The Guild of Mages

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**The Guild of Mages** is an influential organization that holds much authority and respect across the world.

## Background

Founded in the Arathian Empire, the Guild has been a powerful presence in Rhesainia for centuries and has now expanded throughout most of the world. Every country, kingdom and nation hosts a Guild embassy and mages are often employed in the political courts and militaries of the world.

For those who do not want illustrious careers as politicians or generals, many become sought-after healers, architects and engineers. Guild researchers and inventors are often at the forefront of their fields, competing with the likes of the Arcanist’s Lodge and the Meissandium.

## Academies

The Guild has many academies spread throughout the world, but the majority are located within Rhesainia. Prospective students must pass a series of exams to enroll in a Guild academy. Exams must be taken between ages eleven and eighteen, however there are some exceptions made for elves, dwarves and melusine due to their long lifespans. The examination process is rigorous and students must be adequately prepared.

It is common for the families of prospective students to hire Guild-approved tutors to formally instruct their children in preparation for the examination process.

Some students are selected for Guild training outside of the exams. The Guild seeks children and youth with strong magical attunement and it is a common practice in major urban areas to send children for attunement testing. If selected, the new novitiate’s family is compensated splendidly.

Guild novitiates spend, on average, ten to fifteen years undergoing rigorous training. Upon graduation, they are inducted into the Guild and sworn to serve it for life.

The most celebrated Guild academies are:

* Oseiran Tower. Located in Erenvor, the capital of the Arathian Empire.
* Diradan Tower. Located in Velantis, in the Arathian Empire.
* Ameidan Tower. Located on Lake Parthia, in the Kingdom of Vestra.
* Solia Tower. Located on the Lotharic coast, in the Kingdom of Vestra.
* Noctia Tower. Located on the Lotharic coast in Arsenia.

All of these, save Oseiran Tower, are located in pre-Astrandium citadels that have been refurbished for the Guild’s purposes.

## The Council of Mages

The Guild is overseen by the Council of Mages, a governing body made up of six of the Guild’s most elite mages and the Grand Archsage. Council members, including the Grand Archsage, must be voted into their positions by all certified Archsages.

The Council’s word is final on all Guild activities. Guild mages answer to the Council before they answer to anyone else.

## Ranks

There are seven ranks in the Guild, in addition to the Grand Archsage.

* **Novitiates:** students who are undergoing basic training. Novitiates remain at this level until they are chosen for apprenticeship.
* **Acolytes:** students who are completing their apprenticeship under the guidance of a Savant. Many mages remain acolytes well into their twenties.
* **Mages:** individuals who have competed their training and achieved certification.
* **Guild masters:** certified mages who oversee Guild chapters located in towns and cities that do not have an academy. Their primary job is to act as intermediary between their post and the Guild, resolve any magical disasters that may occur, and scout for new novitiates.
* **Savants:** mages who have achieved proven mastery of their magic. To successfully achieve this rank, Savants must prove their skill through invention, research, or public demonstration. They can only claim the title upon the creation of a new technique or by proving a new magical theory. Mages must achieve the rank of Savant to instruct.
* **Sages:** mages who oversee the daily function and governing of the academies. They are administrators and officials, and handle many of the smaller decisions that do not need the approval of the Council.
* **Archsages:** mages who have obtained the highest rank in the Guild. They are masters of their craft, often pioneering new methods and approaches. Many Archsages find themselves in powerful positions within courts, governments and militaries. Mages must achieve the rank of Archsage to be eligible to sit on the Council.
* The **Grand Archsage** is not a rank, but a position. The Grand Archsage is the Guild’s elected leader, overseeing the Council and governing the Guild’s direction.