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Diplomacy <br> |
Diplomacy <br> |
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Veto-power over the Council of Mages <br> |
Veto-power over the Council of Mages <br> |
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| − | Political clout* (though no actual legal abilities) |
+ | Political clout* (though no actual legal abilities)<br> |
| + | Magic resistance (Breton ability) |
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|hobby = creating spells, alchemy, reading, writing, maintaining postal correspondence with Carahil and Jeanne Frasoric. |
|hobby = creating spells, alchemy, reading, writing, maintaining postal correspondence with Carahil and Jeanne Frasoric. |
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|goals = Eradicate necromancy in the Mages Guild (succeeded eventually) |
|goals = Eradicate necromancy in the Mages Guild (succeeded eventually) |
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Revision as of 20:11, 30 April 2021
| “ | Let me explain what is at stake. The Council of Mages has been aware of the increased Necromancer activity in Cyrodiil for some time. It had been our position to sit back and watch what unfolded, but that time has clearly passed. We cannot tolerate these attacks on the guild. | „ |
| ~ Hannibal Traven |
Hannibal Traven, often called by title as "Arch-Mage Traven" is the head of the Mages' Guild in the 2006 video-game "Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion", - fourth main-installment of the Elder Scrolls series. Hannibal Traven is renowned for his policy changes to the Cyrodiil branch of the Mages' Guild even more so than his considerable magical prowess, for in recent years to the start of the game he has banned necromancy - death magic. If the Hero of Kvatch enrolls in the Mages' Guild they will encounter first-hand the consequences of such a decision and end up working closely with Hannibal Traven.
The Mages' Guild
History
The Mages' Guild was founded by the Altmer (high-elf) wizard, Vanus Galerion A.K.A. "Galerion The Mystic". Galerion was a member of a much older cabal named The Psijic Order. The Psijics were a secretive secluded group of elven monks/scholars who studied magics as a form of enlightenment and became quite prolific within the subject. Vanus Galerion was one of the monks who felt living in isolation was a detriment, not necessarily to the members but to the world-at-large. He and another member, Mannimarco, both sought to urge the Psijic Order expand it's policies and open itself up to the world, but the other members refused. Eventually Mannimarco began using magics for sinister deeds, most of which were to acquire more and more personal power, he was cast out of the order, but Galerion believed Mannimarco was the inevitable result of repressive policies - though he agrees Mannimarco was a mad-man for how far he went in breaking away from that repression. Galerion left the Psijic Order and set out to establish his own version there-of, one open to all countries, all races, and all people with a passion for learning and a talent for magical study. The first Mage's Guild was established in the early Second Era, in the High-Elf country of Summer Set Isle, but with no loyalty to any political leaders it soon expanded out to others, like the elven forests of Valenwood, the vast deserts of Hammerfell, the hostile wastes of Morrowind and the Imperial province of Cyrodiil. As the Mages' Guild had no loyalty to any local governments, after a few years of shrewd diplomacy, the Mages' Guild was completely international, though it took to some areas better than others. Galerion's main goal for the organization was to provide the same level of learning he received from the Psijic Order, only less isolated to nurture real-talent even if it came from poor backgrounds or "savage" cultures. Galerion was the first Arch-Mage - head of the Mages' Guild, but his hunt of his old partner, Mannimarco, forced him to step-down and undertake a life-long quest to confront the evil wizard wherever he popped up.
Structure
The Mages' Guild, at the time of Oblivion - 433 3E (Third Era), is the branch set in Cyrodiil - the capital of Cyrodiilics' (Imperials') world empire. During the era, Hannibal Traven is the current Arch-Mage of the Guild. Though the Arch-Mage has veto power and can set policy, he/she mostly functions as a hands-off overseer, leaving ruling to the Mage's Council. The Mage's Council is made up of the wisest mage's to graduate from the Arcane University who have proven themselves most useful to the Mage's Guild's constant quest for knowledge, both arcane and academic. The Arcane University offers education in transcendent applications of magic, it is where associates become apprentices and over-time full mages. There is only one Arcane University, at the center of the province, in the Imperial City, however there are local Mage's Guild Chapters in every county of the province, for those who can not make the trip to the Arcane University, or lack the money to buy supplies for study abroad, even with the Guild a non-profit organization. Those who can not make it to the University to learn how to alter magic on a fundamental level make due as Associates in the county chapters. Each Mages' Guild hall has a Chapter Head, who sets the curriculum, maintains contact with the Arcane University and enforces decisions passed down from the Council of Mages. Almost every county has a Mages' Guild Chapter that specializes in one specific school of magic.
