There are many forms of magical learning centers and institutes scattered throughout the Multiverse, let alone Gaia. But none stand higher at the pinnacle of magical research than The Azure Citadel, a great towering sandstone fortress towering above the sands of The Sapphire Desert. No mere school for novice wizards, The Azure Citadel is reserved for the intense studies and explorations of only the most accomplished and powerful wizards and sorcerers. The Citadel itself and much of the surrounding desert is owned and ruled by The Blue Dragon King, Suzerain Tyretlethen. He is a mighty dragon, and an ancient and wise sorcerer in and of himself. He has seen fit to convert his massive lair and castle into the renowned institute it is today, to further his own and other's understanding of magic's potential as a fundamental driver of the universe.

The Azure Citadel is an expansive complex carved into a large sandstone formation that stands in the middle of the otherwise barren Sapphire Desert. From a distance, it appears as a large mesa with spiring towers twisting all around it. Upon approach, however, one notices that all the spires are painstakingly crafted and formed together to form sweeping gothic arches and buttresses that go all the way down to the desert floor. The tallest spire is crowned with a massive, oversized sapphire that glints from great distances away, and is the Suzerain's greatest treasure. Inside the cathedralesque building itself, pilgrims and accepted wizards alike marvel at the vaulted ceilings, flowing water features, expansive libraries, and luscious living quarters provided to even the lowliest of initiates.

The institute itself is lead by Grand Master Wizard, Eustace 'Grey' Therello. He is without a doubt one of the most accomplished and powerful wizards on all of Gaia, and is a stern proponent of magical superiority. He oversees all aspects of the Citadel's proper operation, from its security forces to the progression of its enrolled members. His leadership is what causes the citadel to have its stuffy, competitive atmosphere. The old wizard believes a lack of conviction and passion will ultimately lead to a given magic user's downfall into obscurity. He personally examines each applicant that enrolls to the college and gives them their first test (often touted to be the hardest), before turning them loose to their own devices. He answers only to Tyretlethen.

It is up to each and every magic user who walks beneath that first grand entrance way to decide whether or not they will be forgotten by the inexorable march of time...