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{{CaptionedImage|file=Urizen-0359.JPG|title=An Intriguing Puzzle|caption=Costume by [http://costumemercenary.blogspot.co.uk/p/costumes-for-empire.html Costume Mercenary]|align=left|width=285|height=598}}
==Overview==
When a citizen of the Empire thinks of the Urizen, it’s usually a magician they imagine. Whether a priest, a soldier or a merchant, it is quite common for an Urizeni to know an incantation or the fundamentals of a magical lore. The mountains of Urizen are rich in raw magical resources, but they are even more rich in lore and recorded knowledge. There are libraries here that have been collected and expanded over five hundred years, but the Urizeni don’t rest on their laurels; they quest constantly to improve and increase their understanding of magic.


<quote>To conquer yourself is the first and noblest of all victories.</quote>
Technically, individual Urizeni are no more powerful than the magicians of any other nation. However, the nation produces so many magicians that a significant number of the largest and most powerful covens in the Empire's history have been Urizeni. This is a source of pride to many Urizen who regard their towering magical accomplishments as evidence of their foremost status.  
When a citizen of the Empire thinks of the Urizen, it’s usually a magician they imagine. Whether a priest, a soldier or a merchant, it is quite common for an Urizen to know an incantation or the fundamentals of a magical lore.  


The mountains of Urizen are rich in raw magical resources but they are even more rich in lore and recorded knowledge. There are libraries here that have been collected and expanded over five hundred years, but the magicians don’t rest on their laurels; they quest constantly to improve and increase their understanding of magic.
==Esoteric Lore==
Magic is viewed as the most potent tool an individual can wield to change the world. As such, a rigorous and disciplined approach to the study of magic is practised throughout Urizen. Individual spires develop their own specialities and often their own competing theories and practices. Some spires jealously guard their secrets, but many publish books and treatises detailing their ideas and their research. Debates and arguments between scholars are common — while the core ideas of magic are settled, Urizen magicians can still find much to argue about. Not just the nature of magic and reality, but the application of the arcane arts to the wider world.


When Urizen joined the Empire they were instrumental in the creation of [[the Conclave]], the great body of magicians that support the Empire with their arcane skills.  
Individual spires and even magicians also pursue their own research, looking to develop their own theories of magic. Many of the theories proposed by Urizen magicians are truly esoteric. Seventh realm theory (the belief in a seventh realm of magic, perhaps related to the spirit); mirrored realm theory (the theory that there are four 'spiritual and mental' magical realms that are counterparts to the 'physical' realms of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter); internal realm theory (the theory that the realms somehow exist within the shared consciousness of mortals rather than as separate magical realms outside the mundane); human eternal theory (the theory that the mundane realm is just another realm, and that humans are in some way the eternals of this realm); splintered realm theory (the theory that there is only a single magical realm but the perception of mortal magicians is so limited they divide it up into a spectrum of six separate realms). Even within the more popular theories there are disagreements and sub-theories that see any gathering of Urizen magicians become potentially fractious and argumentative.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Physick.jpeg|align=right|width=600|caption=The Urizen are often seen engaging in considered debate.}}
Much of this esoteric lore and a fascination with it is peculiar to Urizen. The fact that the majority of it is pure conjecture tends to limit the interest of magicians from other nations are who more concerned with the practical consequences of magic. But the Urizen understand that only by pushing the boundaries of what is understood can new ideas be discovered. They strive to approach problems from a new angle aiming to avoid becoming hidebound or limited in their understanding. Even if Urizen magicians accept that the ideas are flawed, most enjoy the lively exchange of ideas, considering them the ideal way to train the mind to be able to better grasp the metaphysical.


Magic is viewed as the most potent tool an individual can wield to change the world. As nodes in the [[Net of the Heavens]], mages are inherently more pivotal than those around them because they can use magic to achieve far-reaching and dramatic changes. Magic can be dangerous, however: too much magic can warp an individual’s consciousness or taint an area of land. Reliance on one [[Realms|Realm]] of magic can create imbalances with terrible consequences. What is more the Urizen know that individual magicians in other nations rival or even exceed the power of the Urizen though they lack their perspective and understanding and this makes them dangerous. Yet at the same time these magicians are the peers and potential allies of the Urizen magi, they just need guidance.
The Urizen magicians that are most interested in pushing the boundaries of magic are usually called [[stargazer|stargazers]]. These mages often have less interest in politics, preferring to devote their time to the study of magic; not just for the power it grants, but so that they can understand both it and the complex laws that govern it. They tend to be fascinated by esoteric lore and engage in research and experiments seeking to advance understanding and exceed the known limits of magic. They are particularly interested in resonance and its application to the most powerful rituals ever created.


