Master of Lore

The Masters of Lore are the high scholars of Ta'Illistim. The First Master of Lore was a position first held by Linsandrych Illistim, the founder of House Illistim and the city-state of Ta'Illistim. It was held by the famous historian Meachreasim Illistim at the time of the Aelotoi arrival in 5103 Modern Era. The Chief Scholar of Ta'Illistim in 5110 Modern Era was the recently appointed Hiraani Gael Illistim. The Loremasters are considered one of the major branches of Illistim culture, which is open to Elves regardless of their familial background.

While the Masters of Lore are known not to approve research programs they regard as dangerous or impractical, more radical scholars such as the Watchers of the Eternal Eye have been known to push ahead regardless. These dissidents are less likely to be bound by proprietary, sometimes embarrassing influential families with scandalous revelations. Critics might regard the Masters of Lore as the court intellectuals of House Illistim, essentially being in bed with the Illistim elite, or possibly acting as apologists for minority doctrines held by the powerful.

The Loremasters

The Loremasters can almost be regarded as the mascots of Ta'Illistim. They serve as the governing body for all state-run institutions of learning, as well as being the advisors of the royal court and the regulators of magic use within the city. Their research is funded by the state, and so bends to the whims of the royals. The Loremasters are directly responsible for maintaining the Library Aies, the exclusive schools of magic, and the formal education of students. They have also established schools in other Elven cities, which critics might call indoctrination. Their origin dates all the way back to the founding of the city-state.

Though they are famously open in one sense, such as teaching other races like Aramur Forean, they are also notorious for preventing access to esoteric knowledge. While famous for living a sheltered and cloistered life within stacks of books, they are also known for wandering the world to directly study any obscure subject imaginable. Their inquiries range from the mating habits of ticks to the intricacies of Flow magic. Loremasters typically stay within closely related fields of study for their whole careers. They are considered the greatest scholars in the world, in their own estimation as the scholars of Ta'Illistim.

Ranks

(1) Student of Lore [Study]

The lowest rank of the Loremasters, where fundamental research methods are learned. The privilege of being a member at all, even at the lowest tier, is gaining access to the restricted areas of the Library Aies. Though "extremely limited", students are able to see some of the inaccessible books, and research projects that are not seen by the public. (Indoor)

(2) Walker of Lore [Research]

The initiate rank for actual research, serving as an assistant to a research scholar. Usually they are assigned to a "Dedicated of Lore" in a field related to their interests, but if they are very talented, they may instead serve as an early protege of an Elder or Master of Lore. In principle they can choose any field of interest, but there are practical limits, owing to their own ability and the availability of experts in those subjects. The literal practice of "the walk" was called "raen utuva nole" (wandering to find wisdom) in the ancient language of the scholars. (Indoor/Outdoor)

(3) Teacher of Lore [Instruction]

When a "Walker of Lore" has sufficient experience and expertise, they are trusted to teach others regarding their special field of study. They will typically transfer between colleges to lecture for other teachers, and most Loremasters stop at this rank to become instructors as a vocation. They gain greater access to the non-public wings of Library Aies. If they wish to be distracted by things like love and marriage, it will most often occur at this stage of their careers. (Indoor)

(4) Dedicated of Lore [Research]

Dedicates are research track positions, where the "Teacher of Lore" becomes invested utterly in the pursuit of knowledge. They have almost unrestricted access to Library Aies, except for the very oldest and most guarded wings, which are only permitted to the Masters of Lore. Elders or Masters coordinate teams of Dedicates to pursue research agendas, and Dedicates are allowed to take on Walkers of Lore as assistants. These teams are partially intended to cross disciplinary barriers so that professional biases do not excessively deform intellect. (Indoor/Outdoor)

(5) Elder of Lore [Research/Instruction]

The Elders have the bureaucratic task of managing teams of the Dedicated, teaching them or even lecturing for advanced classes. However, these are research subjects, not general knowledge. They are fundamentally research directors, and wholly consumed with that task. They may have Walkers of Lore serving as assistants, if the Walker is exceptionally bright or talented. The Council of Elders routinely consults with the royal court, apprising them of recent discoveries or breakthroughs, and keeping research aligned with the political interests of the state. (Indoor)

(6) Master of Lore [Research]

The most elite rank of the Loremasters, it is said that no Master of Lore has fewer than two jewels awarded for research on their personal crest. Most have significantly more than two. The Masters of Lore have full autonomy over their research, and their own special facilities in Library Aies. They will only be summoned for general meetings among themselves, unless the Argent Mirror herself wishes to speak with them. They have been known to contract themselves out to elite families within Ta'Illistim.

