The Tethered Harness (Organisation)

The Tethered Harness is a major faction operating within the continent of Ahlus.

## Description

The first of the three major magic schools and guilds to be set up in Ahlus, followed shortly afterwards by both the Academy of Erudition in what would become the city of Oxresh and the Crimson College of Redbloom in Atralran. Despite this, the Tethered Harness is perhaps the least known to the common folk of the continent by nature of its arcane protection. Unlike those two aforementioned, the Tethered Harness does not exist in a defined location on the Material Plane, for it was instead placed into a augmented demiplane existing just outside of conventional reality by its founder, thought to be accessible only by use of potent magics channelled through a custom-made arcane component akin to a planar tuning fork.

The Tethered Harness is no less of a presence on matters of the arcane because of it however, for operatives and recruiters of the guild continually seek out opportunities to study the arcane, whether through ancient artifacts, arcane histories or other relics of the past, and likewise recruit potential students that show promise and determination.

## Goals

While counselling responsible and measured use of magic when surrounded by those unprepared or unable to withstand its potential, the Tethered Harness encourages its members to experiment freely in the name of innovation, considering imaginative uses of the arcane to overcome challenges presented throughout day-to-day toils and the tumult of adventure likewise. Throughout this though, forethought of the potential consequences is paramount, though these should never be used as an excuse not to explore possibilities, but rather necessitate further efforts as an additional response to the initial aspirations.

## Tenets of the Tethered Harness

* Commitment is a tether to your past. Never allow yourself to be tied down in worthless promises and harness your power to keep moving forward at all costs.
* There are always more answers to gain, more secrets to find. The seeking of knowledge, regardless of the reason, is a noble pursuit.
* The wealth of our understanding grows through exchange. Freely share knowledge with those that offer some in return, while shunning those hoard information.

## Relationships

The Tethered Harness maintains a friendly rivalry with the Crimson College of Redbloom and the Academy of Erudition in Oxresh, often collaborating with either or both on larger projects, but all the while competing with them for the attention of promising students to join their number.

Though originally intended as a defence mechanism against attacks from dragons, giants or other creatures capable of assaulting a floating island, the sequestered nature of the Tethered Harness has resulted in waves of scrutiny from some authorities, who believe that the Harness is surely trying to hide its true intentions. Rumours are often circulated of the involvement of its members with criminal syndicates' smuggling efforts, owing to the guild's ability to open doorways between locations freely with use of the arcane, although this is a claim that has been repeatedly refuted and dismissed on account of a lack of evidence.

## Characters

Whether at the start of their magical journey or having decades dedicated to a life of academia, those individuals blessed, or cursed, with arcane talent might maintain a link with the Tethered Harness, or seek to learn how to wield magic for the purpose of selfish or selfless personal goals. Recruiters for the Tethered Harness are most common in larger cities, though from time to time they are known to scour smaller towns and villages to uncover those with arcane potential.

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