- The cold northern County of Bruma is the only Mages' Guild Hall with no specialization, instead focusing on a mix of all the schools, but only basics.
- The mountainous north-west county of Chorrol specializes in Conjuration - creature summoning magic.
- The north-eastern farmlands of Cheydinhal host a Mage's Guild Hall that studies Alteration - the magic of transmuting matter from one state to another.
- The rich vineyards of Skingrad county house a Mages' Guild Hall specializing in Destruction magic - evoking the elements.
- The Mage's Guild Hall of Bravil county, south of the Imperial City, makes a point of studying illusion - magic that can alter the mind and trick the senses.
- To the far, far south in the marshes of Leyawiin, the Guild Hall studies the ever elusive Mysticism school - divining and manipulating the aura of all things.
- Along the south-west coast in the county of Anvil, the Mages' Guild there study Restoration - healing the injured, sick and warding the unholy.
Hannibal Traven was originally the Chapter Head of the Anvil Mages' Guild Hall. He eventually was called over to join the Mages' Council for his area of study in combating rogue magicians and evil uses of magic. Hannibal Traven left his right-hand Carahil, a mostly retired exorcist, in charge of the hall. When the previous Arch-Mage stepped down, Hannibal was appointed with the position from among the Mages' Council members.
The Ban on Necromancy
Hannibal Traven's first reform was somewhat radical but also well liked, he made it requisite for anyone wishing to become an apprentice at the Arcane University to first get recommendation from every Mages' Guild Chapter Head in Cyrodiil. While this meant aspiring mages would need to travel across the entire province just to be allowed in the gates of the Arcane University in the Imperial City, The Mages' Council felt the policy was wise in keeping out trouble-makers and lay-abouts while still keeping true to Galerion's vision of making study available to all. It was Hannibal Traven's second major reform that caused massive controversy - banning the school of necromancy - magic manipulating the bodies or souls of the dead. Necromancy was still legal in Cyrodiil, but had long sense been despised and feared. Though the Arch-Mage had no pull over Imperial laws, he/she did set standards for the Mages' Guild and if the Mages' Guild stopped study of a specific school there was essentially no where else with the resources to pick-it-up. Many mages objected to the decision, some had built their entire academic area of study on necromancy as a school and needed to either completely abandon their hard-work or leave the Guild. Some mages had joined to perfect necromancy specifically sheltered by an institution they believed would not pass moral judgment on them and just allow them to hone their craft. Half of the Council of Mages' resigned thanks to the policy. Many non-mages applauded the pruning of the profane practice, and nearly all mages' who had not specifically studied necromancy were neutral to the position, though most appreciated how big a decision it was. A few mages, like Carahil, had viewed necromancy as a school for deviant mystics and praised Hannibal Traven for the ban.
Though Hannibal Traven was firm in his stance, even as it caused commotion, he had not entered into it lightly. The book The Black Arts On Trial is an account of a debate Hannibal Traven set up prior to what would be his massive policy change. The book details a debate between Magister Voth Karlyss of the province of Elsweyr arguing in favor of the ban and Magister Ulliceta gra-Kogg of Orsinium arguing against any such ban. Karlyss's point was not only was necromancy seen as at the very least distasteful but mostly outright immoral in the provinces as it made use of the remains of the dead - either physical or metaphysical in order to function. Ulliceta gra-Kogg's main argument was that the Mages' Guild is an institution of learning and repressing an entire school was an anathema to the very idea behind it, in addition whatever harm necromancy could be used for, could be applied to nearly every other school of magic. Before coming to a decision it was revealed Magister Ulliceta gra-Kogg was found guilty of human sacrifice, which was illegal, regardless of necromancy. Ulliceta evaded initial arrest but her whereabouts remain unknown. Despite the scandal, Arch-Mage Traven left Ulliceta's name and arguments in his book when it was published as he felt they were valid on their face and knew he would face similar criticism for what he was about to do.
