Creating the GleamWands: A Secret Society of Wizards

The concept of the GleamWands came from an idea I had for my very first one-shot. I’ve always been a fan of wizards—their mysterious knowledge, their incredible magical power, and the way they can bend the very fabric of reality. So when it came time to create my own one-shot, I thought, "What if every player was part of a secret society of wizards?" This idea felt exciting, like a different take on the typical adventuring party, and it’s where the foundation of the GleamWands started.

A Hidden Network of Magic

I wanted this society to be more than just a group of wizards practicing magic together. They needed to feel like they were part of something larger and more mysterious, almost like an underground network of protectors. That’s when I came up with the idea of hidden cells scattered all over the world. Each base would be disguised in everyday locations—maybe the back of a small bookstore, a potion vendor’s hidden room, or an unassuming supply shop. But behind these ordinary facades, there would be sprawling bases of operations, filled with magical artifacts, ancient tomes, and a network of wizards working together to defend the land in secret.

Flipping the Script: Wizards as Recruits

One thing I wanted to do with the GleamWands was flip the usual script. Secret societies in fantasy worlds tend to be thieves' guilds or rogue organizations, and while those are fun, I wanted to take that idea and apply it to wizards. What if wizards were the ones recruiting in secret, pulling in those with potential to be part of something larger? That felt fresh and different—using magic not just for study or battle but for covert, strategic purposes. It gave the GleamWands a unique role in the world I was building, making them both powerful and elusive. ( Look, I may be stretching this a bit. There is probably other things like this, I just liked the idea and had not seen it myself.)

Action Over Inaction: The Core of the GleamWands

But the real core of the GleamWands came from something I found frustrating in typical magical settings, like Harry Potter. There’s always this sense that the powerful wizards, the ones in charge, never step in when things get truly dangerous. Hogwarts, for instance, rarely gets involved in the larger conflicts even though it’s a center of immense magical power. That got me thinking, “What if there was a group of wizards who did step in? What if they were the ones who took action when others stood aside?” That’s how the GleamWands became the secret force that protects the realm when the more powerful institutions, like the Arcana Magisterium, refused to.

The Lamp Lighters: The First Name

The original name for the group in my home game was Lamp Lighters. I loved the imagery of these wizards shining a light in dark places, but doing it quietly, without seeking glory or recognition. The phrase “Shine in Silence” became their motto—this idea of casting light on what’s hidden, but doing so in the shadows, unseen. It fit the secretive, covert nature of the group. However, when I started working on The Ardinock Chronicles, I realized that "Lamp Lighters" had been used a lot in other fantasy settings. I wanted something more distinct, so I rebranded them as the GleamWands, but kept the phrase "Shine in Silence" because it still captured the essence of what the group stood for.

The Origin

Let me break down how I see the Lore going:

Long ago, the Arcana Magisterium stood as the pinnacle of magical knowledge in Ardinock, its halls brimming with scholars who pursued power and wisdom. But the Magisterium held firm to one rule above all: their mages were forbidden from engaging in battle or intervening in worldly conflicts. Despite possessing the means to safeguard the realm, they remained passive, bound by a strict policy of non-intervention.

When the town of Thornstead fell to a necromantic uprising, raising the dead and spreading terror across the region, Aeron Veylan, a renowned abjuration instructor at the Magisterium, could no longer stay silent. The Magisterium’s Council refused his plea to intervene, citing their doctrine of neutrality, even as the people of Thornstead were slaughtered by the undead. In that moment, Aeron made a choice. He would no longer adhere to the Magisterium’s passive ways.

Aeron left the Magisterium in secret, vowing to use the magic he had mastered not to study but to defend the realm. He formed the GleamWands, an elite group of mages and warriors who would wield their powers to protect Ardinock from the shadows, striking down threats that the Magisterium turned its back on. The GleamWands began recruiting in secret, gathering those who believed that magic should be used for action, not mere observation. Together, they established hidden outposts across the land, with their home base, the GleamWands Citadel, hidden in the mountains of Ardinock.

The GleamWands are bound by a code of silence and secrecy. While they work from the shadows, they are recognized by a subtle but distinct symbol: each member wears a unique teal gem around their neck, deep blue leather armor beneath a grey cloak, and a steely resolve in their hearts. When one GleamWand meets another, they exchange a quiet phrase that signifies their brotherhood and bestows good fortune: "Shine in Silence."

Though the Magisterium denounces them as renegades, the GleamWands have saved countless lives, stepping in where the Magisterium would not. They are a secret force of protectors, always ready to defend the land from the dangers lurking in the dark, leaving only the faint shimmer of their teal gems behind. Bound by their creed, they fight not for glory but for the safety of Ardinock—silent, unseen, and forever vigilant.

The GleamWands Today: Expanding Their Role

Since then, the GleamWands have evolved into one of my favorite creations. They’re a group of wizards who defy the expectations of their kind, stepping out of the traditional roles of arcane study to protect the world from threats others ignore. The GleamWands don’t seek recognition; they operate in secret, appearing only when needed and then disappearing back into the shadows. They’re out there, all across the land, hidden in plain sight. Every time I return to Ardinock and the GleamWands, I find new ways to expand their story, giving them deeper layers and more reason to continue their mission of protecting the realm when no one else will.