Dragons of Tirenia

There is an inner magic in humanity. It is this magic that lets their souls mingle with those of other races, and which lets them access the magic of the world around them. There are a few, however, who have learned to turn their gaze inwards, and draw power from themselves.  Being a mystic is an inherently personal thing, requiring self-knowledge. Most mystics therefore are self-trained, or apprenticed to another mystic who guides them. There are a few gymnasia that can teach this, as many mystics promote self-knowledge and self-examination in the community around them. These philosophers are not always popular for doing so. Art: 'An Allegorical Figure of Calliope'. Cosimo Tura, c. 1460.

The world sees artificers as a type of wizard, who have focused on technology over magic. It is artificers who are responsible for the creation of the cannons that have become a standard part of the army, and artificers who are researching smaller hand-cannons now. Mechanical clocks and the press are also both new creations of artificers. While these devices are extremely rare at the moment, they will only become more common, and will transform the world.  Art: 'A Goldsmith In His Shop'. Petrus Christus, 1449.

Wizards are those who have learned to manipulate the magical forces of the earth through study and ritual. Much of their learning was pioneered by the legendary wizard-king Mercurio of the Eight Ways. He codified and mastered all eight of the paths of magic which wizards today now follow, and connected the study of magic with the study of chemistry, physics, biology, and astrology. Most wizards today need a patron, and so many serve guilds, nobles or dragons who are able to finance their studies. Many also learn their arts at one of the many universities in Tirenia. There are wizards there who identify likely students and take them under their wing. Many wizards keep in touch with their colleagues, to share information. The largest network of wizards is the Rememberers. This group is concerned about the censorship of knowledge and the rewriting of history by the dragons, and works to preserve knowledge from being lost. Art: 'Dante Alighieri'. Luca Signorelli, c. 1500. ...

Warlocks are those who access magical power through an intermediary, after making some sort of pact or covenant with them. All three groups of the Host have warlocks, although demons have by far the most: it is their preferred way to meddle in the world. The angels, meanwhile, have created very few warlocks throughout the history of Tirenia, and fairies tend to do so haphazardly, as the situation arises.  However, there is one more force that has begun to create warlocks. People who have been infected with the Great Death and survived have begun to manifest strange magical powers. Did they make a bargain with the intelligence controlling the Great Death? Or, having left its mark on them, can it force a pact on others against their will? The motives of the Great Death are inscrutable, but its work in Tellaia has only just begun... Art: "The Witches' Sabbath." Francisco Goya, 1798.

There are some who are born with the ability to use magic naturally. Often this is because of some accident around their birth. The energy that funnels along ley-lines bubbles and burns, and children born upon a confluence may have an instinctive ability to draw upon their power. If the child is born during a mighty storm, or during an eclipse, they may be able to draw upon the lightning or the shadows to aid them. The other way in which sorcerers are created is by being descended from an inherently magical being. Most often, this occurs among dragon-born, who are often able to use some part of their progenitor's great power. For this reason, sorcerers are often adopted (sometimes forcibly) into noble families: anyone who wields such power must be descended from a dragon. Art: "Circe Offering The Cup To Ulysses." John William Waterhouse, 1891.

Rogues are probably the most common class in Tirenia. Anyone who is defined by their profession rather than their ability to fight is probably a rogue. From assassins to artisans, from courtiers to criminals, rogues are ever-present in society.  The most well-known roguish organisations are criminal ones. Most crime across Tirenia is locally organised - there is no such thing as a 'thieves' guild' - but the Benevoli has its hands in most organised crime across the land. These crime-families originated in southern Tirenia, and it is strongly believed that the black dragons have a hand in them. Another roguish organisation is the Winnowers. This secretive mercenary order carries out assassinations on request. They are very hard to contact, and charge excessively high prices. However, their specialty is discreteness. Their crimes are often disguised as accidents or natural causes, after they spend a considerable period of time scouting out the target and infiltrating e...

Some warriors have always been more in tune with the outdoors. Even in Tirenia, where the wilderness has been pushed back a long time ago, there are still people who feel a kinship with animals, and who can use the power of druidism to a small degree. The master of the hounds or a bounty hunter might both be rangers.  There are two groups of rangers that are especially important in Tirenia. The first are the Wayfarers. Merchants regularly travel across dangerous lands, and many want to find new trade routes or partners. The Wayfarers are a loose organisation of guides, scouts and bodyguards, who will assist merchants on their travels. Meanwhile, the Brothers of the Wolf are an ancient secret society from before the time of the dragons. According to legend, its founders were raised by wolves, and so they live among the wolves and offer sacrifices to the Wolf God. This rite was originally connected to kingship, and the Brothers of the Wolf still today have many important pol...