The Xalmyrran Council is the shared institution of Xalmyrra's four nations: Teryndal, Soltheris, Erenmyr and Keldara. It organizes mages against the darkness, investigates ruins and artifacts, and works to preserve cooperation between the nations. Its headquarters is the Imperial Institute in Irrathis.
Purpose and Activities
The council sends explorers into ruins and threatened territory, gathers their findings, and studies recovered texts and artifacts. Missions receive scout reports, maps, money and transport. It also sends mages to defend villages, heal survivors and rebuild after attacks, and awards mage levels in recognition of achievements. Its head assigns work and coordinates the council's response to emergencies.
Council service includes explorers, scholars and field mages as well as the members who meet to make decisions. Under Aldar, Lyssara recruited and tested initiates, while Maelis handled the archives. Aldar assigned Lirien to mentor Eira during their expeditions.
Seat and Authority
The Council Hall within the institute is used for briefings and decisions, while the archives preserve texts and field discoveries. The council's insignia consists of four circles around a central circle, representing the four nations' unity. Each nation retains its own government. The council normally has no direct authority over their politics, although its head negotiates with national leaders to avert war.
History
Aldar directed the search for Arcanis's legacy, using Eira's visions and recovered texts to guide expeditions. In the previous Xalmyrran cycle, the council sent Eira, Lirien and Kaelion to the Temple of no Return. In the current cycle, Lirien entered alone while Kaelion waited outside. Eira returned from the previous cycle carrying the shard.
Aldar organized a tournament in Irrathis to gather powerful mages for a united strike against the darkness. The Cataclysm interrupted that plan. Council mages shielded civilians, and a falling spike killed Lyssara while her constructs were trying to protect children and initiates. Aldar sent mages to help villages and towns instead of marching against the darkness. He also tried to stop Xarion from taking the devastation as cause for war with Soltheris, sending Eira to negotiate with Aurion.
The Xalmyrran Council is the shared institution of Xalmyrra's four nations: Teryndal, Soltheris, Erenmyr and Keldara. It organizes mages against the darkness, investigates ruins and artifacts, and works to preserve cooperation between the nations. Its headquarters is the Imperial Institute in Irrathis.
Purpose and Activities
The council sends explorers into ruins and threatened territory, gathers their findings, and studies recovered texts and artifacts. Missions receive scout reports, maps, money and transport. It also sends mages to defend villages, heal survivors and rebuild after attacks, and awards mage levels in recognition of achievements. Its head assigns work and coordinates the council's response to emergencies.
Council service includes explorers, scholars and field mages as well as the members who meet to make decisions. Under Aldar, Lyssara recruited and tested initiates, while Maelis handled the archives. Aldar assigned Lirien to mentor Eira during their expeditions.
Seat and Authority
The Council Hall within the institute is used for briefings and decisions, while the archives preserve texts and field discoveries. The council's insignia consists of four circles around a central circle, representing the four nations' unity. Each nation retains its own government. The council normally has no direct authority over their politics, although its head negotiates with national leaders to avert war.
Thalvian opened and stabilized a gate beneath the hall. With the darkness advancing, Aldar refused to send people through and approved Thalvian's proposal for an enchanted probe attached to a cable. He offered Thalvian a council position for his engineering expertise, but Thalvian declined the offer and remained in Aurion's service.
History
Aldar directed the search for Arcanis's legacy, using Eira's visions and recovered texts to guide expeditions. In the previous Xalmyrran cycle, the council sent Eira, Lirien and Kaelion to the Temple of no Return. In the current cycle, Lirien entered alone while Kaelion waited outside. Eira returned from the previous cycle carrying the shard.
Aldar organized a tournament in Irrathis to gather powerful mages for a united strike against the darkness. The Cataclysm interrupted that plan. Council mages shielded civilians, and a falling spike killed Lyssara while her constructs were trying to protect children and initiates. Aldar sent mages to help villages and towns instead of marching against the darkness. He also tried to stop Xarion from taking the devastation as cause for war with Soltheris, sending Eira to negotiate with Aurion.
Aldar exerted influence beyond the council's public duties. He used Silas Kaine to eliminate threats to the unity of Teryndal and Keldara; Daryas and Feryon reported to him privately. When the darkness advanced again, Maelis returned to the hall with an overload injury after a village attack. She died despite Ilyra's healing, while Aldar mobilized the council and contacted Erenmyr for help.
