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Black Star Guild

The Black Star Guild


History of the Guild

The Black Star Guild traces its’ origins to an elite group of mages well versed in the arcane arts with a passion against the ways of the fae. These progenitor mages were the original students of Rosetta who left Fae: some in shame when he was condemned by Oberon, others fleeing for their lives when hunted down for being associated with Rosetta. With hatred and survival in their hearts, they sought to ply their trade in exchange for the basic necessities of life so that one day they could have revenge on their traitorous kin. Over time, the true origin of the Black Star Guild became shrouded. Whispers of wonder and mystery surrounded the guild in the mortal realm for many years. As they spread their lessons of magic and hatred for fae, they faded into the background. It wasn’t until the early 1000s that they started to make their ever looming presence felt.

Though not seen, the Black Star Guild’s effects on the state of both fae and the mortal realm were well know in several incidences. It was the Black Star Guild that provided Titania with a gift called the Cup of Mists. After drinking from the cup, Titania started to lose her hold on reality and began her descent into madness. Prospero took a very active and somewhat public role in dealing with the adventurers of the Realms in 993 and posed as a merchant. Later he showed himself to be an accomplished caster and summoner of elementals. He was tracked for the next few years to little avail. At the gathering later known as ‘What Fools these Mortals Be’, it was Prospero who brought the seventh and final Wayland blade to the gathering. When all seven came together, the Furies were unleashed.


Organization

The Black Star Guild is divided up into five different sects each with its’ own internal hierarchy. The thought is that each sect was originally named for each of the First Age counselors of the Queen of Fae. It is unknown how they interact with each other and if there is an overarching governing body within the guild, thought one recovered paper hints at a Grand High Master. Despite this, to an outsider it appears that the Circle has a large range on influences between sects.

Each sect within the Black Star Guild is headed by a High Master, who attends to the majority of decision making in the group. Underneath the High Master, is the title of Master. Masters of a sect are still able to make decisions for large groups of mages but report directly to the High Master. Underneath Masters are standard mages, acolytes, scribes and initiates. It is unknown what the direct hierarchy under the position of Master is.

The Circle: Named for Rosetta, the Counselor of Fire and Space, the symbol of the Circle is a black star or pentacle on a field of purple. The Circle is made up a variety of magic users. Rune mages and summoners appear to be the most extensive casters, but that is only based on encounters between the Guild and adventurers.The Circle is run by High Master Lord Roger Byecross, who seems to have extensive connections and influence throughout the Guild. Master Ragnar Blackmane brokered a cooperative effort between the Guild and the heroes of the Realms during the assault on Wayland’s fortress.

The Shield: Named for Nimbus, the Counselor of Water and Sky, the symbol of the Shield is a black star or pentacle on a field of blue. The Shield is a martial sect within the Guild focusing on fighting prowess, tactics, and even assassinations. One known outlet for the Shield is the Blue Shield Academy. They function as a recruiting point for the Black Star Guild as well overseers for “curing” fae. Within their building, there were fae whose ears have been cut to look like those of humans and who force themselves to hold cold iron and fae stones despite the pain because they believe they have been cured and are no longer fae. Some members of the Blue Shield Academy that have been seen previously also wore the favors of the Chimeron militia. The Shield have been seen wielding the magics of Wayland to combat fae.

The Force: Named for Masks, the Counselor of Sky and Space, it is unknown what the symbol of this sect is but it is suspect to be a black star or pentacle on a field of white. Almost nothing is known about this sect save that they have been referenced by others in the Guild as “our brothers in white”. No members of the Force have been identified as such to adventurers, though the name of their leader has been found to be Nakama.

The Torch: Named for Rel, the Counselor of Fire and Earth, the symbol of the Torch is a black star or pentacle on a field of red. Very little is known about this sect of the guild. They are believed to be another more martial sect, like the Shield, leading combat situations for the Guild.

The Hammer: Named for Gwydion, the Counselor of Water and Earth, the symbol of the Hammer is a black star or pentacle on a field of green. Through recovered letters it appears that the Hammer sect has broken apart. The Hammer utilizes less magical power and more invention knowledge and service to accomplish their goals. Two previous High Masters were killed on orders of the High Master of the Circle. The last High Master, Wintas Yarwen, urged the people of the Hammer sect to break from the Guild and look to Aurora for guidance. Wintas Yarwen found out that he and the Hammer had been lied to about the actions of the Guild and he, feeling remorse, tried to save others from the Circle. He is thought to be an Auroran of some faith. Those who stayed with the Guild were integrated into other sects or thought to be killed. Yarwen himself was claimed to be executed by the Guild on the orders of High Master Lord Roger Byecross of the Circle, but at the time of this document it has been determined that he is still alive, and that the Circle executed a ‘dupe’.. It is believed that some members of the Hammer are still out there and have turned their back on their former Guild brethren completely, with the majority of the former members hiding in the vast kingdom of Chimeron and other parts south.


Magics


The mages of the Guild initially learned much of their magic from Rosetta. As such they are accomplished rune casters, though other types of magic such as augury or ritual magic are readily employed by members. Though the origins of the rune magic were lost over time, the mages have developed or traded for for different knowledge over generations. The Guild mages on the whole are accomplished summoners and ritual mages. Some have been know to use abjury and invocations to higher powers as well.

The Rune magic is a ritualistic type of magic involving symbols cast in circles of 1, 3, 5, or 7 runes. The effect of the casting depends on the interactions of the individual runes used and can vary wildly. If runes are used improperly or in a way where no effect is derived, paradox can take place. Paradox is the force of the magic going “somewhere” but redirected by reality in such a way that the energy is expelled, usually in an annoying or unfavorable way upon the caster or his surroundings. Paradox effects vary in style and power and in duration of effects. Paradox and its effects cannot be removed through the use of the runes.


Recent Activities


While it has been touched upon many times, the end goal of the Black Star Guild is the destruction of Fae. There are also those within the Guild (suspected to be in the Circle) that desire the freedom of their founder from the curse of the faeries. There is some discrepancy in whether the Black Star Guild knows that their founder trapped in the Mysts is Rosetta (and a fae) or whether they think he is a human mage. The thought is that if he is released the Guild will somehow benefit from this in the form of gaining power. The Guild has taken great strides to try to break Rosetta’s prison by trying to kill any of the families of the fae (particularly the Harkon line) involved in sealing Rosetta and using their death to weaken the bonds. So far these tactics have been slowly successful.



Created by Faelinn Shadowmoon (Leanne Micciche) at 05-26-11 04:48 PM
Last Modified by Janna Oakfellow-Pushee at 09-06-16 01:16 PM