Mage Ranks

## Information

Not all magicians in Setura are Mages but all Mages are magicians. In both cases: they are humans able to tap into Setura's ambient life force through - this force is referred to as Mana.

Note that Mana and the Everforce are different, with the latter being Setura's ambient Primordial essence.

## Becoming a Mage

All Mages in Setura are ranked according to their skill; regardless of age, gender, or social status - is at the very least the intention. They either work for official ruling bodies (such as nobility, cities, educational institutes, etc.), as independent adventurers, or with any of the countless guilds.
The ranks were once agreed upon by the major education centres (e.g. the Institute) before it was adopted as a Seturan standard.

The first step towards becoming a Mage is through the Magician Examination process.

### Mage Examination

While anyone may become a Mage, only the Seturan Guild Association can certify magicians through their qualified Instructors. The most common Instructors are Guild Masters *(not to be confused with Guild Leaders)* and Headmasters of registered education institutes.
Oracles are famous Instructors but most of them are rarely able to conduct the tests.

#### Examination: Crystal Resonance Test

This is the first step towards becoming a Mage.

The Examinee is instructed to inject a burst of Mana into a Resonating Crystal to resonate inside it. The higher Resonance Frequency, the more powerful the Examinee's soul is.
The Instructor is capable to detect the precise Frequency (either through a spell or intuiatively, if an Oracle) and is compared to a reference point. This is defines a preliminary Mage rank.

#### Examination: Practical Test

The Practical Test varies one Examinee to the next, depending on which elements they've learned or mastered.
In general, the Examinee will be tasked to study and cast a series of pre-approved, tiered spells of a certain element. Like Mages, spells are also categorised into different. They are usually, but not necessarily, equivalent to the Mage Ranks.

For lower ranks, it's enough to simply cast the spell to pass.
As you climb the ranks, you will need to display a more deeper and dynamic understanding of the spells and magic as a whole. This is done through mock battles and problem solving, among other methods.

The results of the Practical Test can significantly impact the Examinee's final rank, depending on their performance.

#### Examination: Post-Test

If an Examinee passes their exam, they are granted a Mage Identity Card, or MID for short.

### Mage Ranks

There are eleven Mage Ranks which are officially recognised nearly everywhere in Setura.
They are:

* Grandmaster
* Master
* Archmage
* SSS
* SS
* S
* A
* B
* C
* D
* E

#### Mage Classes

Each rank belongs to a rank group. Many quests at the Guild Halls are restricted in order to minimise the risk of losing less experienced Mages to greater threats. Rewards are generally better the higher restriction level the quest is. Mages can only take on quests which are available to their group.
Additionally, higher ranked Mages almost always enjoy the perks that comes with the prestige of their rank.

Master Class:

* Grandmaster
* Master
* Archmage

Special Class:

* SSS
* SS
* S

Standard Class:

* A
* B
* C
* D
* E