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The Cabal
The Cabal is an exclusive group of exceptionally powerful and accomplished magic practitioners who have transcended racial, ethical, and hierarchical differences to form an educational institution known as the Founders Academy. This collective of masters has put aside petty vendettas and differences to focus on their own studies while teaching the next generation of magical practitioners.
Organization Overview
The Cabal consists of the most powerful, enigmatic, and accomplished practitioners of magic and its various flavors. They've experienced enough of the world to understand that differences, arguments, and petty vendettas are ultimately fleeting and meaningless.
The organization is governed by a council comprising all masters, with rotating leadership to ensure all perspectives are valued. Despite their diverse backgrounds, they maintain a high level of professional respect for each other, acknowledging their colleagues' expertise and millennia of experience.
Masters frequently collaborate on interdisciplinary projects, combining their unique expertise. For instance, the Dwarven Artificer might work with the Goblin Alchemist on enhancing magical items, while the Dragon Philosopher and Human Diplomat might co-author treatises on inter-species relations.
The Founders Academy
The Cabal founded the Founders Academy, situated within "The Vale," a semi-sentient, possibly multi-dimensional valley. The campus features a central castle complex with multiple architectural styles representing various magical traditions, towers of varying heights connected by bridges made of stone, crystal, and living wood. The buildings appear to have grown organically rather than being constructed, and courtyards and gardens form geometric patterns that shift with seasons and celestial alignments.
The Academy has a selective student body of 120-150 students across various levels: Novice (25-30), Adept (35-40), Journeyman (30-35), and Wizard/Witch Ranks 1-3 (30-40 total). Admission is highly selective and invitation-only, with students ranging from exceptionally talented youth to older novices newly come to power.
The educational approach uses a tiered instructional system where higher-ranking students teach foundational courses. Wizard/Witch Rank 1 students teach fundamentals (Reading, Writing, Mathematics), Rank 2 students teach introductory magical concepts, and Rank 3 students teach intermediate magical subjects, while Masters focus on advanced instruction and supervision.
Goals and Philosophy
- Knowledge preservation and transmission - As immortal or long-lived beings, they are deeply invested in preserving and passing on their knowledge, collaborating on archives and libraries.
- Education of future generations - Through the Founders Academy, they provide comprehensive magical education from novice to advanced levels, with an emphasis on practical application rather than purely theoretical knowledge.
- Intellectual exchange - They host regular gatherings where masters share their latest discoveries or theories, fostering continuous learning and intellectual exchange.
- Ethical oversight - Given their combined power, they maintain a shared ethical code to ensure responsible use of their arts.
- Preventing catastrophe - Members like Aeron, who has witnessed multiple iterations of the world, work to prevent history from repeating itself and to guide Aethoria toward a better future.
Members
Miriel
Sorceress
An 1,800-year-old elven sorceress specializing in magic theory, advanced magics, sorcery, and magical defense.
Vorindor
Philosopher & Political Advisor
A bronze dragon born during the final tremors of the Third Calamity, the oldest living dragon in Aethoria. Serves as a philosopher and political advisor.
King Aldric
Lich King
A lich who was once a king. Transformed into a lich upon his death through the collected prayers of his people, marking him for a journey of continued redemption. Specializes in ethics and politics.
Aeron
Dimensional Magic Specialist
A fairy who stands just a foot and a half tall, with gossamer wings that catch light from dimensions most mortals never see. Specializes in dimensional magics and revealed that the current age of Aethoria rose from three great Cataclysms.
Asterion
Astronomer & Diviner
A centaur whose massive form moves with deliberate grace. The constellations etched into his skin glow faintly in the darkness. Specializes in astronomy, astrology, and divination.
Eldamar
Diplomat & Wizard
A human wizard who serves as The Cabal's highest-ranking public representative. Specializes in diplomacy, spell casting, and magic fundamentals.
Brunhilda
Artificer
A dwarven artificer with remarkable mechanical arms that move with fluid grace. Specializes in runes, enchantment, and artifice.
Nixus
Alchemist
A goblin alchemist whose green features often twist into expressions of maniacal glee when experiments produce unexpected results. Specializes in alchemy, commerce, and herbalism.
Farin Brownlock
Summoner
A halfling summoner who stands just over three feet tall, with wild gray hair that seems to defy gravity. Specializes in summoning, contracts, and binding magics.
Ragnor
Warrior & Tactician
An orc warrior standing nearly eight feet tall, with a massive frame adorned with intricately crafted armor. His immortality is evident in his inner vitality. Specializes in warfare, tactics, weapons, martial arts, wrestling, and survival.
Zahra al-Nuri
Djinn Conjurer
A djinn who stands in flowing silks of emerald and midnight. As one of only nine Djinn who chose to remain on this plane after the Cataclysm, she holds a unique position. Specializes in conjuration magics.
Organization Structure
- Collegial Respect: Despite diverse backgrounds, all masters maintain high professional respect for each other's expertise and millennia of experience.
- Collaborative Projects: Masters frequently collaborate on interdisciplinary projects, combining unique expertise.
- Mentorship System: Each master has apprentices or students from various races, creating a multi-tiered social structure.
- Regular Symposiums: The campus hosts regular gatherings where masters share latest discoveries or theories.
- Shared Governance: Governed by a council comprising all masters, with rotating leadership to ensure all perspectives are valued.
- Ethical Oversight: A shared ethical code ensures responsible use of their combined knowledge and power.
- Legacy Planning: As immortal or long-lived beings, they collaborate on preserving and passing on knowledge through grand archives and libraries.