Some Caleon Bits (Long!)

[Jkeown]

Anyone want more Caleon? Here's a bit...

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Sisterhood of the Anshandii

From the magical traditions of the Elzar and the lessons of the Empire of Pelkoryad, the culture of the Elowan emerged. The Sisterhood is a facet of this culture. Elves are a very magical race, and as children of Elves, the Elowan are quite adept at the Arts. Pelkoryad had many a great wizard itself. It is taught that the Pelkoryadi did not respect their power and were thus doomed. The Anshandii teach respect for power, magic power specially.

 

The Doom That Came To Pelkoryad

After a thousand years, Pelkoryad, they of enlightened existance, the most civilized and advanced culture in Caleon’s history, died in one night. It was, some said, paradise. Humans, of Ser extraction, and Moon Elves lived in the great cities and danced in green meadows. They lived in perfect balance with nature. The cities were more than perfect examples of social exchange and all was peaceful. From the Great Empire of Serantia came a threat that the Pelkoryadi thought they could handle. Were they not the most capable people on Caleon?

His name was Uzeroth Tamarlaan. Born of an unholy union between a Demon Lord and a Ser mortal, he was nearly immortal and invulnerable. His job was to kill people. The tools of his craft were of Darkened Steel and fire, a shining slice of midnight, the Black Sword, and the mind of Hell Itself, the Iron Crown of Sproul. His efforts at bringing together the most evil of creatures built him an army of incalculable power. Zarku, Giants, Ogres, Trolls and despicable men of all races marched under his banner. He could not be stopped. Pelkoryad was merely a stop on his way to ruling Serantia. All the enlightened artists and crafty wizards of the Pelkoryadi were as naught to him, for they had forgotten how to use the instruments of their defense. They fought bravely and died in the thousands. As city after city fell to Tamarlaan, a cure was sought for his rampage. Weeks went by and finally the worst of all possible things happened.

The solution was found in the form of a dull, black sphere spoken of in hushed tones by the wise, paranoid men of the world. The Dragon’s Eye, the Chaos Orb, the Steel Heart. It has many names, and men rightly fear its power. According to legend, the Steel Heart holds back the Chaos that screams at the barrier between the Real World and the Chaos Realms. Some claim it controls the Magestorms. Others say that Caleon itself can be destroyed by it.

The Elzar Entullian of Pelkoryad knew where it was. As Tamarlaan’s army approached, he placed his hand on the Orb and willed raw Chaos to consume the invading force. He drove at them with pure unbridled power, beat at them with energies never before seen and was consumed with lust for it. He had decimated the Cambion’s army and still tendrils of chaos streaked out across the night. They struck in Zo, lifting the Tower of Nuuranan from its foundation and sending it into Pure Chaos. The tentacles of chaos crackled across gates and pulled them wide, admitting unspeakable horrors upon the world. Thus, Doom fell not only on Pelkoryad, but also upon the Zo and the entire Serantian Empire. Pelkoryad itself was broken, and large parts of the land sunk beneath the waves of the White Sea. Of all Pelkoryad, only Deiad, Emildar and a few high mountains remained. A long silence fell over the continent as the cries of millions died out.

In the years that followed the Doom of Pelkoryad, Uzeroth Tamarlaan escaped from whatever hellish dimension the Orb had sent him. His body composed partly of raw chaos, he was able to survive the attack.

In the Doom of Pelkoryad, men were the primary combatants in the war, and died in great numbers, leaving grieving widows and crying children to rebuilt the Empire. It would be difficult. The survivors would have to change the very way they thought about living.

 

Rise of the Anshandii

One woman, a child of The Fool Entullian and Kaashyan of Ctharlaan, name of Anshandel decided to take matters into her own hand. She recovered her father’s library and making use of her long, Elven life and human impatience, taught herself magic. As she learned her father’s spells, she incorporated components of her own devising and began teaching others. Before Anshandel died she passed the organization to her daughter. Queelan rededicated the Sisterhood to her mother’s memory and changed the name.

Thus was born the Sisterhood of The Anshandii. They helped rebuild Emildar, and while Deiad and the mountainous regions fell to barbarism, the Elowan survived even the fall of Serantia. The Sisterhood’s membership evolved into a uniquely female organization. On a number of occasions, the organization was in danger of being taken by men. The philosophy of the Sisterhood changed and soon the spells themselves were nearly unlearnable by males of any species.

The Sisterhood has been a source of Good in Serantia for over two thousand years. They have been instrumental in continental politics even during periods when the nation of Emildar was nearly powerless. It was the Sisterhood that turned back successive invasions by the Rumallan Empire, and it was the Sisterhood that rallied hardest for joining that same Empire some twenty years ago. Of great influence use in peace and war, the Sisterhood is the first line of defense for Emildar. In a very real way, the Sisterhood is Emildar.

 

The Sisterhood Today

The organization and spell list of the Sisterhood of the Anshandii is like so many other things Emildart. They are a mixture of those things that came before them. They are based on the aspects of woman. These aspects are historical, philosophical, and psychological archetypes of facets of the female character. Each portrays woman in a different role, and the spells reflect the attitudes and actions of that role. The Aspects of Woman as taught by the Sisterhood are; The Wise Advisor, The Protector, The Vengeful Defender, The Caregiver, The Manipulator, and The Independent. Full explanations of the aspects can be found in the Sisterhood of the Anshandii Spell College listing. Suffice it to say that the portrayal of these aspects colors the thinking and actions of the sisterhood in many ways.

From an organizational viewpoint, things are less clear. In theory the ruling council should be made up of one of each aspect and the oldest, wisest member of the sisterhood (called the Regis) for a total of seven members. While the council maintains the correct number, few mages actually practice only one aspect. This leads to a diverse set of opinions and personalities on the ruling council. Council members are elected for a term of ten years, and the Regis is a lifetime office.

