Editing Arcane Federation

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The Arcane Federation is a secretive human society ruled by the Mage-Lords of Eldanost. Founded by twelve explorers transformed by the power of an ancient tomb, it is governed by their bloodlines and devoted to magical knowledge, mastery and supremacy.

== Origins and Founding ==

=== Origins of the Arcane Federation ===

When humanity was still in its infancy, no more than wandering nomadic tribes, a bold group of explorers set forth toward an uncharted and foreboding region now known as the Plain of Bones. Drawn by strange omens and whispers carried on the wind, these pioneers stumbled upon a great and terrible discovery, an ancient, sealed tomb, untouched by time, radiating an eerie, arcane power.

At first, they had no means to open the tomb, but something urged them to stay in that inhospitable place. Resources were scarce, and as the days turned to weeks, their numbers began to dwindle. Some fled in search of food and water, never to return, while others perished, their bodies claimed by the relentless desert. Finally, when only twelve remained, the tomb called to them. No record exists of how they managed to open it, only that when they did, their fate was sealed for eternity.

Curiosity, ambition, and perhaps fate itself led them to unearth what should have remained buried. The tomb held secrets long forgotten by civilisation, relics of immeasurable magical potency, and knowledge that defied mortal comprehension. The very air around it shimmered with eldritch energies, and within its depths lay tomes, sigils, and artefacts that would forever change the destiny of these twelve survivors.

Upon unlocking the tomb, they were infused with raw magical power, their bodies and minds transformed by the arcane forces they had unleashed. Some claimed it was a gift from forgotten gods, others believed it was a curse from ancient beings seeking a new vessel or escape from imprisonment. Whatever the truth, the twelve emerged changed, no longer mere mortals but something far greater, and perhaps more terrible. This moment marked the birth of the Arcane Federation, a society no longer ruled by strength of arms, but by the mastery of magic and the relentless pursuit of arcane supremacy.

=== The Founding of the Federation ===

Guided by an unknown force, the twelve survivors built what is now known as the Arcane Federation, establishing their capital directly above the tomb that had transformed them. They called this city Eldanost, the Eternal Spire, a monolithic beacon of power rising from the heart of the merciless desert. Though the land was barren and unyielding, magic reshaped it. Arcane storms swirled around the city, and shimmering barriers shielded it from the scouring sands. From this capital, the twelve established their dominion over the land, shaping the Federation into a bastion of magical might. Unlike other kingdoms where rulership was determined by lineage or conquest, here, power alone dictated authority. Those who commanded the greatest magic ruled, and none wielded greater power than the original twelve.

== Society and Rule ==

=== The Bloodlines of the First Twelve ===

As centuries passed, the descendants of these first explorers became the most powerful bloodlines within the Federation, their magic growing stronger with each generation. These bloodlines retained the raw potency of the tomb’s ancient magic and slowly over generations their power increased. Their arcane gifts were unparalleled, and their influence absolute. Each of the twelve bloodlines holds a seat on the Conclave of Sorcerers, ensuring that their ancient legacy remains unchallenged.

To preserve the purity of their power, inter-house breeding is encouraged, if not outright enforced. Marriage between the great bloodlines is seen as a sacred duty, ensuring that the magic running through their veins remains untainted by lesser stock. Those born outside the recognised lineages, no matter how gifted, can never hold a seat within the Conclave. The firstborn of each bloodline is rigorously trained from birth, moulded into the next leader who will represent their house in the ruling council.

=== A Society of Secrecy and Isolation ===

The Arcane Federation is a secretive and insular society, its people seldom interacting with the outside world. Unlike other human civilisations that engage in trade, warfare, and diplomacy, the Mage-Lords of Eldanost have little interest in worldly affairs. Their focus is singular, magic. The acquisition of knowledge, the refinement of spells, and the pursuit of greater power are the only things that matter.

Rarely do Federation members leave their borders. Instead, they send servants and hirelings to scour the world for rare reagents, forgotten relics, and tomes of lost magic. These agents operate under strict orders, their only purpose to acquire that which may further their masters’ studies. Some nations welcome their gold and arcane services, while others fear their presence, suspecting darker motives behind their endless search for mystical artefacts. The Federation’s isolation has only deepened over time. Their cities are closed to outsiders, and few who enter Eldanost ever return.

