The Sealed Tome

The Sealed Tome was an arcane faction that existed in Ahlus after the Astedian Ascension.

## Research

### Completed by Zareyl Arkenviir

*Following the defeat of Atralran with the breaking of the Siege of Iron, the once minor Realm of Astedia had succeeded in their conquest of much of Ahlus, now the dominant ruling Realm in the entirety of the continent. As part of the sweeping administrative changes carried out by the Ethnarchs installed to rule over the conquered and capitulated Realms, the Ten Guilds, cornerstones of magical research, study and teaching were absorbed into the High College of Claxinns. There was a certain sense of irony to the occurrence, given the College's formation by a disenfranchised former acolyte, but nonetheless for most members of the Guilds little changed. It is true that for while for many the value of their guild's specialty was held in high regard and value by the Astedians and so achieved further success still, there were those that suffered for the changes. Both Guilds based within Atralran were dismantled with little hesitation, a happening often claimed to a political decision, given the resistance presented by the Atral people to the Astedian advance bolstered by Wandslingers trained by the Guilds of the Crimson Blossom and Bronze Oak. Nonetheless, the members of these were too offered an opportunity to join the High College directly - but there were a few notable members that refused.*

*First and foremost amongst these was Ealwant Besculus, the former Archmage of the Guild of the Crimson Blossom and staunch supporter of the Goldlor family and the Atral identity. Joined with a small contigency of loyal acolytes and votaries that came to be known as the Sealed Tome, he originally holed himself up in his place of residence - the Pillar of Ualune - before being forced to move on following creation of arrest warrants and other bounties placed on his head for his capture. The subsequent cat-and-mouse chase lasted nearly twenty years, with Astedian Inquisitors uncovering secret cells of Atral loyalists and would-be revolutionaries. Dryly remarked as being like "prying open a barrel expecting a rat and finding it filled with maggots" by the High Inquisitor Misk Soulbay, the time spent rooted out insurrectionists would allow Ealwant and the Sealed Tome to continue to evade capture for a time - although facing up against the near insurmountable resources of the Empire it would be only a matter of time.*

*Despite it, what continued to surprise and challenge the Inquisitors - now colloquially calling themselves the Ratcatchers - was the sudden advance of magic prowess of those that they hunted so zealously in the name of the Emperor and the Increscent Six. Acolytes that had just started their training before defecting with the ex-Archmage would suddenly have arcane powers requiring years of study, attaining them in a matter of months - and occasionally quicker still. Though Ealwant Besculus vanished entirely after nearly two decades, this remained a constant matter of worry for the members of the Inner Sanctum. If an apprentice could match a skilled mage through unknown magics given half a year, what could an archmage as skilled as Ealwant Besculus achieved in twenty years if he continued to delve into the murky depths of the arcane?*