Cult of the Black Worm
Some necromancers needed to reform to continue to function in the Guild. Many necromancers chose to resign from the Guild and try to get-by without it's resources to continue their craft; It was due to this that an old enemy returned - Mannimarco. Mannimarco had been a proud necromancer for years, though Galerion's issue with him was his evil nature and irresponsible application of magic, not necessarily his preferred school of magic. Mannimarco took advantage of the ban, for with the Mages' Guild renouncing necromancy, he became the de-facto master for any wishing to pursue the study. Mannimarco had cheated death for many years. Thanks to the events of The Warp in the West of the second main-game, Daggerfall, literally and figuratively splintering reality to overlap with alternate time-lines, there is one reality where Mannimacro becomes a transcendent god-like entity of undeath, but another where he remains a mere elven lich, if a very well preserved one. Thanks to the Warp in the West both versions of Mannimarco exist at the same time, though the transcendent version has no physical presence and thus can only allow necromancy to flourish on a cosmic level, the flesh-and-blood Mannimarco had reformed and old cult of his from the influx of rejected necromancers - The Cult of the Black Worm. Back in the second era, Mannimarco had played court adviser and royal wizard to the emperor. He would turn on the emperor and be the default ruler of the empire for a brief period before he was killed prior to his extended state of undeath. During his living political period he had a cabal of arbiters to enforce his rule - The Cult of the Black Worm. Though The Cult of the Black Worm had died off in the years following Mannimarco's mortal death, Hannibal Traven's ban on necromancy inadvertently had handed Mannimarco many aspiring mages all with a thirst for a school of study only he was willing to teach. What many mages did not know was the end stage Mannimarco had planned for them involved enslaving their souls as supplicants to him. By the time necromancers reached the upper levels of The Cult of the Black Worm there was no-one to turn to and they became vestments of powerful magic as they desired but were also little more than puppets for Mannimarco.
Mages Guild Quest-line
To join the Mages' Guild the Hero of Kvatch must make journeys to each Guild Hall. To do so, he/she only needs to go to the county of their choice (excluding the Imperial City as the Arcane University is not a mere Guild Hall) and ask to join. Each Mages' Guild Chapter Head is on the look-out for talent and welcoming to others who wish to study. The simple demonstration of a wish to be a trained mage is all it takes to be an Associate. Becoming an Apprentice requires considerable more work. Each Chapter head has some issue they need help with at the moment and resolving them gets the Hero of Kvatch a recommendation. Recommendations from each Guild Hall will earn the Hero of Kvatch the right to enter the Arcane University in the Imperial City.
Initially, the Hero of Kvatch will report to Raminus Polus, Hannibal Traven's administrator for basic policy while he attends to such policies with the Mages' Council in the university's upper tower. Over the course of the recommendation period The Hero of Kvatch will meet Kalthar - a "reformed" necromancer, still secretly plying non-necromanctic spells towards harmful ends, Falcar - a Chapter Head not only secretly practicing necromancy but corresponding with Mannimarco until exposed, and Caminalda - a non-Guild-mage beginning to fall into necromancy, though using it for little more than petty theft of merchants via undead minions. Raminus points out such misuses of magic are why Arch-Mage Traven has banned necromancy, and seeing mages resort to such practices fills them with disappointment. During the Hero of Kvatch's initiation necromancers attack the Mages Guild members who usually just facilitate staff enchanting for new apprentices. The attack is the first major raid on licensed and protected Mages' Guild members, prompting Arch-Mage Traven to have Rominus and by extension the Hero of Kvatch do research into the rise on necromancy attacks. Confiding with Mages' Guild asset, Count Janus Hassildor, confirms not only that the necromancer attacks are part of an organized cult, but one working for Mannimarco. Following the confirmation and background of the threat, the Hero of Kvatch is called to work with Hannibal Traven directly, and Rominus promotes her/him to a rank of Magician - a rank fit for a Mages' Guild Council position.
