Jade Tower

The Jade Tower is the capital of the Jade Imperium, home of the College of Mages, and one of the most powerful places in Crescent. It sits on a ley line nexus, one point of the Arcane Triangle, connected by ley lines to the Lighthouse at Windy Point and the Valley of the Magi.

History

The Tower is, and was, and always shall be, or so it seems. Legend says it was raised from the earth itself whole, a feat of magical construction unequaled in history.

It served as the headquarters of the College of Mages for centuries, center of their power, their discipline, their mystique. Its light, shining brightly in the western sky, was both a beacon to those of Power, and a warning to those who would stand against them, as well as a steadfast navigational point.

That warning went unchallenged for centuries, until the Scarlet War, when the College of Mages fell, seemingly forever.

Recently, however, the Tower seems to have reawakened, apparently in connection with the actions of the Companions of the Rising Sun.

Approaching the Tower

Multiple wards and magical effects are in place in the area surrounding the Tower, to protect its masters.

Rebounding Swords

In later years, as the primary enemy of the College of Mages was the Order of the Sword of Malicean, the use of swords and blades was prohibited in the area surrounding the Tower, to a distance of about ten miles. Any blade so used has a strong tendency to rebound upon its user.

Approach and Be Recognized

Not liking surprises, the Masters of the Tower enacted this collection of wards, which has the following effects in a 30 mile radius around the Tower:

• All people are subject to the Faerie Fire spell, as well as Zone of Truth.
• No scrying is permitted within the range of this ward.
• Bars undetectable alignment and other related spells.
• No teleporting, except via teleport circles in the Tower itself.
• Sound carries extraordinarily well.

Unfriendly Skies

Recognizing that a tower is naturally vulnerable to an attack by the air, the Masters harnessed the winds themselves to defend their bastion. Winds around the tower above ground level are wild and uncontrolled, making flying difficult.

Mirage Arcana

Overland progress towards the Tower is difficult; the land itself seems to shift under the feet of those who approach.

Appearance

The Tower is hugely tall, an octagonal building stretching to the sky. It stands on a hill in a valley, and fairly pulses with mystical potential. Silver lines stretch up four of the sides, on each of the off-cardinal points.

The entrance, though currently unguarded, will only open to one of Mehana's chosen, which limits it to arcanists (wizards and sorcerers), clerics of Mehana, and Wardens of the Tower.

Tour of the Tower

A sampling of the different floors in the Tower, in no particular order:

• Labs and experimentation rooms
  • Various kinds, one for each of the major schools of magic, except necromancy.
• Classrooms
• Transport room
  • An entire room filled with teleport circles, to multiple places.
  • One in particular is notable, if only because it has been violently disabled; those with the ability to read magical writing will be able to tell that it once led to the Lighthouse at Windy Point.
• Libraries of general knowledge, in particular Arcana and the History of Magic.
• The Grand Library
  • This room is huge - a whole floor of the Tower, seemingly carved from the darkest jade. There are tables and work chairs, but no shelves. It's one giant spellbook, with each school's spells (except necromancy) engraved on one of the eight walls in mystical silver runes. It's possible to move the spells from the walls to a work table, and advanced users can even make changes or annotations to them, or add new spells to the collection.
• Conference rooms
• Personal Quarters
• Personal Workshops
• Council Chamber
• The Spellpool

DM Notes:Jade Tower