By bringing magicians together, the Conclave makes it easy for the Urizen to assess their peers, to identify those magicians amongst the other nations who are pivotal nodes. By working together in the Conclave, they can more easily influence their colleagues and thus ensure that the magicians of the Empire are effective and work to improve the Empire.
==Resonance==
{{CaptionedImage|file=Saruman.jpg|title=The Lord of the Rings|align=right|width=300}}
Each of the six magical realms has a set of known properties or ideals with which they resonate. A good understanding of the resonance and dissonance of each realm is essential for anyone who seeks to create new rituals. For example, Spring magic abounds with life and energy, so it is easy to use magic of that realm to enervate and heal. The mental and spiritual effects caused by rituals are fundamentally linked to this resonance — the Spring ritual [[Fire in the Blood]] grants a magician enhanced mastery of Spring magic, but the resonance of the realm also makes it difficult for them to control their temper.  
===Magi===
Some Urizen take an interest in the workings of other Imperial bodies, like [[the Senate]], [[the Synod]] or [[the Bourse]], but the majority regard the Conclave as the most important political arena in the Empire, a reflection of the importance which the Urizen place on magic. One exception to this attitude are the magi, the political magicians of Urizen. A magus sees an equivalence between politics and magic. In both, carefully chosen words and gestures, a strong will and a keen intellect allow one to achieve results far beyond what one could achieve using only one's body. Magic is notoriously unreliable at influencing the hearts and minds of thinking beings, whereas a charismatic steward of [[the Marches]] or a silver-tongued Sarvosian [[Mountebanks|Mountebank]] can achieve incredible results without using the tiniest bit of actual magic.  


Whereas the stargazers and seers look beyond the world, and beyond the present, the magi are focused on the here and now. Using the [[Net of the Heavens]] as a model, they seek to become powerful nodes in their own right, building alliances and exerting influence over others to achieve their ends. They feel a natural affinity for other magicians, but they also realise the value of using their magical abilities to help their allies and build interlocking webs of favour and influence. Where reason and debate are insufficient, the magi use magic and more mundane methods to learn everything they can about their political opponents, reasoning that the more they know the more likely they are to find some lever that will allow them to bring their rival around to their way of thinking.
Some Urizen magicians claim that this resonance occurs in the mortal realm as well as in the magical realms; that it is the physical mechanism that transmits the forces involved in the [[Net of the Heavens]]. When a person responds to some event, their actions may cause others around them to react in a similar manner. The stronger the resonance, the greater this associated response. In prosaic terms, a node in the Net of the Heavens is pivotal because of how keenly the nodes that are linked to it resonate in sympathy with it.


Magi do not restrict their political ambitions to the mortal world; the [[Eternals]] are powerful and are clearly pivotal nodes in their own rights, even if they are not part of the Empire. Where other nations may find the Eternals suspect, the magi believe fundamentally that the Eternals are a “knowable quantity.” Their restricted nature as compared to humans means that mortals will always eventually get the better of them, provided they approach them rationally and with care not to become overconfident.
Those who accept this view argue that the Empire itself is the prime node in the Net of the Heavens, the one that fundamentally moves all others. Experience has shown that the most powerful rituals that target this key node cause everyone in the Empire to resonate with the magic of that realm. The direct effects of such a ritual might be predictable and well understood, but the consequences of causing so many people to be influenced by the magic of one realm as they resonate in sympathy with are too complex and chaotic to forecast. Those who are suspicious of the influence of the realms on the mortal world often question the wisdom of casting such rituals.


===Stargazers===
The stargazers maintain that the realms can be a positive influence on the world, but only so long as no one realm dominates the others. All six realms possess qualities that are valuable, especially in moderation. Many stargazers perform experiments designed to create balance between the influence of the realms, or to highlight positive elements rather than negative. The ultimate goal is to create a fabled state they variously call “celestial harmony” or “the [[Stargazer#Resonance_and_the_Omnihedron|omnihedron]]” that will help usher in a state of perfection on the mortal realm.
Some Urizen magi have little or no interest in politics. The stargazers are interested in magic itself, performing research and experiments seeking to advance understanding and exceed the known limits of magic. They study magic not just for the power it grants, but so that they can understand both it and the complex laws that govern it. Although only a few stargazers are interested in astronomy they take their name from those amongst them who meticulously chart the course of the heavens.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Studious Phoenix.jpg|caption=Knowledge is power, and power is to be wielded.|align=right|width=350}}
==Politics==
Most Urizen regard the [[Imperial Conclave]] as the most important political arena in the Empire, a reflection of the importance which the nation places on magic. The key Imperial positions, the [[archmage]] and the [[grandmaster]] both control access to vital magical resources. The grandmaster of each [[Conclave order|order]] has [[Grandmaster#Funding_the_Order|ready access]] to [[Game_items#Mana_Crystals|crystal mana]] and wields [[Grandmaster#Powers|crucial political powers]] within the Conclave. Each [[archmage]] has access to [[Archmage#Regalia_of_the_Archmage|unique magical tools]] and the ability to [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|treat with]] the [[eternal|eternals]] on an equal footing.  


