Arcane Brotherhood
The Arcane Brotherhood is a wizard guild that operated out of the Host Tower of the Arcane in Luskan. The organization is shrouded in mystery. Its most high-ranking members are unknown. The Brotherhood is primarily known for their vast accumulation of arcane lore. Those in power know the Brotherhood has vied for influence in the political and economic battlegrounds of the Sword Coast.
Wizards flock to Luskan every year to petition to join the Brotherhood, but almost all are immediately rejected. The Brotherhood grows by recruiting like-minded wizards who would otherwise be rivals.
The people of Icewind Dale tend to be wary of the Brotherhood.
Known Members and Happenings
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Vellynne Happenings
| § | Interactions |
|---|---|
| 10 | The Crew ate with Dzaan who told them about the Arcane Brotherhood, an elite social club that is something like Harvard for Wizards. Headquarters is the Hosttower of the Arcane in Luskan. Every year, scores of wizards from across Faerûn flock to the Hosttower of the Arcane, hoping to gain admittance. He was trying to meet with Ravisin to ask her some questions but found her headless. He mentioned that two other wizards from the Brotherhood were in Icewind Dale, Vellynne Harpell and Avarice. |
Dzaan Happenings
| § | Interactions |
|---|---|
| 17 | Bragnar and Orion climb back up and emerge from the outhouse. Orion attempts to talk to the cloaked figures burning people at the stake, but they react with hostility. They realize Dzaan is among the burning figures. Combat begins, with Bragnar hidden and Orion transforming into his necrotic shape to frighten the enemies. The group successfully defeats all the enemies they were facing in this encounter. |
| 17 | The group enters the castle and encounters armed guards. After a brief skirmish and misunderstanding, they negotiate to see the speaker. They are led to an office where they meet Kadroth, who is posing as the speaker. Kadroth informs them that Dzaan was executed along with other criminals. Orion attempts to probe Kadroth for more information about the larger situation in Icewind Dale. |
| 11 | Dzaan, temporary library, reported the findings of his research, as detailed below. |
| 11 | Agents from Easthaven served a warrant for arrest on Dzaan, and the Crew opted not to interfere. Sahnar was appointed temporary librarian. |
| 10 | An unusually tall man wearning an ornate red robe worked the kitchen at the feast and turned out to be the Red Wizard of Thay, Dzaan. |
| 10 | The Crew ate with Dzaan who told them about the Arcane Brotherhood, an elite social club that is something like Harvard for Wizards. Headquarters is the Hosttower of the Arcane in Luskan. Every year, scores of wizards from across Faerûn flock to the Hosttower of the Arcane, hoping to gain admittance. He was trying to meet with Ravisin to ask her some questions but found her headless. He mentioned that two other wizards from the Brotherhood were in Icewind Dale, Vellynne Harpell and Avarice. |
| 10 | Dzaantold the Crew about the history of the Netherese and his search for Netherese objects. The Empire of Netheril arose more than five thousand years ago. The Netherese legacy began with the discovery of the Nether Scrolls. These long, golden scrolls taught Netherese arcanists how to wield magic beyond their wildest fantasies. Much more powerful than any living Wizard. They became a wizard ruling class. Eventually the empire collapsed. Lots of different stories about why. But something tore the Weave and without great magic to keep them aloft, the flying cities of Netheril crashed to the ground. Today a lot of magic items are actually netherese objects, including the Ioun Stone of Awareness worn by Bragnar, made by the arcanist Ioun over two thousand years ago. He asks the Crew that if they learn anything about the Netherese artifacts to tell him. He'll make it worth their while. He warned Bragnar that people would happily kill himm for the Ring of Material Assessment. |
| 10 | The Crew hired Danae Xotal as their tavernkeeper at Lonelywood#The Pick and Pint (formerly Ramshackle Inn), and Dzaan agreed to serve as a temporary librarian for a few weeks until they find someone for the permanent position. Dzaan was ordered to complete the prior week's research on Naerth Maxildannar and then turn to researching Auril the Frostmaiden. |
Avarice Happenings
| § | Interactions |
|---|---|
| 18 | The group arrives at the Bryn Shander Town Hall for the Council of Speakers meeting. Outside, they observe a crowd of about two dozen people from various towns, including militia members, commoners, and some professionals. Through a group perception check, they spot Merken's pickpocket friend among the Targos crew, a Targos militia member with magical sigils on his forearms, and Merken's lady friend. Markham Southwell is at the door of the Town Hall, where many of the expected attendees are already inside. The group notes the presence of various militia groups from different towns, as well as Avarice. |
| 18 | The group discusses their plans outside while a meal is taking place inside. Merken sends his bat familiar into the chamber to spy, relaying that Duvessa Shane is moving around talking to people, Dorbulgruf Shalescar is sitting alone avoiding interaction, and Nimsy Huddle is focused on Duvessa. Orion and Bragnar approach Avarice to question her motives, but she is evasive and uninterested. When Bragnar threatens Avarice and demands she choose a side, she casts a silence spell on him and walks away. |
| 18 | Merken informs the group about someone performing a magical rite with a tentacle outside. Johnny attempts to rush to the door but slips and falls while vaulting over the table. Bragnar moves towards the door and readies an attack if Avarice enters. Orion runs outside to investigate the situation. The group is on alert and trying to respond to this potential threat. |
| 18 | Orion successfully grapples Avarice, who then teleported away. Avarice then cast "Hunger of Hadar" spell, which requires a pickled octopus tentacle. No one is killed, but several were harmed. |
| 17 | Orion and Bragnar investigate the situation with Speaker Crannoc Siever. They discover that he is being held captive by Kadroth and his associates. Orion casts Zone of Truth, compelling Kadroth to admit that they have kidnapped the speaker to gain influence in Ten-Towns. The group learns that Crannoc is not actually sick, but is being controlled against his will. They also discuss the potential involvement of Avarice, a member of the Arcane Brotherhood, in the larger scheme of events in Icewind Dale. |
| 17 | Avarice, a powerful magic user, is studying artifacts in the cistern in exchange for allowing them to live. Orion and Bragnar decide to confront Avarice, and Kadroth leads them to her study in the cistern. There, they discover a strange artifact: a black stone shard embedded in a half-melted mask, which they identify as having Netherese origins and potentially dangerous magical properties. |
| 17 | The group negotiates with Avarice and they agree to leave the spindle with Avarice and take the mask, but when separating the items, they trigger a magical effect. After further discussion, they decide to leave both artifacts with Avarice in exchange for her staff as a token of trust. The group plans to return later to study the artifacts with Avarice. |
| 10 | The Crew ate with Dzaan who told them about the Arcane Brotherhood, an elite social club that is something like Harvard for Wizards. Headquarters is the Hosttower of the Arcane in Luskan. Every year, scores of wizards from across Faerûn flock to the Hosttower of the Arcane, hoping to gain admittance. He was trying to meet with Ravisin to ask her some questions but found her headless. He mentioned that two other wizards from the Brotherhood were in Icewind Dale, Vellynne Harpell and Avarice. |
Images
Host Tower of the Arcane, in Luskan.
