Guild of Wizardry

The Guild of Wizardry of Greyhawk is the largest and most extensive guild of mages in the whole of the Flanaess. It may also claim to be the least political, secretive, or closed off of any mage guild. In fact, almost any proven practitioner of magic is welcome here, be they a mage, bard, illusionist, or even some more exotic magic user.

While the Guild of Wizardry is interested in it's own aggrandizement, as are most others, it has no political agenda, neither does it require the exclusive allegiance of any of it's membership. Because of this, many mages, from across the Flanaess, claim an affiliation with this guild. In many places, membership in the guild is a source of prestige, due to the guild's international fame.

The guild can claim nearly a thousand members in it's official rolls. But in truth, only about half of that number are in the city of Greyhawk at any given time, and many of these are amateurish dabblers, or are virtually inactive.

History

The Guild of Wizardry was founded late in the 4th century CY, by the Mad Archmage, Zagig Yragerne. Because of this, the Guild can boast the most extensive collection of arcane text and magical knowledge in the whole of the Flanaess. This fact plays a large part in the Guild's being the fastest growing guild in Oerik.

The guildhall can be located in Greyhawk's Garden Quarter. This building is an architectural wonder and is considered to be of magical design and impregnable. It's many vaults house numerous tomes, which have been collected and stored here over the last two centuries. Housed here are the magical fortunes of numerous archmages,including those of the legendary Zagig, or so it is believed.

Recent Events

The Guild of Wizardry is still drawing new members from all across the Flanaess, due to the Guild being virtually untouched by the Greyhawk Wars. In fact, many mages view the Guild as a sort of "safe haven" from the turmoil that exist in their currently beleaguered homelands.

The Guild has long since taken over the stewardship of the College of Magic, which used to be administered by the more austere Society of Magi. In fact, the Guild, in cooperation with the College, both teaches and supports the use of so-called "Wild," or "Chaos Magic." This form of magic has seen a resurgence in the last two decades and is reaching heights not seen since the time of the Mad Archmage, himself.

The Guild has suffered some minor setbacks recently. The most notable of these is the spectacular and, apparently, complete destruction of two of it's most celebrated members, and the traitorship of yet a third such member, at the Great Signing last year.

Notable Members

Famous, or infamous, members of the Guild of Wizardry include the magicians that comprise the Circle of Eight, and luminaries such as Kieren Jalucian and Philidor, the enigmatic "Blue Wizard."

Bibliography

• Holian, Gary. "Sorcerous Societies of the Flanaess." Oerth Journal #3, Council of Greyhawk, 1996