A common theory among the stargazers is that there is at least one more [[Realms|Realm]] – the seventh Realm that represents the unknown. This seventh Realm, if it exists, is concerned with things that humans cannot conceive of, and may be related to the process of reincarnation. Attempting to understand the seventh Realm is a complex mental exercise – how does a human mind conceive of something that is by its very nature impossible to imagine?
Many Urizen see politics and magic as similar in approach and inherently complimentary. They are similar in the sense that carefully chosen words and gestures, a strong will and a keen intellect allow one to achieve results far beyond what one could achieve using only one's body. They are complimentary in the way they work; magic is notoriously unreliable at influencing hearts and minds, but a charismatic speaker can achieve incredible results without using the tiniest bit of actual magic. By contrast, words of magic can achieve things persuasion alone can never accomplish, raising a storm, calling down an avalanche, or raising a devastating flood.


Another common theory held by stargazers is that there are probably eight Realms, although there is bitter division over what these Realms might be. The most widespread belief is that the four “physical” Realms – [[Spring]], [[Summer]], [[Autumn]] and [[Winter]] – should be mirrored by four “spiritual and mental” Realms – that there are at least two more Realms, the counterparts to [[Day]] and [[Night]].
The [[mage|magi]], the political magicians of Urizen, warn that the only leverage the Urizen have to persuade other members of the Empire to support them is their magic. They point out that while the the Urizeni are the most powerful magicians in the Empire — magic is the only area in which the Urizeni are preeminent. They will never have large armies to rival the Imperial Orcs, Dawn, Wintermark or the Marches. They don't have economic wealth or rich resources to rival Varushka, the League, or the Coast. According to the magi, if the Urizeni don't use their magic to advance their political goals then they will suffer as other more politically active nations put their own agendas first in the Military Council, Senate and Synod.
==Prognostication==
While the magicians of Urizen pursue [[arete|excellence]] in all six of the realms of magic, there is little doubt that they are best known for their consummate skill with [[Day magic]]. The [[#resonance|resonances]] of the Day realm complement the Urizen fascination with [[Day_magic#Mastery|mastery]], [[Day_magic#Focus|philosophy]], and the [[Day_magic#Revelation|thirst for knowledge]]. There are many [[regio|regios]] in Urizen, but scholars have noted that there are significantly more aligned with the Day realm than any other, especially in the high mountains. There's a long history of cordial relations between the eternals of the Day realm — especially [[Phaleron]], [[Kimus]], and [[Leviathan]] — and the magicians of Urizen.


The stargazers maintain that the Realms can be a positive influence on the world, but only so long as no one Realm dominates the others. All six realms possess qualities that are valuable, especially in moderation. Many stargazers perform experiments designed to create balance between the influence of the realms, or to highlight positive elements rather than negative. The ultimate goal is to create a fabled state they variously call “celestial harmony” or “the omnihedron” that will help usher in a state of perfection on the mortal realm.
Regardless of what realms they master, most magicians appreciate the value of divination — using their magic to expand their understanding so that they can pick the ideal course of action. The [[seer|seers]] are the best known proponents of the practice of prognostication — the art of using magic to uncover information and then applying what has been learned. This approach has application at every level of society, whether using the [[Eyes of the Sun and Moon]] to determine the relative strengths of opposing armies, or consulting an augury such as [[Signs and Portents]] for warnings about potential threats before they become obvious.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Urizen-0359.JPG|title=An Intriguing Puzzle|caption=Photograph courtesy of Jeannette Ng.|align=left|width=285|height=598}}
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=LibraryArt.jpg|title="Silent Archives" artist unknown. Part of the Sunspire collection, auctioned in 125YE to raise funds for the construction of the Halls of Knowledge. Last known to be in the possession of a Hakima coven in Anduz prior to the Lasambrian orc invasion.|caption=The completion of the [[Morrow#Canterspire|Grand Library of Canterspire]] is the lynchpin around which Urizen lore is built.|align=right|width=400}}</div>
Stargazers are also interested in the Eternals, for obvious reasons. As denizens of Realms beyond the mundane, the Eternals may offer insights that can unlock the secrets of the Realms and the physical world. Stargazers relish the opportunity to engage with friendly Eternals in discussions about philosophy and theorising about the nature of existance.
<onlyinclude>
==Urizen Lore==
Urizen lore (named in the same manner as [[Formulaic_ritual#Imperial_Lore_and_the_Ritual_List|Imperial lore]]) is a special body of magical knowledge supported with the assistance of the [[eternal]] [[Phaleron]]. It functions in a very similar manner to Imperial lore, but only citizens of Urizen can master the rituals contained within it. Even if an individual Urizen magician has not mastered one of these rituals, they may still perform it, just as any other Imperial citizen can perform a ritual that is part of [[Rituals#Imperial_Lore|Imperial lore]].


