Galvorn: Sanctuary of Sorcery

Hair Color Range:
Dark Purple (Royalty)/Any (Common)

Formation:
Initially a few villages within the general vicinity of Yied, they began to take on a sense of unity when the Academy of Magic was formed by Mirkalis in Oretian Year 298. Despite having no actual government, the autonomous villages often came to the college for advice and after a certain point, the desert itself became known as a country.

Significant Figures:
Archsage Mirkalis; Recruiter/Sage Auri; General [Name]

Description:
A group of autonomous villages located in and around the Yied Desert, centered upon the Galvorn Academy of Magic. As most people are unaware of the Academy even existing outside of Yied, the villages mostly handle themselves. They will, however, bring up any issues that may arise to it, and the word of the Archsage is generally seen as law (although this isn't actually the case). It is also one of the few homes to the manaketes that have remained on the continent, seeking refuge from the often discriminatory practices of other countries.

Government:
As the villages are mostly autonomous, each has their own government, usually led by an elder or democratically elected leader. However, more often than not, the leaders turn to the college for advice whenever a pressing issue occurs. They're not obligated to follow the Academy's decisions unless it's a time of war, but their trust in the Archsage is enough to treat his word almost as law. Mages from the college are often sent to protect the villages and live among their people as a sort of trial, to ensure that they remain humble and good of heart. Once a year, children are chosen from the villages to learn at the Academy and eventually use their knowledge to give back to their homes.

Relations:
Ainatar - Galvorn holds an unbreakable relationship with the country of Ainatar due to Mirkalis and Archbishop Mari's friendship, which has lasted for near a millennium. Trade and the exchange of culture has flourished over the years, and many of the students in the Academy are sent from Ainatar. Mari and Mirkalis often visit one another, and warp points have been set up through their magical abilities for ease of travel.

Irmied - Mirkalis' old country that he has stepped away from. Now run by a corrupt and greedy group of businessmen, Mirkalis enjoys using students and his influence to foil their plots from behind the scenes. The plutocracy still has no idea why they have such bad luck. A few students flow in from Irmied each year as well, due to rumors of an ancient sorcerer that he has no desire to quench.

Tonitrui - The rumors of the Academy are especially prominent here, and certain going-ons have held Mirkalis' interest for a while.

The Company - The thief group established by Yuni long ago has maintained a significantly positive relationship with Galvorn since it's founding. The Academy supplies gold in exchange for information, and several of it's students are also sent to provide them with muscle when it is needed. Auri is secretly a member.

Religion:
Galvorn has no religion in particular, although the study of magic occasionally leads to students worshipping spirits. Mari's religion is popular among the villages though, to Mirkalis' amusement.

Military:
Generally, Galvorn's military is off duty, as many of its members are students in the college and the country maintains few relations Most governments don't know it even exists, due to the harsh conditions of Yied that make exploring extremely difficult without much payout. However, if Mirkalis' calls the order, nearly the entire Academy is ready to fight for their new home. Each and every type of mage is present within the college's military, and some, such as mage knights also maintain the ability to use physical weapons if necessary. This sizable army is further bolstered by [Name]'s mercenary group, which provides the mages with some much needed muscle whenever it is necessary. Mirkalis himself has also stated that he would take to the battlefield whenever he is able, to fight with the students, provide morale, and deal heavy damage to any who dare oppose them.

Cities/Castles:
The Academy of Magic is built upon the remains of the Yied Shrine from Jugdrali legend. It is a fortress that sprawls both above and below the desert, and is extremely easily defensible due to the harsh conditions of the desert itself as well as the many vantage points that it offers. Few have dared try penetrating it's walls, and none have succeeded.

Short History:
Initially a few villages within the general vicinity of Yied, they began to take on a sense of unity when the Academy of Magic was formed by Mirkalis in Oretian Year 298.

Full History:
Not much changes in the ever-drifting sands of Yied, even with the length of time that Galvorn has existed. Few dare to brook entrance, and even fewer make it back out, but very occasionally success is had. One such success was the architectural discovery of what remained of  Darna, a fortress that Tharos had destroyed during the Consecration. Darna was one of the major cultural epicenters of pre-Tharos Jugdral, and even more significantly, the place that dragons first interfered for mankinds benefit.

However, few know of this history, and fewer still see it as anything more than the musings of a culture long gone by. The relics were taken to Irmied to be studied, and now reside in a museum there. Mirkalis allowed this to keep up the mystery of the desert, and perhaps intrigue scholars to investigate, but was otherwise not involved.