Sphere Virtahn 

“Stubbornness is a common trait among the masters. Most would rather die than agree that they were wrong, and amidst the Spheres, Virtahn surely competes for the title of most hard-headed of them all. I’m not in a position to demand better masters—being tutored is privilege enough—but if I may ask for something, I just hope that Seratrin’s eyes aren’t blind with the blood he’s spilled.”

— Bellame, Apprentice of Sphere Virtahn

The Everlasting vanished, and the cultures that survived their fallen empires were forced to rebuild, finding new purpose in the rubble of cataclysm. For the mages of the Conclave, their loss took a different form: distant from the safety of Quinvala, many masters would die in enemy territory, taking precious knowledge to the grave with them. Ever since then, while other powers have struggled to find purpose, the Conclave has remained true to the original vision of their Everlasting creators, working tirelessly to develop magic and put the world under their control. Now, however, they have to deal with the terrible setback of losing knowledge of the inner workings of some of their own techniques, which must be redeveloped from scratch or rediscovered in the bowels of the Malediction. Even worse, the Fall that tore the world asunder and birthed the Malediction also broke the laws of magic. Even Liastrum, as otherworldly as it is, experienced the same instability that affected other magical sources of the continent, becoming wilder, more unpredictable, prone to failure, and backfiring.

Still, even as the magic that served as the very foundation of the Conclave faltered, the mages refused to yield. To protect the Spheres, groups of mercenaries, many of whom had lent their services during the War of the Everlasting, bound together and formed Sphere Virtahn, intent on organizing their efforts and mastering the art of war. Giani Virtahn, first Nexi of the Sphere, discovered how martial skills, when mastered and applied directly to spellcasting, managed to overcome the instability that plagued magic during the Age of Strife. Since then, members of this Sphere have practiced their techniques and honed their skills in a meticulous manner, using their bodies and their somatic experiences as the means to perform ever greater feats of bellicose magic. To go alongside their developed skills, better weaponizing their movements, members of the Sphere created weapons of pure Liastrum, which served as both instruments of war and spellcasting focus. 

Throughout the Age of Strife, they brokered protection deals with the cities of the Wystral, hunted down agents of the Scourer who remained in the Isles, and lent their services to other Spheres whenever their mages were in need of protection. For centuries, they established themselves as a trustworthy and efficient Lesser Sphere, but moderation isn’t the way of the Conclave. As Veloma, the first Seeker, successfully returned from the Malediction bearing a Legacy, every major power in Selejia was awed by the prospect of uncovering ancient powers, and the sudden need for Virtahn’s expertise elevated them to the position of a Greater Sphere. 

Members of Sphere Virtahn are divided into two groups: the Aspis and the Doru. The Aspis, strategists and tacticians, dominate their opponents long before they reach the battlefield, calculating the best strategy and controlling the flow of battle with sheer wits. The Doru, warriors and battlecasters, opt to master the belligerent potential of their spellcasting, focusing on dealing considerable damage to their opponents with a blend of Liastrum weaponry and spells. These seasoned warriors, tacticians, and battlecasters alike have proved themselves as the most capable of venturing into—and surviving—the accursed lands. 

While the rest of Selejia sharpened steel, Virtahn shaped Liastrum itself into one of the most dangerous of weapons. Despite empowering every spell from the Conclave, Liastrum must be handled with utmost care, and masters of Sphere Virtahn are well aware of this fact. As such, what better usage than to employ it in war? Swords, spears, and arrows, all made of the volatile substance, ravage soft tissue in manners that words fail to describe. It cuts deeply into flesh, charring a path as it poisons the blood. Survivors are maddened by otherworldly pain, as the corruption festers in their veins. Virtahn knows the fear that Liastrum weaponry invokes upon their enemies, and many a time has had its mages hired purely for intimidation rather than actual battle. 

Just as Chimer holds a monopoly over the art of infusing living tissue with Liastrum, so does Virtahn hold a monopoly over the creation of Liastrum-based weaponry, spells that weaponize Liastrum, and the somatic techniques that enhance both. Spheres that wish to create their own weaponry must buy either the schematics or the weapons directly from them, both costing an exorbitant price and being mostly useless without the proper technique. In the end, hiring their mercenaries is the wisest choice. Their spells, however, are easy to learn and effective to use, and most can afford to buy the rights to their use. This, of course, is but a business strategy of Virtahn, which is more than happy to make sure the Conclave remains reliant on them. Besides mercenary work and the creation of Liastrum weaponry, Virtahn is also attributed with the development of some of the best-known offensive magics of the Conclave. The Sphere is proud to say that its spells, simple to learn and effective to use, have been used by apprentices and masters alike since the Fall.

It is the norm for Conclave warbands that venture into the Malediction to include at least a few Virtahn mercenaries. While Sybyl predicts the dangers to come, and Amblis offers a way out should plans go awry, it is Virtahn that stands and fights those who threaten their Seeker. Even those who avoid engaging in combat altogether, who prefer careful planning to outright violence, do enjoy the company of Virtahn bodyguards, just in case.