Erudite Sages
The Erudite Sages are a decentralized group of scholars at the various arcane academies of the world. They collaborate on research and magic theories, and they frequently guest at other universities via fellowships or visiting faculty permits.
Though the research of the Erudite Sages is varied and touches on every topic of magic practice, theory, historical archaeology, and beyond, one of the group's most core topics is the existence of various stone circles they believe to be hidden. In fact, the members of this group are the leading proponents of the theory that there are more stones in the world than are currently known. Some members disagree with this premise and posit that whatever other stones might have existed at some point were part of the First Age cities and were erased along with the cities and their inhabitants.
The most frequent expeditions for members of the Sages are to far-flung places seeking more stones or to the frozen wasteland of northern Ikitur, hoping to catch a glimpse or learn more of the mysterious undead factory at Eiselberg Keep. The latter is a somewhat coordinated effort with The Watchers, with both organizations interested in discovering the keep's secrets (and ostensibly to shut down whatever is creating endless undead there).
Structure
The hierarchy and leaderships of the Erudite Sages are more akin to a youth sports league than a nation or large business. Several members hold positions such as Chairman, Treasurer, and Secretary, but the duties of these positions are not full-time and do not require attention outside the regular meetings. Members are required to pay a membership fee every year, with the specific amount being proposed by the treasurer and approved by the rest of the Board. Traditionally, the fee was 1gp for the year, but inflation and the rising demand for mages (and thus higher salaries) have led to increases in recent years. The last three years have seen a 5gp membership fee, the highest it has ever been but still an unnoticeable drop in the coffers for senior mages.
The leadership positions are not advertised or publicized outside the organization, so it is tough for non-members to know who leads these arcane researchers. This helps insulate the Sages from the politics and potential conflicts of interest, making sure their research and agendas remain academic and do not get tainted by politics, war, or other 'real world' concerns.
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Founding Date
720 2A
Type
Educational, Society
Alternative Names
League of Academics
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