The Synod

The Synod is a magical institution within the Third Empire, and a rival to the College of Whispers. Members of the Synod meet in Synod Conclaves.^[2] It is said that both the College of Whispers and the Synod are more focused on politics, and thus guarding secrets, than actual teachings of magic.^[3]

Teachings[]

The Synod considers itself the Imperial Authority on magic.^[4] Research of both Conjuration and Necromancy is banned by the Synod.^[5]

Members of the Synod know a specific form of encrypted communication, in which regular Tamrielic letters are scrambled in the message, while some completely new symbols are also added in. There are also larger symbols, commonly representing spells, artifacts, and certain forms of energy. Once the way of communication is learned, it is said the code can be read effortlessly.^[6]

History[]

Fourth Era[]

Following the Oblivion Crisis and the chaos that followed it, the Mages Guild was disbanded. The Synod, alongside the College of Whispers, replaced the Mages Guild in the early Fourth Era as the new Imperial sanctioned magical institutions.^[2]

Umbriel Crisis[]

Hierem held a great deal of influence in the Synod during the Umbriel Crisis of the Fourth Era, and was even considered the second most influential man in the Empire. The Synod would lend their magics to the Legion commanded by General Takar when the flying city was headed for the Imperial City. Using their magical prowess, they cast levitation spells at some three thousands of Takar's Legionnaires. Due to Daedra slaying most of these soldiers before they made it to the flying city, other magics were tried, but to no avail.^[6]

While neither the Synod, nor the College of Whispers, ultimately brought an end to the Umbriel invasion, they were still granted the honor by the call of Attrebus Mede, who saw their collaboration during the crisis as a positive feat which deserved to be celebrated.^[6]

4E 201[]

In 4E 201, and in the years leading up to it, both the College of Whispers and the Synod made inquiries in regards to the status of the College of Winterhold. Both also attempted to organize meetings with the College, but were denied at the direct order of its Arch-Mage, Savos Aren, who questioned the motives for these requests. The College of Winterhold believed that either party was attempting to find supporters for their faction as opposed to the other. The College of Whispers desired to discover if the College of Winterhold was involved in research in Conjuration Magic or Necromancy, in order to prove that the political teachings of the Synod are a minority view.^[5]

The College of Winterhold considered the Synod to be consisting of harsh rules and a draconian structure, with suppression of opposition to the policies of its Council.^[5]

Several months before the return of Alduin the Synod had sought out the College of Winterhold again. This time, they were asking for information regarding the Staff of Magnus. They asked Mirabelle Ervine for information, though their line of questioning made her uneasy, and made her realise the Synod were looking for powerful artifacts in order to consolidate power.^[4]

While they could not find the answers they sought from the College, they were convinced it was located within the province of Skyrim, and asked about the ruins of Mzulft, and decided to head there.^[4] Since then, the Synod is implied to somewhat regularly contact the College and ask them for any word on their researchers.^[7]

Expedition to Mzulft[]

Paratus Decimius, the leader of the expedition to Mzulft.

The inspiration for the expedition to Mzulft was the Orrery of the Arcane University in Cyrodiil. Whereas the Orrery projected the sky and the stars, the Oculory would project all of Tamriel in order to provide the Synod with the knowledge of locations of powerful magical artifacts.^[1]

Following years of research, the Synod decided to send a research team to the ruins of Mzulft in order to use its Oculory. The Oculory could be used to discern the nature of the divine, collect starlight, and then split said starlight. By replacing one of the elements by a Focusing Crystal, an item which took months of enchantments to get right, the Synod aimed to discover the power of the Oculory. The Crystal was designed in such a way that by either heating or cooling it the Crystal would either expand or contract, resulting in the light passing through it to change directions respectively.^[1]

Upon the Crystal being attuned, however, the active presence of both the Eye and Staff of Magnus greatly intervened in the project. While the Oculory was meant to depict the locations of many powerful artifacts, the great magical power radiating from these two artifacts blocked the others from coming through.^[8] After this conclusion, the Imperial Paratus Decimius, who led the expedition and came up with the idea, decided to return to Cyrodiil and deliver a full report to the Grand Council in order to discover what was happening at the College at the time, and what it was that blocked the other artifacts from coming through.^[1]

Notable members[]

Paratus Decimius – A Synod Researcher and leader of the expedition to Mzulft.^[8]
Yvonne Bienne – The foremost authority for enchantments for weapons and armor,^[9] and the author of both the Catalogue of Armor Enchantments and Catalogue of Weapon Enchantments.
Lydette Viliane – A Synod Researcher whose research on Spriggans and Ice Wraiths led her to believe that Wispmothers are elemental manifestations.^[10]