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When the waves stop crashing,
And the earth stops turning, When the wind stops lashing, And the fires stop burning, When the light starts bending, To the darkness mounting, Everything starts ending, When the clock stops counting. ~ First Oracle Verse 6:80
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The Kingdom of Shambala
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Everyone else in Lîramor calls it the Realm of Darkness, but this icy expanse of snowy mountains is named Shambala by those who live there - the Magicians. Though Magicians were thought to have all perished long ago, they have merely been hibernating in their wintry castles, waiting. Waiting for the right time to recover their magic and make their move. Waiting for the Hour to come and the Clock to strike, and the Yúvíum to wake. And soon their waiting will be over.
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Magicians are astute historians, and they pride themselves on their extensive knowledge of all things past, and even all things future. They have revived dead languages, they name themselves after ancient gods, and they build their cities in the image of once-great civilizations.
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Of the four great deities of Lîramor, Íshano, the God of the Wind and the Heavens, is the patron deity of the Realm of Darkness. Magicians have respect for Íshano, but they do not worship him. Instead, they depict him as human because they believe the greatest power known to the divine is no greater than the human mind. |
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Magicians also believe that their fate is foretold in the cosmos, and that through careful astrological calculations, they can discern what is written and can take control over their own destinies. By uncovering number patterns, symbols, and the order to the universe, Magicians believe they are unlocking the secrets to their existence, and also to their power.
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Academics play a large role in Shambalan society, as well as classifying everything in an organized way. Magicians group themselves into two main pillars of society: the Stones (the practical) and the Stars (the metaphysical). These categories are then broken up into strict hierarchies based on constellations, mystical practices, and ancient pantheons.
Important Locations in Shambala:
The Wilderlands of Thlavak
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Territory: Svalyar Lands
Kinships: Caribou, Wolf, Crow The Svalyar are the indigenous people of Shambala, and the Kinships of Thlavak are said to run with wolves through the forests where they can easily disappear into the mists from which they came. |
The Ice Fields
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Territory: Svalyar Lands
Kinships: Eagle, Bear The Ice Fields are so named because they are often frosty in the mornings, if not covered in ice and snow, even in the summer. The Svalyar who inhabit these steppes are falconers who keep herds of horses and yaks. |
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Lagàsh
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Territory: Magician
Denomination: Chalices of the Moon Though it was once a remote fishing village on the Squalling Sea, Lagàsh has now become the first port of call on the Enlightenment Trail for pilgrims coming from Bakíra and Gambéywa. |
Úrúk
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Territory: Magician
Denomination: Swords of Mars Úrúk is a major stop on the Enlightenment Trail and is situated along the Merú Mountain Pass that separates Magician lands from the Svalyar. These days, it's the training ground of the Magician Army. |
Ashûr
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Territory: Magician
Denomination: Pentacles of the Sun Also situated on the Enlightenment Trail which leads to the Academy at Èrydú, Ashûr's fertile fields make it the bread basket of Shambala, and it's where many Magician schools are located. |
The Ice Labyrinth
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Territory: Magician
For thousands of years, the Ice Labyrinth existed only on lost maps of the ancient mages. But now that these maps have been decoded, excavations are underway in the Glacier of Ratrí to uncover the Labyrinth's hidden chambers. |
úr
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Territory: Magicians
Denomination: Staves of Mercury Úr is the capital city of the Magicians and is the seat of the Magician King Amardúk. There he convenes with his Senate of Stones for political council, along with the Chamber of Stars where the Celestial and Tellurian Mages meet. It's also the home of Kéyryn, the Raven Prince. |
Èrydú
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Territory: Magician
Denomination: Staves of Mercury Because Èrydú is the location of the Academy, it's also the final destination of the Enlightenment Trail, and is where all pilgrims go to "reach the heavens", as the Magicians say. |
Books based in Shambala:
The Ventus Trilogy
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The Ventus Trilogy
Book I 
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The Ventus Trilogy
Book II 
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The Ventus Trilogy
Book III 
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Other Realms of Lîramor ~
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