=== The Arcane Code ===

Despite their secrecy, the Federation follows an unyielding doctrine known as the Arcane Code, a set of laws dictating how magic must be wielded within their society:

* '''The Law of Mastery''' – One’s station in society is determined solely by their magical strength and knowledge.
* '''The Law of Blood''' – The ruling bloodlines must remain pure, and only those of the Twelve may ascend to the Conclave.
* '''The Law of Ascension''' – Power struggles are settled through sanctioned magical duels, ensuring that only the most capable rule.
* '''The Law of Preservation''' – Forbidden magic, such as reckless time manipulation or the consumption of souls, is punishable by exile or death.
* '''The Law of Knowledge''' – All magical discoveries must be recorded and safeguarded within the Grand Archives of Eldanost.

== Relations with the Outside World ==

The Arcane Federation is both admired and feared by the other kingdoms of Tymora. Their mastery of magic grants them unparalleled strength, yet their refusal to engage in mundane politics has led to strained relations. The [[Thalkir]] see them as reckless, tampering with powers beyond mortal understanding. The scholars of Highwall, on the other hand, covet their knowledge and seek uneasy alliances, trading in magical theory and arcane artefacts.

The greatest enemies of the Federation are those who reject magic entirely. The druids of Verdantmere view them as blasphemers who twist nature’s balance. Even among fellow humans, rumours abound of the Federation’s more sinister practices, whispers of experiments on living subjects, rituals performed in the depths of Eldanost, and spells that should never have been spoken.

Yet, despite their isolation, the Arcane Federation remains a force that cannot be ignored. Their presence is felt across Tymora, even if they choose to remain hidden. Every kingdom has, at some point, been touched by their influence, whether through an artefact unearthed by a Federation agent, a whispered deal made in the shadows, or the ever-present fear that one day, the Mage-Lords of Eldanost may decide the world is no longer worth ignoring.

== Characters from the Federation ==

Players who choose to hail from the Arcane Federation are limited to '''Wizard classes only'''. The Federation’s rigid traditions and structured approach to magic ensure that all of its mages undergo formal arcane training, mastering spells through study, discipline, and rigorous education rather than raw instinct or divine favour.

== The Twelve Houses of Magic ==

The Twelve Houses each strive to master magic in its totality. Some have chosen to specialise in a singular magical force, refining it to its peak, while others explore the interactions and fusion of various magics, seeking new and unpredictable results. Still, a few houses dedicate themselves to uncovering hidden power, delving into lost lore and forbidden secrets.

Select a house below to find its profile. Each profile can be expanded to read its full history, practices and rivalries.

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=== House Umbraxix ===
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{{House Umbraxix - Profile Card}}

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=== House Maleficari ===
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{{House Maleficari - Profile Card}}

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=== House Nocthrax ===
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{{House Nocthrax - Profile Card}}

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=== House Valthyrian ===
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{{House Valthyrian - Profile Card}}

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=== House Ignivoss ===
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{{House Ignivoss - Profile Card}}

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=== House Aetherion ===
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{{House Aetherion - Profile Card}}

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=== House Mortifex ===
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{{House Mortifex - Profile Card}}

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=== House Tenebris ===
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{{House Tenebris - Profile Card}}

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=== House Caelora ===
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{{House Caelora - Profile Card}}

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=== House Ferranis ===
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{{House Ferranis - Profile Card}}

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=== House Cryothal ===
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{{House Cryothal - Profile Card}}

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=== House Veneficus ===
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{{House Veneficus - Profile Card}}

== Whispers of Forbidden Knowledge ==

''The Unravelling of Arcane Secrets''

Over the last few decades, a subtle but undeniable shift has taken place within the Arcane Federation. Scholars and hirelings, once confined to the great libraries and laboratories of the Twelve Houses, have been seen scouring distant markets, navigating black-market trade routes, and making deals in the darkest alleys of Tymora’s hidden underworld. They seek something beyond rare reagents or forgotten scrolls, something that should not be found.

At first, these dealings were dismissed as the usual pursuit of knowledge. But as time passed, the pattern became more alarming. Artifacts long thought destroyed have resurfaced, dangerous tomes once sealed away have changed hands, and whispers speak of forbidden texts being copied and circulated in secret.

