Сливк 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 Zartherinyialial hung in the black sky, frozen and near inert, in the early stages of development when Vaklam was a seething mass of Earth Tribes and battle. Already life was forming there, life that would form 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, the Nexians. 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, let us first examine the beginning of our contact with Veknymolchaniye

*Сливк* was a Lairdan-Gan, according to the legends, who had been a member of what is now called Valordian College. Rumours surrounded his past claiming him in one camp to have belonged to a powerful group, working as an artificer and battling Daemonfoe whilst others painted him as a disgraced member of the Nagerson College who had consorted with the great enemy. Other stories would plumb the depths of his parentage and lay various great or nefarious deeds at his door to such an extent that despite his obvious skill he buried himself and his past into the paperwork and bureaucracy involved in the formation of this new College. However his impressive abilities as a Sourcerer could not be overlooked and he often found himself involved in journeys to the world of Ruaeth Kajhar in the name of Diplomacy and the Valordian College. His entourage, the Aelith Raym, were involved in much of the trade and talk that occurred to bring about the peace and union between the houses and the College. Eventual Lords of the Colleges acknowledged him and gave ground to him as did the Ueahrn that could do little to counter his words and his intelligence. Little did any side know that they were being observed and that the calm, uncompromising Eaölf had become the target for a hitherto unknown group.

*Сливк* vanished during a precursory visit to the edge of the Harrow Gulf along with the Aelith Raym in a raid formed by what we know now were the Veknymolchaniye, although at that time they nearly sparked a war between the Royal Basin and the Ueahrn. *Сливк* emerged from the Harrow Gulf after only a few weeks in concealment and put an end to any idea that he had been taken under forcible coercions. A few days after that he and the Aelith presented their vision of the *Сливк* College, detailing the houses that followed the Mirrored Truths and demanded that edifice from Zartherinyialial be allowed to stand here in the world of Vaklam among the mortal folk. It was a choice easily made and soon the College joined the ranks of its comrades with *Сливк* firmly at its helm: Justice is Blind. This has stood as the motto of the College for Centuries; since its early inception; the College of Ice and Vapour has been treated as the shadowy, dubious and sinister version of magic through the basin. It is an image that perhaps the College has assisted and abetted over the years and it is one that has stuck.

During the early years of their formation the college, as the Raym grew in power and created sub branches of themselves, formed a great many dubious alliances with, hitherto unknown, houses that seemed to cross the Harrow Gulf away from Zartherinyialial and onto other worlds . Many of these proved to be detrimental to both the College and to the safety of the basin in general as the dwellers of those distant worlds attempted to exert political and social influence on the then rulers through their control over the prominent Sourcerers of the day. Suspicions ran rife and the old stories began again as many remembered the supposed duplicity of  the Lord of the College; the Controlling Power was bought to force and a huge investigation unleashed against those of Ice and Vapour. Eventually through this effort and the support of what turned out to be the untainted Tsims, Kali Tsims and the efforts of various Council of Magic members Сливк and his supporters were overthrown. Сливк it was discovered had been killed and replaced in bizarre and unwholesome ceremony in the Harrow Gulf  several years earlier by a prominent Veknymolchaniye whose influence was to be felt for many years to come as it escaped into the world. This early taint has hung over the College since that day and despite various other leaders attempts to neutralise such stigma there is a definite feeling of enmity between the College its Sister. Many great heroes have come from the College to stand against the enemies of the Basin. But perhaps these heroes have been few and far between, their actions have been a little *too* zealous, they have tried too hard and proven nothing. And so to this day a sinister pall hangs over the college and its members, a gentle distrust mingled with the respect that such a caster should demand, the power of illusion permeating all.

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 it was difficult for us to develop our potential with the Collegiums, 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 that we could not win, our magics were different, whilst they were effective the corruptions of Nagerson, now Morrigun College, did not enhance them as it did theirs. However *Сливк* College came to the fore as spymasters and information brokers and were employed as such during peace and wartimes; our coffers filled with funding and our mastery of the magics that sustain us was developed quickly and efficiently. Sadly our chequered  past overshadowed our normal efforts and the guild has never made its way onto the Council main, and so *Сливк* College now served two masters; the Veknymolchaniye and the CoCP as well as their own ends as they tried to fully master the power that was at their command.

