A Magical Wizard LARP
The Thirteen Dark Pillars are responsible for all, and without them, we do not exist. Twelve pillars stand opposite of each other like a clock, with the thirteenth pillar in the center. So long as the Thirteenth Pillar stands, the other Twelve cannot be harmed.
At the base of the Thirteenth Pillar is where the wizard school known as Spell Fire Academy resides. While one can go to any school of magic to learn their tricks, if one wishes to join one of the factions that dictate the guardianship of the Pillars, then one must graduate from Spell Fire Academy. While the opinions of the factions differ greatly, all guardians share the same academic legacy.
It is because of this shared legacy that the meeting place of Wizard Guardian Councils is located at Spell Fire Academy. These councils are special and important because they are only called when there is a universal threat to the Thirteen Pillars, and only the most powerful wizards are summoned to represent their factions. Will you receive your letter requesting aid to help decide on how to defend against the dark threat and offer your magical talents to protect the Thirteen Pillars? We look forward to receiving you and other talented faction representatives. Come show the other wizards what summoning magic really means!
What is Spell Fire Academy: Wizard Council
Spell Fire Academy: Wizard Council is set in a world enchanted by magic where our realm is protected by thirteen mysterious pillars. The Thirteenth Pillar stands in the middle of it all as the Spell Fire Academy is located at the pillar’s base. There is a dark and powerful threat, and it looms over the Thirteen Pillars. No one wizard, nor any one faction, can defeat this entity alone, and indeed a creative solution must be devised and fully implemented for there to be any chance for our universe to survive.
Spell Fire Academy: Wizard Council is a fully immersive Blockbuster LARP where players take on the role of faction wizards who learned their magic from Spell Fire Academy, attend an important Wizard Council, and decide how they are going to save the universe.
Spell Fire Academy focuses on faction politics and seeks to bring forth a dark wizard academia experience. There is a dark threat upon us, and we need to figure out what we in the wizard community must do. Come and give the council your insight!
What Faction will you join!?
When you buy a ticket, we will ask you some questions and then select a faction that your character will be a part of! Of course, you can choose which faction you’d like by buying a faction specific ticket. There are a total of five factions, with two sets of two that have opposing views and one that the other factions find odd. The factions are Chimera, Efreet, Kitsune, Seraphim, and Sphinx. If you’d like to be sorted into a faction, please buy a ticket below.
Efreet
While what burns us often lights up the darkness, it is also possible to be burned in the dark as well. Coals that don’t glow can still sear your skin, and fire that burns without smoke can still burn you. In the same way, the secrets and information that you don’t know about can, in fact, hurt you. Beware, though you may wield fire, never forget that the flame is dangerous to you as well.
The Efreet Faction is not intimidated by the dark nature of some magics and understands that every wish comes with consequences. A member of this faction knows that everything comes with a cost. Forbidden magic does not scare away the Efreet Faction, as the Efreet Faction does their research and proceeds into the future with the appropriate amount of caution.
They will often be the sort that believes that the ends justify the means and are not afraid to consider questionable outcomes. They are veteran players of the devil’s advocate and monkey’s paw games. A wizard of this faction often succeeds where others fail for two reasons. One, they are not afraid to understand their enemy and can thus predict their enemy. Two, they are not afraid of devil bargains and magic that demand a high cost. An Efreet faction member reads the fine print at the bottom.
Cultures that influence the Efreet faction: Middle Eastern cultures, as well as any person who has had to survive deserts or other extreme environments, often join the Efreet faction. Those that have survived through desperation or harsh situations can relate to dealing with carefully worded wishes and high-cost magics.
Faction Views:
The Efreet faction most often opposes the Seraphim faction.
Kitsune – Their bonds are powerful, and while the Efreet faction can respect their united strength, the Efreet faction believes that the Kitsune faction’s heavy dependence on community has caused their individual members to suffer. The Efreet faction believes the secret weakness of this faction is this: every community has a weak member or outcast; someone in every group is just one bad event from becoming that social pariah.
Seraphim – Failure is failure, and the Efreet faction is not afraid to admit when they have failed. However, the Efreet faction feels that when the Seraphim faction fails, they are quick to use excuses and to say, “We did things the honorable or right way,” which is just another way of saying, “We refuse to pay the high cost to succeed.” The Efreet faction believes the secret weakness of this faction is this: the flame used to dispel shadow casts the shadow of the flame’s user, the fire that purges harmful bacteria also eradicates beneficial bacteria, and sterilized medical instruments can still be used for harm.
