De-Riche College

## Ethos and History

There are old tales that saturate the history books with stories of the power and of the might of the age of blood; when savagery and brutality was the way of life and there was nothing so eloquent as the power of the Source. Then there was only the power of the Blood Pits of the Skagriagaard, the alchemy of the Zoranethi, the mysticism of the Giant Kin and the Glamour of the Fae. There was war and chaos and anarchy and then the Void came seeking words of power that had been lost to its unknown master. Those words are, if pre history is to be believed, the power to shape worlds and to master the building blocks of all magics. It is also known that these words or words closely akin to them were carved into the comet that blazed its way across the sky and came to impact the crust of this world in the deep wilds of Helgath where Eaölfheim prospered. When that most great and glorious of events embraced the world so too did our ancient power and from it all power that spreads across Daer Akmir today.  So the comet was named after the power that it created, the power that gave life to the world that we now inhabit, that created the races of the world and birthed the Empires and the Kingdoms of this great civilisation. It was called the Source Comet.

The source Comet represented Magic long forgotten from another time and another age where it was referred to as the Nexus. With it came hidden secrets and beings from some dystopian place, some oppressors some oppressed and they spilled over into the world. Their power was dubbed the Arcane and was nothing like we had ever seen before; it dwarfed all other forms and realms with its strength and ability to change reality around it. However this power lasted but mere moments from histories point of view as the Gillieabad Spirits, so free roaming for so long, bound themselves to places of power to neutralise this strength. To the Earth Tribes it was the ultimate sacrifice, to the beings of the Nexus it was an act of war but to those that were to come later it was a gift that could not be over looked. The power Arcane was greatly diminished and it was a power that could never truly be mastered by those inhabitants of the world however the Source of all magic to come was left behind and that was ours to take.

For many years after the arrival of the comet early mages tried to master the power that now saturated this world. Many become extremely proficient in its art but these were spirited away by the Arcanists that arrived with the Nexus; The Kaytaar. It took many years for the College of Sourcery or Council of Magic as it was then to form under the guidance of the Kurt Nagerson whose impressive power in the realm of the Sourcerer led him to become an Emperor of the three Kingdoms (as was back then). During this time the mysterious Kaytaar had established themselves as a force in the world but where once, in their home world, they were eternal, they were made mortal by the forces of Vaklam. To counter this problem they undertook a task to locate the legendary Zoranethi, the Sea Tribe who had mastered the arts of transmogrification of the body and the soul. When they found them they used their terrible power to enslave them, a move that would haunt them in aeons to come. Together they caused the collapse of the Gillieabads power in the Forests of the Chosen, stole the second moon from the Sky and created the Shadowed Lands where they would come to dwell. Much of the College turned its attention to this new threat born of the comet, but it was soon to be discovered that this world was not the only one touched by power.

The world of Beyleethe was a great chunk of amalgamated stone circled by seven great rings of mineral debris when the world of Vaklam was a seething mass of Earth Tribes and battle. Already life was forming there, life that would mould itself into what many of the ignorant folk of the world would call Elementals and Fundamentals but this was before the time of the great sundering, before the Mazamarati, before Vorok Core and the founders. In this baptism the world was changed along with the three other worlds that hung around an infant sun and through their skies a great blazing fire screamed across the heavens giving birth to a power that bears many, many similarities to the Source that gives us the power that we have experienced. The Sourcerers have come to know that Comet was the home of the Kaytaar and that it came to Vaklam with the intention of reforming their power and their own world here. What we were unaware of, even until recently, was that the Nexus was home to many other forms of life including the Founders of whom we will speak to at the end of this text.

Beyleethe was the last of the four worlds to be contacted by those members of Nagerson College who sought enlightenment outside the basic concepts of Sourcery. Witnessing the power that was growing inside the other three elemental colleges those left behind sought parity. The wing was controlled by Sienar DeRiche, a powerful Sourceress who, tired of the endless wars, sought a lasting peace through her powers and in the days after the second Daemon War, they finally broke through and contacted the world beyond. The words spoken in that moment of first contact have been lost to the winds of history but they led to a unique happening in the stories told of Sourcery: Through the power of the magics of Beyleethe the buildings of the College controlled by Sienar DeRiche vanished, taken to another world, summoned to the side of the Azonte Brek, the Elementals of stone as we knew them then.

