Arcane Order

Greyhawk Organization

Arcane Order
Alignment:	Nuetral
Leader:	Japheth Arcane
Members:	Wizards
Headquarters:	Mathghamhna

The Arcane Order of Enchantment and Exposition is an organization of wizards who draw spells from a common repository of magical energy.

Description

"The Arcane Order is "a well-established college of wizardry. Students and masters alike engage in deep arcane studies, sharing with each other many of their own special insights into rare bits of arcana or spellcraft."

The most unique and notable feature of the Arcane Order is their use of the "Spellpool" by accessing the Spellcrux, a magical artifact maintained by the Order which is a repository of arcane energy. Guild mages can use this repository of spells to draw any spell stored in the Spellcrux to themselves and cast as if it had been memorized. The member of the order uses a personal focus prepared with a specific ritual to do so.

History

In a previous Age, Mathghamhna was a fortress which stood in the Baklunish Empire. It was assaulted by Pholemus (known as the Warlock), a "renegade Baklunish sorcerer who defected to the Suloise Empire" during the Baklunish-Suloise Wars. Despite the ravages of the wars, the citadel still stood after the Suel had tried to annihilate the Baklunish by using the Invoked Devastation. In retaliation, the Baklunish Empire's mage-priests brought the Rain of Colorless Fire upon the Suloise Empire, creating the Sea of Dust.

The founder and Chancellor of the Order, Japheth Arcane, discovered catacombs beneath Mathghamhna while still a young apprentice. He returned nearly twenty years later with a group of followers and purchased the ancient citadel, and began refurbishment and revitalization of it. Japheth declared "the mighty doors of Mathghamhna were once again open, ... accepting wizardly applicants to the magical academy now named The Arcane Order of Enchantment & Exposition!"

Members

Members of the Arcane Order are traditionally all wizards, although in the third edition description of the Order, sorcerers, bards, and other spontaneous spellcasters are allowed to join.

Membership dues are only 30gp p/month, and members must be present at the college at least once every six months.

Student tuition is 200gp per year.

Notable members

Chancellor and regents

• Japheth Arcane (NG male human Wiz18) or (CG male human Wiz 9/Guildmage 10 CR19)
• Shardea (LG female human Pal15
• Liwendyll (CG female human Wiz14)—conceived and created the spellcrux
• Dirganun (LG male human Wiz14, Conjurer)
• Kaylisidee (LG female human Wiz 12, Diviner)
• Morgan Wyn (LG male human Wiz12)
• Abendroth (CG male human Wiz12)
• Dapfern Gerth (NG male half-elf Wiz11, Enchanter)

Guild mages

• Abyll Dolen (LN female human Wiz7)
• Baeren (NG male gnome Wiz9, Illusionist)
• Carrisssa Blackwell (NG female human Wiz10, Conjurer)
• D'Amor (NG male elf Wiz7)
• Dalstrom Deschul (NG male human Wiz12, Transmuter)
• Lucinda (NG female elf Wiz8, Abjurer)
• Melody the Enchantress (NG female human Wiz14, Enchanter)
• Rolvsbakken (NG male human Wiz12, Evoker)
• Sabina (NG female human Wiz8)
• Turial Edemont (N male human Wiz5/Mage of the Arcane Order 4 CR14)

Other known members

• Asmus Anagoge—author of the Introduction to The Illithiad; compiled the work of S. Wakeman

Headquarters

"The Arcane Order is based in the ancient stronghold of Mathghamhna, a castle-like collection of towers and vaults carved from the flanks of a long-dead volcano."

Mathghamhna is ancient and survived the Invoked Devastation. "Mathghamhna was somewhere in the [former] Baklunish Empire (for example, the northwesternmost spur of the Yatil Mountains"

Structure

Structure

• Chancellor. Japheth Arcane—head of the Order
• Regents—leaders of the Order (always 10th+ level)
  There are Regents assigned to various duties in the College, though these vary in different sources. In some cases regents are known as "Masters" instead of "Regents." Some of these positions may overlap.
  • Regent of Internal Concerns, Kaylisidee—"the inventory of the food cellars, the availability of ink, the level of the water reservoir, the condition of the tower supports, the crops put into the garden, and the disposition and happiness of the staff."
  • Regent of Pure Research, Liwendyll—"Coordinating all the research conducted on the Language Primeval."
  • Regent of the Syllabus, Morgan Wyn—overseeing the progress of students, choreographing the schedule of every guild wizard and initiate, and seeing to it that each member instructs according to his or her strength and magical specialty."
  • Regent of the Sword Arm, Shardea—military defense advisor and captain.
  • Regent of Financial Concerns, Abendroth—responsible for budgets, bookkeeping, payrolls, and investments.
  • Regent of External Concerns. Dapfern Gerth—responsible for public relations and trade.
  • Regent of Archaeology, Dirganun—searching for Lores amongst ancient and abandoned ruins of a long forgotten Age.
  • Master Collegian—head of the College (not the Order) and overseer of the students.
  • Master Librarian.—
  • Master of the Spellpool—
  • Master Diviner—
  • Master Warder—"responsible for Mathghamhna’s security and the conditions of the grounds."
• Guildmages (also called "Guild Wizard" or "guild-level mage") —usually 5th or 7th level and higher)
  • Scholars—researchers and lorekeepers at the College
  • Collegians—instructors at the College
  • Associates—typical itinerant member of the Order
• Initiates (or Novices)—1st+ level
• Apprentices

Resources

• Spellpool—the most obvious and notable resource of the Arcane Order is access to the spellpool via a focus, drawing from the spellcrux.

