A Covenant of Pious Adepts of The Craft of The Arts of Magic
of Which Forms
The Council of Mages
In this, the year 1435, We the Adepts of The Arts of Magic find our world Wanting. The ties to the past have been broken, and those who study the arts do so struggling in darkness. Those who do not struggle thrive upon bastardization of The Arcane, and do so unworthy of The Arts they study. Others still turn our Ways to Weapons and Convenience, placing command of The Arts in the hands of the Untested- acts that in older times demanded swift deliverance unto death.
We, keepers of the Ancient ways, do hereby forge a covenant, guided by Four Laws
To Protect the Ars Magica from those that would seek to pervert or corrupt it.
Teach the art so it may not die, to only to those that be found worthy.
Beget the Flow, So it may last Forever.
Provide loyalty and fealty to the Ipssimmus who's guiding hand shall enforce these laws.
Such is The Oath.
Abracadabra
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Perversion and Corruption Within The Art
The Dark Arts or Ars Malificum are any branch of magic which requires acts that beget suffering or pain; that are corruptive to the mind, body, soul, and spirit; or that are destructive or harmful in nature.
Those Arts which are known to this Order as Ars Maleficum are Necromancy, Vivimancy, Voudun, Hexcraft, Goetia, Invocation, Enchantment, Evocation, Narco-Alchemy, True-name Magic.
Truly though, it is more-so the intent of the mage themselves that is inherently more dangerous then any individual themselves. This Council finds that these Arts are therefore no longer forbidden, but shall be instructed to all those who seek it's knowledge in it's full entirety. As such, any mage that is familiar with these Arts (subsequently any mage in the Council) must wear a crimson badge or sash officially declaring that they study the Dark Arts.
The Two Prime Laws of Perversion are as such:[/SIZE]
I
To use magic against a fellow mage without permission of The Ipssimmus is to be considered a crime of Apostasy, The punishment for which can be no less than Death .
II
Any act by which a mage breaks there Oath is to be considered an act against the Oath and all those that hold to it. It is to be a Betrayer- A Warlock. The Punishment is No Less then death.
Abracadabra
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On The Canon of The Arts
In Recent Times, many diverse, divergent, and unique arts have made themselves known to the occult community. This First Tribunal therefore, after great rumination, shall hereby pass judgment as to what is contained within the purview of this Council, and what is an element of The Creed of The Arts.
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Psionics
A great many beings known as “psions” purport to possess a purer art, but any great study reveals telekinetic and psychokinetic phenomena that have been within the purview of Magic for millennia.
As such, Psions are themselves to be considered Apostates, and treated as such, but may willingly join the Council if they can prove themselves worthy by demonstrating that they are committed to the principles of the Oath without having yet sworn to it. Their arts are to be defined as the Ars Espiritus, and those practitioners within The Council are to be referred to as Espers.
~~~
Elemental Manipulation
The Act of Compelling the Elements via Will, known as "Bending", is likewise an element of The Ars Magica. Those who study such a medium however, do not always necessitate a knowledge of the Craft to perform their arts. Benders are therefore not Mages and instead to be considered Apostates for their study of a Craftless Medium, and would require all the same protocol to join the order as one who was mundane would.
~~~
Solitaires
A Masterless Mage is known as a Solitaire.
In order for a Solitaire to join the Council, they must merely swear to the Oath in the presence of six mages. They then are to undertake a diagnostic, where there Degree of Magehood is to be determined. Solitaires, though not within the League, still fall under the purview of The Second Law of Perversion as they are still likewise mages. This also means however they receive no benefit of The Council, and may be deemed an Apostate should strong and verified report be given of their character.
~~~
Onmyodo and The Eastern School
The arts of Onmyodo and the philosophy behind The Eastern School is known and sanctioned by The Council. Onmyodo is merely a different cosmological sect of theoretical magic. The Practical Application, or Craft, is referred to as Jugondo. It includes the Kuji arts, Ofuda, The Gobosei, Feng Shui, and many other what are known as Eastern Arts.
Though using distinct terms and guided by a different philosophy, They are within the purview of The Ars Magica, may enter into the Council for their Arts, and those that do not are considered Solitaires.
~~~
Magi-Tech
Magi-Tech is to be considered a medium to magic and under the purview of The Council. Those that employ it are subject to the Oath.
~~~
Evocation
The usage of Evocational effects within one's career are no longer a point of contention within The Council. To many early mages, Evocation was synonymous to magic, claiming that the arts were a blessing of Higher Powers. These arts, though not within The Ars Malificum.
Such is The Canon
Abracadabra
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The Degrees of Magehood
The Structure is as follows:
Outside the Order
As they are to be referred to, such is the understanding of those outside this order
The Unlearned
Those that know nothing of the Arts are known as the The Unlearned. They are the common clay of the world- anyone capable of learning the arts that hasn't. It is to a mage's own discretion how to act toward them.
