The Opal Order
Your mind must always be working, as should the body. The wind does not rest when it is awake, and neither should we. That is the biggest secret to our relationship with Aeir. The manna of Air demands you keep pace, you keep up, you show the quickness of body and mind to handle its independence and constant, endless motion and sudden changes. Adaptability, swiftness of mind and body. This is why we train the way we do, why you must learn all you can, absorbing knowledge with the mind, becoming swift in thought and in action. Such is the way of the wind, such is the way of the Opal currents. If one is unprepared for this fundamental truth, they will sweep that individual away.
Vincent Tomlinson, Master of the Opal Order, explaining to a new group of potential apprentices the nature of the training they are to recieve, and its importance.
Structure
The Opal Order is structured in more or less the same fashion as the other seven orders, in that it is a system of schools, with master magisters and fully licensed mages eventually taking educated acolytes whom make it through the vigorous years of group schooling without failing out under their wings one on one as an apprentice. So within that, Master Magisters are the educators whom operate any school on any campus of the Magisterium that happens to house a full on school for the Opal Order. However this is all the buerocratic paperwork and the more boring organizational logistics side of things. What becomes a far more interesting and telling look at the structure of the Opal Order and how it differs in the methods of magickal education from its seven counterparts, is in the culture of this subsidiary organization within the umbrella of the Magisterium itself. This is particularly true of the Opal Order, whom take perhaps the broadest educational stance of any order, in order to keep the minds of their students and up and coming magisters exceedingly sharp, a key ideal within their training doctrine.
Culture
The Opal Order, as with allt he orders of the Magisterium do engage in some notable levels of martial training as part and parcel of their overall educative regimen. However within the doctrine of the magick of air, of the winds, there is a natural avoidance of armor or shields of any kind. The Opal currents do not appreciate such restrictive confines and react quite poorly to the presence of such things, and as such those of the Opal Order are at most lightly armored, or even forgo armor entirely. They do train with a wide variety of weapons however, from simple hand to hand martial arts and brawling, fencing and flexible weapons, all the way to slings, bows, and even polearms. The logic of this is simple enough, to help create the sort of physical body adaptability and flexibility that Aeir seems to require.
The martial aspects are of course but one small piece of the puzzle when it comes to how an Opal Magister is trained and educated. They are also heavily educated, often in a very wide ranging and seemingly unrelated string of subjects, for a sharp and quick thinking mind, one well honed with the studies of knowledge across broad topics, is also generally a trait that will greatly aide one in wielding the Opal Currents. Most Opal Magisters are also multi-lingual, oft studying two or three languages as an exercise for the mind and as a curiosity. In truth, unlike many orders, those of the Opal Order never really slow their desire for new and interesting things to learn about. Curiosity, an ever working intellect, adaptable and flexible, are key traits for an Opal Magister.
As such, the Opal Collegiates, out of all the various orders within the Magisterium, are the ones that have the most in common with mundane houses of higher learning, colleges and universities. In fact in some larger cities, the Opal Collegiates do offer their vast knowledge and services completely seperate from magick education, also operating as a functional university that regular non-manna touched people can enroll in to study any number of subjects. These programs are kept seperate from apprentices and students of the actual order of course, run as a seperate service. All of this does aide to endear the Opal Order better to general public perception than many of their counterparts within the Magisterium.
All in all, those of the Opal Order are quite often swift in body and mind, well versed in a great deal of subjects and languages, taking a more 'jack of all trades' approach to things unlike their counterparts in the Ruby Order, as an example. They see themselves as students of the world in many cases, though this does also have the opposite effect on a notable percentage as well. The Opal Order oft produces magisters of one out of two camps. Haughty, stuck up know it alls with a superiority complex, or humble, friendly, eternally 'student of the world' type people. There is not often an inbetween.
Like all magister of every order, those of the Opal order are noticeably affected by the continual interactions with Aeir, the manna that they wield. There are some notable physical changes over time, as well as behavioral changes. Similar to those of the Ruby Order, it lowers the need for sleep, though unlike their brethern of the Ruby, when a magister of the Opal does sleep for the 4-5 hours a day that they do need to, it is a deep, heavy sleep. However they do experience any sort of grogginess when first awakening, coming awake fresh, full of life, and immediately fully active. It is a strange phenomenon to be certain. Magister of the Opal also have their appetites and physical builds noticeably change. They avoid heavier, rich or denser foods almost as if by instinct, and do not eat large meals, generally just snacking a little bit here and there throughout the day. They eat notably little for their size, and are generally quite slight of frame, yet athletic in build. They also develop a strong love for fruits, especially berries and cherries, and other fruits of a similar sort of 'grab a handful and go' type fruits. The metabolic effects are not fully understood, but undeniable in their presence. Lastly and perhaps most curiously is the effect upon hair growth. Most magisters of the Opal, are either entirely shaved bald, or have long, flowing locks, there are not any real inbetweens. This seems to be a personal choice, but also one brought about by their interactions with Aeir, as some can simply not shave their hair, for it grows back to just past shoulder length in but a day or two.