Some believe that certain houses have begun pursuing knowledge once deemed untouchable, crossing lines that even the Federation’s most ambitious scholars dared not breach. While no direct evidence has surfaced, it is said that spells once thought lost to time have been cast in the shadows, and names long erased from history are being spoken once more.

=== The Watching Ones Stir ===

Even more disturbing is the increased presence of the Watching Ones, the ancient spirit beings who observe, judge, and occasionally intervene in mortal affairs. These entities, aloof, enigmatic, and beyond comprehension, have begun to gather in numbers never before seen, their silent forms appearing in the skies and hidden corners of the Federation’s lands.

The Watching Ones are neither benevolent nor malevolent, but they are drawn only to those who tamper with the boundaries of existence. Their presence has long been an omen of great discoveries or catastrophic ruin.

Scholars speculate that their sudden congregation means one of two things:

* The Federation is on the verge of uncovering something long buried, something powerful enough to shake the foundations of magic itself.
* Certain mages have already succeeded, unlocking knowledge so dangerous that even the Watching Ones have taken notice.

=== The Unspoken Fear ===

Rumors swirl that a faction within the Federation has crossed into the realm of the truly forbidden, conducting experiments on forces once purged from history. Some fear they have begun to manipulate the essence of existence itself, tampering with the fabric of life, death, and magic in ways not seen since the cataclysmic wars of old.

The Federation’s ruling Conclave has remained silent, issuing no public statements. But the recent increase in disappearances, magical anomalies, and unexplained deaths suggests that not all is as it seems within the Federation’s halls. Some houses have tightened security, while others have begun to purge their own ranks, hunting for heretics among their own bloodlines.

It is no longer a question of whether the Arcane Federation is on the brink of a revelation, but rather, whether it will survive what comes next.

== The Exile of the Bloodlines ==

''A Generation Scattered''

More than ever before, the younger members of the Federation’s great bloodlines are being sent beyond its borders, placed in academies, courts, and magical enclaves far from the Federation’s lands. Officially, these departures are framed as a new era of mutual learning, an effort to strengthen ties with foreign mages and foster greater cooperation across Tymora.

Yet, among those who watch closely, few believe this narrative.

Some whisper that this exodus of youth is not a diplomatic mission, but a desperate safeguard against an unseen disaster. It is no secret that the Federation’s pursuit of forbidden knowledge has drawn the attention of forces beyond mortal understanding. The increased presence of the Watching Ones, the unspoken turmoil within the Federation’s halls, and the frantic search for lost magic all suggest that something is coming—something so dire that even the great Houses are preparing for the possibility of their own downfall.

If the Federation falls, it will not be to an enemy’s blade, but to its own unchecked ambition.

And so, the heirs of the bloodlines are quietly being sent away, concealed under the banner of study and diplomacy, placed in foreign kingdoms, magical academies, and noble courts where they can learn, grow, and most importantly, survive.

=== What Are They Preparing For? ===

Theories vary. Some believe the Federation has unleashed something beyond their control, an experiment gone too far. Others suspect that the Conclave itself is fracturing, and a civil war among the great Houses is inevitable. The most paranoid whisper that the Federation is preparing for a world-ending event, ensuring that their bloodlines persist so that one day, they may return to rebuild what was lost, if the world still exists to be rebuilt.

Whatever the true reason, this displacement has led to a new and unexpected phenomenon: a generation of young, ambitious Federation-trained mages now walk among the courts and battlefields of foreign lands, eager to prove themselves.

For centuries, Federation mages were secretive, insular, and distant, rarely seen beyond their homeland unless on specific assignments. Now, these younger exiles, raised in the Federation’s rigid traditions but thrust into the wider world, are seeking to carve out their own legacies, forge alliances, and test their power against the unknown.

Some will become respected advisers and arcane scholars, lending their knowledge to foreign rulers and academies. Others will be hunted as spies and usurpers, accused of acting as the Federation’s hidden hand. And some, perhaps the most dangerous of all, will see the world for what it is and choose not to return at all, breaking from their bloodlines to forge their own paths.

Whatever the case, one thing is certain: the Arcane Federation’s influence is no longer confined to its borders.

== Where To Next? ==
* [[Human]] ← Back to Human Race Page
* [[Tymora|The Continent of Tymora]]
* [[Magic]]

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