Once the Hero of Kvatch is face-to-face with Hannibal Traven, the real work in combating the Cult of the Black Worm begins. The work involves things such as recovering an undercover Mages' Guild member who infiltrated the cult - though he is not in a state where he can be saved, investigating a cut-off communication with the Bruma Guild Hall - which turns out to have been attacked and destroyed by a Cult of the Black Worm member, trying to recover remaining members of the Mages' Council who spirited away artifacts to keep safe and finally recovering a powerful soul-gem capable of housing not merely a soul but the collective power of that soul's life-time for extra magicka. It is with this final task, the recovery of the Colossal Black Soul Gem, that Hannibal Traven takes his most radical initiative of all. The Hero of Kvatch is not told at first to what end the Gem must be recovered, only that if it is sent to Mannimarco it will mean doom for the entire Guild. The Colossal Soul Gem was crafted and held by Falcar who intended to ship it off to Mannimarco. Upon killing Falcar and recovering the Gem Hannibal Traven explains it's significance. Soul-gems, can hold the life-force of slain non-humans, black-soul-gems can hold humanoid life-forces which is converted to raw magical energies for experimentation. Evil necromancers pick-up not merely the life-force in their soul-gems but the consciousness that goes along with it. The Colossal Soul Gem was made to house Hannibal Traven's soul, it's increased size to account for Traven's life-time of magic, so that not a drop of his collective magic goes to waste - a life-time of magic, knowledge and the soul that cultivated it all channeled straight into Mannimarco once he got his hands on it. Hannibal Traven could not allow his soul to be used to destroy the entire Mages' Guild, but he was not only going to prevent it from being used by Mannimarco, he had a plan to make it his undoing. Hannibal Traven had not sent anyone to confront Mannimarco as he would simply enthrall them, trapping their souls and turning their bodies into thralls like the rest of his Cult of the Black Worm, and tragically one of the Mages' Council members who had secretly been a puppet of Mannimarco until just prior. The secret to resisting enthrallment was to block-off the passage of a Soul to the nearest Black Soul Gem. Hannibal Traven decided to fill the Colossal Black Soul Gem and have the Hero of Kvatch carry it with them when they confronted Mannimarco thus proofing them against enthrallment, their price of-course as that the Colossal Black Soul Gem was designed for one soul, his. Before the Hero of Kvatch can argue Hannibal Traven holds up the Colossal Black Soul Gem, uses a self-destructive spell and dies - charging the Colossal Black Soul Gem.
Mannimarco is holed up in a northern cavern known as Echo-Cave, guarded by numerous undead and Black Worm necromancers. Making it through the cavern will see the Hero of Kvatch confront Mannimarco. Mannimarco is disappointed Traven did not show up directly but considers the Hero of Kvatch an acceptable booby-prize, for though less experienced than Traven they had countered Black Worm attacks consistently and thus would make a fine thrall to make up for the temporary lose in man-power. Mannimarco throws an spell at the Hero of Kvatch and monologues briefly, assured it is safe to do so on the presumption the Hero of Kvatch losing agency of their own body at the time. But Hannibal Traven's plan is a success, the Hero of Kvatch is rendered immune to enthrallment thanks to the charged Colossal Black Soul Gem with Hannibal inside. Mannimarco's flesh-and-blood form is killed by the Hero of Kvatch and the Cult of the Black Worm is destroyed at it's source. Arriving back at the Arcane University, the Hero of Kvatch is greeted by Rominus, who states he received a pre-arranged letter from the Arch-Mage explaining the situation while they were away dealing with Mannimarco. Rominus also states he felt a wave of relief just prior to the Hero of Kvatch's return, and attributes it to Mannimarco's defeat. Rominus states it was Hannibal Traven's final decree that the Hero of Kvatch be appointed the new Arch-Mage.
Personality
Hannibal Traven - prior to being met, is made out to be something of a radical - an extremest whose own prejudices had chased necromancy into the shadows. As both The Black Art On Trial and working with Arch-Mage Traven face-to-face reveals however, Hannibal Traven is wary of repressing any form of learning. Hannibal's true issues with necromancy are ones of public-relations and easy temptations towards applying magic for evil if one needs to start with the death of another to begin their studies. As shown with his decision to still credit Magister Ulliceta gra-Kogg, he does not believe in tearing down others just for opposing his views. He maintains concern for all his Guild-mates as illustrated by his worry about not hearing from Jeanne Frasoric - head of the Bruma Hall, Mucianus Allias - his informant in the Cult of the Black Worm, or his profound sorrow that Caranya - one of his closest advisors on the Mages' Council had been enthralled to Mannimarco. Traven is putting together his final plan almost as soon as he hears about Caranya's enthrallment, with both malaise and resolve heard in his voice and conveyed on his face even as he is giving instruction to acquire the Colossal Black Soul Gem. Though he is no legal politician, every Count/Countess in Cyrodiil voices respect for Arch-Mage-Traven's recent reforms involving recommendation requirements and the ban on necromancy.
