The Order of the Circle

The Order of the Circle stands as a bulwark against the corruption of magic. Formed by powerful mages of an era long forgotten, this organization has existed for millennia with a single mission: to monitor, regulate, and if necessary, eliminate the dangers posed by spellcasters. Yet beneath its noble purpose lies a web of intrigue, political maneuvering, and hidden corruption that threatens the very mission it claims to uphold.

The Order seeks to identify any who are able to use magic - whether by studious intelligence or faith in the Netherime, or any other path. These people are brought to Maloglash - often by force, if necessary, where they face rigorous testing - not only of their magical ability, but also their willpower, and resistance to corruption. Those found to be using magic outside the bounds of the Starfall Pact face public trial, with either imprisonment or execution the only punishments doled out. Some within the order claim to be close to discovering a way to sunder a spellcaster from The Veil, hindering their ability to cast and creating another option - but such rumors have been spoken for ages, and that solution would do nothing to stop blood magic.

Those who pass the grueling tests are brought to The Prime Sanctum, where the spellcaster is imprinted by The Oathcradle - a powerful artifact spanning an entire chamber. Here they are marked by the Order's symbol - proof that the Order is watching. Any member of the order with this mark can hold it to the mark of another, and the two will interlink with threads of magic - essentially allowing members of the Order to confirm a stranger's membership. The mark also ties the bearer to the Oathcradle, which can be used to locate the bearer or call to them at any time.

The Oathcradle serves further purpose as well - it is capable of detecting heavily blighted individuals, even if they're adept at hiding it. Magic can be channeled through it to banish creatures that do not belong to the Mortal Realms. And finally - the purpose of its moniker - while inside the Oathcradle, no lie can be knowingly spoken.

Once a spellcaster has been marked, they must join a sect. Both the individual and the leadership of the sect must agree, and until one is accepted into a sect, they are not considered a full member of the Order, and are denied privileges such as access to resources. It is the responsibility of each sect to police its members, and sect leadership faces the scrutiny of the other sects and the Prime Arcanist at repeated failures to do so.

There are five sects one may join:

• The Silver Quorum - Masters of diplomacy and intrigue, this sect handles political relations, including negotiations with the nations and internal Order politics. They often clash with other sects over their perceived willingness to compromise the Order's principles for political gain. Led by Archmagister Vorathiel, a cunning Alfar wizard rumored to wield more influence over the Order than the Prime Arcanist himself.
• The Shadowbound - Responsible for monitoring corruption and rooting out rogue mages. Operatives in this sect are feared for their efficiency and lack of mercy. Led by Shade-Captain Dren Malveros, a Goliath known for his brutal efficiency and disdain for politics.
• The Crimson Gauntlet - Tasked with training battlemages and providing magical support to allied nations. Often viewed as blunt instruments by the other sects, they argue that brute force is often the only solution. Despite this, they are much more cunning with their application of force than many would have you believe. Led by Marshal Kariden Flaythorne, a hot-tempered Marach sorcerer who believes the Order must take a more aggressive stance against nations who resist their authority.
• The Rune Scholars - Dedicated to magical research and experimentation, this sect walks a dangerous line between innovation and corruption. Many members are accused of being too reckless, despite their critical contributions to the Order. Led by Archvisist Renna Orlyn, a Talenta wizard whos brilliance is tempered by growing whispers that she hides forbidden experiments.
• The Azure Light - Healers and caretakers of the Order, they ensure that injured mages and afflicted individuals are rehabilitated. They frequently oppose The Shadowbounds harsher methods. Led by High Curate Callis Fenwyn, a human cleric who argues that compassion and rehabilitation are often more effective than destruction.

Above all the sects, sits the Prime Arcanist - elected by majority vote from each sect, the Prime Arcanist is a mediator and a leader, whose role is to keep the sects focused on the overall missions and wellbeing of the Order. The current Prime Arcanist, Isolder Veyra, is a middle aged human mage with a reputation for subtlety and pragmatism. Though outwardly competent, he is suspected of favoring certain sects, fueling quiet dissent among the others.