The Conclave of Magisters is a scholarly confederation of alchemists, scientists, engineers, scholars, historians, wizards, and mages of every race who share a common goal: to seek out, preserve, transcribe, and protect knowledge in the fantasy world of Loriath. It is an organization where knowledge is the currency, and magical research and education flourish amidst grand libraries and academies hidden away in remote, fortress-like monasteries. The Conclave is politically neutral, and potential members of every race and creed are eligible to apply for membership. However, only those who meet rigorous criteria and pass grueling trials are permitted to join. The Conclave, while abiding by a strict policy of non-interference in nations' internal affairs, is nevertheless often called upon to mediate disputes between nations. The wisdom and impartiality of the Conclave mean that their advice is highly sought after, but they agree to provide it at their own discretion. The Conclave has one of the most, if not the most, massive repositories of knowledge in the known world. The vast libraries of its fortress-monasteries hold countless tomes on every subject imaginable, from history and politics to spellcraft, alchemy, blacksmithing, and medicine. Magical artifacts and items of cultural and historical significance are also actively sought after, and once obtained, they are carefully catalogued, studied, and, when necessary and possible, restored.

  The Conclave is organized as a series of fortress-monasteries, deliberately secluded away in some of the most remote and inaccessible regions of the known world. High mountains, deep swamps, and even underground cave networks have all been used as locations for different fortress-monasteries across Loriath. Each fortress-monastery is a bastion of knowledge, with its own unique focus and specialization within the greater Conclave. The most prominent among them is the Great Library of Elysia, nestled within the heart of the Shatterspine Mountains. It's here that the most advanced and sensitive research is conducted, and where the most valuable tomes and artifacts are safeguarded under layers of magical wards and behind huge, enchanted vaults. Some of these artifacts are so dangerous that only the most accomplished Magisters are allowed anywhere near them, and then only under the strictest safety protocols. Each fortress-monastery has a wide degree of autonomy and is usually under the supervision of a Magistrate. The Magistrate is always the most accomplished and esteemed member of his or her fortress-monastery and is always elevated to the position by common consent. Once a year, the Magistrates from each fortress-monastery gather at a hidden location to form the Magisterium, which functions as the Conclave's governing body. The Magisterium guides the Conclave through times of turmoil and peace alike, ensures the sanctity and protection of its members and assets, and decides whether to hear petitions for mediation or counsel from the various nations of Loriath. Also discussed are the various artifacts and other pieces of knowledge the Conclave has acquired over the previous year, and any news of other lost or hidden lore the Conclave might wish to seek out next. The Conclave has no singular leader; all decisions are made by the Magisterium and voted on, and Magistrates of each fortress-monastery make decisions not as autocrats, but in consultation with their peers.

  As an organization made up of members from almost every race in Loriath, the Conclave has no uniform culture. What all its members share, however, is a thirst for knowledge, research, and innovation. Each fortress-monastery is a melting pot of ideas and practices, with scholars from all walks of life sharing insights and collaborating on projects that span disciplines. It is not uncommon to see a Dark elf mage discussing ancient runic inscriptions with a dwarven blacksmith, or a human alchemist working alongside a Dryad Greensinger. This collaborative spirit has led to some of the greatest breakthroughs in recent memory. It was the Conclave that discovered the means by which manticore venom, previously incurable, might be cured using a tincture of dragon's bile and extract from rare moonflower blossoms. It was also the Conclave that developed the first reliable methods for magical teleportation--something which is now common in many of Loriath's wealthier, more developed nations.

  The public agenda of the Conclave hasn't changed for thousands of years. They want to push the boundaries of innovation and invention, scour Loriath for lost or forgotten knowledge, collect and preserve artifacts of interest, both magical and mundane, and offer their expertise as mediators in the conflicts that plague the land. But behind the gleaming veneer of scholarly pursuit and reserved impartiality, the Conclave also has its own secrets. There are whispers of hidden factions within its ranks, groups of Magisters who seek knowledge not just for the sake of knowledge itself, but for power, for political influence, or for personal gain. These whispers hint at a shadowy underbelly to the otherwise esteemed institution, where information is traded as a commodity and alliances are made in whispers behind closed doors. If such a schism does exist, and if it results in a breakaway faction of the Conclave turning all its knowledge and accumulated power toward selfish ends, it could result in catastrophe. The Conclave has in its possession enchanted items, artifacts, weapons, and tomes of forbidden magecraft of incredible destructive power. Long-proscribed tomes on the dark arts, written on pages of cured flesh by necromancers, dark wizards, and mad sorcerers. Treatises on the summoning and binding of demons and malevolent spirits. Books on the creation and breeding of foul monsters and the forging of armor and weapons fused with the blackest sorcery. Such terrible knowledge, if turned against an unsuspecting world, could result in the deaths of millions.