The members of the Nagerson College who remained behind were patient at first, though eager for the others to return with new knowledge of unseen lands and powers. Slowly though, patience gave way to concern as the remnants of De-Riches college remained silent. A distant cousin of Sienar, Welsay Colar De-Riche, travelled from his stronghold in Delve to assist in the search for his relative, bringing with him a wealth of Sourcerous power. Taking charge of those that had attempted to contact her Welsay formed a new team following the lines of her research and attempting to recreate the parameters of her own experiments. For over three years he tried to reclaim the pathways to Beyleethe even going so far as to utilise the seven touchstones around which he had built his stronghold. Even with such power at his disposal he had to admit that there was nothing he could do and the quest was abandoned.

Then at the beginning of the fourth year as the project was being dismantled Sienar and her entire college reappeared. Their return was shocking in both their sudden manner and the through the changes that had taken place to not only the building but to the members of the College that returned with them. Of the hundred or so strong staff that had travelled across the planes, just shy of fifty had returned and each one of them had changed. Sienar herself was what has become known as an elemental, a fully fledged one as were many of her staff in one form or another. The building itself seemed to have been melted; various rock types merged as one and vast roaming towers of twisted glass interspersed with foreign metals and alien stone. It took almost a decade for the clamour of the return of the college to die and during that time the new house was quiet but not silent. Many approaches by Nagerson College and the Council of Magic were rebuffed but certain members of various factions from the Colleges of Sourcery were approached and recruited into these cyclopean halls and the power of DeRiche College established itself peacefully and efficiently filling a vacuum in the Council continuum.  Power is one thing but the responsibility to use it wisely is something that the family of the De-Riche college fully understand. To protect those that they serve not through the aspects of politics but through the prosperity that peace and protection achieved through tranquillity and repose.

So the years rolled by and the College became powerful as did the other elemental Colleges. But there was infighting amongst the Arch Mages and their protégés and a war between the wizards threatened to endanger the lands. Those that knew the ancient words of power or commanded great strength came together and formed the College of Controlling Power to govern the other five and to give opposition should the Clergy rise to political strength. The formation of the College of Controlling Power (CoCP) heralded a massive change for all of the Sourcerers and a settling of power. Despite the clear power that was flowing from the four realms the early conclaves had greater dangers that drove the dynamics of the direction that we as a collective would take. The Daemon Foe were at our door and the Sourcerous Colleges were not only older and more heavily established but they were also seen as natural, pure and drawing power from the world. The term "Source" was called into question and the right of our followers to designate ourselves Sourcerers was stripped from us, we were renamed fully to Elementalists, as we know now, an incongruous term.

During those early years many of the other Colleges struggled to develop their potential, the rules of the CoCP had yet to expand to understand what we were; we did not draw power from what was understood to be the Source of Magics. We were drafted into combats against Daemon Kind to support the armies and the protective power of iron and stone became one of the most effective shields on the field. We could not, however, turn the power of Daemon Kinds Corruption to our own ends, lacking in the training of the main Colleges and we were drafted to more mundane foes. Many that have come to our doors have, for that reason, arrived to learn the teachings of destruction but there is more than the end of things in the flame. These early years taught us the skills of artificing, the lores of the Azonte Brek, fearlessness, the culture of realms beyond our own and the diplomacy that comes with the travel to learn such.

DeRiche College has become known to be a greater extended family; those that join the family are extended their protection and the knowledge that has been handed down from the elemental fathers that taught the original members of the College. Their beliefs lead the teachings and arts of the College to focus on the natural protection and tranquillity that the world offers. Battle and warfare have never really been a part of their code and ethos although they will always take the field of battle if they are needed. Instead they have made the difference to the disasters that have befallen the Basin and indeed the world through their actions however sedentary they may seem. Their recruitment policy is somewhat stringent however; only those who represent with a clam and centred personality are admitted; the vetting procedure is extremely stringent. Those members that do end up joining the College of Controlling as Azonte Brek founders steer clear of inter college politics and wander the corridors of power seeking only enlightenment.