===Seers===
The lynchpin of Urizen lore is the [[Morrow#Canterspire|Grand Library of Canterspire]], a magical library in [[Morrow]] that is operated by the [[eternal|eternals]] of the Celestial Library in conjunction with the people of Urizen.
The seers of Urizen maintain libraries of lore gathered from across the Empire and beyond. Honed and refined by generations of study and discussion, these libraries rival the great libraries of [[Highguard]]. Urizen does not limit itself to magical lore; everything can be quantified, charted and recorded and to lose or waste knowledge is a dreadful thing. Recording and gathering wisdom and knowledge of the mundane world helps them to a greater understanding of how to apply their magic to the best effect.


The seers always attempt to maintain perfect detachment from the events they are recording, no matter how painful or unpopular those facts might be. Most seers are masters of the Day Realm, able to perform powerful divination rituals. They know that success in divination relies upon having the most accurate possible information, so they regard personal opinions and interpretations as flaws. It is perfectly appropriate for an Urizen to hold an opinion on their data, to have interpretation of what it means, the seers just don’t believe that mere opinions merit being written down.
Adding a ritual to Urizen lore requires the [[ritual text]] to be the target of the [[The_way_that_the_sunshine_gleams#A_New_Archives|Gift of Knowledge]] ritual. Rather than being returned to the caster, the ritual is added to the body of Urizen lore and becomes available to every Urizen magician following the summit where the ritual is added to lore.


The clashes between [[Highguard History#Archivists|Highborn archivists]] and Urizen seers and [[Urizen Leadership#Torchbearers|torchbearers]] are notorious. Seers are outraged by what they see as the archivists' cavalier approach to the facts while the archivists are infuriated by the torchbearers' insistence on spreading information to everyone. There is rarely much love lost between scholars of the two nations and they often compete with each other to possess information.
It is not possible for the [[Imperial Conclave]] to use a [[declaration]] of [[dissemination]] or [[Imperial lore]] to affect a ritual that is part of Urizen lore, nor is it possible to either remove a ritual from Urizen lore, nor to recover the ritual text once it has been added to the body of knowledge.


[[Category:Nations]]
A former Urizen citizen who leaves the nation loses access to rituals that are part of Urizen lore; they can be replaced using the normal process of changing mastery.
[[Category:Urizen]]
 
