The Realm - Avagon

So you're playing or want to play a Mage in Avagon, huh? Well, you'll need to know a bit about how magic works in Avagon then.

Low level Mages in Avagon are like any other low level Mages anywhere else. They study their spellbooks, and gain levels as normal. Levels 1 through 4 are spent as any other Mage spends their days.

But, upon getting to the point where a Mage can become 5th level, a decision must be made. Either the Mage must journey to one of the towers on Arcania Island and pledge loyalty to it, as well as take a test, or the Mage can decide to become a REN (Renegade Mage).

The Towers
There are 3 towers on Arcania Island: High Tower, Grey Tower, and Dark Tower. Grey Tower is fairly new to the Island and is still a bit of a mystery to the outside realm. As it stands, High Tower deals mostly in the more wholesome Magical Arts, while Dark Tower will delve into the more seedy side of Magic. Grey Tower seems to exist for those not wanting the more strict rules of the other two towers. Wild Mages favor Grey Tower. These towers hold some sort of power over Avagon. An "invisible shield" if you will. This "shield" controls the Magic on the Avagon. This "shield" also is the driving factor behind a Mage pledging to a tower or becoming a REN.

Many people have asked me if my towers are based on the Dragonlance series. First, I have to say that there are many similarities that I have seen since I've finally read some of the books, but overall, no. My towers weren't based on Dragonlance. Just as my realm wasn't based on any other book a name may seem familiar from. This Realm was created over 20 years ago. And although I add or change to it here or there. The names and main focus points have been around for over 11 years now.

The towers rule over Magic, and the Island, in unity. Each tower has an Elder that rules over that tower. The 3 Elders also hold seats within the Hall of Kings and are typically invited to all meetings of the Kings (Whether or not they usually show up for trivial matters is another story). Students are allowed to study between towers. If a Lawful Good Mage of the High Tower needed to study up on Undead or Necromancy in general, that Mage would be allowed to study for awhile in the Dark Tower. Although at odds with the typical student of Dark Tower, the LG Mage would grudgingly be allowed to study.

The towers hold strict reign over Magic within Avagon. All magic items, except certain artifacts or very old magic items, are made within the towers and distributed to authorized Magic Shops within Avagon. Any Mage caught making items without tower permission, and off Arcania Island, risk having their status with a tower taken away. In effect, they will become a REN. Needless to say, Black Market magic items will cost you double, if not triple what you will pay from an authorized dealer. Training facilities and Guilds within the realm are under strict order not to train anyone that has taken the path of a REN.

Mages that become members of a tower must test and pledge their allegiance. At the time of testing, you pick the color that represents you personally. More than one Mage can have the same color. Upon passing the test and becoming a member of the tower, any Magical effects take on this color (i.e. Lightning bolts are blue and fireballs are blue, if blue is the color you have chosen). Members also get a symbol of the tower that magically identifies them as a tower member when travelling the realm. Once a member of a tower, you can be called on at any time to perform a duty of service to the tower. Refusal is not an option. Refusal to perform tasks, can make you an instant REN.

Testing varies for each Mage. Testing is not taken lightly by the towers, and those that test and decide to take it lightly have ended up dead more than once. The towers offer no safeguards to Mages at the time of their testing. If a Mage has a companion or two that they vouch for to accompany them in testing, the towers will usually approve, but make the test that much harder. These companions can not be other Mages.

Becoming A REN
RENs have a rough existence. At 5th level, if a Mage becomes a REN, the "shield" over Avagon starts to affect them. Although they can still cast spells, they run the risk of being injured by their own magic. It is not uncommon for RENs to collapse, have severe headaches, nose bleeds, cough up blood, etc as a result of casting even the simplest magic. RENs will also find it difficult to find trainers to level. And if they find a trainer in the "mainstream" that will risk training, the training cost is doubled. RENs are also typically hunted by the towers if their existence is made public.

So why be a REN? The ultimate power.

RENs that make it to high levels are rumored to have reached a new level of magic. Some say that RENs of power can actually absorb the magic around them and use it to their advantage. Is this why RENs are hunted by the towers? But where are these RENs? And how many actually exist, if any? Still, the rumor of such power draws many Mages to the side of the REN.

No one knows much about RENs. The general public of Avagon tell tales of RENs to their children as bedtime stories or for punishment. "Keep that up, and the RENs will get you!" And if the towers are better informed on RENs, they aren't sharing the information either.