The Scepter of Light

The Scepter of Light

The Scepter of Light governs all aspects of illumination within Faia. They maintain strict quality control over all light-bearing items, from simple oil lamps to magically powered spheres, ensuring they meet the required standards of brightness and longevity. While highly respected for protecting the reliability of Faia’s light sources, the Scepter is also a powerful regulatory body, controlling the flow of light and thus holding immense influence over daily safety across the Realm.

ORGANIZATION TYPE: Guild
PURPOSE: To regulate and ensure the quality and purity of all light-bearing items and structures across Faia.
SYMBOL: A scepter with a lantern and wings.

PRIMARY LOCATION: The Scepter’s headquarters are located in Laluga, where they take advantage of the magic inherent to the island of the Prismatic Pass for research.
LEADERSHIP AND HIERARCHY: The Guild is led by the Luminary, who is the primary authority. Reporting directly to the Luminary are three specialized Directors: the Director of Purity (responsible for light standards), the Director of Logistics (responsible for production quotas and licensing), and the Director of Innovation (responsible for new, light-related research). Below the Directors are regional inspectors who enforce quality standards across Faia.
MEMBERSHIP: Membership is open to artisans, engineers, and mages specializing in the creation of light-bearing items. This includes mundane lights, enchanted lights, and purely magical lights.

STANDING: The Scepter of Light is seen as crucial for public safety, ensuring that all of Faia remains well lit to fend off the Wither. However, they are often criticized by smaller artisans for their strict and sometimes expensive licensing project, which hinders innovation and creates a monopoly on the market for light-bearing items.
FUNDING: Funding comes primarily from Licencing Fees levied on all businesses and artisans who produce light-bearing items. They also receive grants from the Lightkeeper Council.

KEY ACTIVITIES:

• Developing and enforcing Illumination Standards (brightness, efficiency, longevity) for all light sources used in Faia.
• Issuing official Certification Seals for approved light-bearing items, making uncertified items illegal to sell.
• Researching and developing new, more efficient illumination technology.
• Maintaining and regulating major public light sources (lighthouses, town squares, etc). Advising the Lightkeeper Council on light-related infrastructure projects.

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS:

• Developed the first enchanted lantern, a now standardized light source used in settlements across the Realm.
• Created a signaling code, a series of light flashes and colors used by the Wayfinder’s Pact and all settlements for long-distance communication and distress signals.
• Donated powerful light beacons to the Adventurer’s Guild for use in exploration.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The Scepter of Light was formed when the Lightkeeper Council recognized that inconsistent and poorly-made lights posed huge risks to settlements, should their lights ever fail. Its establishment professionalized the creation of light, turning it into a regulated defense system against the Wither.