Institute of Magic

*For the background, see Institute Mage*.

The **Institute of Magic** is the dominant organization for the training of mages within nations of Morgaea. It has historically been governed and monitored by the Ministry, with the Templar Order working as its guards and supervisors.

## Background

Institutions tend to be located in remote and difficult to reach areas, with the exception of Enchanter's Circles having outposts in major cities for the purpose of trade. Institutions have a very mixed reception among mages and non-mages alike. Some consider the imprisoning of mages to the Institute of Magic unjust persecution and infringements of the mages' Watcher-given rights; others believe they are necessary sacrifices to protect both the general populace from the dangers of magic and the mages from the bigotry of the outside world and themselves. Despite the restrictions imposed on its members, it is not a system of slavery, and mages themselves, while not "free", are not owned by the Ministry and not forced into servitude on its behalf.

By law each Institution is supposed to respect certain mages' rights. Ambiguity or inadequacy in regulations, however, such as a weak First Arcanist failing to advocate an Institution's rights or corruption and abuse from local templars or the priesthood, can affect how much these laws will be respected.

The Institute maintains a policy of neutrality, as the Ministry might take action against them if they regularly became involved in conflict (a Scourge is perhaps the sole exception to this rule). Nonetheless, it isn't unusual to see the Institute ignore at least one or two mages serving either side of a dispute, either as a courtesy or as a way of not creating too much enmity against the Institute on either side.

The College of Arcanists routinely convenes in the city of Umberland, Anderlay, to discuss Institute policy and to elect a new Grand Arcanist.

## History

Long before the Ministry, there was an Institute of Magic: a society of mages in each city of the ancient Adamantium. The titles modern Institutes use, Arcanist, Senior Arcanist, and First Arcanist, all originated there, and the Institutes were where the most powerful mages researched and practiced magic.

Ten years to the day after Sibylla's death, Archon Janerius converted to the Holy Tome, claiming that he had heard the voice of the Watcher when his blade had touched Sibylla, and the beginnings of the religion took root. He declared the Watcher the one true god, made Sibyllism the religion of the Adamantium (i.e., the Adamantine Ministry), and publicly revealed Thetsoll's betrayal. Most of the high-ranking clergy, including nearly all of the ruling Altus magisters, refused to give up their worship of the Deceivers, but the non-mage class overwhelmingly supported Janerius, beginning a period known as the Transfiguration. With the Seven Apostles dead, Janerius repurposed the temples of the High Pantheon into schools for mages.

In the years before the founding of the Ministry, and the start of the First Age, Morgaea was plunged into chaos. The First Scourge had ended, the Adamantium had broken apart following Sibylla's Crusade, and despite the spread of the Watcher's teachings, blood mages and cults of the Deceivers were widespread. The Vigilants of Sibylla were formed around **-100D** with the goal of protecting the people from the tyranny of magic in whatever form it might take; blood mages, abominations, cultists or heretics. A loose association of Sibyllan hard-liners, the group combed the land in search of these "threats" and some say theirs was a reign of terror. Others say they were cast in a negative light by history because their investigations and even application of justice, protecting both mages and common people impartially, crossed too many powerful groups. In these accounts, it is suggested that the group was already known as the Inquisition and that the "Vigilants of Sibylla" moniker was in relation to individual members.

During the Second Scourge, Maudesian emperor Caecilius Volantus I enlisted the help of the mages, and permitted them to use their full power against the fiendish hordes. The mages proved essential in the subsequent battles and won enough respect to negotiate greater independence. In **1A20**, the northern Ministry and the Vigilants of Sibylla signed the Anderan Accord, and created the Institute of Magic to regulate the use and systematic training of magic throughout Morgaea. The Templar Order was created to catch mages who refused to join the Institute, and monitor the mage societies, and the Inquisition was created to root out corruption.

As magic had been the source of the Adamantium's power, it was all but banned when the Ministry became the new dominant force in Morgaea. Blood magic was completely forbidden, and those who practiced any kind of magic were confined. At first, the Ministry detained mages and had them continually light the eternal flame in every temple in Morgaea, with all other forms of magic forbidden. Unsurprisingly, being relegated to using their powers in such mundane ways caused the mages of the Grand Temple to protest by snuffing the sacred flames. Matron Ambrosia alone was surprised by the mages' insolence and almost ordered a Crusade on her own temple, until her own templars advised her otherwise. After negotiations, the Institute of Magic established a new precedent of being exiled to remote fortresses far from society where they could practice their magical arts outside of normal society and the Ministry.