Sphinx – One cannot observe the dance of shadow and not be affected; it is delusional to think otherwise. Of all the factions that come close to understanding the true nature of magic, in the eyes of the Efreet faction, the Sphinx faction comes closest to understanding it as well as they do. To put it simply, the Efreet faction sees the Sphinx faction as children who refuse to make real sacrifices, yet they are better than most, as seeing true darkness does not cause them to immediately flee back to the light. Dark magic can be mastered if one is willing to pay the cost. The Efreet faction believes the secret weakness of this faction is this: those who cannot do, simply observe.
Chimera – Dark magic is worth mastering, but the Efreet faction believes that one should not play with dark magic. While the Efreet faction is not afraid to sacrifice whatever is needed to be sacrificed to master dark magic, the Efreet faction still acknowledges the importance of fear and trepidation. The Chimera faction is the only faction to not act with trepidation about the Efreet faction, and so ironically, the Chimera faction is the only faction that the Efreet faction acts with trepidation towards. The Efreet faction believes the secret of this faction is this: The Chimera faction cannot truly master dark magic, because even dark magic has fear, and so dark magic does not work with the Chimera faction because it fears those wizards… And rightfully so.
Kitsune
Flame can light the way to safety for seafaring vessels, and the light of fire can summon your allies in your time of need. Magic, like the sea, can be unpredictable and chaotic. That is why it is important to band together with those that you consider close, as you are stronger together when dealing with unpredictable factors.
The Kitsune faction recognizes that a united group of wizards is stronger than a single wizard. Funny enough, the magic of friendship is a very real thing. When a wizard is by themselves, they may very well surrender to a challenge. However, when a wizard is surrounded by their community, crew, family, etc… A wizard digs deep and finds a way to summon strength that they may have never known that they had inside them. Moreover, they won’t be the only ones that tap into this inner strength as a strong group works together!
A member of the Kitsune faction tends to be charismatic and adaptable, as they are both veterans of social challenges from how often they need to use their social skills to cooperate with their group and the ever-changing associations between the other factions. Magic can go wrong, unpredictable events can occur, and the only ground you can depend on for stability are the unshakable bonds of your allies. A Kitsune faction member knows that they are unstoppable so long as they have the support of their crew!
Cultures that influence the Kitsune faction: Japanese and Nordic cultures, as well as people who fish for a living or travel by boat, often join the Kitsune faction. Those that brave the unpredictable elements or favor working with others to achieve greater heights find much favor in the philosophies of the Kitsune faction.
Faction Views:
The Kitsune faction most often opposes the Sphinx faction.
Efreet – While it is admirable to respect sacrifice, the Kitsune faction believes some things should never be sacrificed. It isn’t the fact that the Kitsune faction is afraid of paying high costs; they just believe not everything should be bargained. Some deals are just not supposed to be considered.
Seraphim – The Seraphim faction will often seek to do what is right even if it is unrealistic; the Kitsune faction believes in being adaptable and flexible. The Kitsune faction appreciates the support of the Seraphim faction, but the Kitsune faction will not devote themselves to a lost cause just because “it is the right or honorable thing to do.”
Sphinx – No matter how impressive a musician is, they alone cannot inspire as many without the rest of their band. The Kitsune faction appreciates adventure, but they do not forget their allies. Yes, every person is at the mercy of temptation, but the Kitsune faction believes you should care for your allies anyway. Unless you yourself are safe from such faults, you should not fault them in others. The Kitsune faction believes that the Sphinx faction holds others to higher standards and also uses that as an excuse to give themselves a pass on those same standards. Maybe you can put a price on loyalty, but that doesn’t mean you don’t appreciate loyalty any less.
Chimera – A swarm of ants will disassemble a grasshopper that is a hundred times their size individually with machine-like precision once it has stopped moving, and the Kitsune faction believes that Chimera scientists share this trait. The Kitsune faction is wary of boarding a Chimera vessel, as the Chimera faction isn’t afraid to wake up deep creatures that dwell in darkness just for the opportunity to experiment. The Chimera faction is the reason why certain summoning rituals for the green fish beasts don’t work anymore… They either ran out of green fish beasts or the green fish beasts learned to ignore the rituals.
Seraphim
Fire purifies. With flame, you can dispel the shadows, purge food of harmful bacteria, and sterilize medical instruments to save a life. By destroying what is wicked, you can preserve what is just. Fire is both the ultimate weapon for the righteous and an invaluable tool even for those that do not seek violence.
The Seraphim faction believes that magic is a responsibility, and it is a wizard’s sacred duty to help those around them. They look to cultivate the belief that it is worth striving to do things the right way, as succeeding in any other way defeats the purpose of success. Ultimately, the Seraphim faction believes an inability to achieve perfection is no excuse not to pursue it, and members of this faction always seek improvement.
