''Note - Though likely well known to many PM player characters, much of the information in this article is not common knowledge. '' The Magical Establishment is a secret, quasi-official institution for magical research, training, and operations in the [[PM/Kingdom of Heghom|Kingdom of Heghom]]. It is funded and supported by two of the [[PM/Lords Commissioners|Lords Commissioners]], the [[PM/Lady Pilsen (Duchess of Nisthom)|Lady Pilsen]], Duchess of Nisthom, and the [[PM/Lord Tuman (Archduke of Walby)|Lord Tuman]], Archduke of Walby. The Establishment was the brainchild of the Duchess, who also provided most of its funding, but it operates on [[PM/Walfende Manor|lands]] provided by the archduke, and under his political protection from local interference. === Origin and Controversy === Though her husband, who found the idea very attractive, the Lady Pilsen first proposed the creation of a Heghomic magical establishment around 1740. However, opposition to relaxing prohibitions on magic, which would likely be unpopular, was strong, and the Lord Watts was adamantly opposed to legalizing the type of magical investigations the organization would need to conduct in order to be useful. The idea remained more-or-less dormant until the duchess [[PM/Lords Commissioners|succeeded her husband]] as a holder of the Royal Commission in 1743. However, Lord Watts was still adamantly opposed. Not so easily thwarted, the Lady Pilsen used as much influence as she could muster to ensure that someone favourable to the idea, Lord Tuman, Archduke of Walby, was appointed to the Commission. With the tacit support of a third commissioner, Lord Bauer, but without the knowledge of the fifth commissioner (Lord Glosem) or Watts, they founded the Magical Establishment secretly in 1750, in a rural part of Walby still relatively convenient to the archducal seat (the City of Walstich) by riverboat. === Functions === The Establishment's functions include the research, development, education, and operational use of magic. ==== Research ==== The Establishment is tasked with collecting and systematizing magical knowledge from the Hegan Isles and abroad, including investigating both local and foreign magical traditions, the magical arts of indigenous peoples, and previous scholarly magical works. It is also charged with acquiring modern magical knowledge developed by other polities, and keeping its patrons abreast of the latest developments in magical technology, especially continental magical technology. It is also to conduct basic magical science research such as is useful to its aims. ==== Development ==== The Establishment is further tasked with finding practical applications for the magical knowledge it acquires, and using those practical applications to guide future research. ==== Education and Recruitment ==== The Establishment has the job of finding, evaluating, and training magic users, with the aim of establishing both a civilian talent pool, and, in the event of war, a magical corps to defend the Kingdom. In some parts of the Kingdom, extralegal witch-hunting still sometimes occurs. The Magical Establishment's agents have sometimes managed to subvert this activity for their recruitment efforts, and also control the [[PM/Office of the Witch-Hunter General|Office of the Witch-Hunter General]] which was established in the last century in a partially-successful attempt to curb popular enthusiasm for vigilantes. ==== Operational Use ==== From time to time, the patrons of the Establishment may direct it to conduct certain operations, in addition to whatever operations its directors pursue autonomously in the furtherance of the other aims. === Secrecy and Security === Magic of the sort investigated by the Establishment is mostly illegal in the Kingdom of Heghom. Hence, the existence and activities of the Establishment are secret. Although the Archduke possesses the power of pardon in relation to such crimes committed on Walby, and enforcement of laws against magical activities have always been comparatively lax there, a serious exposure would almost certainly result in the termination of the Establishment, and serious confrontation among the Lords Commissioners - to say nothing of the possibility of popular vigilante action. The Establishment operates under the cover story that it is engaged in developing a solution to the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_longitude#Problem_of_longitude|problem of longitude]] and other difficulties involved in long-distance ocean travel. Its cover name (and the name it pays its bills under) is "The Ducal Establishment for Navigation." The Establishment does employ a clockmaker, to support this cover story by selling supposedly-surplus instruments, and to provide for any magical experimentation requiring accurate timekeeping. === Personnel === The Establishment has scholars, administrative staff, magic users, and domestic / support workers at Walfende Manor, as well as "extramural scholars," investigators who are not resident in the area but who have been carefully recruited to conduct magical research (usually of a theoretical or historical nature) elsewhere. Extramural scholars are generally not fully informed about the work at Walfende Manor, knowledge of its existence and activities being available only on a need-to-know basis. There may be additional people (player characters) not yet listed, or taking the place of currently-listed people. ||||||||''Administration'' || ||''Person'' ||''Age'' ||''Residence'' ||''Nature of Work'' || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Second Storey||Managing Director || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Second Storey||Bursar || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Second Storey||Secretary || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Second Storey||Book-Keeper || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Basement||Clerk || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Basement||Clerk || ||||||||''Research'' || ||''Person'' ||''Age'' ||''Residence'' ||''Nature of Work'' || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Second Storey||Director of Research || || ||39||Meterspay||Librarian || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Second Storey||Research Librarian || || ||57||Meterspay||Conservator of Books || || ||37||Meterspay||Scribe || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Attic||Scribe || || ||20||Meterspay||Librarian's Assistant || || ||38||Meterspay||Intramural Researcher || || ||26||Meterspay||Intramural Researcher || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Second Storey||Intramural Researcher || ||Masushenet||39||Meterspay||Apothecary || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Attic||Alchemist || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Attic||Alchemist's Assistant || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Attic||Clock & Instrument Maker || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Attic||Glassblower || ||||||||''Operations'' || ||''Person'' ||''Age'' ||''Residence'' ||''Nature of Work'' || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Second Storey||Director of Operations || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Second Storey||Magic User || || ||68||Meterspay||Magic Use, Midwife || || ||80||Meterspay||Magic Use, Wise-woman || || || ||Walfende Manor, Old Wing Attic||Trainee Magic User || || || ||Walfende Manor, Old Wing Attic||Trainee Magic User || || || ||Walfende Manor, Old Wing Attic||Trainee Magic User || || || ||Walfende Manor, Old Wing Attic||Trainee Magic User || ||||||||''Support'' || ||''Person'' ||''Age'' ||''Residence'' ||''Nature of Work'' || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Attic||Butler || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Attic||Housekeeper || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Attic||Chef || || || ||Walfende Manor, Old Wing Attic||Governess || || || ||Walfende Manor, Old Wing Attic||Tutor || || || ||Carriage House First Storey||Groom || || || ||Carriage House First Storey||Groom & Coachman || || ||26||Meterspay||Carpenter || || || ||Walfende Manor, Old Wing Attic||House Maid || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Basement||Chamber Maid || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Basement||Laundry Maid || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Basement||Cook || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Basement||Cook || || || ||Carriage House First Storey||Boatman || || ||63||Meterspay||Boatman & Trapper || || || ||Carriage House First Storey||Groundskeeper & Mason || || ||18||Meterspay||Groundskeeper & Woodcutter || ||||||||''Security'' || ||''Person'' ||''Age'' ||''Residence'' ||''Nature of Work'' || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Basement||Sergeant || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Basement||Corporal || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Basement||Private || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Basement||Private || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Basement||Private || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Basement||Private || || || ||Walfende Manor, New Wing Basement||Private || ==== Leadership ==== The Establishment was until recently controlled by a Director appointed by its patrons, two people having served in that capacity since its founding. On 15 Effulgence 1752, the patrons deposed the incumbent director and dismissed several staff members after a surprise inspection visit, and replaced him with a Directory of three individuals recently brought in from the Extramural Scholars.