===Rituals in Urizen Lore===
<table class='wikitable mw-collapsed mw-collapsible sortable'><tr><th>Ritual</th><th>Explanation</th><th>Realm</th><th>Magnitude</th></tr>
<tr><td>[[Good Green Oak]]</td><td>Grants one rank of endurance for a season</td><td>Spring</td><td>6</td>
<tr><td>[[Wellspring of the High Peak]]</td><td>Trades measures of ambergelt with an eternal to produce Spring vis</td><td>Spring</td><td>6</td>
<tr><td>[[A Goblet of Stars]]</td><td>Enchants a physick with the ability to use any healing herb as if it were true vervain</td><td>Spring</td><td>8</td>
<tr><td>[[Fountain's Bounty]]</td><td>Enchants a mana site to produce additional herbs, forest materials, and money</td><td>Spring</td><td>12</td>
<tr><td>[[Woven Strands of Life]]</td><td>Transforms a mana site into a herb garden for a season that receives additional production</td><td>Spring</td><td>14</td>
<tr><td>[[Aspect of the Mountain]]</td><td>Grants a significant increase to the strength of a military unit when supporting a fortification</td><td>Summer</td><td>20</td>
<tr><td>[[Raise the Dragonsworn Cohort]]</td><td>Provides a powerful military unit for a season in return for a mine</td><td>Summer</td><td>20</td>
<tr><td>[[Vital Strength of the Earth]]</td><td>Grants additional power to uses of the unstoppable and relentless skills while touching earth or stone</td><td>Summer</td><td>28</td>
<tr><td>[[Crown of Phoenix Fire]]</td><td>Grants two ranks of endurance to a group for a season</td><td>Summer</td><td>32</td>
<tr><td>[[Hook of the Hoarfrost Guardian]]</td><td>Grants four strikedowns a day with a pole-arm for a season</td><td>Summer</td><td>40</td>
<tr><td>[[Swords in the Noonday Sun]]</td><td>Enchants a campaign army changing its quality and filling soldiers with zeal for victory </td><td>Summer</td><td>80</td>
<tr><td>[[Stone's Unyielding Defiance]]</td><td>Enchants a fortification, repairing it and increasing the combat strength by 1,500 for a season</td><td>Summer</td><td>120</td>
<tr><td>[[Ethereal Courier]]</td><td>Send a specially prepared package to a named individual in a known location</td><td>Autumn</td><td>10</td>
<tr><td>[[Net of Gossamer Chains]]</td><td>Enchants a congregation to provide 3 autumn [[vis]]</td><td>Autumn</td><td>14</td>
<tr><td>[[Quick Study]]</td><td>Enchants a college of magic to speed codification of rituals</td><td>Autumn</td><td>42</td>
<tr><td>[[Eyes of the Hills]]</td><td>Enchants a campaign army changing its quality and granting supernatural ability to defend a territory with hills</td><td>Autumn</td><td>80</td>
<tr><td style="white-space:nowrap;">[[Chalice of Callidius]]</td><td>Allows a magician to gain extra personal mana when consuming something that restores mana..</td><td>Winter</td><td>14</td>
<tr><td>[[Chastise the Foolish]]</td><td>Curses a target making them unable to use religious skills for a year</td><td>Winter</td><td>20</td>
<tr><td>[[Peregrine and Ichimos]]</td><td>Enchants a military unit to grant additional strength when supporting an army or defending a fortification</td><td>Day</td><td>10</td>
<tr><td>[[Blades of Clear Sight]]</td><td>Enchants a character who has the Weapon master skill to call IMPALE three times per day</td><td>Day</td><td>14</td>
<tr><td>[[Irresistible Stance of Force and Focus]]</td><td>Enchants a magician to allow them to cast REPEL four times a day</td><td>Day</td><td>14</td>
<tr><td>[[Arete and the Fields of War]]</td><td>Enchants a warrior with various abilities dependent on weapons and armour</td><td>Day</td><td>16</td>
<tr><td>[[A Perfect Moment]]</td><td>Enchants a character granting them the marksman skill for a season</td><td>Day</td><td>22</td>
<tr><td>[[Guardian Gate]]</td><td>Enchants a fortification to gather information about a territory and impede spy networks</td><td>Day</td><td>80</td>
<tr><td>[[The Certainty of Doubt]]</td><td>Curses a character so that any congregation they control provides half as much liao and votes for a year</td><td>Night</td><td>16</td>
<tr><td>[[Mirror of Perfection]]</td><td>Upgrade a mana site with ilium</td><td>Night</td><td>30</td>
<tr><td>[[Flame and the Flood]]</td><td>Upgrade a forest with ilium</td><td>Night</td><td>30</td>
<tr><td>[[An Echo of Songs]]</td><td>Upgrade a mine with ilium</td><td>Night</td><td>30</td>
<tr><td>[[The Stargazer's Astrolabe]]</td><td>Grants a magician the ability to repeatedly use detect magic</td><td>Night</td><td>8</td>
<tr><td>[[Treacher's Quill]]</td><td>Sends a message to the eternal Agramant</td><td>Winter</td><td>2</td>
<tr><td>[[Mark of Agramant]]</td><td>Places an enduring magical mark on a target that can only be detected with detect magic</td><td>Winter</td><td>4</td>
<tr><td>[[Unleash the Beasts Within]]</td><td>With Agramant's aid, grants significant strength to a military unit that supports an Imperial army</td><td>Winter</td><td>13</td>
<tr><td>[[The Crimson Feast]]</td><td>With Agramant's aid, target gains three ranks of endurance for a season.</td><td>Winter</td><td>15</td>
<tr><td>[[Thirst of the Devourer]]</td><td>With Agramant's aid, grants a target the ability to heal themselves when they successfully deliver an IMPALE</td><td>Winter</td><td>24</td>
<tr><td>[[Loosen the Shackles]]</td><td>Enchants a campaign army with Agramant's aid, changing its quality and filling soldiers with murderous intent</td><td>Winter</td><td>80</td>
<tr><td>[[Silence of the Bronze Bell]]</td><td>Grants a character with the dedicate skill the ability to remove auras with additional potency</td><td>Winter</td><td>12</td>
<tr><td>[[A Light That Moves]]</td><td>Enchants a congregation for a season so that it provides additional votes and liao at the next summit</td><td>Day</td><td>18</td>
<tr><td>[[Resolution of Falling Stars]]</td><td>Grants a magician the ability to overcome roleplaying effects by spending personal mana</td><td>Day</td><td>6</td>
</table>
 