But time has passed and *Сливк* College has become a centre for diplomacy and learning, focusing on those arts and the skills of illusion, misdirection and shadows. Battle and warfare have never really been a part of their code and ethos although they will always take the field 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. Despite these actions their open door policy on those that they admit for training from various corners of the world have led them to be mistrusted and excluded from some of the higher echelons of power. However the internal struggles of the Colleges cause the formation of alliances that none saw coming and this is often overlooked. Alongside us The CoCP soon became one of the most powerful political groups, standing off frequently against the clergy. However its superior organisation and its unbreakable consolidation has allowed it to become the closest advisor to the Crown. The wisest choice and decision for all involved.

## 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 home world 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 *Сливк* College

* The pact that you enter into with your Vorokian 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 Zartherinyialial remains one of the major directions and codes of the College; it is an extended duty for the Veknymolchaniye to learn more of their origins and for us to assist them.
* The summoning of any Veknymolchaniye or others of their ilk is a sacred ritual and the undertaking of any such action will involve either a predetermined agreement or an arrangement that occurs in favour of the Veknymolchaniye when it is summoned.

**Words of the College**

Only the weak are hampered by the slender veil of truth

## The Four Institutes of *Сливк* College

When a potential candidate for membership first comes to the *Сливк* College they travel the prospective towers that will cover their training and also teach them the ethos that will lead them through the coming years. Each Institute is pacted to an individual House that serves the Lords of Mirrored Truths and it is from them that they, themselves, draw direction. The Institutes 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 Institute.

### The Institute of Sevik Irrikarum - Knives from Concealment

The way of the Sevik Irrikarum is the blade in the dark, the quick knife and the gurgling death, blood chocking, life taking.

**Like a whisper in the night your life is ended.**

#### Ethos

There is no doubt that we must learn to battle, to defend ourselves and to kill but to take another life becomes simple upon the field of war, away from that theatre things change. Those dedicated to the training of this institute are destined to accompany the Kali Tsim and occasionally the Tsim when they travel into hostile areas of the world for diplomatic and ambassadorial duty. They are expected to be alert to danger and stand as guard, quietly, without emotion and efficiently, in the face of extreme hostility that would provoke a situation if poorly handled. They may also be expected to walk silently through the corridors of the power, enter a room unseen and end the life of a traitor or enemy that threatens the freedoms of the Colleges, the Rulers and the Common Folk of the Royal Basin. It is expected that should leave alive along with their living chargers after such an act.

#### Areas of Power

* Mastery of Emotion

* Swift Death

* Vigilance

* Battle

**Head of the Institute of Sevik Irrikarumn and Head of the Department of Response: Kalithor Pall (Tzi Tzain Tsim Sevik):**

Kalithor is a cold eyed and cold hearted Tzi Tzain whose roots can be found across the sea in Helgath where he was said to be a native of Shi Lakayr. His age can only be guessed at but he had the hue of middle age about him when he arrived in the Royal Basin in 1782 and little of his life has involved slowing the process of ageing. There are three boards in the main chambers in which he teaches the warriors of the Sevik Irrikarum; one that show the basic principles of combat, one that details the principals of the control of the emotional principals and one that is scored with the markers of what people claim are those that he has killed. All three hundred and twenty six of them.

##### 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 those members of the College that fulfil their diplomatic duties at all costs.

* Governance and flow of information that is heard during the execution of their duties.

* To end the life of the enemies of the College and the Royal Basin as they are commanded to.

##### Veknymolchaniye House of Mulartin Syn

**Lord of the House:** Phoilorikinailitial Der Zi Tchorik Wqirit

**Owing Fealty to:** Mirrored Truths

**Vassal Houses**: The Houses of: Solvorn Wayl, Korortok En and Lyiathag

**Specialising in:** Calm Moments and Inner Peace, Mastery at Arms, Observation and Vigilance **and the** Merciless Killing of others

**Enemies:** The houses; of Blood and Flames

**Ethos:** The Houses of Mirrored Truths are named for the first of their line to be raised to prominence and base their ethos and direction on their progenitor. Mulartin Syn was the warrior that slew CharGraisse of the House of Blood and Flames, who walked their halls and eliminated the threat to the Mirrored Truths. He asked no price, naming an endless loyalty to his house as his motivation; he and his followers viewed the ending of life as simply another process in the struggle to rise ones house from the dirt and to protects its way of life. Through observation, continuous and unending the house is protected and through the art of battle are the lives within left safe.

