HISTORY 1 / LEGEND LORE 1 / MAGIC LORE 1
In 231 CE, The Academy establishes an elite corp of retainers called the Mage-Templars to serve as guardians of the High Academy hall in Darkwell, where the first group of Mage-Templars was initiated. The Mage-Templars were a direct response to The Druidic War (223 CE-248 CE).
In the present, The Academy continues to enlist and train a small number of Mage-Templars. The Mage-Templars are often the captains and sergeants of the Hall guard. Most major Academy halls will have at least one (if not more) Mage-Templar. The main body of Mage-Templar serve at the High Academy of Darkwell.
For the most part, the structure, number, abilities, and leadership of the Mage-Templars is kept in near perfect secrecy. Little is known except that the Mage-Templars possess similar powers to the Knighthood (in that both wear heavy armors and invoke magical effects) and that the Mage-Templars show a strict loyalty to The Academy.
In 245 CE, the Mage-Templars were instrumental in the defeating of the Branch of Ellan and Reiellan forces in Icuna to free the Lakemen cities.
HISTORY 3 / LEGEND LORE 3 / MAGIC LORE 3
Some liken the Mage-Templars to the Brotherhood of Esshien in the sense that the Mage-Templars serve The Academy much like the Brotherhood serves the Sisterhood. Others liken the Mage-Templars to the Knighthood for the Mage-Templars are the warriors, the guardians, and the dispensers of Academy law much like the Knighthood is the just and lawful arm of the Sar and the Crown.
The Mage-Templars do not, however, receive their powers in the same manner as the Knights of the Banner. The Knighthood gains its magical powers through a mighty ordainment, a mistical calling. The Mage-Templars gain their powers in a different way, a purely magical way. Speculation believes that the Mage-Templars are merely mages trained in the martial arts, in the use of weapon, armor, and shield.
Four midnight-blue, ten-pointed stars arranged in a diamond make up the symbol of the Mage-Templars. The ten-pointed stars represent their tie to The Academy. The four stars represent the four Mage-Templar credos.
There is a rivalry between the Knights of the Banner and the Mage-Templars. The Keepers of the Twin Towers also do not trust the use of magic in the hands of warriors.
HISTORY 5 / LEGEND LORE 5 / MAGIC LORE 5
The Mage-Templar credos are:
The number of Mage-Templars is unknown (though the Crown and other Organizations, not openly of course, has been somewhat anxious to determine the size of The Academy's military force). The Academy does not openly use the Mage-Templars in times of peace; in fact, it is believed that most Mage-Templars simply blend in with the Academy's scholars and casters.
There are a visible number of Mage-Templars in Darkwell. They are called "the Agathasians" named for one of the first Archmage-Templars named Agathas, who served during the Druid War. The Agathasians are the "honor guard" of the Mage-Templar and The Academy and are always seen in armor, surcoat, and regalia. Their current leader, also an Archmage-Templar, is a formidable Talanthi-Marjoran man named Jonnas Mogu Tetryu Rurgus, who wields the Arche of Earth.
HISTORY 7 / LEGEND LORE 7 / MAGIC LORE 7
Mage-Templars are usually only skilled in a small range of magical ability. Most specialize in one Arche of magic -- usually an elemental form. Earth and Fire Mage-Templars are the most common.
Mage-Templars are often awarded magical arms as they gain in rank and prove their loyalty and service to The Academy.
It is believed that the hero-mage Alatannin did not approve of the formation of the Mage-Templars; it is said that Alatannin felt that the study of magic was paramount and that training in arms should be left to others. Alatannin also believed that the protection and guardianship of The Academy could be accomplished with magic alone. In fact, the Atanaeum Academy halls do not employ the use of Mage-Templars.
HISTORY 10 / LEGEND LORE 10 / MAGIC LORE 10
Counter to the notion that Mage-Templars are simply mages dressed in heavy armor, the Mage-Templars are actually non-casters (those without the innate talent for magic) given the ability to sense and wield magic.
The magical rites and spellcraft to imbue, to empower an individual with magical ability was conceived and created by an aged Body, Mind, and Power archmage named Pandoraos. The ritual, a lengthy and dangerous process, was called "The Rite of the Gift of Magic" by Pandoraos.
"The Rite of the Gift" (as it was shortened) could only be invoked upon one who was showed no talent for spellcasting. Originally created with the hopes of augmenting the magical ability of a mage, "The Rite of the Gift" nearly always killed the magic-user (often resulting in a magical disaster); if the mage was not killed, he or she was driven permanently mad or rendered feebleminded or comatose. Pandoraos attempted the rite upon a non-caster; again, most who endured the ritual perished, but a small percentage survived and gained the ability to cast.
"The Rite of the Gift" is only known by the Archon of Power, the head of the School of the Arche of Power at the High Academy in Darkwell. Its formula and ritual has been orally passed from Archon to Archon. No known written records of the rite are extant. Pandoraos's notes, laboratory, and even his remains were destroyed after the Archmage's death in 300 CE (he died at the purported age of 491 years).