This table summarises the rituals that have been placed in Urizen lore.</onlyinclude>
{{Urizen Links}}

Latest revision as of 11:51, 1 August 2024

Overview

When a citizen of the Empire thinks of the Urizen, it’s usually a magician they imagine. Whether a priest, a soldier or a merchant, it is quite common for an Urizeni to know an incantation or the fundamentals of a magical lore. The mountains of Urizen are rich in raw magical resources, but they are even more rich in lore and recorded knowledge. There are libraries here that have been collected and expanded over five hundred years, but the Urizeni don’t rest on their laurels; they quest constantly to improve and increase their understanding of magic.

Technically, individual Urizeni are no more powerful than the magicians of any other nation. However, the nation produces so many magicians that a significant number of the largest and most powerful covens in the Empire's history have been Urizeni. This is a source of pride to many Urizen who regard their towering magical accomplishments as evidence of their foremost status.

Esoteric Lore

Magic is viewed as the most potent tool an individual can wield to change the world. As such, a rigorous and disciplined approach to the study of magic is practised throughout Urizen. Individual spires develop their own specialities and often their own competing theories and practices. Some spires jealously guard their secrets, but many publish books and treatises detailing their ideas and their research. Debates and arguments between scholars are common — while the core ideas of magic are settled, Urizen magicians can still find much to argue about. Not just the nature of magic and reality, but the application of the arcane arts to the wider world.

Individual spires and even magicians also pursue their own research, looking to develop their own theories of magic. Many of the theories proposed by Urizen magicians are truly esoteric. Seventh realm theory (the belief in a seventh realm of magic, perhaps related to the spirit); mirrored realm theory (the theory that there are four 'spiritual and mental' magical realms that are counterparts to the 'physical' realms of Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter); internal realm theory (the theory that the realms somehow exist within the shared consciousness of mortals rather than as separate magical realms outside the mundane); human eternal theory (the theory that the mundane realm is just another realm, and that humans are in some way the eternals of this realm); splintered realm theory (the theory that there is only a single magical realm but the perception of mortal magicians is so limited they divide it up into a spectrum of six separate realms). Even within the more popular theories there are disagreements and sub-theories that see any gathering of Urizen magicians become potentially fractious and argumentative.

Physick.jpeg
The Urizen are often seen engaging in considered debate.

Much of this esoteric lore and a fascination with it is peculiar to Urizen. The fact that the majority of it is pure conjecture tends to limit the interest of magicians from other nations are who more concerned with the practical consequences of magic. But the Urizen understand that only by pushing the boundaries of what is understood can new ideas be discovered. They strive to approach problems from a new angle aiming to avoid becoming hidebound or limited in their understanding. Even if Urizen magicians accept that the ideas are flawed, most enjoy the lively exchange of ideas, considering them the ideal way to train the mind to be able to better grasp the metaphysical.

The Urizen magicians that are most interested in pushing the boundaries of magic are usually called stargazers. These mages often have less interest in politics, preferring to devote their time to the study of magic; not just for the power it grants, but so that they can understand both it and the complex laws that govern it. They tend to be fascinated by esoteric lore and engage in research and experiments seeking to advance understanding and exceed the known limits of magic. They are particularly interested in resonance and its application to the most powerful rituals ever created.

Resonance

Each of the six magical realms has a set of known properties or ideals with which they resonate. A good understanding of the resonance and dissonance of each realm is essential for anyone who seeks to create new rituals. For example, Spring magic abounds with life and energy, so it is easy to use magic of that realm to enervate and heal. The mental and spiritual effects caused by rituals are fundamentally linked to this resonance — the Spring ritual Fire in the Blood grants a magician enhanced mastery of Spring magic, but the resonance of the realm also makes it difficult for them to control their temper.

