Zaubern

**Zaubern** ( /ˈtsaʊ̯bɐn/) the **City of Sages** is the capital of the Kingdom of Vurbrannt and one of the seven Great Cities of Moro. Zaubern is a highly intellectual city with nearly all its inhabitants being scholars, wizards and academics. Zaubern is known for its towering cathedrals, ancient architecture and vast libraries. Alongside holding some of the most extensive libraries in the world, Zaubern also has the largest temple dedicated to Ouros on Trea.

Zaubern is a multicultural hub where any and all seekers of knowledge convene to be amongst the world's greatest minds. Zaubern is also known to travellers far and wide for the famous **Elders of Zaubern**, the ruling elite of Archliches who have ruled for thousands of years and the tomb of the Elders where the brains of the city's greatest minds are preserved.

## Government

Zaubern is governed by the Council of the Elders, a group of archliches who have ruled Zaubern since it's founded over a thousand years ago. Their souls are bound to the very building from which they rule with the Tomb of the Elders and its massive marble towers and buttresses being the vessel which maintains their undeath.

The Council is led by First Elder Vorunn Zaub the oldest archlich on the council and founder of the city of Zaubern. Vorunn is a vastly powerful wizard the likes of which few in the history of Trea have ever matched. His form, as with all the elders is now made from gemstones with his form being made from Sapphires mined from the mountains that the city was founded on.

The 6 Elders

* First Elder Vorunn Zaub - The Sapphire Lich
* Elder Zerricsh Mir - The Opal Lich
* Elder Krenns Talazh - The Emerald Lich
* Elder Rehar Zhorn - The Ruby Lich
* Elder Zerin Ravna - The Onyx Lich
* Elder Ylina Karrst - The Amethyst Lich

## Organizations

### **The Kenntris Collectors**

A faction of adventurers employed by the Kenntris Consortium to explore the world and retrieve lost tomes of knowledge. Their headquarters is beneath the Great Kenntris Library.

### **The Cryptwardens**

   A group of necromancers charged with protecting the Tomb of the Elders where they must maintain the building's upkeep and ensure the elder's constant state of undeath is not lost. They also are charged with preserving and creating the archived brains in the tomb. When someone dies in Zaubern who had a unique form of intelligence and demonstrated great intellectual ability the Cryptwardens perform the ritual to extract, preserve and entomb the brains into the archive in the Tomb of the Elders where their intelligence can be called upon in the future.

### **The Crestguard**

A unique branch of the Carcainian Crownsguard that operates exclusively in Zaubern. They possess magical armour that grant them the ability to fly, allowing them to navigate the large vertical city of Zaubern and its mountainous heights. The Crestguard are chosen from the Crownsguard who demonstrated magical aptitude and strong moral character. The Crestguard fly around the city of Zaubern enforcing the laws and ensuring no magic or knowledge is being misused against the will of the Elders

## Locations

### **The Kenntris Consortium**

A massive public library focusing on rare and elusive books and manuscripts. The library, built in the centre of the city holds numerous discreet tomes from across the planes. The library contains knowledge ranging from the songs of angels of mount celestia to a perfect copy of The Book of Vile Darkness itself. Several magical wards and security measures are in place to ensure the tomes do not fall into the wrong hands. Elder Zerin Ravna oversees the efforts to further the inventory of the Kenntris Consortium.

### **The Bloodmarble Arena**

A large colosseum made from white and red marble built at the highest point in the city. Mage gladiators fight in spectacular bouts to audiences of up to 60,000 at a time. Many of the Bloodmarble mage gladiators are beloved celebrities with fans cheering on their victories and sharing in the sorrow of defeat. All Bloodmarble Gladiators are anonymous choosing to adopt a fake persona for the purpose of the bouts. Usually the personas are extravagent dramatic versions of historical figures, the gods, animals or sometimes local politicians. Elder Rehar Zhorn is the overseer and arbiter of the bouts in the Bloodmarble Arena.