I am thinking to taking the party into the country of Amn in Forgotten Realms. One of the things about Amn is that arcane magic is controlled tightly by the Cowled Wizards, so I was wondering how they would monitor the unauthorized use of it. Apart from having informants throughout the city who would report to them, I thought of having devices around the city that would basically have Detect Magic on them, and when they did detect some, would either release a flare or smoke signal or loud sound, so that the Cowled Wizards would be notified.
I would assume the Cowled Wizards would do watch public areas such as civic buildings, plazas, temple distrits, clubs and theaters, local events etc pĥysically with wizards or other people acting as eyes and hears for them with mundane surveillance for any unsanctioned spellcasting as well as remotely with scrying magic, detect magic etc..
I would assume the Cowled Wizards would do watch public areas such as civic buildings, plazas, temple distrits, clubs and theaters, local events etc pĥysically with wizards or other people acting as eyes and hears for them with mundane surveillance for any unsanctioned spellcasting as well as remotely with scrying magic, detect magic etc..
I agree - there will be a lot of people who are "eyes and ears" for the Cowled Wizards. Street vendors who make a little extra gp if they report, etc. However I also want some sort of magical device. I was thinking of a floating orb, with detect magic on it...
I don't know if any official explanation for how the Cowled Wizards detect unlicensed magic has ever been given. They just do. It's assumed they are monitoring The Weave in the city and when it is manipulated they check to see if a licensed mage is there. I envision a room with a map of the city that lights up when magic is used and is a different color if there's no licensed mage casting it. Otherwise it can be manipulated to see the license ID of the caster.
I don't know if any official explanation for how the Cowled Wizards detect unlicensed magic has ever been given. They just do. It's assumed they are monitoring The Weave in the city and when it is manipulated they check to see if a licensed mage is there. I envision a room with a map of the city that lights up when magic is used and is a different color if there's no licensed mage casting it. Otherwise it can be manipulated to see the license ID of the caster.
Not a bad idea. I was thinking of orbs that are on poles (or floating, not sure) that have detect magic imbued into them. When they do indeed detect magic, they release a pyrotechnics spell (fireworks) into the air.
Part of my story may be a confrontation between the Cowled Wizards and the Emerald Cabal, with the party in the middle, so I have to think about this.
You can do things like having a temple with a couatl. It's a big imposing monster that is incapable of lieing and can detect magic, suspected arcane casters without a permit could be dragged to one which acts as a judge. The couatl is a big imposing divine creature that would give a church allot of gravitas.
Something a bit more sinister there is the nothic with it's weird insight ability. It could be kept in a cage and used as a kind of sniffer dog for secrets. They're also cursed arcane spell casters so they could also act as a terrifying example of what happens to those who don't follow the rules.
Another creature is the mage hunter which can serve a similar role to the nothic but isn't a cursed spell caster making it a bit more neutral. The mage hunter also works well as a creature sent to track a spell caster. Another mage hunter with a more high tech appearance there is something like the mage hunter golem from the critical role setting.
You can also come up with your own custom item to detect magic. Orbs like you suggested have a high tech and arcane vibe but you can do other things too. For a more low tech feeling you could do something like flowers or trees that wilt when an arcane spell is cast near them, guards could wear them on their uniform and they could line the streets. It would be beautiful but also ominous.
I also really like the gremishka and it's magic allergy ability. having some of these roaming around could be very entertaining
I am thinking to taking the party into the country of Amn in Forgotten Realms. One of the things about Amn is that arcane magic is controlled tightly by the Cowled Wizards, so I was wondering how they would monitor the unauthorized use of it. Apart from having informants throughout the city who would report to them, I thought of having devices around the city that would basically have Detect Magic on them, and when they did detect some, would either release a flare or smoke signal or loud sound, so that the Cowled Wizards would be notified.
Any thoughts on this?
I would assume the Cowled Wizards would do watch public areas such as civic buildings, plazas, temple distrits, clubs and theaters, local events etc pĥysically with wizards or other people acting as eyes and hears for them with mundane surveillance for any unsanctioned spellcasting as well as remotely with scrying magic, detect magic etc..
I agree - there will be a lot of people who are "eyes and ears" for the Cowled Wizards. Street vendors who make a little extra gp if they report, etc. However I also want some sort of magical device. I was thinking of a floating orb, with detect magic on it...
I don't know if any official explanation for how the Cowled Wizards detect unlicensed magic has ever been given. They just do. It's assumed they are monitoring The Weave in the city and when it is manipulated they check to see if a licensed mage is there. I envision a room with a map of the city that lights up when magic is used and is a different color if there's no licensed mage casting it. Otherwise it can be manipulated to see the license ID of the caster.
Not a bad idea. I was thinking of orbs that are on poles (or floating, not sure) that have detect magic imbued into them. When they do indeed detect magic, they release a pyrotechnics spell (fireworks) into the air.
Part of my story may be a confrontation between the Cowled Wizards and the Emerald Cabal, with the party in the middle, so I have to think about this.
There are a few options.
You can do things like having a temple with a couatl. It's a big imposing monster that is incapable of lieing and can detect magic, suspected arcane casters without a permit could be dragged to one which acts as a judge. The couatl is a big imposing divine creature that would give a church allot of gravitas.
Something a bit more sinister there is the nothic with it's weird insight ability. It could be kept in a cage and used as a kind of sniffer dog for secrets. They're also cursed arcane spell casters so they could also act as a terrifying example of what happens to those who don't follow the rules.
Another creature is the mage hunter which can serve a similar role to the nothic but isn't a cursed spell caster making it a bit more neutral. The mage hunter also works well as a creature sent to track a spell caster. Another mage hunter with a more high tech appearance there is something like the mage hunter golem from the critical role setting.
You can also come up with your own custom item to detect magic. Orbs like you suggested have a high tech and arcane vibe but you can do other things too. For a more low tech feeling you could do something like flowers or trees that wilt when an arcane spell is cast near them, guards could wear them on their uniform and they could line the streets. It would be beautiful but also ominous.
I also really like the gremishka and it's magic allergy ability. having some of these roaming around could be very entertaining
Some good ideas - thanks!