  The Conclave's assets are so immense that it would take days to describe them in detail. Rare books and scrolls are piled to the ceilings of their libraries. These are carefully tended to, organized, maintained, and copied by dozens, sometimes hundreds, of dedicated and highly-trained archivists who spend their lives ensuring that the knowledge contained within doesn't fade away. Its vaults, galleries, and storerooms hold artifacts from every civilization in the history of every continent. Enchanted amulets, staves, swords, and armor are displayed alongside statuary, paintings, sculpture, and art. Bones of long-dead or rare beasts are studied and experimented upon, and alchemical concoctions are brewed and stored with the same care as fine wine. The most dangerous items, such as those dealing in the dark arts or enchanted relics with destructive potential, are kept in the most secure and heavily guarded areas, accessible only to the highest-ranked Magisters. Experimental machines powered by Hearthstones or other, more esoteric sources are tinkered with and tested in cavernous halls that echo with the clang of steel and the sizzle of arcane energy.

  Unlike some of Loriath's other factions, the history of the Conclave is meticulously recorded. The Conclave was founded almost five thousand years ago by Alaran Tarandil, a High Elf mage from the Glittering Isles who was expelled for his radical ideas about sharing knowledge beyond the elitist circles of the High Elves' magocratic society. His vision was to create a sanctuary where every mind, regardless of its origin, could contribute to the collective understanding of the world and its mysteries. Over the centuries, the Conclave grew in power and influence, drawing in members from every race and corner of the continent. Each new member has brought with them unique perspectives and knowledge that add to the ever-expanding tapestry of wisdom the Conclave seeks to weave. Alaran decreed that anyone, no matter their birth or race or station, could seek membership and fraternity within the Conclave so long as they demonstrated a true desire for learning and a willingness to uphold its principles.

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  The Conclave of Magisters has no set territory. Its fortress-monasteries are scattered across the world of Loriath, each a bastion of knowledge in its own right, but together forming an invisible web that stretches over continents. These citadels are all self-sufficient, each with its own farmsteads, water sources, and trade networks that bring in supplies and rare materials needed for their studies. The Conclave operates under a strict hierarchy, with newcomers starting as Initiates and working their way up through the ranks of Novice, Adept, and finally full-fledged Magister. Each rank has its own responsibilities and privileges, and the higher one ascends, the more access they gain to the most secret and powerful tomes within the Conclave's archives. Magisters who are particularly esteemed by their colleagues are often referred to as Magister Lords, though this title is an informal one and carries no additional power beyond respect. Villages and towns in the vicinity of fortress-monasteries often benefit from the trade and protection that comes with such a formidable neighbor and eagerly supply the scholars with goods and news from the outside world.

  As a scholarly organization, the Conclave does not have a standing army. However, they are far from defenseless. Each fortress-monastery is designed to be a bastion against any would-be invader. There are multiple rings of walls around each fortress-monastery, each higher than the last, and the space between is filled with water and populated with toothsome fish and other aquatic predators. The walls are further fortified with layer upon layer of protective spells and wards, which make them proof against catapults, trebuchets, and even cannon fire. Even if an invading force manages somehow to breach the walls, the interior of each fortress-monastery is a labyrinth of narrow corridors and tunnels that twist and turn in seemingly random patterns, designed to confuse and disorient attackers while allowing defenders to navigate them with ease. A fortress-monastery is designed to be a killing ground for any invader; the narrow halls are meant to nullify an enemy's advantage in numbers and allow the Magisters to take them apart piecemeal. Hidden chambers and secret passages serve as escape routes for the Magisters and their most precious collections, while stone and metal constructs powered by sorcery can be unleashed against the foe.

