasslands replaced with massive expanses of grain fields. Where the Mages of the Diamond Tower seek to impose peace, and combat chaos. The Emerald path seeks to impose plenty, and combat hunger in Aen. The most peaceful of the mages of Aen, The Emerald Path nonetheless has strict rules as to Hospitality, and will defend those in their care.
During the Aenish civil war, the Emerald Tower attempted to remain neutral, not attempting to meddle or declare for one side or the other. However due to long-standing ties with the Diamond tower’s sect, the Magister of the Fields more often opened their sects strongholds and shelters to allies of the Diamond Empress than Aethelwulf the Heir.
During the Aenish civil war, the Emerald Tower attempted to remain neutral, not attempting to meddle or declare for one side or the other. However due to long-standing ties with the Diamond tower’s sect, the Magister of the Fields more often opened their sects strongholds and shelters to allies of the Diamond Empress than Aethelwulf the Heir.
The Garnet Tower
The Pillar of Passion.
The third tower of the Cycle of Aen, the Garnet Tower is home to the Magister of War. Aenish walking the Garnet path are typically practitioners of Fire magic as their primary form of spellcraft. Where the Holy magi of the Diamond tower are typically concerned with matters of good and evil, and of the corrupting nature of evil, the Pyromancers of the Garnet tower are concerned with lesser forms of conflict. Wars for pride, for passion, for territory. If the mages of the Diamond path are the Invulnerable shield of Aen, those who walk the Garnet way are the burning sword of the Empire’s wrath. Those who walk the Aenish way of war are taught to act first and think second. Believing that the heart is pure, and corruption comes instead from the mind. Training in this way, they’re known for their quickness in battle, moving from one motion to the next with no time for planning or hesitation.
During the Aenish civil war, the Garnet tower initially declared support for Aethelwulf, son of the former Emperor Eiran, declaring Elizabeth a pretender and Usurper. However, when Aethelwulf attempted to get the Magister of War to fight alongside the Occultists of the Obsidian Tower, They and their Pyromancers rebelled on the spot. This led to the ‘Battle of the Burning Camps’ which nearly destroyed the Garnet tower sect, but crippled Aethelwulfs armies on the eve of battle with the armies of the Diamond Empress.
The Malachite Tower
The Pillar of Knowledge
The fourth tower of the cycle of Aen is the Malachite tower, home to the Magister of Scrolls. The Malachite path is one of Wind Magic, its practitioners taking to the skies held aloft on winds to journey throughout the nation swiftly, to chronicle all they see and to maintain the sprawling Bureaucracy of Aen. Alloying wanderlust to Duty, the Malachite path is one of rootless service to Crown and Country. Journeying wherever they are needed, and when that need is no more to pick up and move on to the next task. While all tower sects divide their disciples between walking the cycle and service to the kingdom, the vast majority of the Malachite towers Adherents choose service, rather than sectarian strife, with the Magister of Scrolls often being viewed as an aloof Bureaucrat, rather than a true competitor for dominance amongst the tower sects.
By some accounts, the Magister of Scrolls did not notice the war at all. More canny observers would note that the Malachite sect spent much time and effort preventing word of a war of succession from reaching the outside world. Aeromancers working overtime to ensure that no foreign power would be able to take advantage of this time of turmoil. With his followers spread so thin fighting the thousand tendrils of rumor, the Magister of Scrolls had no strength to spare to aid, or hinder, either claimant to the throne.
The Pyrite Tower
The Pillar of Industry
The fifth tower on the cycle of Aen is the Pyrite tower, a golden edifice, home to the Magister of Iron, those who walk the path of the Pyrite Tower practice Earth Magic, with many of its adherents coming from among the common folk of Aen, the Pyrite tower has garnered a reputation for being lower class. Magi of the Pyrite path serve the Empire of Aen as craftsmen and Engineers. While traditionally, they were more architect than engineer, following the conclusion of the war with Barsburg, the Pyrite tower has begun to adapt some of their fallen foes Magi-technology, reworked with proper Aenish sorcery, to serve the Empire.
During the Aenish civil war the Magister of Iron was the second Magister to declare loyalty to Empress Elizabeth in her campaign against Aethelwulf. Though some mages from this path fought on the front lines, the majority of their support was in arms and armor, as well as raw materials. As the Magister of Iron was responsible for running a majority of the Empire's metalworks and mines..
