"Senders can send people... but only their physical bodies. There is a
 reason the practice was banned by every civilized society."

- Xirithtil, Sender Guildleader

Senders are specially-trained practitioners of the magic art of reaching
through the Aether and forming a connection to someone else far away in
order to transmit messages across vast distances. Such messages could take
the form of emotions, images, ideas, or words.

Sending is considered one of the most transformative discoveries in history.
Based upon Artifacts uncovered by the mage-scholars of Vallus-Athyn, the
lost magic was revived through the combined efforts of multiple
thaumaturgical factions from many different nations, including the renowned
highcourt mages of Vaelandris. The Prime Sending Stones had once formed the
backbone of the Ancients' civilization, one of which is rumored to have
remained active within the floating island-nation. Re-awakening their power
across the world brought forth a new era, one in which magic became the
driving force of progress.

The ability to communicate rapidly ushered in the golden age of the Old
Kingdoms as it allowed for the efficient governing of massive swathes of
territory. Sending Houses were established by a newly formed Senders' Guild
in key locations to create a network that spanned kingdoms. And for the
first time in history, direct communication with Vaelandris itself was
possible - though still tightly controlled by its magisters.

A client could pay a guild Sender to transmit a message anywhere within the
network. Depending on the capability and reach of the Sender, as well as the
message's destination, multiple Senders might be required to relay it. The
system was efficient and lucrative for the Guild, and training to become a
Sender was competitive and challenging. A skilled Sender who completed
training and spent a few years working their way up to an important posting
would find themselves very wealthy and respected by their community.

Sending evolved during the New Kingdoms era with the revolutionary discovery
of sending objects through the network. Having unlocked the key to the
Ancients' Prime Stones, mage-senders were some of the most influential
individuals across the civilized world. Teleportation became a true magic
art rather than something divine or miraculous. Senders charged dearly for
this service, as it was very physically taxing, but it nonetheless allowed
for the rapid development of vast trade networks that spanned continents.
The kingdoms with the best Senders flourished.

When the Blight came, word spread quickly thanks to the Sending network. But
as Sending Houses went dark one by one, the magnitude of the disaster became
clear. It was due to the surviving Senders that refugees knew Altheria was a
safe haven. And as the Sending network fell silent altogether, those who had
made it knew with certainty that there was no one left beyond the Barrier.

It was only after the Nightblades purged the criminal gangs from the Lower
City that a proper Sender's Guild could be established in Altheria. Many
Sigilkeep mages aided in the founding of the original Sender Guildhall in
Westwall. But when the Blightcaller tragedy destroyed that ward, it became
clear that the safest place for Altheria's Prime Sending Stone was within
the walls of Sigilkeep itself. The ruined Westwall Sending House was left
abandoned, and the remaining Senders returned to the blue tower to share it
with the Guild of Thaumaturgy.

From there, they established standardized sending stones for all Altherian
residents, allowing anyone within the city to connect to the network. The
stones also provided added protections, including as location beacons,
recording crystals, and sources of vital information. They had the added
benefit of preventing or deterring all but the most serious of crimes. They
became so essential, that the protection of the Prime Stone and the network
was considered one of the highest priorities by the City Council.

Many of Altheria's Senders are also mages, the two guilds sharing more than
just a tower. A new Sending House was established within Sigilkeep, and a
monitoring post was created to listen for any messages that might still come
from outside the city. To this day, they have heard only silence.

See also:
sending, crystal, magic, mages, sigilkeep, artifacts, ancients


Primary Stats: Presence

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