Mage Association

The **Mage Association** is an organization under the authority of the Griffon Kingdom that acts as a magic society for all the mages in the kingdom. It is a completely separate entity from the Griffon Kingdom Armed Forces and has a separate hierarchy. It is responsible for persecuting traitorous mages and hunting down those who abuse their powers. The Association is under the direct rule of the monarch with more magical knowledge and skill (which is generally the queen), while the other is in charge of the military power and oversees minister activities. Currently, Queen Sylpha is in charge of the association. The Association was created after Magus Lochra Silverwing divulged her magical inheritance to the world, granting status and riches to even commoners based on their contributions.

The Association holds great influence and can often wipe out entire minor noble bloodlines for offenses against the lowest of its members. The chairman of the association represents the Queen and deals with the details. The current chairman of the Mage Association is Archmage Kwart.

To get a title, lands, or anything from the Kingdom, one must join the Association first. Members can take on assignments, but are only paid in **merits**. Killing an outlaw mage is worth more merits than saving a village or capturing bandits.

The biggest difference between a home-schooled and a magic academy graduate amounts only in a matter of fame and prestige. By being admitted and successfully passing the tests devised by famous and talented magicians, the student is bound to have an easier time whatever was the path of his choosing. A home-schooled, instead, no matter the score he achieves, will always be seen like a rogue magician with no references. He first needs to prove himself, by either performing voluntary military service or becoming an adventurer. Achieving merits is the only way for a rogue magician to have access to a prestigious and well-paid job.

Flying in the vicinity of any building owned by the Mage Association is strictly forbidden; a special pass is needed even to get in the vicinity and an appointment must be set up through the proper channels.

Those that are expelled from the Mage Association are regarded as "fallen mages", akin to the disowned son. It is forbidden for Mage Association members to assist fallen mages.

## Hierarchy

Merits are what promotes a mage to a Great Mage, Archmage, or Magus. The further down the list, the more authority, influence and access to greater resources and knowledge each rank obtains.

### Magico/Magica

**Magicos/Magicas** can use all six elements and perform complex magical tasks (at least Tier 1 spells for all elements), but lack a proper magical education. They are the real grassroots of the magical community, from which one can expect a magically talented offspring. Magicos/Magicas are not considered part of the Mage Association but are treated as potential members.

### Mage

Terms like mage, witch, sorceress, or warlock are all just different words that identify someone that managed to enroll in a magic academy and complete the five years course necessary to be recognized as a true member of the magic community and is able to cast Tier 5 magic spells. Most mages hold higher socio-political status than minor nobles. Once someone becomes a mage, they earn a last name and a noble title. Mages wear deep red robes.

### Great Mage

By actively contributing to the development or safety of the kingdom or Mage Association, a mage can be recognized as a valuable asset to the kingdom and gain the rank of **Great Mage**. The average age of becoming a Great Mage for a new magical bloodline, with no noble title, is around fifty. Lith becomes one at the age of 17. When a Mage becomes a Great Mage they receive a Royal Pardon. It is unknown whether this is also the case for each promotion thereafter or if it is an isolated case. Great Mages wear deep green robes.

### Archmage

**Archmages** are those who have not only contributed to the kingdom but solved major problems for the kingdom or contributed greatly to the advancement of magic. The average age of becoming an Archmage for a new magical bloodline with no fief of their own, is around seventy. Lith earns his at 18. However, the youngest known Archmage is Manohar who earned his title at the age of 16. Archmages wear deep blue robes and have authority on par with a Duke's. They can even request a Grand Duchy from the Royals and be allowed to keep it after a trial period, if they demonstrate enough administrative abilities to make it thrive. Archmages usually have duties to the Kingdom, their Academy, and to their own fief.

### Magus

**Magus** is the highest rank obtainable by a mage. A Magus is someone whose power is equal only to his outstanding merits toward the community and the knowledge he shared with the Magical Association. A Magus usually ensures to those who come after him a deeper understanding of magic, and the means to achieve better foundations than their predecessors. A Magus is a King to mages, and a god to men. Whenever any country has two or more Magi, it's considered to be in its golden age.

* *See: Magi History*

## Association Branches

### Queen's Corps

The **Queen's Corps** is a branch filled with elite members of the association who are completely loyal and devoted to the Kingdom. All members are mages. The majority of the corps is made of squads, each allowed to act independently, and composed by 5 soldiers and 1 captain. They undertake the most vital missions related to the association. Each captain answers directly to the Queen or the Lord Commander, Marchioness Mirim Distar. However, Mirim keeps her identity a secret to most so is only in charge of the most trusted and elite members of the corps.

* Marchioness Mirim Distar (Lord Commander)
* Duke Marth
* Captain Kilian Aluria
* Krishna Manohar
* Captain Locrias
	+ Valia
	+ Toman
	+ Holmen (Handler)
	+ Vykaros (Liaison)
* Captain Ruusa
* Captain Velagros
* Zogar Vastor (Formerly)

### Spellbreaker Order

**Spellbreakers** are mages tasked with disposing of criminal mages, and becoming one means social prestige and also represents the trust of the Crown. Spellbreakers are granted the title of Baron and the annuities it deserves but without a fief. However, becoming a Spellbreaker does not affect one's position in the Association's hierarchy, only their standing. Lith becomes an honorary member of the Spellbreaker Order when graduating from the White Griffon Academy and becomes an official member after confronting the Dawn Court and Thrud Griffon.

Spellbreaker badges are shaped like Silverwing's Hexagram, but the lines connecting the six dots are depicted as broken in multiple points.

* Zogar Vastor
* Captain Kilian Aluria
* Lith Verhen
* Duke Marth
* Orion Ernas

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Chapter 266: New Start (Part 2)
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Chapter 93: Failures
3. ↑ Chapter 97: Progress
4. ↑ Chapter 39: Challenging Times
5. ↑ Chapter 41: A New Beginning
6. ↑ Chapter 42: Odd Developments
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Chapter 23: True Magic
8. ↑ Chapter 255: Crossroads (Part 1)
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Chapter 1084: Royal Summon (Part 2)
10. ↑ Chapter 410: The Idiot (Part 2)
11. ↑ Chapter 592: Two Steps Forward and One Step Back (Part 2)
12. ↑ Chapter 965: The Arisen (Part 1)
13. ↑ Chapter 971: The Baron’s Hospitality (Part 1)
14. ↑ Chapter 1603: Tower Gate (Part 1)
15. ↑ Chapter 168: Return
16. ↑ Chapter 1574: Growing Power (Part 2)
17. ↑ Chapter 177: Tickle
18. ↑ Chapter 1590: Give and Take (Part 2)
19. ↑ Chapter 325: Test Subject (Part 1)
20. ↑ Chapter 525: Leaving (Part 1)
21. ↑ Chapter 1634: Royal Demands (Part 2)
22. ↑ Chapter 237: Turn of Events
23. ↑ Legion on Discord:
24. ↑ Chapter 439: Blue Pillars (Part 1)
25. ↑ Chapter 963: The Fallen (Part 1)
26. ↑ Chapter 143: The House of the Dead (2)
27. ↑ Chapter 145:
28. ↑ Chapter 174: The Real Deal
29. ↑ Chapter 427: Duplicity (Part 1)
30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Chapter 437: Thing (Part 1)
31. ↑ Chapter 498: Troubling Guests (Part 2)
32. ↑ Chapter 513: Bearer of Gifts (Part 1)