Deimus Aelle

The Deimus Aelle is a group of sages and learned scholars from Laetheril. They are linked to the national government, and are the main researchers of the nation in all arcane and occult matters. They have a grim reputation as ruthless intellectuals, willing to go to extreme lengths in order to increase their knowledge.

# Origins

With the stability that comes from a unified state, multiple institutions were established, each with their individual purpose. One such institution was the Deimus Aelle: founded by decree of the Etheril government around the year 545 AS, it was a group of sages and learned scholars whose sole purpose was to study the origins, effects and conduits of the magical energies discovered centuries ago in the Laethian population.

The Deimus Aelle was given a sizable plot of land near the mountain's slope, and access to the area was limited to those explicitly authorized by the group. Here, they built a series of installations that would help them accomplish their purpose: living quarters, libraries, laboratories, experimental chambers... All of these were gradually expanded, and the Deimus Aelle soon cemented itself as a relevant actor in the nation's politics, not because of actively participating, but because their research and its consequences were often impossible to avoid.

# Organizational structure

## Hierarchy

The Deimus Aelle doesn't follow a traditional hierarchy, as no member is officially superior to another. There are however unofficial ranks inside the organization, that shift depending on seniority and influence. Despite these internal conflicts, the Deimus Aelle presents a united front when dealing with external matters.

# Research

## Power sources

On a normal day in the valley of the Etheril, during the year 553AS, the quiet life of the elves was interrupted by a massive sonic blast that was heard coming from the central mountains. Although not strong enough to cause physical or personal damages, it was loud enough to cause a brief episode of mass hysteria before the city guard of Daeganor managed to calm things down, occasionally by force. Shortly later, it was confirmed that the sound came from the base of the mountains, where it was generally understood that the Deimus Aelle was located.

After an investigation that took multiple weeks, Eneriades knights reported to the Etheril government that an accident occurred during the research of magical substances with the intention of creating a magical weapon. Apparently, the mixing of different elements was discovered to create small explosions, but the proportions of the elements mixed proved to have unexpected effects and magnified the power of the explosion much more than predicted. As a result, 3 members of the Deimus Aelle were killed, multiple installations were completely destroyed and multiple damaged, and a large crater now decorated the center of the institution’s base.

The new crater in the Deimus Aelle's installations was put to use as a sort of "magnifier" of magical effects: although it wasn't entirely understood, it was noted that any process that required magical energy was made more potent just by virtue of being in its vicinity. However, this came with an unsettling and dangerous discovery: this increased concentration of magic attracted the unwanted attention of strange semi-spectral creatures that roamed the area at night. In their frustration after not being able to locate the magical source, they viciously attacked anyone that came close.

## Constructed existence

The research of the Deimus Aelle in this field was sparse, despite the apparent massive first success of the group. Soon after the involuntary creation of the crater in the group's headquarters, the spectral wraiths that roamed the area at night became a problem. In their hubris, the Deimus Aelle dedicated their efforts towards a single goal: creating an autonomous being that would be able to permanently protect the premises against any physical or ethereal threat. In the year 559AS, the result of this research came to be: it was a mighty golem, made of pure magically-charged crystal, that was then brought to life by a sudden burst of arcane energies. The instant the golem was awoken, it smashed everything in its way until it broke free of the Deimus Aelle facilities and immediately headed towards the forests. No attempt to recreate another crystal golem has been successful ever since.