## Founder Overview

The people of the Vorok Core, what we have known as the elemental planes, have their own fables and myths about their creation, the dawn of their power and the words of their makers. Over the years we have come to understand and help to unlock the true mysteries of their dawn, it is important that we touch on that knowledge as we cover the early days and current standing of the College. The general knowledge of the people was that long ago the skies were lit by the great eye of the Founders, which we now know to be the Comet, as it passed over the four worlds of Ruaeth Kajhar, Jorven Kel Karenik, Beyleethe and Zartherinyialial. As the eye glared down its power was felt among the earliest inhabitants of that world and the Founders first gave their power to the worlds. As the eye passed so the Vorok Core was left behind, the home of the Founders, the Nexus, the heart of the Harrowgulf (a legendary place between the four worlds) and the place where all of their knowledge would be learned. From here it is said that the Founders taught the Mazamarati, then the ruling class, the building blocks of Magic and that they in turn taught the lesser races of the world but bought with them the subjugation of those that they taught.

As time has gone by we have come to realise that the Founders were one of the races of the worlds, great amalgamations of the races that inhabited the four realms. They had learnt their skills from the Nexians a race that shared their origins in the same homeworld as the Kaytaar. However the Nexians were a benevolent race that taught the Thirteen Founders the mysteries of the Universe on the grounds that they would only reveal a fragment of their knowledge to their followers, the Mazamarati, for fear that their power might be corrupted. When the Mazamarati learnt of this they rose up and nearly killed the Founders and a great war was fought as they struggled to overcome their teachers and take the power of the Nexians for themselves. In the aftermath the Founders fought among themselves but eventually destroyed the power of the Mazamarati and banished them to the Harrowgulf. In the days that followed the races of the four worlds became masters of their own destiny but the dreams of the Nexians were forgotten and war consumed the Vorok Core.

### The Dreams of the Nexians

Much later we of the Colleges and the members of those that houses to whom we are allied once more made contact with the Nexians and learnt much of their intentions from their first arrivals. They came to bring unity and their power to all beings, that it might be shared by all and understood by all. They came to build portals to the worlds that touch the edges of their own and to bring learning to them also. Alas the greed of those that serve power overcame their intentions and that dream was ended, in their madness the Mazamarati tried to enslave the Nexians and even through their power to entrap drakes and angels. Can these dreams be rekindled? Only through the power of the Colleges joined with the Realms do we believe that they can but the teachings of the Nexians should not be forgotten. Remember even the simplest of their wisdoms:

*“I have seen things you people wouldn’t believe things that will change how you see this world. Enough to drive men to madness. What is the largest number? Are the worlds infinite? Might every event repeat again and again and again? Your intuition is of no use here, faith alone can’t save you, where does the multiverse begin? Is Vaklam one of uncountable copies tumbling through an unending void in one you are rich on another you have yet to be born, these are the deepest mysteries of the universe. Pray silence as I present to you: Infinity.”*

### Code of the College of Controlling Power of the Black Table

The CoCP stands above the individual Colleges with regards to the following issues:

* Ratification of any new College Policy
* Delineation of any training outside of standard guild policy.
* Ratification of any policy that crosses the Golden Table
* Expenditure of Black Table Resources
* Control and reclamation of any Arcane artefacts
* Control of the Words of Power and associated masteries.

#### The COCP expects

* Full respect to all Colleges regardless of which you owe affiliation to.
* The adherence to the laws of the College and the land and to tolerate no disrespect or slight from members of the many lesser guilds and clergies.
* To show adequate respect to the laws of the College and the members of the Black Table that uphold them.

#### Code of DeRiche College.

The pact that you enter into with your Elemental house is a bond of the most sacred trust and will never be broken. To break such a trust will result in immediate expulsion from the College and your right to cast Sourcerous magics revoked for all time.

You will show all deference to the rigid guild system of seniority showing respect to and obeying the instructions of those above you in the chain of command.

Those in positions of seniority will not abuse their power nor their subordinates, tolerance of such action will be short and retribution swift.

Members are encouraged not to act outside of their departments unless absolutely necessary. Where it is necessary you are required to report your action to department heads at the earliest opportunity.

Every incantation that is taught to you represents your ability to manipulate the gentle weave of magic that surrounds each one of us. Once you have learnt to control that weave you are expected to use that power responsibly. Sourcerous power is not for show or the entertainment of the common folk. This is the realm of conjurers and prestidigitators, we are Sourcerers and we control the raw powers of Chaos and the elements.

We are not guilds, we are Colleges. We represent a faculty that has been established for over two thousand years. We are not a loose collection of half-trained rabble. You few chosen to walk our halls were chosen because you were considered to be the best and most able of your brethren. You will act accordingly.

