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The Arcana Pansophical is a semi-secretive circle of many of Exandria's most powerful arcane practitioners.[3] They share information, maintain a self-imposed "Truth of Magic" where misuse (in their eyes) should be ended and brought to arcane justice, and generally consider themselves above the regular folk and their laws. Maintaining a "good" alignment, the Arcana Pansophical requires respect, political influence, and registration of anyone practicing on a higher level of magic within their realm.[3]

History and secrecy[]

Around or shortly after 511 PD, all of the realm's greatest mages fought at the Battle of the Umbra Hills, and witnessing the terrifying incursion of demons and devils, they saw that the spawn of the Betrayer Gods could return to Exandria despite the Divergence. Yurek Windkeeper, the respected high enchanter of Syngorn, brought together the most trusted and capable mages to form a private society, the Arcana Pansophical, to prevent such "surprises" in the future.[1]

The Arcana Pansophical kept Karaline von Ethro's journal, which contained the most coherent description of the ruins of Salar, in a closely guarded vault, but the journal was stolen. As of 836 PD, long after Karaline's death, the Arcana Pansophical still holds the secret that journal revealed: that numerous aboleth survivors remain in Salar.[4][5]

In 795 PD, an ancient red dragon named Thordak seized the Mornset Countryside and, with the army he drew to himself, was able to repel the forces of the Tal'Dorei Empire. Thordak himself was too powerful for Allura Vysoren's adventuring party, so Allura called upon the Arcana Pansophical for aid. They devised a trap that could, they believed, permanently seal Thordak within the Elemental Plane of Fire, preventing him from ever returning to Exandria. They bound Thordak's essence to the Fountains of Creation and thought he would stay there forever. To bind him, they crafted an artifact called a "soul anchor" from the salvaged heart crystal of a Primordial fire titan. The heart crystal is an immense gem of pure crystallized ruby and elemental power and energy, fifteen to twenty feet in diameter. The soul anchor crafted from this heart crystal could not be removed from the Elemental Plane of Fire, and Thordak could not escape without the anchor. Although Allura's group succeeded in trapping Thordak, many lives were lost, including three of Allura's companions: Sirus, Dohla, and Ghenn. Thordak returned to the Material Plane not even 16 years later, in 810 PD, to Allura's dismay.[6]

Weeks later, Allura called on the Arcana Pansophical for help defeating Thordak again, but most were busy with other things, including the recent death of Vorugal.[7][8]

Immediately after this Chroma Crisis, a group of arcanists broke away from the Arcana Pansophical to form the ethically dubious League of Miracles.[9]

During the crisis of the prolonged apogee solstice of 843 PD, the Arcana Pansophical was watching its effects closely, theorizing that if the strain and tension caused by the Malleus Key lasted too long, the weave of magic in Exandria could be forever altered, or even destroyed.[10]

Though membership is generally kept secret except out of necessity,[11] Percival de Rolo knew that Ozwyn Gruude was a member,[12] and Allura Vysoren casually revealed that she belonged to the Arcana Pansophical in conversations with the Mighty Nein[13] and with Bells Hells, Imahara Joe, Dancer, and Verna.[14] Vox Machina apparently learned about the Arcana Pansophical shortly after they rescued the Tal'Dorei Royal Family from a treachery demon;[15] they presumably learned this from Allura, who had helped them infiltrate the Palace of the Sovereign,[16] and who they knew to be a member the first time the Arcana Pansophical was mentioned on-stream.[12]

The Truth of Magic[]

The Truth of Magic is the code that the Arcana Pansophical follows to prevent the misuse of magic seen during the time of the Age of Arcanum from ever happening again. The code is detailed and complicated, and has been amended over the centuries to take into account the myriad uses of magic, but the preamble sets out three unbreakable edicts.[11]

In the eternal interest of the preservation of harmony within the realm of Exandria, we, the Arcana Pansophical, establish the Truth of Magic, and three edicts from which none shall stray. Those arcanists found in gross violation of the Truth will be punished by the full extent of this order—beyond the reach of any local law.
Though the study of Necromancy shall be restricted to none in the interest of magical understanding, the animation of the dead is a violation of the Truth.
The Arcane is a tool to be wielded for the good of the people. To use its power in the pursuit of wanton destruction or murder is a violation of the Truth.
Though the jurisdiction of the Pansophical supersedes the power of local laws, a mage who willfully breaks the laws of the land is in violation of the Truth.

Lady Allura once told Vox Machina that the Arcana Pansophical made it somewhat illegal to use memory-altering spells.[17] The only way this is allowed is in dire situations where something needs to be forgotten, such as the location of the Horn of Orcus that Vox Machina recovered and sealed away in Vasselheim.

Notable members[]

EskilRyndarien

Eskil Ryndarien, from "The Story of Vox Machina" (Sx06).

General members of the Arcana Pansophical are called "Guides", whereas higher ranking members are called "Makers".[1] Vox Machina only personally knows three members of the organization (Allura, Drake, and Eskil), although there were seven living members[3] prior to the attack of the Chroma Conclave.

Makers[]

Guides[]

Allura - Shalizeh7

Fan art of Allura Vysoren, by shalizeh7.[art 2]

Former members[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 29.
  2. See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 29. The Pansophical was formed after the Battle of the Umbra Hills, which took place nearly three centuries before the end of 810 PD.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Some of the information on this page was imported from Matthew Mercer's Vox Machina Wiki article, "The Arcana Pansophical".
  4. See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 143.
  5. Karaline von Ethro was dead before 812 PD. See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 96.
  6. See "Desperate Measures" (1x40) from 2:36:18 through 2:42:03.
  7. See "The Coming Storm" (1x73) at 1:22:27.
  8. See "Path of Brass" (1x74) at 1:22:06.
  9. See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 47. See also pp. 56–57.
  10. See "A Gathering of Heroes" (3x76) at 2:04:50.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting Reborn, p. 47.
  12. 12.0 12.1 See "Trial of the Take: Part 2" (1x19) at 3:50:00.
  13. See "The Folding Halls" (2x80) at 1:23:55.
  14. See "A Gathering of Heroes" (3x76) at 1:19:27.
  15. See the session of the pre-stream home game during which Pike or Ashley Johnson remarked on "Pansophical" being a cool name.
  16. See "The Story of Vox Machina" (Sx06) at 15:37.
  17. See "Shopping and Shipping" (1x14) at 49:46.
  18. See "Trial of the Take: Part 2" (1x19) from 3:49:06 through 3:50:41.
  19. See "Trial of the Take: Part 1" (1x18) at 0:38:29.
  20. See the written contract from Alchemist Ozwyn Grud.
  21. See "Trial of the Take: Part 2" (1x19) from 3:42:46 through 3:43:20.
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 30.
  23. See Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 94.

Art:

  1. Symbol of the Arcana Pansophical, by Conceptopolis from Critical Role: Tal'Dorei Campaign Setting, p. 29. This file is a copyrighted work. Its use in this article is asserted to qualify as fair use of the material under United States copyright law.
  2. Fan art of Allura Vysoren, by shalizeh7 (source). Used with permission.
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