"A magical reservoir of spell energy is bound into a special matrix in a guarded vault in Mathghamhna’s sublevel. Using his guild focus, a mage of the Arcane Order can “call” spells from this commonresource at need."

"Ranking wizards in the [Arcane Order] are able, in effect, to spontaneously borrow spells from a physically distant common source ...

The Spellcrux is an artifact .. conceived through enormous effort and time by Regent Liwendyll ... a crystal vessel was created that has the capability of holding a large reservoir of potent spells ...

The spells in the crystal vessel can be called forth by any wizard properly keyed to it and to a personal focus that accommodates the transfer of the desired spell from the vessel into an empty spell slot of the appropriate level in the mind of the wizard."

• Cassock of precaution—Each initiate receives the customary garb of the Order; a traditional long-sleeved, full-length, close-fitting robe with a mantle and cowl. It functions as a cloak of protection +1, and can cast shield once per day. Recharged by a monthly ritual of renewal, taught only to full guild members and is equivalent to a fourth-level spell.
• Grand Library—At its headquarters, Mathgamna, the Order maintains "a huge collection of arcane knowledge that contains a plethora of esoteric magical knowledge of use to wizards of 6th level or less, including a host of volumes containing many common and uncommon spells of 1st through 3rd level." "No wizard who is not a member of the college is normally allowed in the Grand Library." As many as twenty-six members, ranging from apprentices to guild wizards, can be found in the library (and its reading rooms) at any hour.

"Any attempt to remove a spellbook from the library through teleportation, dimension door, or simply walking through one of the doors triggers a magical trap. The trap first teleports the book in question back to its point upon the shelf, while at the same time teleporting the miscreant to a waiting dungeon cell ... sans equipment (which remains in the library)."

• Sealed Archive—"This exalted library contains tomes contributed by Japheth, the regents, and other guild wizards. The tomes found in the Sealed Archive generally contain spells from 4th to 8th level, and specifically requested rare texts may be made available as well. Access to the Sealed Archive eliminates the need to maintain a personal library for spell research." The grand double doors of the Sealed Archive are ensorcelled to prevent entry by any wizard of less than seventh level. "No wizard (even if of the appropriate level) who is not a full member of the college is allowed in the Sealed Archive."

"The Sealed Archive expands upon the works found in the Grand Archive, exploring radical theories and philosophies of magic, touching on topics that are often too rarefied for the uninitiated to comprehend let alone put to good use. There are even a few books dealing with the Dark Arts, however, these particular volumes are under lock and key so as not to provide too tempting an avenue of research. The books in question are stored on heavy oaken shelves that rise to the 25-foot high ceiling (many of the volumes are accessible only through the track ladders that can be rolled to a specific location)."

In Living Greyhawk

"The [leaders of the Mage Council] in Furyondy is "wary of the Arcane Order and they have taken a dim view of this organization. At least one member of the Council of Four is rumored to be working on unlocking the secrests of the Spell Pool to create something similar for the mages of Furyondy. Though many disregard these claims, pointing to ... magical disaters in Chendl."

At least two organizations below do not use the Arcane Order, but rather similar organizations, instead. This implies that they have their own spellcrux other than the one located at Mathghamhna.

• Bandit Kingdoms—practitioners at Hellstone Tower, and Arcane Strategists of Fort Hendricks or Fort Scorn
• Bissel—Guild Apprentices (and above) of the Guild of the Arcane Path may spend time training at the Guild’s tower in Sareden to become a Mage of the Arcane Order.
• County of Urnst—Adepts and Magus of the Obsidian Conclave
• Duchy of Urnst—Fellows, Preceptors, Academians, and Directors of the College of Sages and Sorcery
• Dyvers—Masters of the Dyvers Dweomercrafter’s Guild, members of the "Universalists" fraternal organization within the guild are responsible for maintaining the Spell Pool.
• Ket—members of the Archons
• Nyrond—The Wizards' Guild of Rel Mord's Guild Masters (Wiz13+)
• Onnwal—those in the Academy of Delleb
• Sunndi—members of the Queen's Halls may become Mages of the Arcane Order, but the organization is the Queen's Halls, not the Order.
• Tusmit—any member of the College of the Arts of Sefmur can become a "Magus of the Guild of Ancient Words" (name for Mage of the Arcane Order in Tusmit).
• Veluna—Teachers and High Mages of the College of the Arcane
• Yeomanry—members of the College of High Magic
• Zeif—members of the Arcane Sanctum who are "Lore Seeker" or "Lore Teachers"

Publishing History

The Arcane Order originated in second edition's College of Wizardry (1997) by Bruce Cordell. The sourcebook was entirely about the Order, and included five chapters about their history, members, structure, goals, et al.