**House Symbology:** A knife, dagger or dirk with a white Tassel attached to it.

**Expected Duties:** Those pacted with the House of Mulartin Syn are expected to uphold the values of loyalty and obedience when dealing with their allies and superiors. If they are told to end the life of another they are expected to execute that order calmly and dispassionately. Failure to do so will result in the immediate breaking of the pact between the house and College member.

##### Pacting to the House

When a character joins the Sevik Irrikarum they become pacted to the House of Mulartin Syn 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.

### The Institute of Aelith Raym - Hidden Power

The way of the Aelith Raym is the truth unseen, hidden in the numbers, the mask of a thousand faces, unseen in plain sight, the unlikely blade.

**A lie, more believable then truth, is deadly.**

#### Ethos

The Aelith Raym were there at the very beginning, when *Сливк* himself was still a member of Valordian College and even then they were powerful. They hid among the openly powerful as bureaucrats and auditors of information and in this way kept the truth of their strength hidden from Sourcerers of greater station. Such is and was the ethos and purpose of the Institute, a philosophy that remains to this day; to operate as controllers and leaders unseen and unknown, to guide from behind heroes and scapegoats alike. Through the control of others knowledge flows to the College and allows the Aelith Raym to lead us but to serve the CoCP and the council, or so they believe.

### Areas of Power

* Espionage

* Manipulation

* Knowledge

* Control

**Head of the Institute of Aelith Raym and Head of the Department of Lore: Lynisar Zarrid (Tzi Tzain Aven Tsim)**

Lynisar Zarrid is a born and bred of the Royal Basin and has little about him of his Helgathian origins, in fact he was born in 1722 to Talikanar and Fortiana, both members of the College where he was raised. For many years the majority of folk believed that he would go on to rule the College but that was not to be the case, at least not openly; there are more than a majority that believe that he is the true voice in the CoCP and even a few that are convinced that he speaks to Quinn Shadowreaver himself. Either way he is skilled with his techniques and the delivery of his lessons that guide those that follow. He is inspirational, devoted and driven to the betterment of the Colleges and all of Daer Akmir, qualities that are rarely seen or felt in Sourcerers as a whole.

##### 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:

* Observation of leadership
* Doing what others may not be prepared to do
* Acting to keep another's moral compass in check through action.

##### Veknymolchaniye House: Talikan Traym

**Lord of the House:** Bethsheryiad Ki Le Marik Trip

**Owing Fealty to:** The House of Mirrored Truths.

**Vassal Houses:** The Houses: Firebane, of many forms, of the tireless watcher.

**Specialising in:** Illusion, observation, knowledge and Espionage

**Enemies:** The House of Thunder, The House of the Blood Red Sun, The House of Blood and Flames.

**Ethos:** The house of Talikan Traym is named for the first of his line to be raised to prominence by the House of Mirrored Truths and is based on the ethos and direction of their progenitor. Traym was a great and wise leader of his house who kept the other houses checked, despite their war like state, through cunning and guile and the governance of their secrets through espionage. This tradition has continued throughout the aeons with the followers of Traym following the courts of the other great houses with detailed interest and eventual enlightenment, few scandals or hidden titbits escape their attention for long and once they are in their arsenal they are not afraid to threaten their use or, indeed, see those threats through to fulfilment.

**House Symbology:** A Scroll Edged in Gold and bound in white silk

**Expected Duties:** Those pacted to the House of Talikan Traym are expected to uphold the role of leadership and control however more than that they are expected to enter enemy or hostile territory and to operate outside the remit of the law in order to gain information of value to the house and their own sovereign nation. They are to do so in the full knowledge that if they are caught they will face trial and punishment for their actions as though they were their actions alone.

##### Pacting to the House

When a character joins the Aelith Raym they become pacted to the House of Talikan Traym 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.

### The Institute of Volkar Ma - Artifice and Crafting

The way of the Volkar Ma is quiet and meditative, calling to the creativity of the soul and the hands of the maker. Shaping, making and channelling power with intent of only craft in the heart .

**The only truth is that which we craft with eyes closed and heart open.**

#### Ethos

In the cacophony of a College in which the whispers are so loud that they are almost screams the institute of Volkar Ma stands alone as the quite centre of what it is to truly be a Tzim. Away from the lies and the espionage and the hiding and the falsity the Volkar Ma are comfortable in their mastery of the craft. They are seekers of perfection and expression and not just in the realm of artificery and Sourcery; they are painters and sculptors, craftsmen and artisans. All members of the Volkar Ma are revered in the College, many of the other members will seek them out, talk to them and describe to them their deepest passions or fears, often as a way of coping with the weight that is placed upon them. In turn the Volkar Ma create for them a calm from that emotion, and from that calm comes the power that is the artifice that so perfectly supports the College.

