Archimage

The title of Archimage originates in Miaopiaoist tradition. They were powerful magic users that had an pivotal role in Flying Cat culture. Their power was symbolized by a stone tablet called "Crom". They held the power to elect a "Super Flying Cat" and were the only ones allowed to ride Dragons. They were the leaders of Flying Cats during their early history, but they lost most of their political power with time. They convened every 20 years in the Archimage Council.

History

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The title of Archimage was created around 100 AA by the 26 grandchildren of Altam, who thus became the first Archimages. This to define a title for those who can tame Dragons and choose the "Super Flying Cat" The rules of inheritance of the title were codified in the book Control of Magic. The title was symbolized by the Colm, a carved stone tablet. It was passed down to a chosen apprentice, upon the Archimage death or abdication. This resulted in the fact that each Crom was mostly passed inside the same culture. The book also established the Archimage Council, held n Miaopiatiao every 20 years. It was created to maintain harmony between the culturecs and take decisions on the use of magic.

In the following centuries the Archimages held all power. They first coexisted peacefully and planned the colonization of new archipelagoes during the Archimages Councils. They first ruled directly, their states were called Magocracies. However around 1000AA they began to delegate the rule of far or newly colonized land to members of their family or apprentices. During one of the Archimage Councils, the title of "Prince" was created. These Princes were give land by an Archimage and ruled it (more or less independently). However with the passing time the relations between Archimages of different culture deteriorated. During this period independent tribes began to appear in newly colonized land, far from the control of the Archimage or its Princes. Tension sometime rose between the Archimages over control of some newly colonized pieces of land. This resulted in some conflicts, however most were resolved during the Archimage Councils. However this fragile peace did not last. In 1121 AA, the first direct war erupted between the Mimie and Maccin Archimages of Stu, marking the end of peaceful coexistence. The wars gave the opportunity to Princes or others to take power over new lands. More the time passed more the Archimages lost power. The Magocracies fell one by one during the three following millenia; the Archimages kept only a counseling power in most states. In 4047 only two Magocracies remained.

Crom

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The Crom is a stone tablet symbolizing the power of the Archimage. The 26 original tablets were carved by the grandchildren of Altam from "Feltemast", a block of basalt from on top of which Altam was said to have seen Semor and Nador.

Archimage Lineages

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Each one of the first 26 grandchildren of Altam started a lineage of Archimages, those held great importance in culture and politics of the flying cats. The following timelines are divided by the ethnicity of the first Archimage of the lineage (even if it changed after). Miao Archimages are in red, Micium in grey, Muccin in blue, Mimie in yellow, Mecim in green and Maccin in purple. Next to the name of the Archimage is their residency. Names with * hold an independent magocracy, others are dependent.

The number of archimages stayed stable throughout time, however there were some exceptions:

• In 2720 the Amieve Empire conquered Amial and killed its Miao Archimage. Amieve named Cofmi as his successor. However the other Miao archimages didn't find the succession rightful. So they made a new Crom, it was given to Garanov who founded a new magocracy in Hassi.

• In 2980 at the siege of Gelaltimio, the archimage Agan Mellu, commited suicide by creating an explosion that destroyed the city. The crom was destroyed. A piece was recovered by Nejer of Amisen, who became a Miao archimage. Another piece was taken by Fenira, who became an archimage at the service of Amieve.

• In 3533 the Miao Empire conquered the Aviam magocracy and forced its archimage to name Trefil (Miao) as successor. In response a new crom was created by the other Muccin achimages and was given to Frantostoa of Selidia.

• In 4000 the Urris archimages died during the great eruptions of the island. The three Crom were lost, thus no one succeeded them as archimages.

Miao Crom

Micium Crom

Muccin Crom

Mimie Crom

Mecim Crom

Maccin Crom

Archimage Council

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The Archimages gathered