The Xalmyrran Council is the shared institution of Xalmyrra's four nations: Teryndal, Soltheris, Erenmyr and Keldara. It organizes mages against the darkness, investigates ruins and artifacts, and works to preserve cooperation between the nations. Its headquarters is the Imperial Institute in Irrathis.
Purpose and Activities
The council sends explorers into ruins and threatened territory, gathers their findings, and studies recovered texts and artifacts. Missions receive scout reports, maps, money and transport. It also sends mages to defend villages, heal survivors and rebuild after attacks, and awards mage levels in recognition of achievements. Its head assigns work and coordinates the council's response to emergencies.
Council service includes explorers, scholars and field mages as well as the members who meet to make decisions. Under Aldar, Lyssara recruited and tested initiates, while Maelis handled the archives. Aldar assigned Lirien to mentor Eira during their expeditions.
Seat and Authority
The Council Hall within the institute is used for briefings and decisions, while the archives preserve texts and field discoveries. The council's insignia consists of four circles around a central circle, representing the four nations' unity. Each nation retains its own government. The council normally has no direct authority over their politics, although its head negotiates with national leaders to avert war.
A gate beneath the hall connects Irrathis with Thalassai. Thalvian opened it, and Zayren explored the void on a tethered rope. Aldar valued engineering expertise alongside magical power: he offered Thalvian a council position, but the engineer declined the offer and remained in Aurion's service.
History
Aldred and the Atraxi
When atraxi refugees reached Xalmyrra, council head Aldred Behn offered housing and protection in exchange for their skills. Belanor worked for the council for a decade, monitoring essence overuse and managing the spread of corruption. Aldred guarded a sealed chamber beneath the hall and became the wielder of the spiral shard kept there.
Jorhan later demanded rule over Xalmyrra. Aldred resisted him while the national leaders escaped, but died in the fighting. Jorhan took his shard, destroyed Irrathis and then remade the region within the cycles.
Aldar's Council
Aldar directed the search for Arcanis's legacy, using Eira's visions and recovered texts to guide expeditions. In the previous Xalmyrran cycle, the council sent Eira, Lirien and Kaelion to the Temple of no Return. In the final cycle, Lirien entered alone while Kaelion waited outside. Eira returned from the previous cycle carrying the shard.
Aldar organized a tournament in Irrathis to gather powerful mages for a united strike against the darkness. The Cataclysm interrupted that plan. Council mages shielded civilians, and a falling spike killed Lyssara while her constructs were trying to protect children and initiates. Aldar sent mages to help villages and towns instead of marching against the darkness. He also tried to stop Xarion from taking the devastation as cause for war with Soltheris, sending Eira to negotiate with Aurion.
Aldar exerted influence beyond the council's public duties. He used Silas Kaine to eliminate threats to the unity of Teryndal and Keldara; Daryas and Feryon reported to him privately. When the darkness advanced again, Maelis returned to the hall with an overload injury after a village attack. She died despite Ilyra's healing, while Aldar mobilized the council and contacted Erenmyr for help.
Before the cycles ended, Aldar prepared a new system of mage levels and sought new members after the deaths of Lyssara and Maelis.
After the Cycles
Thalena ended the cycles by fighting Jorhan. The council remained active as Xalmyrra reopened contact with Valrindor. Cassian sent Pontarius, Naryon and Astryx to Irrathis to represent Thalassai, with papers prepared on its behalf. Aldar supported Aurion's abdication in favor of Daryas, then sent Aurion and Lirien on an expedition.
The Xalmyrran Council is the shared institution of Xalmyrra's four nations: Teryndal, Soltheris, Erenmyr and Keldara. It organizes mages against the darkness, investigates ruins and artifacts, and works to preserve cooperation between the nations. Its headquarters is the Imperial Institute in Irrathis.
Purpose and Activities
The council sends explorers into ruins and threatened territory, gathers their findings, and studies recovered texts and artifacts. Missions receive scout reports, maps, money and transport. It also sends mages to defend villages, heal survivors and rebuild after attacks, and awards mage levels in recognition of achievements. Its head assigns work and coordinates the council's response to emergencies.
Council service includes explorers, scholars and field mages as well as the members who meet to make decisions. Under Aldar, Lyssara recruited and tested initiates, while Maelis handled the archives. Aldar assigned Lirien to mentor Eira during their expeditions.