#### Areas of Power

* Artifice.

* Expression.

* Understanding.

* Calm under emotional strain.

**Head of the Institute of Volkar Ma and Head of the Department of Artifice: Syther Ma (Veknymolchaniye Kali Tsim)**

Alyana Syther was born a human in 1978 in the great city of Norfell and originally joined the Morrigun College, training as a member of the Order of Fay A Ryn. However she excelled in the magics of Ice and Vapour and soon came to realise that her hatred for Daemons was less than her love for both the power of the Veknymolchaniye her ability with artifice. She joined the College and the Institute of Volkar Ma and went on to become one of its most expressive members. Her work was so inspiring that it took the attention of  Zartherinyialial Ma, the head of the house of the same name. Through the work of Syther the sons and daughters of the house were lifted off a great curse and the mortal was made immortal, one of the Veknymolchaniye for all time in return for her service. Regardless she returned to the College and continued her work, teaching others her own creativity and that of her new people.

##### 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:

* Hearing the weight of another's soul and making that an expression.

* Expressing one's own passion through artifice.

* Recovery and return of relative artifice to the College.

##### Veknymolchaniye House: Obikilan Ma

**Lord of the House:** Zartherinyialial Ma

**Owing Fealty to:** The House of Mirrored Truths.

**Vassal Houses:** The Houses: of the Watchful Wake, of the Black Sails, of the **Withered Hand and of** the Many Mirrored Hall of the Ruby Walker

**Specialising in:** Crafting, Artificing, Cursing and Curse breaking and Expression.

**Enemies:** The Three Sisters, The Fallen House of Charn, The Models of Wyrn, Tzanar Tzin, and the Callous Touch of Lord Fyre.

**Ethos:** The house of Obikilan Ma is named for the first of his line to be raised to prominence by the House of Mirrored Truths and is based on the ethos and direction of their progenitor. Obikilan Ma was a minor power in the Court of Mirrored Truths but rose to prominence when his work with the ailing children of the Lords of that mighty edifice saw them freed from a darkness that was growing within them. His skill overcame the power of some of the most wicked magics cast by the Mazamarati and trapped it for all time in unbreakable craft. From that day forward the House has served their Lords acting as trouble shooters and curse breakers for the line. They are free and able to wander the lands and few will cross or raise words against them for the respect that they still and always will hold within the house of Mirrored Truths.

**House Symbology:** A black wand with a white silk sash

**Expected Duties:** Those pacted to the House of Obikilan Ma are expected to offer their service to the court of the Mirrored Truths and its associated houses as artificers and curse breakers, caregivers and truthspeakers. They are expected to act as such regardless of their situation and if they do not step forward when required face severe punishment.

##### Pacting to the House

When a character joins the Volkar Ma they become pacted to the House of Obikilan Ma 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.

### The Institute of Sobiyal - The Channeling of Sourcery

The way of the Sobiyal is a great and powerful institute that is at the heart of what the College does; through the mastery of the arts of the Sourcery and power we give strength.

**Power is a truth that even lies cannot undo.**

#### Ethos

There is a centre to every powerbase and the College finds its centre with the institute of Sobiyal; here the Kali Tzim learn the true mastery and power of their art, delving into the secrets of the Veknymolchaniye and the knowledge that was bought with us from the Nagerson College into the Сливк College. Our duty is to provide the true art of Sourcery to the College, whilst the others delve heavily into political matters or artificery we must present a front to the Royal Basin that presents us as though we are wholly a part of the same puzzle of the CoCP. It is a great and difficult undertaking; much of the power that could be guided into Sourcery for the other Institutes is guided here and we are tasked to master it. To fail in our duty would cause a great imbalance in the College and that would cause damage to the base of Sourcery as a whole.

#### Areas of Power

* Sourcery.

* Channeling of Power.

* Exploring new areas of Magic

* Secrets

**Head of the Institute of Sobiyal and Head of the Department of Research and Development: Var Rav (Human Kali Tsim)**

Var Rav was born Harold Govel but decided on a more traditional name in his final year of training as it gave him a more Сливк College feel . Born in 1967 Rav is one of the most popular faces in the College, he is cheery, happy and most importantly he is open and trusting, taking many students under his wing and helping them onto greatness. However, despite this somewhat buffoonish demeanour, Var Rav is extremely powerful in the Sourcerous Realm having mastered not only the arts of Ice and vapour but also various incantations usually forbidden to his College so impressed with him is the College of Controlling Power. That organisation have tried to tempt him away on various occasions but he sees his role in this College as far too important to give up.

