Through great discovery comes great prosperity.
A gentlefolk's society of prestige and ambition, The Magnus League is predominantly composed of intrepid explorers sponsored by those in power, or those born to noble houses but not bound to inherit them. They seek to carve their own legacy through daring expeditions and remarkable discoveries. Songs are sung at court of great feats of Magnus League members and their heroic ventures, and that fame in itself can bring its own fortune. They are the modern-day knights, and the esteem one can gain within the guild is one of the few ways one can legitimately find a voice amongst the nobility and sway the political tides.
Noble patrons are eager to see their own legacy immortalised, and the guild is happy to facilitate. For members, each adventure is as political as it is perilous, as funding for the next expedition usually relies on the backing of influential investors. Favour is often garnered through the acquisition of relics in newly charted lands or attaching a noble house's name to a never-before-seen creature with equally majestic plumage. Heroes of the League have felled great beasts and plundered ancient dungeons, and the bounty of their exploits fills the halls of the Anderlynd Museum.
Most of the guild's patrons have altruistic goals and a deep veneration for the chronicling of history and discovery in general. Membership in the League is a delicate balance of furthering both their own prestige and juggling the requests that keep the funding flowing, through mapmaking, treasure hunting, exploration, and naming discoveries after their noble benefactors. The Magnus League are the quintessential storybook heroes, embodying the chivalry of the honourable knights of old, and charting their own course through the history they record.
Guild Structure
Those who join the ranks of The Magnus League do so as Squires, either under the mentorship of a Knight-Bannerret or with sufficient backing from a noble house to engage in their own quests. Once a Squire has proven themselves chivalrous and well renowned they can petition to be elevated to the rank of Knight-Errant, which carries with it the title of Ser. This title is recognised in any court where nobility holds worth and Dominion Charter is upheld. A Knight-Errant that has proven their value and worth to both the Guild and the noble courts can be elevated to the position of Knight-Banneret, where their coat of arms is added to the League Charter, and recognised across the land as a legitimate noble crest.
People of Note
Ser Caspian Blackthorne
Cultivated, chivalrous, and fiercely loyal, Ser Caspian is known for treating every soul under her command fairly and kindly - and her determination to enjoy a well‑brewed cup of tea even in the most inhospitable places. One of Anderlynd's most popular Knight-Bannerets, the daring and audacity of her latest expeditions are the talk of court. All are waiting with baited breath to hear of what adventures will unfold for her as leader of this expedition across the Expanse.
Ser Alastair Savage
A seasoned and respected Knight-Banneret whose days of field action are much behind them. Now he spends his days behind the desk plotting expeditions for the younger generation of guild members to explore. He is renowned for his exploits exploring the wilderness of the Umlau Peninsula and being one of the few scouts to ever successfully traverse The Deadlands. He refuses to fully recount the horrors he witnessed in that cursed place, though the notes and sketches he has released are the stuff of nightmares.
Ser Maria Keyes
Once but a stablehand, she was put forward as a Squire when she saved a noble who fell from their horse during a foxhunt. Though their lowly upbringing has put them on the back foot when it comes to court etiquette, she has managed to garner both notoriety and fortune as she has risen to Knight-Errant. Ser Maria and her Squires have the favour of certain nobles who value additions to their personal collections handsomely.
Lord Sabian Dubois
Galant sailor, avid naturalist, and eligible bachelor of House Dubois. He has been the center of much of the recent gossip in noble courts due to a very public refusal to return to inherit his house's fortune until he has sailed every coastline seeking the woman of his dreams. His betrothed was distraught to hear of this news, claiming her beloved must be ensorcelled by some foreign witchcraft.