Seat and Authority
The Council Hall within the institute is used for briefings and decisions, while the archives preserve texts and field discoveries. The council's insignia consists of four circles around a central circle, representing the four nations' unity. Each nation retains its own government. The council normally has no direct authority over their politics, although its head negotiates with national leaders to avert war.
A gate beneath the hall connects Irrathis with Thalassai. Thalvian opened it, and Zayren explored the void on a tethered rope. Aldar valued engineering expertise alongside magical power: he offered Thalvian a council position, but the engineer declined the offer and remained in Aurion's service.
History
Foundation
Sariel founded the council to protect a spiral shard he had stolen from Malverand. He sealed it beneath the hall behind Malverand technology, with a door that could be opened by a chosen wielder. Irrathis grew around this protected chamber. Sariel assigned Hrzai to watch over the region and left its four nations under separate governments.
Aldred and the Atraxi
When atraxi refugees reached Xalmyrra, council head Aldred Behn offered housing and protection in exchange for their skills. Belanor worked for the council for a decade, monitoring essence overuse and managing the spread of corruption. Aldred guarded a sealed chamber beneath the hall and became the wielder of the spiral shard kept there.
Jorhan later demanded rule over Xalmyrra. Aldred resisted him while the national leaders escaped, but died in the fighting. Jorhan took his shard, destroyed Irrathis and then remade the region within the cycles.
Aldar's Council
Aldar directed the search for Arcanis's legacy, using Eira's visions and recovered texts to guide expeditions. In the previous Xalmyrran cycle, the council sent Eira, Lirien and Kaelion to the Temple of no Return. In the final cycle, Lirien entered alone while Kaelion waited outside. Eira returned from the previous cycle carrying the shard.
Aldar organized a tournament in Irrathis to gather powerful mages for a united strike against the darkness. The Cataclysm interrupted that plan. Council mages shielded civilians, and a falling spike killed Lyssara while her constructs were trying to protect children and initiates. Aldar sent mages to help villages and towns instead of marching against the darkness. He also tried to stop Xarion from taking the devastation as cause for war with Soltheris, sending Eira to negotiate with Aurion.
Aldar exerted influence beyond the council's public duties. He used Silas Kaine to eliminate threats to the unity of Teryndal and Keldara; Daryas and Feryon reported to him privately. When the darkness advanced again, Maelis returned to the hall with an overload injury after a village attack. She died despite Ilyra's healing, while Aldar mobilized the council and contacted Erenmyr for help.
Before the cycles ended, Aldar prepared a new system of mage levels and sought new members after the deaths of Lyssara and Maelis.
After the Cycles
Thalena ended the cycles by fighting Jorhan. The council remained active as Xalmyrra reopened contact with Valrindor. Cassian sent Pontarius, Naryon and Astryx to Irrathis to represent Thalassai, with papers prepared on its behalf. Aldar supported Aurion's abdication in favor of Daryas, then sent Aurion and Lirien on an expedition.
Aldar used the shard to clear darkness corruption in Brondoris and went on to aid Velundra. He sent Renneth and Maric north on a separate mission, while Mirael helped maintain the council's work in Irrathis.
The Xalmyrran Council is the shared institution of Xalmyrra's four nations: Teryndal, Soltheris, Erenmyr and Keldara. It organizes mages against the darkness, investigates ruins and artifacts, and works to preserve cooperation between the nations. Its headquarters is the Imperial Institute in Irrathis.
Purpose and Activities
The council sends explorers into ruins and threatened territory, gathers their findings, and studies recovered texts and artifacts. Missions receive scout reports, maps, money and transport. It also sends mages to defend villages, heal survivors and rebuild after attacks, and awards mage levels in recognition of achievements. Its head assigns work and coordinates the council's response to emergencies.
Council service includes explorers, scholars and field mages as well as the members who meet to make decisions. Under Aldar, Lyssara recruited and tested initiates, while Maelis handled the archives. Aldar assigned Lirien to mentor Eira during their expeditions.
Seat and Authority
The Council Hall within the institute is used for briefings and decisions, while the archives preserve texts and field discoveries. The council's insignia consists of four circles around a central circle, representing the four nations' unity. Each nation retains its own government. The council normally has no direct authority over their politics, although its head negotiates with national leaders to avert war.
