Following the catastrophe which created
The Waste in 837 (Cambrian Reckoning) there was a backlash against magic
which spread from
Cambria to neighbouring
Reetland. Reetlands wizards in truth had never been so reckless as those in Cambria but
there had been the odd magical mishap (although on a far smaller scale).
The King and Council met and gave authority to the wily Chancellor, Gorinded, to negotiate with the various magical
societies and come up with a plan which would reassure the uneasy populace. The Chancellor after a brief initial
chat with the bodies representing the magic users announced the formation of the Society of Arcane Practitioners
and that all Reetland users of arcane magic would have to belong it. He then spent the next year discussing the detail
with the bodies representing wizards.
In the end the society became the Royal Society which flattered both the King and the wizards nicely and the three
largest magical societies, the Wizards Research Fellowship, the Arnsburg Society and the Ancient Society for the Study
of Arcana agreed the details which left the smaller societies no option but to follow. The major details of the
Arnsburg Agreement, as it was called, were that the new Society would be outward looking and consider the needs and
interests of the nation, magical research would henceforth be carried out under the auspices of Reetland's universities (including a newly created univerity at Arnsburg), and that all practitioners would keep a log of their
magical activities. It should be noted that two of the less powerful societies (in terms of magical prowess) retained
their independence in the end.
From the wizard's point of view they had agreed to two slap up meals a year paid for and attended by the King,
been promised cool new robes whenever they acted in an official capacity for the state and most of importantly
survived the crisis. One of the most visible changes seen by the populace was the creation of the 'Blue Robes'
a sort of high-powered magical Watch who dealt with any crimes involving magic. They became highly
effective not least because the wizards considered the elimination of risk (to themselves) to be an important
part of any of their operations and always turned up mob-handed. As a result the only casualties they have ever taken
in their new role (to themselves - their bodyguards have been less fortunate) have been the very rare occasions when the criminals
have turned out unexpectedly to be rogue Masters from the Society itself.
The Society's only other significant duties are to provide support to the
Honourable Fellowship of Artificers when that body
requires it for their public works and to also to support the
Guild of Magewrights with their creations (unlike the former generally
very well paid work). It should be noted that the Society have by long standing custom never been required to
support the military.