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The Mage's Guild

In the aftermath of the War of the Dead, a mistrust of magic and magical institutions took hold of the society of the coastal kingdoms. In the fledgling Shieldlands this mistrust has had the greatest impact, for the social institutions of the Shieldlands were created during this post-war period.

King Morgan forbade the common use of magic, and required that any man or woman who wished to engage in the practice of magic be a part of the Mage's guild and on their rolls. Magic may not be taught or used in the Shieldlands, save by member of the Guild.

Guild members are generally free to practice their craft as they see fit, but any criminal use of magic would be severely punished, usually by death. Guild members are forbidden to serve a Noble house in the capacity of Seneschal or Chancellor and they may not be heirs to any Noble title. Guild members (including Journeymen and Apprentices) are required to bear some visible badge of their membership, but there are many variants of this regalia: circlets, pendants, staves, and colored robes and habits all exist (each with their own specific meaning). The details of these badges are not always understood outside the guild.

The College of Enchantment

The first leader of the Guild, Lord Heaburn (sometimes known as Vector) recognized that despite King Morgan's edict common magic would still need to be practiced and would represent no threat to the kingdom. The health of people, livestock, and crops had been supported by magic for many years in the Shieldlands, and to deny this would be impractical. He established a college of enchanters to engage in the construction of magical gear which could be used by common folk (i.e. non-mages) and made simple tools for healing and crop support available to the Counts and Dukes of the Shieldlands for distribution in their fiefs as they saw fit.

The influx of the Dwarves provided additional support for this enchantment industry, for the dwarves brought with them knowledge of the ancient art of rune-enchanting which surpassed even Lord Heaburn's. own. The Mages Guild of the Shieldlands represents the pinnacle of Enchantment production in Arcadia, to the point that magical trinkets and tools are commodity items and magical arms and armor are available to Noble houses and Captains (for fair prices, of course).

The Azure Tower and the Mage-Ward

The Azure Tower is the guild house of the Mages' guild in Newcastle. Constructed from locally quarried stone enchanted to a striking shade of blue, the tower stands 80 feet tall and is one of the few structures in Newcastle visible from outside the walls. The upper story features a wall walk and a parapet to allow the senior members of the guild to look out over the city and the countryside. This magnificent structure is topped with a silver domed roof.

A complex of buildings for record keeping, education, research, and enchantment surrounds the Azure Tower. The entire complex, the Mage-Ward, is within the walls of Newcastle, and further enclosed by its own walls. It includes two gardens (one of flowers in the manner of the Elves and one of stone in the manner of the Dwarves) and many paths and benches.