Fellow
A fellow is a degreeless rank signifying someone outside The League that has merited honor from the Council. They have the right to speak at Tribunal, but they do not themselves hold suffrage. The rank of Fellow is one gifted by Ipssimmus himself, and as such, they are beings worthy of respect and honor on general principle.
Mages Outside The Order
Though The Council is held by its charter, there still exists those outside the council who know and study the Ars Magica. diverse are they in motive, though they may be filed simply and thusly.
Hedgemage
Hedgemages are a somewhat tragic but necessary caste within the magical world- those who are students of the arts, but lack in some quality to allow them to advance to magehood. Whether they were deemed unworthy when tested or simply have not had enough education to truly enter into the arts, they are common enough. Apprenticeship of a Hedge can become quite difficult, given that they tend to hold just enough knowledge to be a danger, but generally lacking a study of magic's more philosophical questions that might instill reverence.
Apostate
An Apostate is simply a magic user of sufficient skill that is, either by ignorance or disagreement, studies The Arts outside the Council entirely. How they are to be treated by the Council is no longer a point of contention, the Ipssimmus dictates than any Apostate who does not swear the Oath (and subsequent fealty to his benevolent guidance) is to be put to death.
Solitaire
A Solitaire is a mage who, though part of the Council, walks as a Masterless Mage. They hold full rights and privileges as any other Mage of the Council as they are sworn adepts by the Oath.
The Council of Mages
The Council of Mages is to not exist by loose confederacy, but a with a community of scholars, the more learned teaching the less. From the lowest level of Aspirant to the Ipsissimus itself, all must hold to this great chain, forged of the metal of our hearts. Likewise, freedom to live as thou wilt exists as a guiding principle. This balance, between Order and Liberty, is the very nature of Virtue.
Station is to be Held by Merit of Soul in the Art, not by Association. Position of Degree reflects merely an understanding and state of refinement with the Arts of Magic
The Third Order
Also referred to The Outer Order, The Student's Path or The Garden, The Third Order is composed to the beginning students to the art, learning the Art so that they may hold the rank of Mage.
0/ Aspirant
An Aspirant is merely a being who has expressed an interest in learning Magic. They are held within consideration on the ground that once someone becomes interested in the Magical Arts, they will begin to seek out such knowledge. A mage may only induct a being as a Neophyte if have first been discovered to be an Aspirant.
1/ Neophyte
An Aspirant, having their interest in the art discovered by a Mage, may be selected to become a Neophyte. They are to be trained in The Fundamentals of The Arts, along with works of Arcane Philosophy. Generally, most hold this station for a year's time, not due to lack of skill, but so their nature can be observed with greater detail.
2/ Apprentice
An Apprentice is merely a Neophyte who has been selected by a Mage to be trained. It is then the true study of their Art begins. The Degree of Apprenticeship ends after a Test of The Metal of Their Heart has been performed.
3/ Sophomore
Sophomore is a transitory degree when they first step into the wider world of Magic. They are merely an Apprentice who has been found worthy, but has not yet gone before Tribunal and Taken The Oath, gaining the Right and Degree of Mage.
It is by the decree of the Ipssimmus that the Ard Maleficum be part of the instruction of Aspirants, but only in the most basic sense.
The Second Order
The Second Order, also known as The Central Order, The Congress of Houses, or The Tree, is the most viable and known part of The Council. It is composed of various mages of both House and Solitaire, whom do as the Ipssimmus commands within the structure of The Council.
4/ Mage
Magehood, it is said, is the final degree, the distinction between greater knowledge only holding meaning from the station of Mage to Ipsissimus, a path all those who are students of the Magical Arts walk. It is at the rank of Mage that one gains the right to suffrage amid their peers.
After Ten Years of having attained this Degree, they may take up an Apprentice.
5/ Minor Adept
One Achieves the degree of Minor Adept via an initiatory test known as The Question of Body
6/ Major Adept
One only Achieve the degree of Major Adept via an initiatory test known as The Question of Mind. To take the test. One must have already brought an apprentice to the rank of Magehood.
7/ Exemplar
One only Achieve the degree of Exemplar via an initiatory test known as The Question of Heart. In order to take the test, one's former apprentice must be of the degree of Minor Adept.
8/ Magister
One can only Achieve the degree of Exemplar via an initiatory test known as The Question of Soul. In order to take the test, one's former apprentice must be of the degree of Major Adept.
The First Order
The First Order, known as the Inner Order, The Council of Magi or simply The Serpent, is composed of the Ipssimus's choosing. It is they who guide the Council in Tribunal, and it is they who record the secrets of the Ipsissimus. The Nature of These Degrees are Not To Be Known save by those who hold them.
