Copper Tortoise Conclave

The Copper Tortoise Conclave along with the closely related Iron Tortoise Conclave was a group of alchemists and enchanters centered mostly on Aren, who banded together for mutual protection and as a force within the political landscape of the Mage Wars. They latter formed a quasi-secret society that endued throughout the era of the Alliance. The figure David is heavily associated with the Conclaves and was undoubtedly a member. Later generations would elevate him to near god-like status. The secrets of Alchemical Glass were among the most closely held.

During the Mage Wars, the Conclaves were said to have created a place called The Refuge to relocate their friends and family away from the fighting. The exact nature of the Refuge is known only to full members of the group, but it is generally believed to be a sort of self-sustaining colony accessed by magic.

Organization

The symbol of the group is a small metal tortoise shell with a gemstone in the middle, worn as a pin or broach. Initiates are required to create their own from scratch. Depending on the skills of the specific initiate it would also be strongly enchanted. The group described itself as a sort of society or guild, but in practice seemed like more of a loose association of like-minded makers.

During the Mage Wars, they would band together in different areas and use the power of collective bargaining to insure living conditions for themselves and their kin. For example, an ongoing problem during the war was the forced conscription of any able bodied young men into local fighting brigades. Since the Iron conclave created most of weapons, they could collectively deny service to anyone kidnapping their sons and brothers.

Alchemists who sided with the Mage Towers were typically shunned by and shut out of the conclaves, cut off from the secret knowledge they maintained.