A Study of The Progeny of Tezirah
By Lorethew Arkelli Feirgetha
In this volume of comprehensive studies on the sub-divisions
with the Guild of Moon Mages, we discuss the Progeny of Tezirah.
These spellcasters, known for their impressive skills with shadow
magic and political debate, make up one of the most renowned
groups of Moon Mages. Accusations, rumors and respect are
slung in equal amounts at the members, but despite their
seemingly controversial nature, the Progeny have established
themselves as one of the keystone sects within the guild.
Established seven hundred and eighteen years before the
Victory, the Progeny was created as a small gathering of
mages who held academic interest in the arts of sorcery.
Initially taking the name "Thee Saesordian Cabal," the group
practiced under the guidance of the magess Tezirah Eilsina.
Unsubstantiated reports as well as the sect's own private
records state that a surprising amount of this knowledge
came directly from a translucent obelisk artifact found in
the area of the present-day Crossing. Tezirah herself was
responsible for the creation of other powerful magic devices,
including the completion of the one(s) now collectively known
as the Deceiver device. Work had begun on this item five
hundred years prior by unknown artificers (on the modern
calendar, approximately -1200).
Enchanting was a premier discussion among the Saesordians,
and at the time was a fledgling craft based on even older lore.
Debate was not foreign to the group, and they in fact welcomed
it, especially on such topics as politics, shadow magic, sorcery
and even, occasionally, necromancy. Many claim the Saesordians
of being party to blasphemous rites, but there is little proof of
this in any document to substantiate this accusation.
During the reign of Empress Demin I, sorcery was banned, and
a witchhunt begun. There are two, slightly contrary beliefs on
what happened next. Not coincidently, modern day members of
the Progeny have their own version: Tezirah, who had never
actually done anything directly against the Empire, was nonetheless
included among the targets of this inquisition. On the day that
Tezirah completed the Deceiver device, her manor was attacked.
Her minions wantonly slaughtered by the Empire's inquisitors,
Tezirah activated the untested device in a last ditch attempt to
escape or kill her assassins. A breech opened, and a horde of
unsavory things from another dimension vaulted out to kill both
inquisitor and Saesordian alike. During this conflict, Tezirah was
lost through the portal, and later presumed dead by the Empire.
After the shadow beasts were destroyed, the survivors of the
cabal disbanded under threat of the inquisitors.
Officially, the assault on Tezirah ended with her being hung from
the very obelisk from which she had learned so much. Many
non-Tezirites, especially Clerics and others with a strong faith
in spirit and soul, believe that it was her close proximity to this
artifact that sent her soul spiraling into the Plane of Probability.
We now know this is false after the horrific resolution of the
Mirror Wraith Prophecy, though some debate that the amazingly
powerful being who came through that portal was not Tezirah but
a remarkable simulacrum. Others speculate that the 'bat-winged
skull' -- which incidentally, several factions of Progeny members
use as an emblem -- is in fact the semi-physical manifestation of
anything attempting to break the barriers of the Plane of Probability
into the Plane of Abiding. Thus, such visions would have been as
likely to occur before Tezirah's death (or exile, as the case may be)
as it would after it. All such musings aside, the end result was
that Tezirah's group was attacked and disbanded.
Some years later, a nobleman by the name of Heronyus Kalestraum
rediscovered the writings of the Saesordians and reformed the group.
His interest was not in the academic pursuits of sorcerous theory,
but the actual and dramatic usage of it to further his own needs.
At first this was unapparent, and so those who had joined the revival
with an interest in musing on theory and concept rather than diaboli
c practice soon split the group into two distinctive halves. A young
seeress in this group named Alicia Crowther led the more
philosophical side's debates, and eventually was fully responsible
for splitting entirely from the Saesordians. Shortly thereafter, a
conflict with the Celestial Compact led to Kalestraum's death, leaving
only fragmented remains of this group to continue practicing their
blasphemous rites. To this day, Kalestraum's Children are considered
little more than a crazed band of magical terrorists.
The newer group led by Crowther renamed themselves the
"Progeny of Tezirah" after the fallen leader who had started the sect
originally, and presented itself to be most respectable. They quickly
gained a reputation for impressive displays of magic and foresight,
and to this day maintain a sound political presence in Ilithi. Despite
the rumor mill, it is small wonder that these mages were asked to
take part in the First Magical Congress and shortly thereafter
became one of the keystones of our Guild.
Still, rumors abound about the activities of the Crowther family
and the Progeny. While the veil of secrecy surrounding the true
activities and ultimate goals of the sect is impervious to
non-members, the Progeny of Tezirah will often champion very
public displays of graciousness. Large donations of coin and labor
are not uncommon, and the Crowther family in particular is said
to be very proud of the gardens surrounding Shard's Great Tower.
It is no secret at all that their personal Elven landscapers have
nearly a free hand in that city, and among their finest works are
the impeccably grown trees and shrubbery.