9/ Magister Templi
10/ Magi
Masculine: Magus
Feminine: Maga
11/ Ipsissimus
Cordial Ranks
Within The Council, there exists several non-degrees that are still prestigious ranks of station.
?/Questor
The Quorum is an investigative body of The Council of Mages. Called together by The First Order, It is the Job of The Quorum to answer questions the The Council of Magi may have. Their Directives are placed in the form of a question, and by their magic and wit, they are to determine what the Truth of The Matter is.
†/Custodian
The Custodians are the official Guardians of The Council of Mages. In a society of magic, they are the shield and the sword, protecting their masters from those that would seek do them harm. They are armed with strange and unique weapons, powered by the spell-hearts of grues, and covered with ornate and exotic armors, all for the sole purpose of protection.
♠/Advocate
Within Tribunal, Mages may select individuals to speak on their behalf. This can serve as merely a substitution for someone who is less-eloquent or ill, and at times, it can be an individual representing numerous other mages of a consensus.
♦/Envoy
The Function of an Envoy is to serve as a diplomatic entity for The Council. Many times, political and power structures may come to interact with the Council, and Envoys serve as the interface between these structures and the needs of the Council.
♣/Scholorum
Scholorum hold a clerical position within the Council, whether it be from serving as scribes, to maintaining archives, to even more advanced logistical concerns.
♥/Sage
A Sage is a member of the Councilwho has been selected to perform a task or quest on behalf of the Council itself, known as a Gaes.
⌂/Senechal
Houses of the Council commonly hold their own internal structures, but all Houses are maintained by Senechals. The integrity of the house and its station within the Council is commonly the primary concern of Senechals, but within each house, there direct duties may be different. Difficulty comes that one may not be of The First Order and hold the title of Senechal.
א/Arcmagus
An Arcmagus, or Magus over Magi, is merely a Magus whom in Tribunal leads the Council of Magi. Commonly, it is the Magi who calls for the holding of the Tribunal.
Abracadabra
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Houses Within The Council
Within The Second Order, as with any group of scholars and thinkers, groupings form between people who hold to distinct interpretations of The Philosophy of Magic. As such, Houses form within the Council in order to further these philosophical groupings. Many times, they have there own initiations and own internal structure that is distinct of theCouncil proper. They walk a fine line however, as The Council of Magi holds distaste for such stratification.
Still, very often, they tend to simply be groupings of specialized mages who act toward common aims within Magic.
Abracadabra
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Tribunal and Judgment
Tribunal, it is said, is the Council. Most often, mages of The Councildo not interact with one and other, spending there time in their labs or questing or doing their heart's desire. But every so often, once a year, the mages form a congress known as tribunal. They may also be convened by Magi, whom operate within their stations only within Tribunal.
Tribunal is the mechanism by which theCouncil, representing the global community of arcane spellcasters, decides rationally, and under the supervision of the Ipssimmus, what the official stance on things are.
This ranges from internal structure, what arts are forbidden, if mages should deal with one nation over the other, what to do about some rogue spellcaster, and etc.
The operation of Tribunal is as follows:
The Magi communicate with each other a need for Tribunal
The Magi contact the Magister Templi, who in turn contact the Council
Tribunal convenes on the appointed day.
The first day, there is no congress, and the Magi hold council, interviewing and receiving their debriefs from their quaestors, scholorum, and any they seek a meeting with. It is during this time that mages of various positions select their advocates, if they have not already done so.
The Second Day, at dawn, open congress is declared before the presence of the magi. Anyone can talk and discuss anything they so wish until noon.
The Lunch Feast is declared, and at the start, the Magi discuss why Tribunal has been declared. No others then the Magi can talk. Advocates for a position, against the position, and Alternatives are declared. The feast ends at two PM
Advocates against position get the first floor, lasting an hour
There is a one hour recess
Advocates for a position receive the second floor, also lasting an hour
A second recess
Advocates professing an alternative receive the third floor, lasting an hour
The Magisters Templi receive the floor, who argue for a synthesis, lasting another hour
The Arcmagus is given closing argument, having convened with The Ipssimus at the end of the Lunch Feast.
All are demanded to sleep.
The start of the second day, at twelve PM, an answer is given.
The Ipssimmus passes his judgment
Judgments are recorded within the Constitution
Tribunal is conclude and proceeds into Second Council
Second Council is merely the Magi Council remaining for six days for general operational purposes. Apprentices and Mages are declared, degree tests are performed, Duels may be arbitrated, executions are held, punishments handed out, and all other general meetings with the council are held.
Abracadabra
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A small leather bound book, not unnecessarily large, rests on the table top. Although the numerous creases in it's binding speak of age, the leather looks fresh and new, as though the book had only just earned the right to be called such.
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