Ugorth the Archmage
b 1597, d 1672; Defacto Ruler of Aurice, 1637 to 1672; established the order of the Knights-Magi of Aurice in 1629. Ugorth the Archmage did much to advance the practice of magic in Aurice and Lucacia. His legacy established the productive use of magic for society. In addition to his leadership for Aurice, Ugorth dabbled in all manner of magical schools and was given to long stretches of privacy in dedication to his art. Magic-practitioners of later ages would call on the name of Ugorth to defend the lawful integration of magic into society after the Middles Ages of Chaos.
Early Life
Ugorth was born in the Eyfrey Forest in Goscundy and learned a mixture of folk magic and some academic magic from his parents at a young age. His father was slain by an invasion of uhlaks when Ugorth was only thirteen. Despite this tragedy, Ugorth showed considerable talent and his grandfather sent him to Vilangril to be an apprentice under the wizard Tamunar of Vilangril. At this time, the Throe Wastes did not yet exist and Vilangril was a prosperous town on the edge of the plains. Ugorth soon exceeded the craft of his master Tamunar and the young wizard returned home to visit his family for a few weeks. He promptly left to travel abroad for nearly ten years. He returned with a sizable fortune and bought a small palazzo in Aurice where he delved deeply into his wizard studies. Ugorth lectured on rare occasion for the benefit of the local society of wizards and acquired a significant personal library of magical and non-magical codices. Tomes accepted as genuine antiques from his library command fantastic fortunes in the rare book market. He established a following of wizards and with the blessing of the Duke, created the Knights-Magi of Aurice in 1629.
Political Rise
Ugorth became more and more involved in the politics of the city of Aurice as Tontegal, the Duke of Aurice and Mage Senate called upon his services more and more to defend the city from foreign wizards, ravaging sky tribes, and, most of all, uhlak invasions from Eloaria. Ugorth excelled in wizardry and was able to make decisions that ensured good outcome for his exploits. During this time, fellow wizards acknowledged that Ugorth was indeed an archmage, although he openly declined such compliments.
Political Disfavor
In 1635, Tontegal began to fear Ugorth's growing influence in politics and the wizard's magical prowess. He sent Ugorth on missions to the eastern edge of the territory, secretly plotting the wizard's demise. But Ugorth through his resourceful wit, staved off assassination attempts and always came home triumphant to Aurice. At length, the Duke of Aurice coerced the Senate into charging Ugorth with the crime of consorting with demons. Instead of fleeing, Ugorth faced the trial and was exonerated. Enraged by the outcome of the trial, Duke Tontegal ordered the dissolution of the Mage Senate and sent sorcerer mercenaries to slay Ugorth. Duke Tontegal retained loyal wizards from the former Mage Senate and installed them in his newly created Council of Wizards of Aurice. The Archmage fled to Under-Aurice, the deep warren of tunnels and dry caverns beneath Aurice that have sheltered her exiles and vagabonds for millennia. Ugorth gathered allies both above and below the surface of the earth.
Battle of Malvatic Forest
In 1636, a great body of uhlaks invaded and occupied eastern Lucacia. Duke Tontegal was slain in 1637 by a member of his guard. The Mage Senate re-convened and summoned Ugorth to be the principle member of their body. Ugorth Archmage led the desperate army of the duchy and defeated the uhlaks in the Battle of the Malvatic Forest (1637).
Protector of Aurice
Ugorth avoided appearing constitutionally as a tyrant, but his hand and the strength of his persona shaped the policies and decrees of the Aurician Senate. In the year 1639, the reconstituted Mage Senate honored him with the title 'Protector of Aurice.'
Legacy
Ugorth is a model for mages throughout Lucaciaand the world. His laboratory is thought to be the nucleus of the Magitechnic Institute of Aurice and the Library of Ugorth is named after him.
See Also
- Aurice
- Battle of the Malvatic Forest (1637)
- Chronology of Aurice
- Duke Tontegal of Aurice
- Knights-Magi of Aurice
- Lucacia
- Mage-Tyrant
- Shrine of Ugorth (Aurice)
- Tamunar of Vilangril
- Vilangril
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