The Bandyhand Institute

Location: Lavan, Aaval.

The Bandyhand Institute is a widely renowned and highly regarded institute for magical study, though they also employ Retainers - basically hired adventurers and mercenaries - to track down and retrieve powerful written artifacts across the continent (spellbooks, scrolls, magic books, tomes, runic tablets, etc.). They work openly in Aaval, Shae'Han, Calh'lagh, and Esphar, but rely on clandestine operations within the borders of Arabeth, Doth Domar, and Sallivanoss.

The Institute also operates one of the largest public libraries in Aaval, and is a favoured spot for many researchers.

The current Head of the Bandyhand Institute is Albert Bandyhand.

Primarily seen as one of the foremost libraries within Aaval, the Bandyhand Institute has a reach far beyond that of a simple university or library. While these act as useful fronts and the leadership of the Bandyhand Institute is quite proud of their accomplishments, they are not the main focus of the faction.

Goal:
Acquire, catalogue, and safeguard magical books, scrolls, items, and artifacts.

Philosophy:
Some magic is too powerful or unpredictable to be left unguarded.

Lines & Limits:
The Bandyhand Institute are not killers, and will not collect items by force under any circumstances. They do employ a network of spies that keep tabs on known items that could be problematic, and if by misfortune or outside acts, one of the items they are interested in is parted from its owner they will take that opportunity to collect it.

Connection to the players:
The players were introduced to the Bandyhand Institute and were accepted as contractors after saving Tully Puddlefingers from Fistandia's Mansion in their first real mission. Some of the items this group collects come with unexpected trouble, so having adventurers on hand to deal with the unintended consequences of trying to understand a particular item is valuable. They also have been handy in retrieving items scattered across the world, and are regularly sent on missions to acquire dangerous magical items on behalf of the Institute.

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