Exploration of Beyleethe remains one of the major directions and codes of the College; it is an extended duty for the Azonte Brek to learn more of their origins and for us to assist them

**Words of DeRiche College**

Nothing that lasts can be built without the foundation of a secure bedrock

## The Four Chapters of De-Riche College

When a potential candidate for membership first comes to the DeRiche College they travel the prospective Chapters that will cover their training and also teach them the ethos that will lead them through the coming years. Each Chapter is pacted to an individual House that serves the Kingdom of the Heart Stones and it is from them that they, themselves, draw direction. The Chapters are very private areas, away from each other and with their own approaches; whilst the College is very much united the individuals that serve it are often private and insular folk who would prefer their directives to be their own. When the tour is over the initiate must make their choice and begin the teachings of that Chapter.

### Mafic Chapter - The Shield of the College

The Mafic Chapter have trained for long years to master the arts learnt on the field of battle. Traditionally they are the defenders of the College, armed and armoured and resolute.

**Body of Stone, Heart of Iron**

#### Ethos

The Mafic Chapter are the defenders of the College, attracting mainly the Keltar to their ranks but you will also find the occasional Grakarn calmly training in their arts. Mafic Chapter are tested continuously, working in teams that encourage the family feeling that the College relies upon to work as a seamless unit. They are trained to understand that the member of the College next to them is family and their life is shared with them. Azonte Brek attend the Chapter at all times teaching it's members the passive powers and arts of their warriors and how to harness the power of their heart stones to enhance the incantations of the Chapter to create powerful protective effects. Few complete the training of the Mafic but those who do are fearsome folk to encounter and worthy of the respect of any of their foes.

#### Areas of Power

* Combat
* Tactical Awareness
* Protection
* Physical Prowess

**Coer Il (Gnomish Kal-Takar):** Head of the Department of Defence:

Born in 1990 to a small family in the village of Quent, Coer Il is the exemplar of ordered thought, routine and patient directed action. She was born to a father who pioneered the art of dirigible combat throughout its development in the 20th century PPW and his wife, a schoolteacher. Her parents did not remain together however and Coer was to be sent to a boarding school but was instead chosen by the College to learn and develop. Following in her father's footsteps she has chosen a military career through the college. Once she had completed her training she worked her way through several off world campaigns in the name of the fundamental houses that she served before returning to the College and taking up the role of the head of department of defence. She is considered to be a fair but difficult commander; keeping strict regimen but equally rewarding those that work to the distinct parameters that she lays out before her.

##### Duties

Alongside the Code of the College we follow a specific list of Duties and general orders that keep us within the remit of the College:

* Protection of the other member so of the College during the execution of their own duties
* Answering the call to Battle that the CoCP will put out during times of crisis
* To lead missions operated by guildfolk from the various guilds should no other College Official be present.

##### Azonte Brek House of Kordred Mar

**Lord of the House**: Hokorok Igneousback

**Owing Fealty to**: The Crumbled House of Ancient Sands.

**Vassal Houses**: The houses of: Jade Servants, Sapphire Stares, Opal Blades

**Specialising in**: Battle, Durability, Fortification, Defence.

**Enemies**: The House of the Devoted Servant

**Ethos**: The House of Kordred Mar are the Battle Lords of the Crumbled house of Ancient Sands. They have fought in more or less every battle that has taken place under the Ancient Sands banner, masterminding every victory and learning from every defeat. The house is a house of tactics and strategies, warriors and engineers designed towards short battles and long standing sieges. The members of house Kordred Mar are a curious selection of individuals, they are, despite their profession, all soldiers; that is to say that they act like soldiers, they speak like soldiers and they respond like soldiers. They believe in unswerving loyalty to their lord and an overwhelming sense of duty to lay down their lives in the defence of their house, kingdom and each other.

**House Symbology:** The house carries a Black Shield on a White background.

**Expected Duties:** Pacted members of house Kordred Mar must be of a military mindset before they are allowed to join. When they do they become effectively extensions of the overall will and purpose of house Kordred Mar. They are honour bound by any oaths that they have taken and are expected to act with unswerving loyalty to their liege even laying down their lives for the cause to which they are loyal.

##### Pacting to the House

When a character joins the Mafic Chapter they become pacted to the House of Kordred Mar and are expected to follow its ethos. It is to this house that you will owe your duty in return for the strength and powers that they give you. With them you will perform many duties and see your power swell as the pact between you strengthen.

