Setting:Tabula Gloria/Espartum/The City-State of Bythene

Lying on the banks of the Falgun River Bythene is a thriving maritime city-state, home to the mages of the Magician's Guild, the merchants, artists and sailors of the Port and the guildsmen and garrison that reside in the Citadel, a marble fort covered with protective incantations that looks over the Port.

Bythene is in a strategic position - it provides maritime access to the eastern part of the Eastern Continent and serves as a connection to the southern shores of the Western Continent, as well as the Southern Isles. Bythenians excel at naval travel and they serve as privateers around the world, such as the famous Catherine Laurentze.

In charge of the Citadel are the Wardens, men who have completed study at the Military Academy or have shown great prowess in battle. Among the many duties of a Warden are tracking down pirates, monster-hunting and exterminating the Aqueans. The Citadel itself was built two hundred years ago from funds provided by the Guild so as to protect the ever-growing city. Only two Wardens have been selected for their feats in battle during the history of the Citadel - Linus and Proteus, scourges of the Aqueans.

The Military Academy

Located in the Citadel the Military Academy is where all the children of rich Bythenians go to. A lot of them cannot stand the rigor of the Academy and most leave around half-way through the curriculum to instead go to a Guild School. The select few that finish the school have enough theory drilled into them that they easily serve as officers around Bythene. The best of the best become Wardens, perhaps the most powerful position in Bythene.

The Magician's Guild

The Shepherds of Streams

The most venerated mages, the Shepherds of Streams manipulate the weather - they predict and alter warm streams of the sea, as well as wind flows - this ensures a pleasant climate for the island of Espartum and is of great help to fishing and agriculture. They deal with the mundane yet important aspects of life and as such they are very respected in Bythenian society, called on to place various blessing, seals and incantations. They wear ceremonial clothing to show their status in society.

The Shipmages

The standard adept of the Magician's Guild becomes a Shipmage, serving on ships as navigators and cartographers. They are similar to the Shepherds in that they can predict and manipulate weather - though to a lesser extent than the Shepherds - yet their true strength lies in mastering the element of water, calling on its power to summon various elementals to perform menial and defensive tasks. Many Shipmages rise to the rank of Privateer Captain of a ship.

The Society of Chimerwrights and Lifeweavers

A group of For'Channarian mages that disagreed with the formation of the University and migrated to Bythene. Dealing mainly in the magics of life and death, it is very secretive and tries to maintain a low profile after one of their chancellors, Otto Lupitter was exiled and created the Aqueans. They are concerned with manipulating and restructuring the very mater of life itself. There are rumors that some fractions want to continue Lupitter's work...