Mage Guild of Bral

The Honored Mages' Guild of Bral

Purpose:
         The mage guild is relatively large, as virtually every wizard who
comes to Bral joins it eventually. The Guild exists to benefit its members
by certifying magical ability, providing access to magical materials and
knowledge, and providing a place to socialize with other members of the
mystical professions. The Guild remains strictly neutral in Bral politics,
but does not require that individual members do so. Anyone who practices
wizardly magic may join the guild, there is no distinction made between the
various schools of magic. Even the occasional bard has joined.

Dues and Ranks:
Magister (levels 1-6) Dues:10 gp per month
Wizard (levels 7-13) Dues:20 gp per month
Mage (levels 14+) Dues:50 gp per month
An examination costs 50 gp

         At each level the member receives a small badge magically
inscribed with
the Orb and staff symbol of the guild, the member's name or sigil, and the
certified rank. Those who hire wizards are familiar with these marks, and
prefer to hire certified mages, when they can.

Organization & Leadership:
         The Guild is run by a Guild Council, which sets dues, runs the
certification examinations,  and administers the Guild Tower. There are
seven members of the council, on the first of each year the members vote on
the positions (they are called 'Masters'). To be eligible, one must be a
member of Wizard or Mage rank with dues paid up. Masters do not have to pay
guild dues, so many seek the positions. Those interested place their names
on the list, the Guild membership votes, and the the seven with the most
votes are inducted into the Council. The council then divides their duties
among themselves, one member is Head Examiner, one is the Guild's
representative to the Council of Captains, another is the Master of the
Guild Hall, and one is the Editor of the Crystal Ball. The other three
council members act as a tribunal should anyone be accused of violating the
Guild laws.
         It should be noted that the Guild Laws are very lax; essentially, one
cannot commit fraud against other members, or attack one another within the
Guild Hall.

Benefits:
         The Guild offers a variety of services to its members, financed by club
dues, sales from the Crystal Ball, and examination fees.
         A tavern for members only is on the main floor of the Guild tower.
Prices are quite fair, and the atmosphere is excellent. Only members and
their
guests are permitted, but bringing a priest is considered something of a
faux pas by the older, more conservative members, and those who resent the
competition with priests for helmsmen positions.
         A message board where mages may advertise to sell, buy, or trade their
spells, items, or information is maintain in the hall outside the tavern.
Aside from the rule against cheating a fellow member, these transactions
are unregulated.
         A Hiring Board, where mages may advertise their services for
merchants and others to hire them as 'guild sanctioned' mages. This board
is in an office
in the long semi-circular set of stables and servents quarters which
half-surrounds the Guild Tower. This office is always staffed, and is the
place where non-Guild members are sent if they have buisness with the
guild. Those mages willing to take on apprintices also advertise here.
         A Guild Library which members may use for research. The books
within are
only useful for broad research, for spells of 1st to 2nd level max [4,000 gp
total value]. Because so many members make use of it, research time is half
again as long as it might normally take, while the mage waits for others to
finish with the books he or she needs. Use of the library is free, but tome
may not be removed from it.
         Laboratories for magical research are available for rent on the upper
floors of the tower. (50 gp per day, plus materials and damages). There
usually is a wait of a day or more when when reserves a laboratory for use.
         The guild offers some magical components for sale, these are offered at
80-130% of their normal price, depending upon rarity.
         Finally, the Guild produces the _Crystal Ball_ broadsheet, a
compilation of news in Bralspace and elsewhere which adventurers,
merchants, and governments might find useful. The Guild collects the
information in many ways, sometimes purchasing information from travelling
bards, sometimes using magical scrying, sometimes sending agents. The
material is never guaranteed, and it's believed some Editors have accepted
bribes to keep something out of the broadsheet, or to include a false
rumour. Guild members may purchase a copy for 5 gp each, for non-guild
members it costs 10 gp.