## Hierarchy

Each Institution follows a simple six-tier hierarchy where all residents fit, although the Serene seem to stand somewhat outside this progression.

### Grand Arcanist

Grand Arcanist is the title given to a highly esteemed First Arcanist elected by the College of Arcanists in Umberland. The Grand Arcanist is the highest-ranking mage in the nations following the Ministry. They oversee the administration and conduct of the Institute of Magic, and are the Institute's direct representative to the Ministry, being the arcane advisor to the Matron.

In the Adamantine Ministry, the Patron assumes the role of Grand Arcanist.

### First Arcanist

First Arcanist is the title given to the head of an Institution. They retain their position for life, and reserve the right to appoint a successor should the first arcanist perish, or choose to retire. This decision must also take into consideration the opinion of the templars, and only a Institution's senior arcanists are eligible for the position. If there is no successor, the Knight-Commander appoints one, usually with the approval of the Institution's mages. A first arcanist is usually someone who is respected by all mages, and most templars, and they are not always chosen based off their power and abilities. Apprentices often view them as a parental figure.

A first arcanist officially has a broad range of powers though, in practice, the extent to which the templars allow a first arcanist to exercise said powers varies from institution to institution. Their permission or consent is needed for the following:

* for a mage to leave the institution;
* for templars to summon an apprentice for the Ascension ritual
* for templars to make a mage Serene
* for templars to move overtly against an Institute mage suspected of practicing forbidden magic.

First arcanists also establish the price of the goods and services the regional Institute of Magic provides, and also manage the Institution's finances. They also routinely congregate in the city of Umberland, at their College, also known as the College of Arcanists.

Since the Seventh Age, when Archon Hanthius lifted the rules prohibiting mages from participating in politics, the Patron has been elected by simple majority from the ranks of the first arcanists of the Adamantium.

### Senior Arcanist

Senior Arcanist is the title given to a small council of the most experienced mages present in each institution; newly appointed senior arcanists are presented in a ceremony to the Matron in the Grand Temple.

Senior arcanists assist first arcanists. They are also the teachers and mentors of an institution, in charge of mentoring the junior arcanists, who in turn tutor the institution's children. To attain the rank of senior arcanist, a mage generally needs the sponsorship of another senior arcanist, though it can also be granted as a reward by the Matron.

The next first arcanist is always chosen from the ranks of the senior arcanists.

### Arcanist

Arcanist is the title given to mages who specialize in a particular field of study. They are mentored by senior arcanists and, in turn, tutor apprentices. **Junior Arcanist** is an alternative title given for the position. Arcanists have also been known to create phylacteries when apprentices first join the Institute, and are the arbiters in deciding which apprentices are ready to undergo their Ascension.

A mage who has obtained the rank of arcanist can join a Coterie.

### Mage

Mage is a title given to apprentices who have successfully undergone their Ascension. It is often used as a blanket term for magic users in general.

### Apprentice

Apprentice is a term given to those that are training for their Ascension; a secretive rite of passage that provokes fear and speculation among them.

All of their training and apprenticeship is meant to prepare them for the test, though they are never told what the test consists of, or when they will be made to take it; as such they must always be ready. When deemed ready by the arcanists, the apprentice is taken without warning or preparation to face their Ascension.

### The Serene

Mages who are deemed too weak of will to resist demonic possession, or appear to be dangerous, are forced (or willingly volunteer) to go through the Rite of Serenity, which involves the use of a lucenium brand to cut off a mage's connection to the Dreaming, meaning that they can no longer dream or access magic. As a side effect, their emotional center is utterly removed. It's believed that demons can't possess the Serene.

They keep to themselves, and, if asked directly, will readily agree that having the opportunity to live out a peaceful and useful existence is far preferable when compared to what their alternatives would have been.

