The Damarian wizards are known far and wide for their automata. They are known for creating and enchanting creatures made of metal and stone, often to serve as specific purpose. Whether guarding an area, manual labor, household servitude, or engines of war, the enchantment abilities of the Damarian wizards are truly incredible. Their specialization started very differently though.
The Damarian Academy was founded in the early 2nd century. In the small hamlet of Delmont, a three days ride from Corvus, a festival was planned. It had been an especially hard winter, with the town having to slowly drain it’s coffers to get through the harsh season. In an effort to raise spirits and attract tourists, an arcane talent show was held, with a large cash prize. Feats of magic were performed by several wizards, with one real front runner, Lars Hazerobe, wowing the crowd with incredibly realistic illusions. Yet when the winner was announced, it was Traish Damra who won the prize. There were speculations of bribery, deceit, or even magic charms for mind control. Lars confronted Traish, calling him a liar and a cheat. Tempers flared. Magics flew. Yet by the time the dust settled, the two were drinking and sharing a good meal, paid out of Traish’s winnings. They discuss techniques, schools of study, and found they had more in common in their practices than they realized. No one ever revealed how Traish secured the victory, but the friendship they gained from it was the true prize.
It was then they decided to found a new school of wizard study, the Damarian. Teaching illusion and enchantment to their students, the school grew steadily. Students of the school were held in high regard, often growing to be diplomats, jesters, or even spies. Some were even caught infiltrating other wizard Factions, using illusion and enchantment to join the ranks of other schools. Their natural charisma, ability for illusion, and growing political ties secured funding, until the school went from small village to full blown academy. Damarian wizards found themselves in every ruling court of the land, in some capacity or another. They were so prevalent that it was even theorized that they were running the world from behind the scenes, using mind altering charms to push their will upon the masses, though no credence was ever given to such conspiracy. By the start of the 4th century, they had permeated throughout Zerith.
It was around the year 438 that the school started actively adding Transmutation to it’s teachings. Rather than using enchantment charms and illusions on people, they instead used them on machines. Clockwork mechanisms of gears, springs, and metal given form, they created the first autonomous machines. Fueled by magic, their simple purposes was maintaining the school’s grounds. From there, the demand grew. Anyone who could afford it bought their machinations. The enchantments guiding the machines would eventually run out, and re-enchanting kept business returning.
In the end, the hamlet of Delmont was absorbed into the academy, and the legacy of Traish Damra and Lard Hazerobe was cemented into history.
Importance Of Wizard Factions, Rev 2 published Year762