A gate beneath the hall connects Irrathis with Thalassai. Thalvian opened it, and Zayren explored the void on a tethered rope. Aldar valued engineering expertise alongside magical power: he offered Thalvian a council position, but the engineer declined the offer and remained in Aurion's service.
History
Foundation
Sariel founded the council to protect a spiral shard he had stolen from Malverand. He sealed it beneath the hall behind Malverand technology, with a door that could be opened by a chosen wielder. Irrathis grew around this protected chamber. Sariel assigned Hrzai to watch over the region and left its four nations under separate governments.
Aldred and the Atraxi
When atraxi refugees reached Xalmyrra, council head Aldred Behn offered housing and protection in exchange for their skills. Belanor worked for the council for a decade, monitoring essence overuse and managing the spread of corruption. Aldred guarded a sealed chamber beneath the hall and became the wielder of the spiral shard kept there.
Jorhan later demanded rule over Xalmyrra. Aldred resisted him while the national leaders escaped, but died in the fighting. Jorhan took his shard, destroyed Irrathis and then remade the region within the cycles.
Aldar's Council
Aldar directed the search for Arcanis's legacy, using Eira's visions and recovered texts to guide expeditions. In the previous Xalmyrran cycle, the council sent Eira, Lirien and Kaelion to the Temple of no Return. In the final cycle, Lirien entered alone while Kaelion waited outside. Eira returned from the previous cycle carrying the shard.
Aldar organized a tournament in Irrathis to gather powerful mages for a united strike against the darkness. The Cataclysm interrupted that plan. Council mages shielded civilians, and a falling spike killed Lyssara while her constructs were trying to protect children and initiates. Aldar sent mages to help villages and towns instead of marching against the darkness. He also tried to stop Xarion from taking the devastation as cause for war with Soltheris, sending Eira to negotiate with Aurion.
Aldar exerted influence beyond the council's public duties. He used Silas Kaine to eliminate threats to the unity of Teryndal and Keldara; Daryas and Feryon reported to him privately. When the darkness advanced again, Maelis returned to the hall with an overload injury after a village attack. She died despite Ilyra's healing, while Aldar mobilized the council and contacted Erenmyr for help.
Before the cycles ended, Aldar prepared a new system of mage levels and sought new members after the deaths of Lyssara and Maelis.
After the Cycles
Thalena ended the cycles by fighting Jorhan. The council remained active as Xalmyrra reopened contact with Valrindor. Cassian sent Pontarius, Naryon and Astryx to Irrathis to represent Thalassai, with papers prepared on its behalf. Aldar supported Aurion's abdication in favor of Daryas, then sent Aurion and Lirien on an expedition.
Aldar used the shard to clear darkness corruption in Brondoris and went on to aid Velundra. He sent Renneth and Maric north on a separate mission, while Mirael helped maintain the council's work in Irrathis.
Brynor's Leadership
To free himself for field work, Aldar offered Brynor the headship. Daryas, Xandor, Orin and Feryon endorsed the appointment, and Brynor received full authority through their signatures. Aldar handed him lists of the council's mages with the highest levels, who were commonly sent on priority missions, and suggested assignments. Scholars, scribes and attendants helped prepare suggestions and delegate the work. Brynor authorized a smaller tournament to raise money for the council after Aldar's restrained spending.
Naryon joined the council while remaining Thalassai's archon of water. In talks with Haverloch, Aldar welcomed further nations' involvement, and Simon agreed to send an envoy. When Zain proclaimed Ozaith's return, Aldar took the warning back to Xalmyrra and pledged the council's support to Thalassai.
The Xalmyrran Council is the shared institution of Xalmyrra's four nations: Teryndal, Soltheris, Erenmyr and Keldara. It organizes mages against the darkness, investigates ruins and artifacts, and works to preserve cooperation between the nations. Its headquarters is the Imperial Institute in Irrathis.
Purpose and Activities
The council sends explorers into ruins and threatened territory, gathers their findings, and studies recovered texts and artifacts. Missions receive scout reports, maps, money and transport. It also sends mages to defend villages, heal survivors and rebuild after attacks, and awards mage levels in recognition of achievements. Its head assigns work and coordinates the council's response to emergencies.
Council service includes explorers, scholars and field mages as well as the members who meet to make decisions. Under Aldar, Lyssara recruited and tested initiates, while Maelis handled the archives. Aldar assigned Lirien to mentor Eira during their expeditions.
