Highland: Magic in Highland

The history of magic in Highland is the story of a few unique and legendary researchers who through their genius have advanced the techniques and power of sorcery. Even up to the last century a mind like that of Charles Dodgson could make great strides in their chosen field. His spells remain the state of the art in mentalism, and one commonly used in East Highland still bears his name, the infamous “Dodgson’s Eyetrick”. But it was his Phantasmal Reality formulas that truly made his name in the annals of magic. Dodgson was known for his advocacy of openness among sorcerors, a stand not known before or since. He gave some of his spells freely; others he traded on condition that he be allowed to make free the spell he acquired. His most famous trade was his first level Minor Phantasm for the freedom of the second level Silence, a spell which, as a mentalist, he had no use for, and Farseeing.

One of Dodgson’s contemporaries, John Isaacs, virtually created the field of metamagic, and attracted students from around Highland who eventually became the Order of Hidden Mysteries after the Zodiac dispute. While many of Isaacs’ magics have been lost following the dissolution of the Zodiac, his spells and those of his school remain the core of the metamagician’s bag of tricks.

Despite the high regard in which sorcerors hold the giants of their field, sorcerors remain secretive and highly protective of their own spell repertoire. Many spells are available only to students of certain teachers, or in certain areas of the world. Some spells have been lost completely and cannot be known unless they are found again.

Classical wizardry is limited to the Christians of West Highland and the Elves and Gnomes. Even the so-called “barbaric” Celts use a form of mnemonic wizardry involving rune carvings. Similarly, the gypsies of Great Bend use a form of mnemonic wizardry involving rings or gems.

The many orders of mages in and around Highland include the Order of the Astronomers, the Order of Illustration, the Stigmas di Cristo, the Bissonites, and the Order of the Zodiac. The Astronomers, with their castle south of the Leather Road, have not been heard from since the Goblin Wars. The Illustrators faded out soon thereafter, although much of their knowledge lives on in the “Walled Library” at Biblyon. The Order of the Zodiac broke up due to disputes among the students of Isaacs after Isaacs’ death, and many of John Isaacs’ spells were lost forever.

The Bissonites remain a viable order in Crosspoint, devoted to understanding the traces mankind leaves on the world in passing through it. They are most famous for their founders’ spell allowing the translation of written and spoken language. “Understand Languages” is probably the most common spell throughout the continent. It is in the repertoire of most mnemonic mages throughout Highland and South Bend.

The Wizards’ Council in Black Stag is a powerful political force in the region of West Highland. One spell that everyone knows they have is highly coveted: the dreaded invisibility spell that allows the target to walk unseen.

Lesser orders include the Knights of the Sacred Scrutinies, the Order of St. Patrick (Quis Separabit?), and the Order of the Thistle (Nemo Me Impune Lacessit). The rival orders of the Knights Templar and the Knights Caelius are mostly militant orders with little magic.