Below the council in terms of responsibility, for none in the Sisterhood are more important than any other, are the various Factions of the organizations. They tend to form around the Aspects, but are often split up along politics or personalities. The most aggressive faction being the Proactive Faction, as their policies are guided by the Vengeful Defender Aspect. Although the Factions are not an official function of the Sisterhood, it is a natural social development. No attempt has ever been made to prevent their formation, unless the Sisterhood itself was in danger. Such was the case with the Sevartaen Faction of a thousand years ago.

The Sevartaen lobbied for the inclusion of Chaos in the course of study. At the very least, they argued, Sisters should have the right to pursue whatever magical path they chose. The Council did not agree and a war of words and eventually knives and spells was fought. Most of the Sevartaen were killed in the fighting or exiled, and the leaders tried for treason.

There are at any one time approximately ten or so factions, made up of Sisters and Servitors (see below). There have been as few as twenty Sisters and as many as 117, but the average is around seventy.

Next are the Servitor positions; guards, cooks, runners, stable hands, teachers, weapon masters and scribes of various types. All are members of the Sisterhood (even the male members) but most are not spell casters of any kind and outnumber the Sisters by about three to one. Almost any profession imaginable has been employed by the Sisterhood at one time or another.

 

About 80 percent of the Sisterhood are Elowan, and the remaining 20 percent are of human (mostly Rume) extraction, with some Elves and at least one Ijhuniz (DH. "She-Ogre") in the current membership. Anshandii University at Dé is home to as many as a dozen students at any one time. The Sisterhood accepts students for a price, but they also actively recruit from the Empire’s most promising young women. They do not discriminate based on race or noble status. A first year student is taken to Emildar around age ten or eleven. Normally, only two or three graduate on each New Year’s Day. The course of study includes history of Emildar, the Empire and the Sisterhood especially. Weapons are taught as a last resort. A promising novitiate will be apprenticed to a Sister and be guided into the study of magic after her aspect is discovered by careful observation of her scholarly interests and hobbies. The study of magic is usually not started for a year or more, making most apprentices twelve to thirteen years old. If she applies herself wholeheartedly, the novitiate is a full Sister by her seventeenth birthday.

 

Anshandii Spell Choices

The Spell list for the Sisterhood of the Anshandii is like so other things Emildart. It is a mixture of those Elzart and Human things that preceeded it. As female spell casters came to Emildar, they began associating for mutual benefit. As more women of Human, Elzart and Elowan descent came to the island, they joined the Sisterhood and added their magical knowledge to what had already been compiled. The Sisterhood has blended all these concepts into a unique feminine study of magic. It is deeply intertwined with the female psyche. Obviously, it is considered "Female Aspected" in relation to the Gender Aspected Magery advantage. The spells of this ciriculum are based on the Aspects of Woman. These Aspects are historical, philosophical and psychological archetypes of facets of the female character. Each portrays woman in a different role, and the spells reflect the attitudes and actions of that role.

 

The Aspects are as follows:

The Wise Advisor: This is the intellectual woman, gathering knowledge against the time when it will be needed. She then dispenses this knowledge as she sees fit. She also gives advice derived from this body of experience. The ability to travel is important to this aspect, so she may seek out new experiences and sources of learning. This is also the foundation of one of the perceived differences between men and women.

Man is physical and quick to act, while woman is intellectually founded and given to deliberation. Wise Advisor Mages cast spells of Knowledge.

 

Protector: This is woman protecting herself and those who are in her care. This woman sees to adequate protections, both to deter violence and before entering conflict. She strives never to be surprised or caught unprepared, nor will she be harmed due to her own inaction. She is shield and refuge to the weak and powerless, especially those whose welfare she is charged with. Protector Mages cast largely Defensive spells.

 

Vengeful Destroyer: This woman using the most powerful and destructive tools at her disposal in defense of her herself or her charges. She is also a direct and immediate exactor of vengeance. These same powers can be unleashed against those by whom she feels slighted, injured or upstaged. This this aspect woman is merciless and takes no prisoners. "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." While Man is the berserker, charging blindly into combat. Woman is careful, she chooses her battles and plans actions. The Vengeful Destroyer is influenced by the Elzar dark side. Vengeful Defenders cast spells with damage dealing potential.

 

Caregiver: This is woman's nurturing aspect. She takes care of those in her charge before seeing to her own needs. She will go without if resource are insufficient. She helps and aids others and herself. She often sees to needs before they are voiced. She is also the provider assuring those in her care have sufficient resources and are not forced to do without. This is the aspect of woman that sees to the propagation of the species. Caregivers cast spells of Healing.

 

Manipulator: This is woman using plots and subtle means to achieve her ends. She will wrap others "around her little finger," and persuade them to assist her in accomplishing her goals. She will sow rumor and discontent to block those she sees as competitors. Where the Vengeful Destroyer is the quick and devestating attack, the Manipulator is the slow exactor of revenge. Feminine wiles, innuendo, influence and position are the tools of this woman's trade. Mind Control and Illusion or Creation spells are favorites of Manipulator Mages.

 

Independent: This is the self-reliant woman who trusts in her own abilities. She needs no one to stand up for her, provide for her, fight for her, or to speak for her. She does not rely on others, she makes her own way. She may have friends or allies that have helpful skills and abilities, but she will not ignore developing similar abilities so she is not forced to rely upon these others. She is frequently found in positions of leadership or other positions of importance. She is content to let others rely on her, because she can prove their trust is well-founder. This is possibly the most competitive of the aspects. She is unwilling to lose an edge which could force her to turn for others for help. The Independent Mage casts any spells she damn well chooses!