Headquarters:
         The Guild is headquartered in a tall, dark tower near the temple
district. It's surrounded by a broad grassy lawn (quite the luxury, on
Bral) and has a second building around it in a half circle, which hold
storage rooms, servents quarters, and stables (those members with
fantastical mounts like griffons or Comet Horses stable them here for a
small fee). The bottom floor holds the tavern, and offices. Upper floors
hold the laboratories, library, and meeting rooms of the Guild. A Furnace
Golem, exquisitely polite, is the door warden, he only allows members and
prospective members to enter.
         For those with access to it, I highly reccomend using the Guild
tower map provided in "Where Wizards Meet" in Dragon #139.

Notable Members:
         -Gamalon Idogyr, a powerful mage who runs a shop which sells magic
items. Gamalon is apolitical on Bral itself, and he exerts little influence
in the Guild as well. [after Tethyr's Reclamation War, Gamalon returns to
his
native Toril]
         -Master Elias Sturn, a powerful Abjurer who has been on the Guild
council for a decade. He has held the position of Head Examiner for that
entire
time, provided a great deal of consistency in those examinations. Elias
dresses in gaudy merhcnat clothing, favoring the color gold, and is grey
haired and wizened. His hair is usually curled on the sides, and he
resembles an aged courtier far more then an accomplished wizard. He often
takes apprintices, running the closest thing Bral has to a mage school in
his High City townhouse.
         -Noj the Double-edged is a powerful wizard who has much experience with
curses. Noj appears to be an elf, as a result of a botched polymorph spell,
but was born a human. He is well known for purchasing cursed magic items,
which he tries to turn to practical use. He refuses to purchase items which
are specifically evil, however, though he offers aid in destroying them.
         -Danelesty is a very attractive young female magister. Many of the
unmarried wizards on the Rock seek her hand, as she is both skilled and
beautiful. She has a dove for a familiar, and often hires herself out as a
helmsman. Damelesty is typical of the most common guild members, living
month to month, and looking to advance in Art and funds.
         -Lady Dahlia Mingor is the head of one Bral's noble houses,
like many in
her class she treats her magical abilities as a diversion or game. She is
the usual host of the Guild's social events, however, as she is determined
to get the members, 'Out of their darned book and into someone's arms at
least occasionally!'
         -Prince Aric Cozar, son of Prince Frun and nephew to Prince Andru, who
watches him like a hawk. Aric is a firm supprter of the Guild, and is an
accomplished Wizard-class member himself. Aric has never sought a seat on
the Council, despite the liklihood he would be elected, for fear of
antagonizing his uncle.
         -Proconsul Gaderic Main is Prince Andru's court wizard. Many think this
cold, unpredictable old mage is simply in the guild to keep tabs on it for
the Prince.
         -Nolan DeVries is the representative of Gaspar's Reclamations on
the Rock, he often seeks those who are selling magical items out looking
for product.

Bibliography

"Where Wizards Meet" by John C. Bunnell, Dragon #139
SJR5 Rock of Bral
Spelljammer Boxed Set
PHBR3 The Complete Wizard's Handbook

Trading Cards:
"Noj the Double Edged" AD&D Trading Card #423, 1992.
"Danelesty" AD&D Trading Card #548, 1992.
"Gamalon Idogyr" AD&D Trading Card #36 of 495, 1993.
"Gamalon's Gem of Infravision and Detect Magic" AD&D Trading Card #76 of
495, 1993.
"Master Elias Sturn" AD&D Trading Card #678, 1992.
"Aric Cozar" AD&D Trading Card #35 of 495, 1993.
"Lady Dahlia Mingor" AD&D Trading Card #337, 1992.
--
"...How shall a man judge what to do in such times?!"
"As he has ever judged," said Aragorn "Good and evil have not changed
since yesteryear..."
J.R.R. Tolkien, _The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers_

Paul Westermeyer,  pwestermeyer@????????.??.com