The Seraphim faction looks to be the guiding light to any who are lost and will gladly avenge the innocent. They strive to be kind warriors, stalwart sentinels, wise protectors, strong cultivators, powerful healers, and even humble mentors. Each member of the Seraphim faction believes in service before self.
Cultures that influence the Seraphim faction: The European cultures, as well as any person who has been influenced by legendary knights or other larger-than-life warriors. Wizards who are inspired by tales of unbreakable oaths and undiminished bravery in impossible odds might find this faction appealing.
Faction Views:
The Seraphim faction most often opposes the Efreet faction.
Efreet – A hard life does not make a disciplined life, and the Seraphim faction believes that the Efreet faction will look for any excuse to take a shortcut. The means are what make the ends matter, and the Efreet faction has lost sight of that.
Kitsune – Their commitment to each other is admirable and even beautiful; the Seraphim faction sees a lot of light in the Kitsune faction. Unfortunately, the Kitsune faction rarely honors oaths sworn outside their faction, and therefore the Seraphim faction will often refuse to trust or rely on the Kitsune faction.
Sphinx – What is the point of learning the weaknesses of creatures that dwell in the dark places if you do not share them? Is not saving innocent lives payment enough for you? The Seraphim faction believes that the Sphinx faction is a bit too mercantile for their own good. Sometimes patience is enough, as when the Seraphim faction resupplies the Sphinx faction; that is often seen as payment enough, but other times the Sphinx faction seems more obsessed with gold than doing the right thing. Being a wizard is a responsibility to help people, not a method of getting rich.
Chimera – The pursuit of knowledge is an honorable way of life, but the Seraphim believe that there is wisdom in knowing when one has gone too far. ‘Should we’ is a question too and is one that the Seraphim faction wishes the Chimera faction would ask itself more often.
Sphinx
Within the flicker and dance of flame, there is mystery and wonder. The stories told by campfire, burner flame, and lamplight reveal hidden knowledge and unlock powerful secret magic. With diligence and dedication, one can unveil those secrets and tease new power from the very shadows that dance around the flame.
The Sphinx faction prizes knowledge and learning above all, and magic is both the ultimate tool and the ultimate mystery wrapped up into one. The stronger the riddle, the more elaborate the puzzle, the better the adventure to be had, the more powerful the secret earned, and the greater the story made. These are experiences that are worth having.
However, the Sphinx faction understands that each experience is unique to the individual, but each experience can be shared to grant different perspectives… For a price, of course. A life of adventure is not free, and no one understands the cost of adventuring better than the Sphinx faction. But at the end of the day, at the end of the night, what is more valuable than experience, secrets, and rare stories lived?
Cultures that influence the Sphinx faction: North African or South American cultures, as well as any person who draws excitement in delving into ancient archaeology. Wizards that thrive off decoding dead languages on stone tablets or leap at the chance to investigate pyramids or ancient jungle ruins find peers among the Sphinx Faction.
Faction Views:
The Sphinx faction most often opposes the Kitsune faction.
Efreet – While the secrets in the shadows are worth investigating, the Sphinx faction believes that the power there should be left there. The Sphinx faction believes that the knowledge itself is the power, not the dark magic. It is important to learn how the shadows dance, but be careful not to dance with the shadows yourself… To put it plainly, the Sphinx learns about dark powers so they can defend themselves and protect others when dark power is used, not so they themselves can use it.
Kitsune – Adventures are dangerous; you don’t bring your entire family but a small team if you must and contract out the rest. While not as gregarious as the Kitsune faction, the Sphinx faction does recognize sharing experiences can be wonderful, but this is still a luxury, and no luxury is free. Each cherished member of a party gets a piece of the treasure, which means less treasure for you, and that is if you can truly trust each “cherished” party member. The Sphinx faction knows that no one is beyond temptation and believes the Kitsune faction is childish for believing that every member of their “crew” will throw themselves in front of a trap for each other.
Seraphim – A life lived in the light is a boring life. The Seraphim faction is satisfied with never learning a secret; the Sphinx faction is not. The Sphinx faction appreciates stability and safe havens that the Seraphim faction creates; however, that is not what magic is for! The Sphinx faction believes that the birthright of every wizard is to challenge reality and uncover as many secrets in the universe as possible, and there are many dark places out there. Not everyone is born with the love of seeking out adventure, but the Sphinx faction believes that it is a wizard’s responsibility to do so. However, this responsibility comes with bills that must be paid.