### Breccia Chapter - The Finders of Secrets held below the Ground

Nothing passes the eyes of the Breccia, no matter how deeply hidden or how far down it is buried the Breccia will find it and use it to strengthen the position of the Guild.

**Truth is stone that paves the way to wisdom.**

#### Ethos

The strength of the College, as we are masters of incantation, comes from the understanding of the lore upon which our magics are built. However much of this knowledge is lost even to those who give us their tuition and beyond that secrets are kept by those with power to retain that power. A principal of openness and a directive to seek the truths that would further the above ends are something that the Breccia have taken to all levels of their lives, be that social, political or professional. To this end the Breccia have become those that seek truth for the benefit of the guild, truth about the histories of their people, the betterment of the individual and for the furtherment of the laws of the land. Often feared and always respected they hold a place in the College and in CoCP society as peacekeepers and custodians of inner security issues. It is a place for Grakarn and Kal-Takar with the Azonte Brek that watch over them.

#### Areas of Power

* Lores
* Law and punishment
* Secrets
* Observation and Understanding

**Tular Zol Grethaorn (Granite Heart Grakarn) Head of the Department of Lore:**

Born in 1903 in the Arrowgate Verge Tular began his career as a Skald in the Beldarashian colonies, wandering from township to township he accumulated the stories of his people swiftly but found the act of embodying the story something that he could not quite grasp. The longer he remained among his kind the more he realised that they could never fill his head with the stories and knowledge that he sought to fulfil his life. So he moved on, joining the great insanity that is the Royal Basin. Upon arrival he was approached by the College who sensed his arrival and great link to the fundament. He has never looked back. Through the College he has a well ordered and calm lifestyle that grants him access to new planes and knowledge that he would not have had the privilege of in his own homelands. His ability to retain knowledge is exemplary and his cognitive processing is without question allowing him to apply his knowledge with impunity. Since his time with the College he has expanded his skill base, becoming far more articulate than his life a Skald allowed him.

##### Duties

Alongside the Code of the College we follow a specific list of Duties and general orders that keep us within the remit of the College:

* Passing on all Law, Lore and knowledge that will prove useful to the furtherment of De-Riche College, the CoCP and its other supporting Colleges.
* Deciphering the truth and validity of any newly discovered or researched lores and facts and ensuring that nothing that has no purchase is worked from.
* To seek the truth in disciplinary affairs within the College and adjudicate on any internal trials, providing sentence for punishment.

##### Azonte Brek House of the Echoing Caverns

**Lord of the House**: Polikarata Jadeheart

**Owing Fealty to**: The Shining Tower of Ruby Gold.

**Vassal Houses**: The houses of: Onyx Sight, Silver Swords, Platinum Hearts.

**Specialising in**:  Concealment, Power (Magical), Observation, Understanding.

**Enemies**: The House of Bitter Winds, The Order of Quickened Lightning (Outlawed Elementalists Guild)

**Ethos**: The House of Echoing Caverns are a house dedicated to bringing knowledge and understanding to the Shining Tower of Ruby Gold. Their ranks are filled with scholars, sages and keen observers of other races culture and outlook. This knowledge and observation is channelled towards the advancement of the Stone elemental adaptation of the magical forces that exist in their plane. Whilst the pursuit of knowledge is something to be admired within the house their unwillingness to share the information with outsiders, including houses not allied to the Shining Tower is legendary. They are regarded as an arrogant and egotistical house who believe that their own grasp of Sourcerous (specifically the manipulation of Stone magics) far outstrips any others.

**House Symbology**: The house carries a black Star on a White background.

**Expected Duties**: Pacted members are expected to spend their time deep in closeted research, observing and recording their findings of new and interesting subjects. This knowledge is eventually to be applied to the furthering of the Sourcerous arts so research should lead in that direction. Any knowledge gained in this way should only be shared with the College of Stone, its members and of course the members of the house of echoing caverns.

##### Pacting to the House

When a character joins the Breccia Chapter they become pacted to the House of the Echoing Caverns and are expected to follow its ethos. It is to this house that you will owe your duty in return for the strength and powers that they give you. With them you will perform many duties and see your power swell as the pact between you strengthen.