The Azurite Tower
The Pillar of Exploration
During Aens long century of stagnation, no sect or path suffered more than the Azurite Tower, the Sixth tower of the Cycle of Aen, the Azurite tower is the domain of the Magister of the Depths, and the Magi of the Azurite tower are water mages, charged with maintenance of the Navies of the Empire. Once the crown jewel of Imperial might, the Navy languished under the Reign of Eiran and his predecessor. Aethelwulf as well saw little purpose in the Navy as his ambitions were domestic. As such when the Rebellion began in the north, the Magister of the Depths, Louchan Frey forged an alliance with the Pyrite tower, both having long suffered from the predations of the Obsidian tower, and both with much to gain from the Empress’ ascent to the throne.
The Mages of the Azurite tower frequently come from the upper classes and the Nobility, commanders of fortress ships and masters of the tides, they are typically proud, and inventive, shifting capably to adapt their tactics in the face of change. Many of the other Tower sects allege the Azurite tower is too close with the Nobility, but given the Azurite towers high standing, they often make their complaints quietly.
The Smokestone Tower
The Pillar of Mysteries
The Seventh and final standing tower of the Cycle of Aen, the Smokestone tower is home to the Magister of Veils. The Magi who walk the path of smokestone are Practitioners of the Metaphysical magics, they study the mysteries of the world and the true underpinnings of creation. Few outsiders know how to find the halls of the Magister of Veils, and fewer still know the truth of what goes on within. The Sect of the Smokestone tower are skilled, yes, but also often frustrating to deal with, speaking in riddles, half-truths, and omens. Alloying outright deception with truths that could be found nowhere else to lead seekers to where they need to be.
Their service to the empire of Aen is as spies, seers, and oftentimes assassins. The closest of the seven towers to the former eighth tower, many accuse the Magister of Veils of having Occult sympathies, and as the Tower had officially declared its support for Aethelwulf, that claim has none too small support. This is however muddied by the fact that it was a Magi of the Smokestone Tower who revealed Aethelwulf’s secret alliances with the Obsidian tower to the Diamond Empress in the first place.
The Shattered Tower
The Pillar of Opposition.
The Obsidian tower casts a long shadow throughout Aenish history. The former home of the Magister of Death, the Obsidian tower has been a figure of horror so consistent throughout the History of Aen that its magi became figures of folklore. Even now, decades after it’s shattering in the Aenish civil war, Aenish commonfolk will regale their children with cautionary tales of the laughing dead, the Occultists of that dark edifice. The first and only tower to ever be laid low, it was shattered by the former Magister of Heavens, channeling white magic through a device powered by a spire cluster obtained by the Magister of Depths and constructed by the mages of the Pyrite sect. The cataclysm broke the tower, and the land for miles around. Now little more than a blackened pile of rubble covered in vines and lichen, the death of the Obsidian tower was an end to the inward turning of the cycle of Aen, in its absence, the Aenish people have turned outwards once more for their challenges. With his last stalwart allies broken, the few nobleman who had stood by Aethelwulf abandoned him with the breaking of the tower and he was captured shortly afterwards ending the Civil war.
The Imperial Court
Though common wisdom holds that the true power of Aen rests within the Towers, and there is a grain of truth to that, the Nobility of the Imperial court hold no small sway themselves. Though lacking in Magical might compared to the Magisters, the Nobility hold many ancient rights and advantages, and often serve in the military and manage the more mundane aspects of Aen’s economy. Though many among the Tower Sects disdain those Magi who choose family and house over Magister and Tower, the Nobility nonetheless command the loyalty of a sizable minority of Aenish magi.
Mystical Inheritance*
One of the keys to the Tower's power is the curious rite known as Inheritance. When a Mage of Aen dies, if their magic aligns with one of the Towers of Aen, a portion of that magical power can be drawn from them in a magical rite known as Inheritance. Once extracted it can be immediately transferred into the body of a blood relative, granting them a measure of their fallen forebear's magical potency. For one to be such an Inheritor, one cannot have developed magic of their own. The process kickstarts the non-magi’s magical abilities and helps them to develop into full fledged Magi in their own right. Many Inheritors have experienced a form of Ancestral connection, drawing wisdom and strength from their forebears in times of need.
Thanks to this practice, the Tower Sects have an abundance of Magi, many more than is typical, it is in part this abundance of Magi which has given Aen the strength to stand as a great power on Aegis for nearly two thousand years.
With the shattering of the Obsidian Tower, there can be no further Occultist Inheritors.
(*Basically just a fluff way of playing a Mage now. Kind of get an Avatar TLA style ‘past lives’ thing going on, though any significant or plot relevant information would need an event or other means of admin approval to unlock. Otherwise it’s no different than Cosmic Mages having a bond to their star. While I liked the original writeup of Inheritance, I admit it was a tad complicated and impractical for play.)