Orientation Day 6
More Guild history, including a sad milestone; astronomy, astrology and their influence on magic; and the Guild Bylaws.
R.I.P. Kristina Kringle
On 12 Emberwane 87 owners Selth Seafoam (rogue), Darelle Cloudheart (halfling), and Elowen Dawnbringer (cleric) took new apprentice wizard, Kristina Kringle, into some nearby caves overrun by kobolds. We picked up a rumor that they had captured and enslaved a fellow adventurer, and so we undertook his rescue.
Kristina had mastered two powerful spells prior to being assigned to this job, but in the face of overwhelming numbers of kobolds, she froze up and was unable to cast her spells effectively. Despite healing spells and healing potions, the backlash of her spells was too much for her body. She died much too young.
On the 12th of every month, we have hot cocoa, gingerbread men, and peppermint sticks in her memory while singing some jolly songs. Although this seems quite odd to most of us, Santa Claus, Buddi du Elf, and Rudolph the Crimson assure us that this is the traditional form of grieving in the northern parts of Sylvanara.
Despite the loss of Kristina, the rest of the team was able to rescue veteran warrior, Elvyn Thorngrit, from the clutches of the evil kobolds. He joined the Guild as a trainer for new apprentices as well as our liaison to the City Watch. He is also serving temporarily as our Quartermaster, overseeing our armory and training facilities.
Key Roles of Astronomy in Daryan Schools of Magic
Astronomy is a specialized field of magical study and practice. You will find wizards and mages employed by temples, merchants, ship captains, and other agencies using astronomy in order to perform precise calculations and rituals. Examples include:
Calibration: Mages study the position of celestial bodies affects the Ennia field and use star charts to time powerful spells and rituals.
Navigation & Trade: Land-based traders rely on advanced star-mapping tools developed by the Wizard’s Guild as much of Sylvanara is unmapped. The Mariners Guild has its own observatory. no ship sets sail without at least one mage on duty.
Conjunctions: Rare planetary alignments can cause magical surges, awaken ancient relics, or thin the veil between dreams and reality. Each planet in our solar system resonates with a different school of magic and its own deity.
Astrology is a mystical interpretation of astronomy—less respected by scientists and mages, but deeply embedded in culture and religion. The two most important uses of astrology are:
Omens: Eclipses, comets, or meteor showers are seen as signs from the gods—either blessings or warnings.
Dream Charts: Nehalennia’s priestesses use astrology to interpret dreams and predict future events. Her followers believe the stars are fragments of her dreaming mind.
Silver Spire Guild Bylaws Article I: Membership Conduct
1. Code of Ethics
Owners, members, and apprentices shall act with honor, integrity, and respect toward fellow guildmates, community stakeholders, and clients.
Theft, sabotage, or violence against Guild property or personnel is grounds for immediate expulsion from the Guild and impoundment of all personal gold and treasure contained in the Guild vault as recompense for damages.
2. Conflict Resolution
Disputes between owners, members, and apprentices shall be mediated by a neutral party appointed by the Guild Council. If mediation fails, the Council may vote to impose penalties or revoke membership.
3. Confidentiality
Owners, members, and apprentices may not disclose mission details, client information, vault contents, or other proprietary Guild information without Council approval. Doing so is is grounds for immediate expulsion from the Guild.
Silver Spire Guild Bylaws Article II: Guild Operations
1. Assignments
Assignments are posted daily by the Guild Steward on the job board in the second floor library.
Personal ventures must be approved by the Guild Council before they are eligible for assignment. Priority assignments (e.g., government contracts) must be fully staffed before personal ventures are scheduled.
2. Resource Use
Use of equipment from the armory must be logged and approved by the Quartermaster.
Use of labs must be approved by the Quartermaster. All magical, alchemical, herbal, and theological experimentation must be approved by the Steward and the documentation of said experimentation must be submitted to the Archivist.
3. Living Quarters
Owners, members, apprentices, and freelancers residing on-site must contribute to the upkeep and security of the Guild Hall.
Unauthorized guests are prohibited without prior approval by the Steward.
I hope you have been enjoying your apprentice orientation. Congratulations are in order! You have completed the overview of our operating climate and the Guild Charter. We will continue to review the bylaws to help you prepare for to undertake the process of becoming a full member of the Guild. At this time, we expect you to find a sponsor among the owners and members. Your sponsor will help you prepare for your oral membership examination and presentation to the Guild Council. We look forward to greeting you as a new member with our official Silver Spire Guild motto: May you live forever in the legends of this land.
[disclaimer: The Silver Spire Guild is a homebrew solo TTRPG that exists only in my head… and now in yours.]