For the Yzmir mystics, the mind is the foundation of all things: it is the seat of ideas, and it is through it that they must be tamed. Like a blade that is sharpened, it must be honed to remain keen and penetrating. That is why the Yzmir Initiates practice meditation, develop philosophy, and spirituality. It is through them that their intellect and intuition will see beyond what the senses reveal, that their consciousness will pierce through the murky veils of reality. All now know that the world is not confined to the perceptible; there are entire realms of reality that elude human perception. It is to shed light on these realms that the Yzmir have dedicated themselves to the study of the intangible.

The advent of the Confluence and the resulting devastation have lifted humanity's blinders. The world was not just what lay right in front of its eyes; there were vast expanses of reality that escaped its view, realms capable of annihilating it with the snap of a finger... The Yzmir have made this unsettling realization their cornerstone: someone had to look beneath the surface of things, to explore the mysteries of the universe and unveil its hidden meanings, to unravel elusive truths from seductive illusions... and they have decided that it would be them. The Yzmir are those who dared to lift the veil, those who dared to peek at what was lurking beneath. They are aware that humanity is still at the mercy of forces beyond its comprehension, and they intend to remedy this state of affairs.

The Yzmir study the secret arcana of the world, observing the gears turning in its backstage. By understanding their workings, they believe they can manipulate them at will, become their masters. Before the Confluence, their ancestors had turned away from esoteric knowledge, seeking refuge in science alone, as if magic were merely an archaic inheritance fit only to languish in the depths of the past... But this distance had simultaneously made them blind to the occult threats lurking in the shadows. The Yzmir are determined not to repeat the same mistake. Through their hermetic experiments, they gain power to protect Asgartha, so that the rest of humanity can continue to live, oblivious to the dangers lurking at the edge of existence.

The Yzmir welcome into their ranks all those who have a particular affinity for occult disciplines, although not all become mages. The Lodges thus have many assistants tasked with preparing spell components, crafting elixirs, or even maintaining the Kadigir. To become a Yzmir mage, an individual, no matter how talented, must undergo a rigorous selection process. After confirming their receptivity to Alteration, their proximity to one or more Spheres of magic is assessed. Wizards then gauge their potential, likely learning curve, as well as their morality, through tests and trials that are sometimes the most bizarre and enigmatic. Each year, only a few dozen chosen ones out of thousands of aspirants manage to secure a place within the Occult College to eventually become an Initiate.

The rare chosen ones who attain this position are allowed access to the Well of Tears, the heart of the Bastion. Above this underground lake infused with magic floats a Megalith, vibrating with power and seemingly suspended between worlds. There, the future mages take a small hammer and chisel, and carve out a Fragment of the Megalith, which they have set into a jewel to be kept on them at all times. This extremely rare material acts as a catalyst for their magical power, allowing them to manifest the imagination with greater efficiency.

Also known as the Occult College, the Kadigir is the Bastion of the Yzmir. Founded by Aysun, daughter of the first High King of Asgartha, the Yzmir Faction chose this location for its secluded position from the capital, atop the high cliffs bordering the lacustrian city, and also because it housed Tumult singularities that needed to be carefully monitored. Whether it's the Well of Tears or the Black Wave - the gloomy clearing continually watched over by Baba Yaga - someone had to protect and contain these potentially dangerous phenomena for the population of the First City. The Kadigir is a vast complex consisting of a series of esplanades and temples, surrounded by hanging gardens of unparalleled magnificence. There is a building for each Sphere of the Naali, and numerous buildings dedicated to other more specialized Lodges. Overlooking the city of Arkaster from high above, the hanging gardens of the Kadigir are composed of a hilly maze of shaded alleys and terraces bordered by ancient trees: cypresses, cedars, maples... A true arboretum, the gardens also feature glasshouses, orangery, fountains, and artificial streams that irrigate all the green spaces. There are elegant colonnades, temples, observatories for studying the night sky or the Tumult. The Yzmir often take advantage of the serenity of the place to meditate, study, or instruct young Initiates.

Descending along the gorge, taking a steep circular staircase with narrow and slippery steps, and passing under roaring waterfalls, one can see below an iridescent surface, shimmering in the mist rising from the depths. Crossing through this undulating veil, you access a natural cavity where a titanic Megalith floats in the air with violet reflections. The cave floor is covered with an underground lake with clear waters, also pulsating with magic. The Megalith is suspected to be a relic of the Confluence, a mass of Aether that has been trapped between the two worlds. The Yzmir predict that if the barrier between the worlds managed to close in this place, then its still-open breaches can be sealed. This could be a way for them to silence the Tumult, although many occult theorists believe that stability will only truly occur when the two dimensions have fully merged.

Throughout history, the Yzmir have positioned themselves as defenders of humanity against the dark and nameless threats lurking within the Tumult. Even within the Kadigir, two persistent singularities must be constantly monitored. On one side, the Well of Tears hosts one of them: the Megalith. While it may be dormant, there is nothing to say it couldn't awaken one day and jeopardize the capital. On the other side, the Black Wave is a plain of black grass, constantly bathed in twilight darkness. Monstrosities sometimes burst forth unexpectedly and must be defeated before they threaten the population. However, the Yzmir do not boast of this role; quite the opposite. They keep it secret to prevent the people of Asgartha from succumbing to panic.