It is rumored that they are subject to a geas curse, such that if they ever speak of the forbidden knowledge in the guarded wings, they will suffer a horrible death that cannot be prevented. These secluded halls of the library contain Illistim state secrets, the most ancient artifacts, and are the location of their most dangerous research. Funding, of course, is still state discretion.

Known Loremasters

• Meachreasim Illistim
• Hiraani Gael Illistim
• Kielanathia Maraellynde Illistim
• Haethera Illuvassas Illistim
• Gwennelen Mea'reth Illistim
• Lisano Torrenzia Illistim
• Tesseitre Carhiesel Illistim
• Lutiernse Angalamor Illistim
• Vothurre Veythorne Illistim
• Caylio Javilerre Illistim
• Alerreth Nellereune Illistim
• Relian Degaloth Illistim
• Memailly Rachidesic Illistim
• Jisanlyrc Vin'ziel Illistim
• Zenlynn Veythorne Illistim

Behind the Scenes

Loremasters

You see Scholar Meachreasim Illistim.
He appears to be an Illistim Elf.
He appears to be ancient and tall. He has piercing violet eyes and ivory skin. He has long, flowing silver hair with a white streak running through it. He has a narrow face, an aquiline nose and thin pointed ears.
He is in good shape.
He is wearing a sapphire blue medallion embossed with a silver scroll, some long silver-threaded white robes with sapphire accents, and some supple white leather boots.

You see Caylio Javilerre Illistim the Loremaster, Teacher of Lore.
He appears to be an Elf.
He is tall and appears to be young. He has hazel eyes and tanned skin. He has short, tousled chestnut hair carelessly swept across his brow. He has a straight nose. His chin has a sharp, distinct point to it.
He is in good shape.
He is wearing a pair of wire-framed spectacles, a sweeping brown felted wool coat, a brown wool waistcoat over a long-sleeved shirt, a pair of high-waisted brown wool trousers, and some round-toed shoes.

You see Lady Hiraani Gael Illistim the Chief Scholar of House Illistim.
She appears to be an Elf.
She is quite tall and appears to be young. She has large blue eyes and pale, soft skin. She has long, chestnut hair worn worn sleekly and perfectly straight. She has a delicately patrician nose and noticable, though not severe, cheekbones.
She is in good shape.
She is wearing a filamentous vaalorn wire collar, an argent raw silk gown corsetted with blued vaalorn stays, a vaalorn signet, a metallic blue mesh reticule, and a pair of two-tone raw silk slippers.

Costumery

[Museum Alerreth, Costumery]
On either side of the polished copper arch leading into the chamber are two tall displays, each fronted with glass. Their copper fittings match the trim on several cases, whose contents are clothing both modern and historical. A square tile is inset into the floor in the center of the room.
Obvious exits: none

>look ring
Though the band of the ring is small, its setting is high and shaped in the form of a turreted tower, complete with buttressed shoulders. A cabochon sapphire caps the architectural elements, forming a dome. Next to the ring is a small plaque.

>read ring
In the Common language, it reads:
This ring is an example of those worn by Illistim's Loremasters. Upon acceptance into the order, a Student of Lore is gifted with such a ring, each one crafted to resembled a specific building in Ta'Illistim. As members move upwards through the ranks, from Student of Lore to Walker, Teacher, Dedicated, Elder and finally Master, the number of stories is increased on the ring. Based on the height of the tower in this example, this ring, a donation from the Nellereune family, belonged to an Elder of Lore.