### Hornfel Chapter - Makers and Controllers of Power

Hornfel Chapter harvest the artefacts and relics that are brought home by the members of the guild and ensure their use in strengthening the College and the power that it represents

**The walls of power are built by artifice.**

#### Ethos

It is hard to say what happened to the Sourcerers that became the Hornfel Chapter when they travelled to the world of the Beyleethe. Hornfel Trast and his followers were nearly killed, according to the histories of the College, when they arrived by followers of the House Lembar. The reasons? Unknown to all but those who know the oldest traditions and antiquities but shortly after Lembar attacked them they ushered them away and they were not seen again for many months. When they returned they were different, changed, altered in some way but had gained strength and power. House Lembar had passed to them artefacts which are kept to this day in their structures, with it came a thirst for the control of power. The Hornfel are charged with the regulation of artifice and raw power in the field and its return to the College for assimilation and use by its members. They have been trained to lead, to control and to master not only magic but also those around them. With regards to seniority they observe the ranks of the College and defer where appropriate but in the field with other guilds and the like they consider themselves to be senior in all things.

#### Areas of Power

* Control
* Rules and Commands
* Power
* Artificing

**Eryck Depp (Human Grakarn):** Head of the Department the Hornfel Chapter and of Artificery:

Born in 1988 in the city of Koren; Eryck Depp is amongst the worst artificers that has ever turned out a cog or screw. So inept with his hands is he that he has had to have specific tools that are able to follow his verbal commands made for him, under his own instruction to his own plan. Eryck’s knowledge of the skill is unique, his mind is always working, designing more and more interesting techniques. However the translation of the brilliance in his head through his hands and into practice is another matter. He has no ability to work as an artificer, much to his shame. However his knowledge of past and present masters of the craft is second to none. As such he heads up the department trailing older more experienced makers in his wake. He is like a whirlwind of thought and action and is often found caught up in the excitement of a recovery mission or in the field screaming instruction as automatons are returned from the field of battle when he should be at his desk in the College buildings. As such, his the anomaly within the College, the only mark of chaos that Source magic brings.

##### Duties

Alongside the Code of the College we follow a specific list of Duties and general orders that keep us within the remit of the College:

* Gathering and return of artefacts to the College
* Distribution of Artifice
* Understanding of artifice

##### Azonte Brek House of Lembar

**Lord of the House**: Galshik Diamondskins

**Owing Fealty to**: The Shining Tower of Ruby Gold

**Vassal Houses**: The Houses: of the Ruby Tears, the Pearl Tongue and the Agate Heart

**Specialising in**: Feuds, Tyranny, Strength, Artificing.

**Enemies**: The House of the Blood Red Sun, House of Granite (animosity), House of the Primal Flame.

**Ethos**: The House of Lembar have risen far in their time as a major elemental house; during their earlier years they had risen no further than a vassal to the now destroyed House of Towering might. However via a series of manipulative acts and the instigation of various feuds and wars the House of Lembar is the most powerful house under the rulership of the King of the Shining Tower of Ruby Gold. The house believes in the power of itself and those directly affiliated to it. All other houses should become subservient to the House of Lembar and owe vassalage to them, in order to achieve this they encourage feuding between rival houses, enforce tyranny over those houses in service to them and believe in strengthen the powers and pacts of house Lembar as they go. It is expected that those pacted top House Lembar obey their wishes and conform to their actions in all things. Despite this somewhat ruthless attitude the House has developed a most excellent skill in Artificing probably adopted from their vassal house of the Ruby Tears.

**House Symbology**: The house carries a silver crown on a black background.

**Expected Duties**: Members pacted to the house Lembar are expected to lead in all things, no matter what they are. No pacted member of house Lembar can be seen to be weaker than another or not to be the master of his or her own destiny. They are also expected to be strong leaders who will not back down from opposition and instead stamp their mark on any given situation or individual. Any elemental summoned from house Lembar is to obey in all things and shown the proper respect due to a being of such standing.

##### Pacting to the House

When a character joins the Hornfel Chapter they become pacted to the House of Lembar and are expected to follow its ethos. It is to this house that you will owe your duty in return for the strength and powers that they give you. With them you will perform many duties and see your power swell as the pact between you strengthen

### Skarn Chapter - Callers of the Champions and Chancellors of Power

Skarn Chapter are privileged to be among those that have the right to summon the Lords and Ladies of the House of Granite. They are rulers, leaders and decision makers of the College.