Chimera – Some forms of undead can be destroyed by removing their head, a fact that the Sphinx faction uncovered. That wasn’t enough for the Chimera faction; they had to discover all the ways that said undead creature could be harmed, what it was allergic to, what resting places it sought out, and just how much of the head had to be removed before it was destroyed. The Chimera faction claims to be humane, but the Sphinx faction knows that much of the information gained by the Chimera faction is used to do some pretty inhumane things. The Chimera faction is the reason why some information is secret, as not everyone can be responsible with knowledge.
Chimera
The ability to control fire was a dramatic change in the habits of early humans. Making a fire to generate heat and light made it possible for people to cook food, stay warm in the cold, and also kept monsters at bay. The Chimera faction takes great inspiration from the Pyrocene epoch for how they view magic both as a philosophy and as a science.
Magic is meant to be observed, studied, and tested. Where other factions are happy to use magic simply as a tool to understand and manipulate what they see, the Chimera faction is eager to try to understand and manipulate the nature of magic itself! Some believe in following the natural order, while others are not afraid of attempting to control and manipulate the natural order.
To the Chimera faction, a wizard and a scientist are one and the same, sometimes even referring to themselves as reality scientists. While other factions chose creatures of fire to represent their order, the Chimera faction created their own creature to represent their order, which was a Barbary lion with a set of markhor horns, wings of a harpy eagle, and the tail of a king snake. Horrified, the other factions pointed out that this creature was not a being of fire and should be disposed of immediately. In response, the Chimera faction simply chose to develop this creature further to the point it gained the ability to breathe fire, and the rest of the factions chose to… Accept it.
The Chimera faction has a long history of being willing to progress farther with the limits of magic than others are capable of. The reality is scientists, however, are not monsters (though they have often created some), as they are also the kind to question the nature of the soul and debate its existence. At the end of the day, rather than being a practitioner of philosophy or hands-on reality bending, the only thing any two Chimera faction members have in common is their lack of fear of questioning everything.
Cultures that influence the Chimera faction: Chinese or Greek cultures, as well as any person who considers studying philosophy time well spent. Anyone in the field of alchemy or wizardry who loves or feels the need to question the very nature of magic itself can find fellow scientists in this faction. Sometimes their fantastic inquiries can even be reflected in their fashion. There are some in the faction who still strongly believe in the power of manipulating steam, and they are often easy to know who they are based on what they wear.
Faction Views:
Of all the factions, the Chimera faction does not have any single faction that they most often oppose. Instead, the Chimera faction sees all the other factions as rather wonderfully odd, while the other factions tend to be uncomfortable (and sometimes fearful) around the Chimera faction.
Efreet – It is often fascinating to see what wizards will sacrifice if they believe it will grant them more power, and the Chimera faction is happy to document it, from a safe distance, of course. For a faction that values reading the fine print of a contract, the Efreet faction seems too accepting of dark deals, while the Chimera faction sees wisdom in questioning whether or not the deal could be altered. The Chimera faction asks not for a deal for delicious milk but for the ability to reproduce said delicious milk before analyzing how one could create a factory to reproduce delicious milk on a large scale.
Kitsune – Every science project needs a team, and the Chimera faction respects the philosophies of the tribal thinking of the Kitsune faction. Work relations, however, are limited in the same way that two packs of wolves in the wild will not just converge into one large one (although sometimes they do). At the end of the day, teamwork is a way of life for the Kitsune faction, whereas teamwork for the Chimera faction is just a means to an end.
Seraphim – To help your fellow wizards is a fine philosophy, but the Chimera faction refuses to believe that there is any reason to truly halt the progress of science. The Chimera faction believes that if a creature from darkness has been defeated, their corpse fully controlled, then there is no reason why we must burn it to ash before we dissect it and perform an autopsy. Anything the Chimera faction can learn can be documented and used to aid other wizards in the future. The Chimera faction sees the value of being humane, but a corpse is a corpse, knowledge itself is not evil, and to experiment with the gift of life is one of the most wondrous joys one can experience. What is the point of being a wizard if we are not allowed to fully explore it in safe and controlled environments?
Sphinx – The pursuit of knowledge is one of the most admirable things an individual can do; however, the Chimera faction does not believe that the fruits earned should always be used solely to turn a profit. The Chimera faction sees the value of overturning ancient secrets, but to never practice what one has learned is most odd. To explore ancient tombs and ruins is necessary sometimes, but the Chimera faction also believes in proper risk assessment. The Chimera faction finds the Sphinx faction is needlessly aloof and prone to unnecessary risk.