##### 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:

* To teach the arts of Sourcery to their greatest extent

* To protect the interests of the other Institutes before their own

* To constantly seek and develop new forms of the old craft.

##### Veknymolchaniye House: Belshiriad

**Lord of the House:** Mir Po Coronot Silk

**Owing Fealty to:** The House of Mirrored Truths.

**Vassal Houses:** The Houses of Filtered Light, of Ilkinso and of Garakarako

**Specialising in:** The Ancient Knowledge of the Veknymolchaniye, Power and Sourcery and harnessing strength .

**Enemies:** The Endless Spiral, The House of Noveliko and the Brotherhood of Dreamless Days.

**Ethos:** The house of Belshiriad is named for the first of his line to be raised to prominence by the House of Mirrored Truths and is based on the ethos and direction of their progenitor. Belshiriad was a sage of the Nexus and spent much of his time mastering the knowledge and the arts that are associated with it. It was through his ceaseless work and pioneering that the Veknymolchaniye of House of Mirrored Truth came to the mastery of their realm and a great deal of understanding regarding the Founders and the nature of their own kind. The dream continues with the House continuing the work that their founder started long ago, their aim being to one day enter the Nexus and present its secrets to their Lords.

**House Symbology:** A white silk sash wound around each forearm.

**Expected Duties:** Those pacted to the House of Belshiriad are expected to offer and any all research into the magical realms that they follow to the house at the earliest opportunity. Failure to do so will result in the House taking strict and immediate measures against those with whom they have shared their own secrets.

##### Pacting to the House

When a character joins the Sobiyal they become pacted to the House of Belshiriad 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 Veknymolchaniye 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 Deep Shards:

#### Kali Tsim

An Kali Tsim 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 Veknymolchaniye too 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 spies and information gatherers and those that venture into the field do so in purview of their duty 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.

#### Tsim

A Tsim is trained as both a combatant and a wielder of the arts of the Veknymolchaniye, they are happy to do battle in the field or around the table of diplomacy and are the most potent weapon at the Colleges disposal. They are the most common of the acolytes of the Сливк 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 Kali Tsim they spend their time teaching, speaking and following the traditions of the Veknymolchaniye. Tsim 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.

#### Aven Tsim

The Aven are the Warrior Class of the College and as such they are usually tied to the Sevik Irrikarum where they train in potency and steel to be able to join the ranks of the Veknymolchaniye 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 Aven Tsim 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 Veknymolchaniye.

### 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 Veknymolchaniye. 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 Centers 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 Сливк College: a red star on a white background with the symbol of the elemental house to whom they are pacted.

### Lord of Сливк College

#### Gench Jonahs (Human (Aven Tsim))

Born in 1937 Gench appears, still, as a human in his prime operating on a day to day basis in every way the Warrior that he was during the fifties and the sixties, however it was not always this way. He rose to the pinnacle of his skills and completed well over two hundred successful missions for the College rising in rank to be the head of the Sevik Irrikarum whilst still under active duty in the field. However one fateful day in 1976 he returned from a duty in Rhygahrea with his charge dead and the diplomatic papers that he was supposed to be carrying lost. His service record up until this point would have been enough to keep his reputation virtually unstained but instead of relying on the College to protect him Gench undertook a pilgrimage to the world of Zartherinyialial, ostensibly to seek the wisdom of the Veknymolchaniye but instead he vanished, at the time it was presumed forever. He did not return until the late summer of 1981 and appeared as he did in the sixties as he would do in the nineties as he does now and perhaps he will for the rest of time.

Gench is quiet, unspeaking and rarely spends his time in company, instead he relies on a form of Sourcerous telepathy that he learnt on his sojourn to indicate his wishes and guidance for the College. He keeps close company with the Institute leaders and often attends classes of the Sevik Irrikarum demonstrating techniques and form via silent movement of the peerless and perfect form. He is skilled and threatening as a leader and clearly a force to reckoned with at the College of Controlling Power. Many believe that he is in fact nothing more than a puppet for other members of the College and that no-one returned from Zartherinyialial; everything was an elaborate ruse in order for other parties to seize power. Whether that is true or not is difficult to say but certainly Gench is unlikely to tell you or anyone else for that matter.