In 231 CE, The Academy establishes an elite corp of retainers called the Mage-Templars to serve as guardians of the High Academy hall in Darkwell, where the first group of Mage-Templars was initiated. The Mage-Templars were a direct response to The Druidic War (223 CE-248 CE).
In the present, The Academy continues to enlist and train a small number of Mage-Templars. The Mage-Templars are often the captains and sergeants of the Hall guard. Most major Academy halls will have at least one (if not more) Mage-Templar. The main body of Mage-Templar serve at the High Academy of Darkwell.
For the most part, the structure, number, abilities, and leadership of the Mage-Templars is kept in near perfect secrecy. Little is known except that the Mage-Templars possess similar powers to the Knighthood (in that both wear heavy armors and invoke magical effects) and that the Mage-Templars show a strict loyalty to The Academy.
In 245 CE, the Mage-Templars were instrumental in the defeating of the Branch of Ellan and Reiellan forces in Icuna to free the Lakemen cities.
HISTORY 3 / LEGEND LORE 3 / MAGIC LORE 3
Some liken the Mage-Templars to the Brotherhood of Esshien in the sense that the Mage-Templars serve The Academy much like the Brotherhood serves the Sisterhood. Others liken the Mage-Templars to the Knighthood for the Mage-Templars are the warriors, the guardians, and the dispensers of Academy law much like the Knighthood is the just and lawful arm of the Sar and the Crown.
The Mage-Templars do not, however, receive their powers in the same manner as the Knights of the Banner. The Knighthood gains its magical powers through a mighty ordainment, a mistical calling. The Mage-Templars gain their powers in a different way, a purely magical way. Speculation believes that the Mage-Templars are merely mages trained in the martial arts, in the use of weapon, armor, and shield.
Four midnight-blue, ten-pointed stars arranged in a diamond make up the symbol of the Mage-Templars. The ten-pointed stars represent their tie to The Academy. The four stars represent the four Mage-Templar credos.
There is a rivalry between the Knights of the Banner and the Mage-Templars. The Keepers of the Twin Towers also do not trust the use of magic in the hands of warriors.
HISTORY 5 / LEGEND LORE 5 / MAGIC LORE 5
The Mage-Templar credos are:
mana a academa or "magic for the academy"
lor a academa or "knowledge for the academy"
glada a academa or "sword for the academy"
vi a academa or "life for the academy."
lor a academa or "knowledge for the academy"
glada a academa or "sword for the academy"
vi a academa or "life for the academy."
The number of Mage-Templars is unknown (though the Crown and other Organizations, not openly of course, has been somewhat anxious to determine the size of The Academy's military force). The Academy does not openly use the Mage-Templars in times of peace; in fact, it is believed that most Mage-Templars simply blend in with the Academy's scholars and casters.
There are a visible number of Mage-Templars in Darkwell. They are called "the Agathasians" named for one of the first Archmage-Templars named Agathas, who served during the Druid War. The Agathasians are the "honor guard" of the Mage-Templar and The Academy and are always seen in armor, surcoat, and regalia. Their current leader, also an Archmage-Templar, is a formidable Talanthi-Marjoran man named Jonnas Mogu Tetryu Rurgus, who wields the Arche of Earth.
HISTORY 7 / LEGEND LORE 7 / MAGIC LORE 7
Mage-Templars are usually only skilled in a small range of magical ability. Most specialize in one Arche of magic -- usually an elemental form. Earth and Fire Mage-Templars are the most common.
Mage-Templars are often awarded magical arms as they gain in rank and prove their loyalty and service to The Academy.
It is believed that the hero-mage Alatannin did not approve of the formation of the Mage-Templars; it is said that Alatannin felt that the study of magic was paramount and that training in arms should be left to others. Alatannin also believed that the protection and guardianship of The Academy could be accomplished with magic alone. In fact, the Atanaeum Academy halls do not employ the use of Mage-Templars.
HISTORY 10 / LEGEND LORE 10 / MAGIC LORE 10
Counter to the notion that Mage-Templars are simply mages dressed in heavy armor, the Mage-Templars are actually non-casters (those without the innate talent for magic) given the ability to sense and wield magic.
The magical rites and spellcraft to imbue, to empower an individual with magical ability was conceived and created by an aged Body, Mind, and Power archmage named Pandoraos. The ritual, a lengthy and dangerous process, was called "The Rite of the Gift of Magic" by Pandoraos.
"The Rite of the Gift" (as it was shortened) could only be invoked upon one who was showed no talent for spellcasting. Originally created with the hopes of augmenting the magical ability of a mage, "The Rite of the Gift" nearly always killed the magic-user (often resulting in a magical disaster); if the mage was not killed, he or she was driven permanently mad or rendered feebleminded or comatose. Pandoraos attempted the rite upon a non-caster; again, most who endured the ritual perished, but a small percentage survived and gained the ability to cast.
"The Rite of the Gift" is only known by the Archon of Power, the head of the School of the Arche of Power at the High Academy in Darkwell. Its formula and ritual has been orally passed from Archon to Archon. No known written records of the rite are extant. Pandoraos's notes, laboratory, and even his remains were destroyed after the Archmage's death in 300 CE (he died at the purported age of 491 years).