### Enchanters

The Enchanter's Circle is composed of individuals who focus on using their talents to create various items, most notably, as the name suggests, enchantments. Some Enchanters also create and sell herbal items such as potions. The Serene belong to this group, and do all of the enchanting on behalf of the Institute, as working with raw lucenium poses too high a risk to mages whose connection to the Dreaming isn't severed. They are less a political organization and more akin to a tradesmen's guild. Enchanters have more contact with the outside world than other mages and, as such, maintain trading posts and trade houses in major cities and settlements in order to conduct business for the Institute.

An Institution's livelihood is maintained by the selling of Enchanter goods or magical services they are allowed to provide. The prices of these goods and services are decided by the regional First Arcanist who handles the commerce and finances of a given Institution.

## Coteries

**Coteries** are groups of arcanists who hold the same viewpoints, and band together to make their voices heard. They function as political parties among Institute mages, and determine the policy of any given Institution. Any mage of the rank of arcanist can join a coterie. A coterie counts arcanists from different Institutions among their number, and the various coteries vie for power in the College of Arcanists. The College, they say, allows mages of the north to gather in peace, and seek new solutions to age-old problems.

The College of Arcanists is headquartered in a palace in Umberland, gifted to the Ministry by an Anderan Duchess. The rumor is that her daughter was a mage, and the Duchess wanted her to have the luxuriousness to which she was accustomed. The College is a sheer display of wealth, with sandstone busts of every Grand Arcanist who had held the office in the last six hundred years.

### Known Coteries

#### Acquisitionists

Acquisitionists prioritize the accumulation of wealth, with the gaining of political influence a close second. They are very few in number.

#### Humanitarians

Humanitarians promote a moderate and popular viewpoint that mages must use their abilities in a responsible and ethical manner, regardless of Ministry law. Humanitarians believe that all mages should help people and follow a set of rules and ideals. In practice, this usually means operating within the more reasonable tenets of Ministry law. They are the dominant faction in the College of Arcanists, as well as the Institution located in Nordain.

#### Isolationists

Isolationsists are a small group of mages who wish to separate themselves from the templars, the Ministry, and even civilization altogether, both in order to practice magic without scrutiny and to ensure their powers do not negatively affect "ordinary" folk.

#### Libertarians

Libertarians desire the Institute of Magic to become an autonomous, self-regulating order without Ministry involvement at any level. While many Libertarians advocate the use of peaceful means to ensure their independence, at least one subgroup, the **Resolutionists**, are willing to pursue violent means to achieve their ends.

#### Loyalists

Loyalists follow the Ministry's word as it is written. They are often called "Ministry apologists" for accepting and enforcing the Ministry's, and the Templars', ever-present supervision.

## Joining the Institute

A child is typically brought to the Institute, either willingly or forcibly, as soon as they show signs of magical ability. This usually occurs between the ages of four and fourteen. This also includes children from royalty and nobility, who lose all claims to their family's estates and titles when they are taken.

Upon joining an Institution, mages have a few drops of their blood taken by an Arcanist and placed in a phylactery. This ensures the mages' compliance, as templars can track runaways through their blood.

If a young mage has deliberately caused harm or death to others, it is customary to imprison them when they are first brought to the Institute until an inquiry is made. The investigating templars will determine whether the mage will be made Serene, killed, or released to be trained under supervision.

The child, now considered an apprentice, is then raised and trained by the Institute until they reach adulthood, at which time they must either undergo their Ascension or be made Serene.

## Institution Living

The daily life of an Institute mage varies between each Institution itself. Many mages come into the Institute with very few personal possessions, especially those taken against their will. Instead, the Institute provides for the new apprentices with standard issue robes, education, and room and board; the quality of which also vary between Institutions.

The apprentices of all Institutions, though, live communally and are taught by the Arcanists in small classes. They pass the days studying and researching the different schools of magic and alchemy.

Rules regarding contact with families and loved ones outside of the Institute vary greatly between each Institution. Mages at Droskyn Hold, for example, have no restrictions on maintaining communication with their families by letter. Additionally, romantic unions between mages are discouraged by the Ministry, though that doesn't stop them from happening in secret. Children born from such an affair, or to any Ministry mage, belong to the Ministry. Should that child be born a mage, they would be sent to an Institution different than that of their parents. The Ministry goes to great lengths to prevent mages from having family bonds within the same Institution. Romantic relationships between mages and Templars are explicitly forbidden, but are still known to occur.