**The Chain of Command is dug from the Iron of the Earth**

#### Ethos

The powers that walk the halls of the College are many but those that wish to lead and to learn the true art of power tread first in the rooms of Skarn Chapter. Legend states that this chapter was accepted by the line of Ironscales and that if you are one of their number you are taught to call upon the Azonte Brek of their line and that they in turn will teach you the true secrets of leadership and control. Skarn acts as a buffer between the secretive and unique operation of the DeRiche College and the College of Controlling Power, many of the traditions that are carried on behind these closed doors are allowed because of the weight of history that the Skarn bring to bear. The core of the Chapter is built around long standing respect and it is this respect and trust that the honour of the order is built on. None would dare challenge a Skarn unless they themselves had shown weakness poor judgement and an inability to guide safely. The Chapter is comprised of a mix of all forms of those that come to learn at the DeRiche College.

#### Areas of Power

* Unity
* Rules and Commands
* Forward Thinking
* Summoning of Power

**Head of the Department of Research and Development:** Xela Le Coman (Tzi Tzain Ju Man Takar)

Born in circa 1230 in an unknown locale but discovered in the village of Delve Xela Le Coman has led a remarkable life. In 1232 two representatives of the village of Delve came from the Wooded Ways to the port city of Mallierunne with a Tzi Tzain child. They said that the girl had been found abandoned at the heart of the Golden Endeavour and that she had the heart of the old division. She was taken in by the College of Controlling Power and disappeared from the view of mortal folk for over two hundred years. During the war of seven lights the College building that she was held in was raided by the Church of Rayvahn and she was recovered by priests of the Dark Lady undoubtedly to be re-appropriated and her power researched by that faith. However a retaliatory strike by the De Riche College rescued her to a much more sympathetic guild that took her in and trained her. Her past remains a mystery; she speaks little but writes great volumes of text in her efforts to push the boundaries of Sourcerous magics. Many believe that she is researching her own background, past and origins in the time that she spends deep in the arcs of the purity.

##### Duties

Alongside the Code of the College we follow a specific list of Duties and general orders that keep us within the remit of the College:

* Promoting unity among the family of the Colleges Members
* Taking questions to the Lords and Ladies of the House
* Taking control of situations when there seems to be no other choice.

##### Azonte Brek House of Granite

**Lord of the House**: Dorgo Ironscales

**Owing Fealty to:** The Crumbled house of Ancient Sands

**Vassal Houses:** The Houses: Diamond Blood, Emerald Sight and Onyx Voice.

**Specialising in:** Summons, Protection, Forethought, Unity.

**Enemies**: The House of Thunder, House Lembar (Distrusted)

**Ethos**: The House of Granite were once the rulers of the Vast Stone, one of the provinces of the Planes of Stone. However they became invested in a war against the house of Thunder instigated by the House Lembar and lost their position and power. However they remain a respected part of the Azonte Brek community and are valued for their staunch duty of protection of their vassal houses and of the House of Ancient Sands. They firmly believe that the elemental houses should stand as one under the same banner in order to foster peace and prosperity between their number and have, since the great war, been known for their attention to thinking through any action before rushing brazenly off to who knows what end. House Granite where among the first to enter into pacts with the Colleges and their elementals are highly sought after for once an elemental of house Granite allows a pact to be made they will assist and help you to till the last of their strength leaves their body.

**House Symbology**: The House carries a Black triangle upon a white background.

**Expected Duties**: Those pacted with the House of the Granite are expected to act with wisdom and patience in all matters. If they have become part of a group or organisation outside of the boundaries of the Colleges then they are to work to preserve the unity of that group and to act for the protection of each individual member and the ethos for what that group stands for. Any Azonte Brek summoned by the pacted member will be treated as though they were a member of that group and offered every hospitality.

##### Pacting to the House

When a character joins the Skarn Chapter they become pacted to the House of Granite and are expected to follow its ethos. It is to this house that you will owe your duty in return for the strength and powers that they give you. With them you will perform many duties and see your power swell as the pact between you strengthen.

### Roles of College Members

The members of the College are trained to act as the Azonte Brek teach us and as such we fall into the three roles that emulate the rankings and positions of the scholars of the houses of the Heart Stones:

#### Kal-Takar

A Kal-Takar has eschewed the use of weapons and armour, in general, finding that the natural elements of the world constrict the use of the power of the Azonte Brek to greatly. They are scholars of the Lores of the Colleges, the Gods and the World in which they live. They are the most skilled in mastery of the arts of magic and also diplomacy, widely respected they have little ability in the martial field. They often tend to be teachers and scribes and those that venture into the field do so in search of knowledge rather than excitement and adventure. Regardless they have great mastery of magics and the powers of protection, patience and wisdom that allow them to stride the world demanding the respect that they have worked so hard for.