Seat and Authority
The Council Hall within the institute is used for briefings and decisions, while the archives preserve texts and field discoveries. The council's insignia consists of four circles around a central circle, representing the four nations' unity. Each nation retains its own government. The council normally has no direct authority over their politics, although its head negotiates with national leaders to avert war.
A gate beneath the hall connects Irrathis with Thalassai. Thalvian opened it, and Zayren explored the void on a tethered rope. Aldar valued engineering expertise alongside magical power: he offered Thalvian a council position, but the engineer declined the offer and remained in Aurion's service.
History
Foundation
Sariel founded the council to protect a spiral shard he had stolen from Malverand. He sealed it beneath the hall behind Malverand technology, with a door that could be opened by a chosen wielder. Irrathis grew around this protected chamber. Sariel assigned Hrzai to watch over the region and left its four nations under separate governments.
Aldred and the Atraxi
When atraxi refugees reached Xalmyrra, council head Aldred Behn offered housing and protection in exchange for their skills. Belanor worked for the council for a decade, monitoring essence overuse and managing the spread of corruption. Aldred guarded a sealed chamber beneath the hall and became the wielder of the spiral shard kept there.
Jorhan later demanded rule over Xalmyrra. Aldred resisted him while the national leaders escaped, but died in the fighting. Jorhan took his shard, destroyed Irrathis and then remade the region within the cycles.
Aldar's Council
Aldar directed the search for Arcanis's legacy, using Eira's visions and recovered texts to guide expeditions. In the previous Xalmyrran cycle, the council sent Eira, Lirien and Kaelion to the Temple of no Return. In the final cycle, Lirien entered alone while Kaelion waited outside. Eira returned from the previous cycle carrying the shard.
Aldar organized a tournament in Irrathis to gather powerful mages for a united strike against the darkness. The Cataclysm interrupted that plan. Council mages shielded civilians, and a falling spike killed Lyssara while her constructs were trying to protect children and initiates. Aldar sent mages to help villages and towns instead of marching against the darkness. He also tried to stop Xarion from taking the devastation as cause for war with Soltheris, sending Eira to negotiate with Aurion.
Aldar exerted influence beyond the council's public duties. He used Silas Kaine to eliminate threats to the unity of Teryndal and Keldara; Daryas and Feryon reported to him privately. When the darkness advanced again, Maelis returned to the hall with an overload injury after a village attack. She died despite Ilyra's healing, while Aldar mobilized the council and contacted Erenmyr for help.
Before the cycles ended, Aldar prepared a new system of mage levels and sought new members after the deaths of Lyssara and Maelis.
After the Cycles
Thalena ended the cycles by fighting Jorhan. The council remained active as Xalmyrra reopened contact with Valrindor. Cassian sent Pontarius, Naryon and Astryx to Irrathis to represent Thalassai, with papers prepared on its behalf. Aldar supported Aurion's abdication in favor of Daryas, then sent Aurion and Lirien on an expedition.
Aldar used the shard to clear darkness corruption in Brondoris and went on to aid Velundra. He sent Renneth and Maric north on a separate mission, while Mirael helped maintain the council's work in Irrathis.
Brynor's Leadership
To free himself for field work, Aldar offered Brynor the headship. Daryas, Xandor, Orin and Feryon endorsed the appointment, and Brynor received full authority through their signatures. Aldar handed him lists of the council's mages with the highest levels, who were commonly sent on priority missions, and suggested assignments. Scholars, scribes and attendants helped prepare suggestions and delegate the work. Brynor authorized a smaller tournament to raise money for the council after Aldar's restrained spending.
Naryon joined the council while he was Thalassai's archon of water. In talks with Haverloch, Aldar welcomed further nations' involvement, and Simon agreed to send an envoy. When Zain proclaimed Ozaith's return, Aldar took the warning back to Xalmyrra and pledged the council's support to Thalassai.
Losses in the War Against the Gods
Alistair killed Aldar at Cyndarel by placing an essence bomb on Raphael and triggering it with a cosmic ray. He took Aldar's shard and used an illusion to impersonate him. During the defense of Erenmyr, Brynor contained Kalyx's essence explosion in a layered barrier, lowered it deep underground and sealed the earth above. He died protecting the surrounding area.
The council remains active, but deaths and departures have depleted its membership. Mirael continues its work at the institute. The losses and lack of leadership helped prompt the creation of the broader Valrindor Council.