The Order reappeared in Tome and Blood (July 2001) for third edition for the "Mage of the Arcane Order" prestige class.

Later, in August 2001, the prestige class would be customized as the "Guild Wizard of Waterdeep" in Magic of Faerûn. The organization itself became the "Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors" This version slightly raised the prerequisites for entry into the prestige class.

The prestige class was again revised in Complete Arcane for the 3.5 revision. Though the benefits of the class were somewhat updated to 3.5 rules and tweaked, the prerequisites for this version were the same as in Tome and Blood.

According to gaming historian Shannon Applecline:

"...the academian Drake from [College of Wizardry] is also found in Return to the Tomb of Horrors (1998). That's not the only tie between the College and the Tomb: this book also mentions a Bleak Academy, which appears in Skull City in Return to the Tomb of Horrors. ... The Bleak Academy is just a sidenote; the real heart of College of Wizardry is the Arcane Order. They'd recur in numerous D&D 3e (2000-2007) books, beginning with Tome and Blood (2001)."

References

Bibliography

• Baker, Richard. Complete Arcane. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2004. Item code 17925.
• Cordell, Bruce R.. College of Wizardry. Renton, WA: TSR, 1998. Item code TSR9549. ISBN 0-769-0717-7 
• Cordell, Bruce R. and Skip William. Tome and Blood. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2001. Item code 11845.

Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index

The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.

Topic	Type	Description	Product	Page/Card/Image
Abendroth	Non-player character	Male, Human, [Mu12],	College of Wizardry	31
Abendroth's Magical Accountant (LVL2)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	College of Wizardry	31
Adamant Grasp (LVL4)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	College of Wizardry	79-80
Baklunish Empire	Kingdom		College of Wizardry	9
Baklunish {Bakluni}	People Group	People,	College of Wizardry	9
Blackmoor, kingdom of	Kingdom	(576 pop: 25000), (591 pop: 110000),	College of Wizardry	9
Bloat (LVL8)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	College of Wizardry	84-85
Carroissa's Appalling Dash (LVL5)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	College of Wizardry	81
City of the Gods	Settlement	Arn (Blackmoor), Settlement,	College of Wizardry	9
Conceal Features (LVL4)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	College of Wizardry	80
Confer Resistance (LVL9)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	College of Wizardry	86 (Strip Resistance)
Continual Wind (LVL2)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	College of Wizardry	77-78
Dehydrate (LVL8)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	College of Wizardry	84-85 (Bloat)
Descry (LVL7)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	College of Wizardry	83-84
ESP Barricade (LVL3)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	College of Wizardry	78-79
Estrange (LVL7)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	College of Wizardry	83
From the Ashes box set	Publication	Supplement,	College of Wizardry	9
Gaslungs (LVL3)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	College of Wizardry	79
Greyhawk, City of {Gem of the Flanaess}	Settlement	Greyhawk, Capital, Free City, (576 pop: 53000), (591 pop: 69500),	College of Wizardry	9
Invoked Devastation	Adventure		College of Wizardry	9
Iterative Mnemonic Negation (LVL8)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	College of Wizardry	84
Lucid Vista (LVL1)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	College of Wizardry	77
Melf's Minute Meteors (LVL3)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	College of Wizardry	81
Mnemonic Negation (LVL5)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	College of Wizardry	81
Nyrond, Kingdom of {Nehron}	Kingdom	(585 pop: 1375000), (591 pop: 2618200),	College of Wizardry	9
Oerth {Oerthe, World of Greyhawk}	Geographical feature	Planet,	College of Wizardry	9
One Question (LVL2)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	College of Wizardry	78
Rary's Mnemonic Enhancer (LVL4)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	College of Wizardry	81
Sea of Dust {Ashen Desert}	Region	(591 pop: Unknown), Wasteland,	College of Wizardry	9
Shout of Ruin (LVL6)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	College of Wizardry	82
Slip (LVL1)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	College of Wizardry	77
Steadfast Perception (LVL3)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	College of Wizardry	79
Strip Resistance (LVL9)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	College of Wizardry	86
Suel Imperium {Suel Empire}	Kingdom		College of Wizardry	9
Suel {Suloise} language	Verbal communication	Language,	College of Wizardry	9
Terminate Scrying (LVL9)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	College of Wizardry	85-86
Timejump (LVL6)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	College of Wizardry	82-83
Weapon of Words (LVL4)	Spell	Spell (Magic User),	College of Wizardry	80-81
Wizards, Guild of {Wizardry} (City of Greyhawk)	People Group	Guild,	College of Wizardry	9
Yatil Mountains {Yetil}	Geographical feature	Mountains,	College of Wizardry	9