The Magical Licensure of Maag Ca'Shaan

**Magical Licensure**

Maag Ca'Shaan has long held that the Binding Tower has supremacy over the ordinance and practice of magic.  It is seen that, according to the histories, magic has been rife with abuse in the past, and requires careful policing.

The system has altered over the millennia, however, for centuries the current system has ruled as the course of magic in most of Caligos.  The Ordu Arcanists serve as the supreme level of competence among the Ca'Shaani.  Standing chief over them is the role of High Binder, who serves as king of the wider nation of Maag Ca'Shaan.  The ordaining process for High Binder is a matter of deep uncertainty, as it is wreathed in secrecy.

The process of licensure and belonging to the Arcanists is a formal and legal process overseen by the Jurists.  Steps are seen as surrender to custody in a legal sense, and Maag Ca'Shaan takes these steps quite seriously.  The Arcanists have devised the following system of demarcation:

## **Goeteia**

Goeteia or more commonly "Magic-User," - Denotes a person who has demonstrated an ability or proclivity to use the arcane.  These are in an unlicensed state, and are subject to the states of observation, detainment, or excisation.  This state includes the most horrendous of all, the sorcerer, a twisted ghoul who has somehow perverted the laws and ordinances of proper magic to reach out to mystical power by some abominable short cut.  It is widely assumed by the Ca'Sha that such a practitioner has given their souls to "cloaked fiends," denizens of the void.  Inquiries often view such individuals as of little more than chaff to be granted the release of excisation.

## **Initiate**

Initiates are those magic-users who have forsworn, "the abomination of the sorcerer," and have asked the Binding Tower to grant them the state of "Formal Observation."  This state grants that they surrender their identity in full to the Grand Procurate, and submit to the rite of the "absolute scry."  They are gifted a medallion that grants them the security of the boon of Maag en Formalus:

**Mᴀᴀɢ Eɴ Fᴏʀᴍᴀʟɪs**

*Wondrous item, common (requires attunement by an arcane caster - the attuned must submit two vials of blood, and a writ containing all names by which they go, to the binder of this item, one of the vials is sealed within this medallion).* This simple medallion grants its attuned wearer the ability to use the spell *sending* three times a day, uniquely attuned to commune with a Commissioner, a set of functionary Arcanists of the Prosecutors Ordu.

If granted by the Binding Tower, the wearer, upon delivery of this item will be informed that they are, "Under Formal Observation henceforth, and the act of removal of their Fromalis by their own will is an act of sedition and sorcery against the Binding Tower, Maag Ca'Shaan and the holy purpose of the Dreamers."

The initiate is free to pursue a course of Novitiate or to "Return to the small world."  As long as someone remains an initiate, they remain in presumptive custody of the Prosecutors and are thereafter rendered the status of "Formally Observed."  Regardless of their choices, all are given a primer on their legal and moral obligations, and must demonstrate an understanding of these obligations.  This process is observed by the Convictors with absolute detail.

Within this state there is a formal distinction between the so-called Lesser Goeteia and the Greater Goeteia.  The Lesser are those who return to the small, the Greater are those awaiting formal ascension.

## **Novice**

Novice are those Initiates that see the value and truth of ascension to the Great Mysteries, rather than observed return to the small lands.  They go forth in formal process and declare themselves unto the Binding Tower and enter the Arcanum, the School of the Arcane of the Magocracy of Ca'Shaan.

The Novice places themselves into the custody of the Repairers and Forcers.  These two Ordus are the formal educators of Novitia, but are not the exclusive Professors.  Each Ordu carefully jockeys to receive the optimal time participating in the training of Novices, as the process is nothing less than a recruitment effort to their perspective Ordus and pet schools of magic.

Formally, the Novice is taught the basics of magic, codifying their ability to reach the magisphere and to use it with relative ease, producing their first scrolls and establishing command of cantrips. Control of cantrips, and the ability to cast basic magic spells as well as a practical demonstration of such is required from an academic standpoint to move on to Apprenticeship.

## **Apprentice**

An Apprentice is a position where the Novice grants their custody to a particular Ordu, which is a delicate negotiation process, filled with formalities and unusual requirements, strange social queues, and formalized tact that would deeply confuse anyone outside of the immediate politics of the Ca'Sha Arcanum.

Many Novices flounder until they learn the savy and courtly etiquette of the Arcanum.  Many, lacking the *je ne sais quoi* necessary to be an Apprentice will forever swirl as Novices, until they abandon hope and go forth in shame to the small lands, or as some have done, live long, odd and difficult lives as "Professional Novices," becoming a non-formalized caste of servants for the Binding Tower.

The Apprentice is a provisional member of an Ordu, their position is neither secured, nor necessarily permanent.  Some have Apprenticed to a handful of Ordus, others loyally, doggedly, or desperately cling to whichever they can grasp.  More clever and charismatic, or politic Apprentices will carefully move from Ordu to Ordu, building connections, confidences, information and trust.  Some doing so with meticulous grace, some floundering, and finding themselves unacceptable and adrift.

Formally, the Apprenticeship is the deepest academic pursuit.  A spellbook, self-made and astutely studied is required activity during Apprenticeship.  A truly exceptional Apprentice is expected to have studied sufficiently to craft a number of select tomes, all of which require the Apprentice to pay exorbitant sums to procure, necessitating a careful effort to amass wealth.

Additionally, the Apprentice must make and maintain an effective collection of components, some rare and difficult to find.  A deeper philosophy of magic is taught at this level, taking in deep theoretical and practical research.  Research trips become normative late in Apprenticeship, with study abroad being granted.  Many of these trips become a feverish effort to secure funds, craft books, build personal spell libraries and fill woefully low component coffers.

## **Arcanist**

The Arcanist is the graduatory step beyond the Arcanum.  A formally trained Apprentice is granted to request Testing and Trial.  The process of Testing and Trial is a fearfully guarded secret.  Arcanists will often hint, or train apprentices in strange ways, with no commentary on baffling subjects or deeds, most assume these affiliate with preparation.  However, no mage speaks brusquely or openly about what happens at Testing and Trial.

Once this process is complete, having done the politics of ingratiation and joining to their chosen Ordu as an Apprentice, the Arcanist is formally bestowed a marker of Ascension to the Mysteries, and they are also gifted some artifact by their chosen Ordu.  Again, the details of these arrangements are closely guarded secrets.

Ascension also means cessation of custody, a formal and legal process whereby the Jurists release the Apprentice of all obligations and obedience to the Arcanum.  The Arcanist is then offered citizenship in the Magocracy, a rite afforded only to the Arcanists of the Ordus, as no other person living in Maag Ca'Shaan has formal or legal citizenship otherwise.  Most accept this legal citizenship, even if they maintain their nativity as well.

Arcanists may then go about their own affairs and business.  It is, however, understood that "The Binding Tower Watches," and Arcanists are to be the most blameless of all people.