  The Magisters themselves are formidable in combat. The many magic-users and sorcerers within the Conclave are counted among the best spellcasters alive. Many have had decades, sometimes centuries, to hone their skills with rigorous training and study, and the Conclave's access to a vast trove of enchanted weapons and armor allows it to equip its members with the best arms available. A handful of Conclave mages is known to have seen off a large warband of goblin raiders a century ago, and a hundred of them could theoretically muster enough metaphysical muscle to lay waste to an entire army. The artifacts and many magical items accumulated by the Conclave offer an additional advantage and should give any assaulting force pause, because they can never be certain what sort of powerful relic the Conclave might take out of storage to use against them. On one occasion, the fortress-monastery of Etrusco obliterated a large force of minotaurs with the Staff of the Sundered Sky, a legendary artifact long thought lost to time. The Conclave's most powerful defense of all, however, is its reputation. The mere mention of its name is often enough to deter potential attackers, as the thought of facing the collective wrath of some of Loriath's most learned and powerful wielders of magic is a sobering prospect for even the most ambitious warlord.

  The Conclave's level of technological, scientific, and arcane sophistication is such that few in the known world can match them. The Conclave is always experimenting, always innovating, always fielding new inventions and ideas. They have crafted devices that can see across vast distances, constructed bridges that span rivers and ravines without a single piece of mortar, and created teleportation fields powered by magic to link all the fortress-monasteries together. They have invented machines powered by steam and magic and Hearthstones, machines so advanced even the Dwarves cannot help but respect their artistry. They have studied and understand the underlying principles of magic in a way that rivals even that of the High Elves. This mastery over knowledge gives the Conclave a power that is not always apparent, but is felt in every corner of Loriath. Their influence is in every court and throne room, every university and library, every smithy and apothecary. Whenever a long-lost relic is discovered, whenever ruins or crypts or tombs are unearthed, whenever a rare book is discovered in some moldy archive, whenever there is a question that no one else can answer, you will find a Magister of the Conclave somewhere nearby, waiting to add their latest find to the ever-growing archive of the Conclave's wisdom. Their mission is undying and eternal: knowledge must be kept, recorded, stored, preserved, maintained, organized...and kept out of the wrong hands, no matter the cost.

  The foreign relations of the Conclave range from warm to tepid to downright icy. The High Elves of the Glittering Isles consider them little better than magpies, gathering shiny trinkets and knowledge and often prying their noses into places they don't belong. They are especially insulted by the fact that the Conclave has in its possession a number of lost High Elven artifacts, such as the Tear of Idirsholas and the Twilight Scepter. The Dwarves of the Under-Realm, on the other hand, have a grudging respect for the Conclave's work. The two share a mutual interest in metallurgy and engineering, and many Dwarves within the Conclave maintain ties to their homeland and are often employed by the Under-Realm as overseers and advisors. The arrogant and expansionist Empire of Morghast sees the Conclave as nothing more than upstarts, a collection of humans and inferior races that hoards knowledge and power that should rightfully belong to the Empire instead. There are no fortress-monasteries within the Empire's borders, and the Conclave's presence there is limited and heavily secret. The only reason the Empire hasn't sent armies to try and sack the nearest fortress-monastery is that the Emperor fears what the Magisters might unleash if provoked. Sultan Karil of the Sultanate of Jal-Hadar has long lobbied the Magisterium to establish a fortress-monastery inside his kingdom and has spared no expense in enticing them with gold, exotic spices, and the promise of rare texts and artifacts from his lands. Despite his efforts, the Conclave remains non-committal. They are wary of becoming too entangled in the Sultanate's increasingly volatile politics, and the Sultanate's history of state-sponsored piracy means many Magisters view it with disdain.

  Given their mission, it is no surprise that members of the Conclave are among the most educated and skilled in Loriath. They are often called upon by rulers and leaders from various lands to act as advisors and mediators, a role they take seriously. However, the Conclave's strict policy of non-interference in political matters can lead to tension. Some Magisters believe that with great knowledge comes great responsibility and advocate for a more proactive stance in shaping the world's affairs. Others argue that the pursuit of knowledge must remain pure and unblemished by the machinations of power, and still more believe that the Conclave should seek power for itself and use it to bring order and enlightenment to the land--by force if necessary.

  The infrastructure of the Conclave of Magisters is as robust as it is diverse. Each fortress-monastery is designed to be self-sufficient, boasting not only vast libraries and laboratories, but also extensive gardens, farms, and workshops. The agricultural lands are enchanted to yield bountiful harvests regardless of the season, thereby ensuring a steady supply of food for the inhabitants. The workshops are staffed by skilled artisans who produce everything from paper and ink to weapons and armor. This self-sufficiency allows the Conclave to remain impartial, as they rely less on the goodwill and trade of the nations they might be called upon to mediate.