## Training and Education

A mage's training consists of extensive study of arcane lore and practice at harnessing and channeling magical energy. The former means that mages are very knowledgable individuals. The Institute of Magic encourages scholarship and is known to publish completed research. Through their education and scholarship, mages are considered some of the most educated members of society and, as such, may sometimes function as advisers in royal courts.

Early training is aimed at giving apprentices discipline and focus, which helps prevent inadvertent magical outbursts. Later, the apprentice learns the specific forms of common spells. Many apprentices demonstrate a talent or propensity for a particular school of magic, and are allowed or encouraged to focus their studies there.

Institutions are war colleges as well. The Ministry never forgets that its greatest use for mages is in fighting fiends, particularly during a Scourge. Philosophically, this is seen as proper penance for the ancient hubris of the magisters of the Adamantium. Thus, even in peacetime, much of a mage’s training emphasizes battle magic. Every Institute mage learns to wield and master various combat spells. They train to keep their wits about them in battle and wield their powers to defend themselves and their allies.

## Taking Leave of the Institute

How restrictive or permissive an Institution is varies. Each Institution has different kinds of templars, politics, and mages; and each Institute mage has an experience of Institute life unique to themselves. Some people suffer, some are content, and some are indifferent.

Some individual Institute mages are able to obtain exoneration from the confinement to an Institution under various circumstances. In theory, individual mages are able to live outside the Institution either on their own, or in service to nobility; and all that was required was permission from the Institution's First Arcanist. Generally Institute mages are able to obtain such privileges if they perform a creditable service that the Ministry authorities deems deserving of a reward and/or with pressure from advantageous political connections that not even the Ministry can ignore.

Another method is mages can be temporarily allowed outside their Institution, typically with a templar escort, if they are providing a service that excuses their absence.

## The Ascension

The Ascension is a secret rite of passage that the Institute administers, without warning, to apprentice mages in late adolescence or early adulthood.

The rite itself is fairly simple. First, the apprentice is taken to the Ascension Chamber, where numerous senior spellcasters and templars stand ready. Then, they use lucenium to project their mind into the Dreaming. There, the apprentice must face, and overcome, a demon that wishes to possess their body and enter the living realm. This involves navigating whatever challenges have been set up, and seeing through whatever ruse the demon puts on. The demon itself would have been summoned by Institute mages to the same part of the Dreaming the apprentice enters, lured by the promise of a living body waiting for it. The Ascension is more a test of will, common sense, and the ability to resist temptation, than one of magical ability.

If the apprentice is overwhelmed by the demon or, as some say, take too long to complete the task, they are killed by templars, who are standing by to prevent the tragedy of an abomination. One templar, who remains unidentified to the mages present, is assigned the killing blow in advance, while the rest keep danger at bay, at the ready to replace the 'designated slayer' if necessary.

Those who succeed their Ascension earn the title and trappings of a mage, becoming a full member of the Institute. Those who fail are never seen or heard from again. Apprentices may choose to be made Serene instead of undergoing their Ascension, however, and if an apprentice is deemed too weak, or dangerous, may be denied their Ascension and made Serene outright. Apostates who have never undergone their Ascension are usually made to as soon as they are taken to the Institute.

Since successfully undergoing their Ascension theoretically proves that a mage is capable enough to resist possession, Ministry law forbids mages who passed their Ascension from being made Serene.

## Right of Nullification

The Right of Nullifcation is the Grand Clerics' right to have all mages of an Institution of Magic purged if they consider it irredeemable. Normally, the Right can only be invoked by a Grand Cleric or a *de facto* successor, such as a Revered Mother; if there is no access to a Grand Cleric or Revered Mother, then Knight-Commanders of the Templar Order have legal authority to invoke the Right. The Right can be invoked but ultimately not carried out depending on the circumstances.

In **2A83**, Matron Giselle granted the Right of Nullifcation to all Grand Clerics of the Ministry after mages within the Anderan Institution summoned a demon, which then turned into an abomination, and killed multiple mages and templars before escaping into the countryside. It had killed 70 people by the time it was slain by templars.

As of **9A30**, the Right has been invoked 17 times.