Mage's Association/Clock Tower

The Clock Tower (時 計 塔, *Tokeitō*) is the first branch and headquarters of the Mage's Association, located in London, in the United Kingdom of Great Britain.

## Overview

The Clock Tower is the faction belonging to Brishisan, a student of Solomon, who was one of the people to found the Mage's Association during 0AD, alongside Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg, a fellow student of Solomon, and other Magi.

The Association split into three separate factions as of 20 AD, Atlas and the Wandering Sea rejecting the modernization of Magecraft and the Director's following deciding to embrace it. The Clock Tower was officially formed as of 500 AD. Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg was a founding member of the Clock Tower.

From the outside, the Clock Tower appears to be an appealing and welcoming place, but the truth is not so bright. Actually, the inner workings of the place are ruled by the power struggles between several factions of Magi.

The Clock Tower is currently under the control of a pseudo-aristocratic elite called the Lords. Each Lord holds great political power within the Association just by himself, and there is also those who associate themselves to other talented Magi or an important Magi lineage in a sponsor-sponsored relationship so to increase their influence. There is a distinction between what are called the 'big' and 'small' Lords of the Clock Tower. The 'big' sense refers to the Twelve Lords at the head of each faculty. The 'small' sense, however, refers to nobles called lords, most of whom belong to the Three Great Families.

Perhaps due this elitist background, preconceived and discriminatory behavior is somewhat widespread inside the Clock Tower. Rune and Witchcraft Thaumaturgy are not very popular in the main branch, the latter not being taught as an academia at all. The Enforcers are looked down upon by the upper ranks. Discrimination against Asians is common, which might be a factor on why so few of them are members of the Association.

Admission of new members involves exams to test one's knowledge of Magecraft, but it is possible to bypass this and become a scholarship student through letters of recommendation or the successor of a distinct lineage of Magi, having outstanding talent, or even by accomplishing an impressive display of Magecraft. Said "outstanding" individuals receive special treatment such as individual rooms in the dormitory or the right to bring along a couple of apprentices. The right to retain apprentices is partly due to the factional disputes at the Clock Tower, as the first children of famous Magi are always in danger of being targeted for their life, and thus have the right to keep their retainers or disciples by their side to protect themselves. The apprentices won't have to pay for enrollment or go through the examinations themselves, but they won't be seen as members of the Association either. Magi formally accepted into the Association receive a Color Card Invitation, a ceremony to check their qualifications, the color of their Souls, and to register them, serving as the certificate of Magus' loyalty to the Clock Tower.

The organization handling patents relating to Magecraft is also the Clock Tower. Several elements affect Magecraft, like the position of the stars or the Ley Lines, and it is important to make sure that different spells are compatible when combined. The Magecraft of spring cannot be used with that of winter. If someone wants to create a new formula, they need to face these issues every time. For that reason, Magi makes a living by obtaining a license from the Department of Policies for every new formula created, so other people would have to pay to use them. These patents are only awarded from the Carillon Observatory in the Spiritual Tomb of Albion. The Carillon Observatory is also used to observe the surface, using a Mystic Code connected to Ley Lines to report periodically on the activation of patented Magecraft the world over.

It has been said in Clock Tower that there are three possible disasters within the Association: Evil Spirit Gazamy, Sealing Designations and the Enforcers.

## Gallery

**Clock Tower****Clock Tower****Clock Tower**