The Sect of Master Illusionists
Alignments: any.
Introduction
This group deals wholly with the school of illusion, and is very specialist. Its members came together from many small groups which dealt, to a very small extent, in other schools, but who specialised in illusion. They have been accepted by most other sects as the leading authority on illusion and the good/lawful sects will not infringe upon their territory, in fact they often use their services in the field of illusionist magic and training. The group is the newest of the larger sects, and has no formal methods for disciplining members who try to work outside of the sect's rules, and this has never been a problem for them in the past.
The group's official alignment stance is neutral good and neutral, but will accept members of any alignment. They only teach the school of illusion.
History
In 1269 an important event in the life of the school of Illusion occurred when three of the independent sects came together. The sects were The Sect of Illusionists and Diviners (a very small sect from Caldonacia), The Phantasm Guild (one of Ticetia's smallest sects), and Roldetts Phantasmers and Illusiors (the major independent Illusion sect from the Empire). None of these sects were particularly large, and they had one purpose| to save the school of Illusion from almost certain death. They met at the town of Keever, northern Caldonacia, and The Pale Flame's chief illusionist was also there, he was unhappy with the Pale Flame's plans for its own illusionists - they had been so short of students for the school that they were planning to drop it completely. Something had to be done, the school seemed to have fallen out of fashion in magic society, and these people cared passionately about their studies.
The meeting came to the conclusion that the three independent sects could not survive on their own, and that combining as a single sect would keep costs down, and actually provide quite a large sect in which to further their studies. This would only provide short-term security though, the new sect would desperately need new members, and it seemed that there were very few young, enthusiastic illusionists about. To help with this, they sent an appeal to the gnomes of northern Caldonacia. Gnomes were only too pleased to help; they had felt for a long time that their favoured magical school, illusion, was not being well represented in human society.
The Pale Flame lost its senior illusionist immediately, and the fledgling sect successfully petitioned the Pale Flame shortly afterwards to recommend the new Sect of Master Illusionists to their own illusionist members so that they could quietly drop the school from their curriculum. It was a gnomish influence which provided much of the impetus for this coup with the Pale Flame. The Gnomes finally persuaded the Pale Flame to carry out their plan to drop the school, gave some financial backing to the new sect, and chose a new name too.
The last of the Pale Flame's illusionists joined this sect in 1274. The former members of the Pale Flame were generally more proficient in the use of magic than the original members of this sect, and they quickly rose to positions of responsibility. The mages did not just bring magical talent, they also brought a wealth of administration skills, which helped the sect organise itself and expand quickly and efficiently.
When it first began, the sect had five workshops spread throughout Arthea. By the end of 1280, this had risen to fifteen, and most of the small illusionist groups in Arthea had joined with them. At present the sect has workshops in most major cities and towns, and this tremendous achievement can be partly credited to the gnomes, who helped improve their own illusionist skills and the skills of humans by travelling to the human lands to use these facilities. The number of gnomes arriving recently, though, has fallen dramatically.
Although the Sect of Master Illusionists and the Pale Flame had managed good relations after their tricky start, the ties were heavily strained early in the 1330's. Ticetia had invaded Caldonacia and had defeated them. The largest illusionist facilities were in Caldonacia at the time, and the illusionists had their magic to hide themselves away. Unfortunately, someone informed the Ticetian Guards of the locations, and they raided. Some of the most senior members of the sect were arrested, tried and killed. The sect spent six months tracing the culprit, and they eventually found it was a Ticetian member of The Pale Flame who was responsible. The Flame would not take action against their own member, though , as he had committed no crime against his own sect, and the Pale Flame could not intervene where the authority of another sect was in question - it also transpired later that the King had directly threatened The Pale Flame not to take action here. When the illusionists finally caught up with this mage, they carried out their own punishments - and the Pale Flame did nothing to help its own member.
It took another fifty years (until about 1385) for the two sects to settle their differences. King Robert had just been crowned, and his influence with the nobles and with the peasants was clearly having an effect on the lives of most mages. Robert was clearly against the use of any magic, and said so often. This caused the magic community to move closer together and help with support for each other much more.
The sect tries to show that the power of magic, although feared by most people, is a power which should be used for the benefit rather than the detriment of society. The sect tries to steer its members away from the thinking that brought about The Great Disaster. Although those who run the sect have high moral values, they do not restrict their members in any way. They have not the experience or methods for dealing with those who step out of line, nor have they the will to learn this knowledge. The members of the Master Illusionists are usually loyal to the organisation, as getting a new sect who might be able to help them with their studies. None of the mainstream sects will teach it, although they can hire out facilities to those who want to study without the aid of tuition.
Fees
Membership costs are as follows: regular membership 120gp per year, and master membership (from 8th level) 200gp per year.
Additional Spells
Level 2
Illusionary Door (Illusion)
Range| 30yds
Components| V, M
Duration| 1 turn + 1 minute / level
Casting time| 2
Area of effect| special
Saving throw| special
The caster of this spell can create the illusion of a solid, locked door in any doorway, even if there is already another door there. The maximum area of effect is 5' x 5' + 1' x 1' per level of the caster, so a fourth level mage can cover an area up to 9' x 9'. The door is real to most tests, and will sound solid if knocked upon. It cannot be broken down, but can be disbelieved or dispelled in the usual manner. The spell Knock will not work on the door, but failure of that spell gives an automatic chance at disbelief. The door can never be an exact replica of the original door, but can be made similar enough to go undetected by a cursory look; also the door can only be viewed from one side. The spell will be instantly broken by someone opening the real door through the illusion, but not by a door which opens away from the illusion. Alternatively the spell can be cast in an empty corridor to provide the appearance of a door. The material component is a small piece of wood which was once part of a door.
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