#### Grakarn

A Grakarn is trained as both a combatant and a wielder of the arts of the Azonte Brek, often referred to as an Ironback the Grakarn is the most potent weapon at the Colleges disposal. They are the most common of the acolytes of the DeRiche College and have a presence in many of the other guilds and courts across the land. Whilst they do not excerpt such influence as the Kal-Takar they spend their time teaching, speaking and following the traditions of the Azonte Brek. Grakarn make up the backbone of the Guildic groups that travel through the lands doing the will of the Iron Table and also populate many of the battalions that grace the Basanic Armies.

#### Keltar

The Keltar are the Warrior Class of the College and as such they are usually tied to the Mafic Chapter where they train in potency and steel to be able to join the ranks of the Azonte Brek on the field of battle. They always spend at least two years at our cousin order; Ithyarn learning the secrets of blending Sourcery with the martial art forms and when they return they keep that knowledge safe under whatever oaths they are bound to whilst there. Understandably the Keltar spends much of their time serving the Basanic armies but when they are not they are found most commonly in the service of the other orders of directly powerful Azonte Brek.

### Ceremonies of the College

There are several ceremonies that are performed during the year by the College that mainly revolve around the teachings of the Azonte Brek. There are many political and intricate observations that have to take place before we leave this realm and travel to theirs but these are not truly what you might call ceremonies. We are at best believers in the Gods, Spiritualism is not something that we embrace however we can respect the sacrifices that are given in the name of the defence of this land.

### Major Centres of Power

The Colleges are very, very old and as such they have bastions of varying size and power everywhere; every major city, every populated area, every place where daemons may be present there can be found a place of Sourcerous power. Commonly these buildings are towers which are well shaped for the control of the Source as well as flaring of Daemonic corruption and from our point of view the movement between worlds. However each of the four orders has a Tower in what are considered to be key, powerful locations crossing Ley lines of direct importance. The originals were either moved or destroyed when Maryat fell but they all exist now in one form or another in the capital of Haven.

### College Uniform

The College is not in the habit of enforcing a dress code; during powerful ceremonies the traditional robes that have been marked with the appropriate runes should be worn. This is often, mistakenly believed to be the Sourcerers most common garb but is a misnomer. Robes provide the most expansive materials and coverage; most deep rituals require the presence of thirty plus runes and markings and space is a premium to clothing. In the field we recommend whatever is comfortable and most sensible with as much holding potential and protective capability as possible. In court or similar areas a College Member should appear both regal and imposing in order to establish themselves as a power without the use of words. They should not be in the habit of following fashion.

In all Circumstances the College Member must present the colours of DeRiche College: a Black background with a White Diamond in the centre and the symbol of the elemental house to whom they are pacted.

### **Lady of DeRiche College**

Sienar DeRiche (Human (Yuirfarvallen heritage) Ju-Man Takar))

Born 34 PPW: According to ancient College records Sienar was born to an Yuirfarvallen Father from the Harthalian Woodland and a human Mother from the township of Delve, herself a powerful Sourceress. From an early age she showed magical aptitude in both of her parents chosen fields, her father was a Vormearn strong with Ravage. It was her Mothers magic, guided by her cousin Welsay that led her to the Colleges of power where she began her training proper. She flourished under the training of Coldor Amerisharik who himself was an apprentice of Dean Sheriq Van Urow and showed such skill that she was quickly appointed to one of the research departments dedicated to the expansion of Source magics. In these early years she was noted for her fiery dedication to her devotions; her career portfolio was littered with merits and plackets of commendation for her work.

Documentation of her journey to the elemental planes remain undocumented as does the experience which oversaw her transformation into a founder of that place. However; this era marks a dramatic change in the dynamic of her relationship with the world of Vaklam. She has never left the College since its return. So long now has she remained in the living stone halls of the great edifice that she is now at one with them: The chambers that were once her quarters are now a living embodiment of her essence, her mind and her soul and she is able to manifest within them at will. She is also at one with the College buildings and has forged primal links into the founders homelands drawing strength, knowledge and power from what she now considers to be her own home. Regardless her leadership, insight and wisdom are second to none, she is considered to be eternal and is often visited by Quinn Shadowreaver who, many presume, comes to her to be advised or to unburden himself after the responsibilities of leadership become too great.