Some Urizen magicians claim that this resonance occurs in the mortal realm as well as in the magical realms; that it is the physical mechanism that transmits the forces involved in the Net of the Heavens. When a person responds to some event, their actions may cause others around them to react in a similar manner. The stronger the resonance, the greater this associated response. In prosaic terms, a node in the Net of the Heavens is pivotal because of how keenly the nodes that are linked to it resonate in sympathy with it.

Those who accept this view argue that the Empire itself is the prime node in the Net of the Heavens, the one that fundamentally moves all others. Experience has shown that the most powerful rituals that target this key node cause everyone in the Empire to resonate with the magic of that realm. The direct effects of such a ritual might be predictable and well understood, but the consequences of causing so many people to be influenced by the magic of one realm as they resonate in sympathy with are too complex and chaotic to forecast. Those who are suspicious of the influence of the realms on the mortal world often question the wisdom of casting such rituals.

The stargazers maintain that the realms can be a positive influence on the world, but only so long as no one realm dominates the others. All six realms possess qualities that are valuable, especially in moderation. Many stargazers perform experiments designed to create balance between the influence of the realms, or to highlight positive elements rather than negative. The ultimate goal is to create a fabled state they variously call “celestial harmony” or “the omnihedron” that will help usher in a state of perfection on the mortal realm.

Studious Phoenix.jpg
Knowledge is power, and power is to be wielded.

Politics

Most Urizen regard the Imperial Conclave as the most important political arena in the Empire, a reflection of the importance which the nation places on magic. The key Imperial positions, the archmage and the grandmaster both control access to vital magical resources. The grandmaster of each order has ready access to crystal mana and wields crucial political powers within the Conclave. Each archmage has access to unique magical tools and the ability to treat with the eternals on an equal footing.

Many Urizen see politics and magic as similar in approach and inherently complimentary. They are similar in the sense that carefully chosen words and gestures, a strong will and a keen intellect allow one to achieve results far beyond what one could achieve using only one's body. They are complimentary in the way they work; magic is notoriously unreliable at influencing hearts and minds, but a charismatic speaker can achieve incredible results without using the tiniest bit of actual magic. By contrast, words of magic can achieve things persuasion alone can never accomplish, raising a storm, calling down an avalanche, or raising a devastating flood.

The magi, the political magicians of Urizen, warn that the only leverage the Urizen have to persuade other members of the Empire to support them is their magic. They point out that while the the Urizeni are the most powerful magicians in the Empire — magic is the only area in which the Urizeni are preeminent. They will never have large armies to rival the Imperial Orcs, Dawn, Wintermark or the Marches. They don't have economic wealth or rich resources to rival Varushka, the League, or the Coast. According to the magi, if the Urizeni don't use their magic to advance their political goals then they will suffer as other more politically active nations put their own agendas first in the Military Council, Senate and Synod.

Prognostication

While the magicians of Urizen pursue excellence in all six of the realms of magic, there is little doubt that they are best known for their consummate skill with Day magic. The resonances of the Day realm complement the Urizen fascination with mastery, philosophy, and the thirst for knowledge. There are many regios in Urizen, but scholars have noted that there are significantly more aligned with the Day realm than any other, especially in the high mountains. There's a long history of cordial relations between the eternals of the Day realm — especially Phaleron, Kimus, and Leviathan — and the magicians of Urizen.

Regardless of what realms they master, most magicians appreciate the value of divination — using their magic to expand their understanding so that they can pick the ideal course of action. The seers are the best known proponents of the practice of prognostication — the art of using magic to uncover information and then applying what has been learned. This approach has application at every level of society, whether using the Eyes of the Sun and Moon to determine the relative strengths of opposing armies, or consulting an augury such as Signs and Portents for warnings about potential threats before they become obvious.

"Silent Archives" artist unknown. Part of the Sunspire collection, auctioned in 125YE to raise funds for the construction of the Halls of Knowledge. Last known to be in the possession of a Hakima coven in Anduz prior to the Lasambrian orc invasion.
The completion of the Grand Library of Canterspire is the lynchpin around which Urizen lore is built.

Urizen Lore

Urizen lore (named in the same manner as Imperial lore) is a special body of magical knowledge supported with the assistance of the eternal Phaleron. It functions in a very similar manner to Imperial lore, but only citizens of Urizen can master the rituals contained within it. Even if an individual Urizen magician has not mastered one of these rituals, they may still perform it, just as any other Imperial citizen can perform a ritual that is part of Imperial lore.

The lynchpin of Urizen lore is the Grand Library of Canterspire, a magical library in Morrow that is operated by the eternals of the Celestial Library in conjunction with the people of Urizen.

Adding a ritual to Urizen lore requires the ritual text to be the target of the Gift of Knowledge ritual. Rather than being returned to the caster, the ritual is added to the body of Urizen lore and becomes available to every Urizen magician following the summit where the ritual is added to lore.

It is not possible for the Imperial Conclave to use a declaration of dissemination or Imperial lore to affect a ritual that is part of Urizen lore, nor is it possible to either remove a ritual from Urizen lore, nor to recover the ritual text once it has been added to the body of knowledge.

A former Urizen citizen who leaves the nation loses access to rituals that are part of Urizen lore; they can be replaced using the normal process of changing mastery.

Rituals in Urizen Lore

RitualExplanationRealmMagnitude
Good Green OakGrants one rank of endurance for a seasonSpring6
Wellspring of the High PeakTrades measures of ambergelt with an eternal to produce Spring visSpring6
A Goblet of StarsEnchants a physick with the ability to use any healing herb as if it were true vervainSpring8
Fountain's BountyEnchants a mana site to produce additional herbs, forest materials, and moneySpring12
Woven Strands of LifeTransforms a mana site into a herb garden for a season that receives additional productionSpring14
Aspect of the MountainGrants a significant increase to the strength of a military unit when supporting a fortificationSummer20
Raise the Dragonsworn CohortProvides a powerful military unit for a season in return for a mineSummer20
Vital Strength of the EarthGrants additional power to uses of the unstoppable and relentless skills while touching earth or stoneSummer28
Crown of Phoenix FireGrants two ranks of endurance to a group for a seasonSummer32
Hook of the Hoarfrost GuardianGrants four strikedowns a day with a pole-arm for a seasonSummer40
Swords in the Noonday SunEnchants a campaign army changing its quality and filling soldiers with zeal for victory Summer80
Stone's Unyielding DefianceEnchants a fortification, repairing it and increasing the combat strength by 1,500 for a seasonSummer120
Ethereal CourierSend a specially prepared package to a named individual in a known locationAutumn10
Net of Gossamer ChainsEnchants a congregation to provide 3 autumn visAutumn14
Quick StudyEnchants a college of magic to speed codification of ritualsAutumn42
Eyes of the HillsEnchants a campaign army changing its quality and granting supernatural ability to defend a territory with hillsAutumn80
Chalice of CallidiusAllows a magician to gain extra personal mana when consuming something that restores mana..Winter14
Chastise the FoolishCurses a target making them unable to use religious skills for a yearWinter20
Peregrine and IchimosEnchants a military unit to grant additional strength when supporting an army or defending a fortificationDay10
Blades of Clear SightEnchants a character who has the Weapon master skill to call IMPALE three times per dayDay14
Irresistible Stance of Force and FocusEnchants a magician to allow them to cast REPEL four times a dayDay14
Arete and the Fields of WarEnchants a warrior with various abilities dependent on weapons and armourDay16
A Perfect MomentEnchants a character granting them the marksman skill for a seasonDay22
Guardian GateEnchants a fortification to gather information about a territory and impede spy networksDay80
The Certainty of DoubtCurses a character so that any congregation they control provides half as much liao and votes for a yearNight16
Mirror of PerfectionUpgrade a mana site with iliumNight30
Flame and the FloodUpgrade a forest with iliumNight30
An Echo of SongsUpgrade a mine with iliumNight30
The Stargazer's AstrolabeGrants a magician the ability to repeatedly use detect magicNight8
Treacher's QuillSends a message to the eternal AgramantWinter2
Mark of AgramantPlaces an enduring magical mark on a target that can only be detected with detect magicWinter4
Unleash the Beasts WithinWith Agramant's aid, grants significant strength to a military unit that supports an Imperial armyWinter13
The Crimson FeastWith Agramant's aid, target gains three ranks of endurance for a season.Winter15
Thirst of the DevourerWith Agramant's aid, grants a target the ability to heal themselves when they successfully deliver an IMPALEWinter24
Loosen the ShacklesEnchants a campaign army with Agramant's aid, changing its quality and filling soldiers with murderous intentWinter80
Silence of the Bronze BellGrants a character with the dedicate skill the ability to remove auras with additional potencyWinter12
A Light That MovesEnchants a congregation for a season so that it provides additional votes and liao at the next summitDay18
Resolution of Falling StarsGrants a magician the ability to overcome roleplaying effects by spending personal manaDay6

This table summarises the rituals that have been placed in Urizen lore.

Further Reading

Core Brief

Additional Information