The martial aspects are of course but one small piece of the puzzle when it comes to how an Opal Magister is trained and educated. They are also heavily educated, often in a very wide ranging and seemingly unrelated string of subjects, for a sharp and quick thinking mind, one well honed with the studies of knowledge across broad topics, is also generally a trait that will greatly aide one in wielding the Opal Currents. Most Opal Magisters are also multi-lingual, oft studying two or three languages as an exercise for the mind and as a curiosity. In truth, unlike many orders, those of the Opal Order never really slow their desire for new and interesting things to learn about. Curiosity, an ever working intellect, adaptable and flexible, are key traits for an Opal Magister.
As such, the Opal Collegiates, out of all the various orders within the Magisterium, are the ones that have the most in common with mundane houses of higher learning, colleges and universities. In fact in some larger cities, the Opal Collegiates do offer their vast knowledge and services completely seperate from magick education, also operating as a functional university that regular non-manna touched people can enroll in to study any number of subjects. These programs are kept seperate from apprentices and students of the actual order of course, run as a seperate service. All of this does aide to endear the Opal Order better to general public perception than many of their counterparts within the Magisterium.
All in all, those of the Opal Order are quite often swift in body and mind, well versed in a great deal of subjects and languages, taking a more 'jack of all trades' approach to things unlike their counterparts in the Ruby Order, as an example. They see themselves as students of the world in many cases, though this does also have the opposite effect on a notable percentage as well. The Opal Order oft produces magisters of one out of two camps. Haughty, stuck up know it alls with a superiority complex, or humble, friendly, eternally 'student of the world' type people. There is not often an inbetween.
Eternal Students, Scholars on the Wind
Like all magister of every order, those of the Opal order are noticeably affected by the continual interactions with Aeir, the manna that they wield. There are some notable physical changes over time, as well as behavioral changes. Similar to those of the Ruby Order, it lowers the need for sleep, though unlike their brethern of the Ruby, when a magister of the Opal does sleep for the 4-5 hours a day that they do need to, it is a deep, heavy sleep. However they do experience any sort of grogginess when first awakening, coming awake fresh, full of life, and immediately fully active. It is a strange phenomenon to be certain. Magister of the Opal also have their appetites and physical builds noticeably change. They avoid heavier, rich or denser foods almost as if by instinct, and do not eat large meals, generally just snacking a little bit here and there throughout the day. They eat notably little for their size, and are generally quite slight of frame, yet athletic in build. They also develop a strong love for fruits, especially berries and cherries, and other fruits of a similar sort of 'grab a handful and go' type fruits. The metabolic effects are not fully understood, but undeniable in their presence. Lastly and perhaps most curiously is the effect upon hair growth. Most magisters of the Opal, are either entirely shaved bald, or have long, flowing locks, there are not any real inbetweens. This seems to be a personal choice, but also one brought about by their interactions with Aeir, as some can simply not shave their hair, for it grows back to just past shoulder length in but a day or two.
Public Agenda
The Opal Order, upon the founding of the Magisterium and even up to this current age, is the order with perhaps the most open trust with both the public and with the fellow orders within the Magisterium. They are the keepers of lore, of knowledge, the ones trusted with all the Magisterium has to offer, and are the only Order as prominent in the various collegiates as the Ruby Order. The Opal Order is even trusted with some, though notably not all, of the secrets and complex traditions of the other orders, as a matter of insuring duplicate records exist so naught is lost. Within the complexities of the Magisterium this is their role, but it often is outside that context as well. Most, if not all, Opal collegiates also have a notable and large public facing library and records hall, oft partnering with the local city government, or even on a county or national level, to allow this. This again, does help with their reputation as the most trusted and well liked of the eight orders.
Assets
Like all of the Orders of the Magisterium, the Opal Order is quite rich, for it also acts on some level as a guild. Magisters can and do charge rather exuberant fees for their services and talents, it is perhaps the only real benefit besides not getting executed as a heretic a licensed magister can enjoy. However even in this, it is not entirely for them. Some 12% of funds earned via any exercise of your magickal talents are owed to the Magisterium, and that is on top of paying the tax rate of the nation you live in.
However it is not like a magister, or indeed a Cloud-Knight or Sky-Dancer do not get value in return for this constant leeching of their fiscal earnings. This keeps their paperwork up to date and in legal order of course, but beyond that, this grants them unquestioned access to almost any library, workshop or labratory of the Magisterium as a whole, as well as shelter and accomodations at any school of the Opal Order, unquestioned.
The Opal Order has the most active presence on the continent of Durol, with Universities in 5 major cities on the continent, including all three national capitals. Besides this it maintains a shared presence in four other magisterium campuses on the continent. They also have four more barrack-colleges on the continent of Gavis-Lune, one in all four nation's capitals. Finally they have a barrack-college in Tortuga on the continent of Wyriel, and share two more in other cities. Like all orders of the Magisterium, they are almost as wealthy as an entire country, but with a lot more decentralization to it, it is not accumlated, but in the hands of magisters and knights and seekers, always moving always working. They hold some land and property, but are not centralized like a proper government.
History
The history of the Opal Order is one of storied explorers, dusty tomekeepers, well spoken philosophers and brilliant academics. It is one of being a magick of the people, of a group within the Magisterium not insular and closed in, but forward thinking, studious and well educated. Sharers and keepers of knoweldge, ever curious students and studies of the world around them.
Adaptability and Flexibility
An artistic rendering of the Aeromancer Avoris Wyir'anhal, a well known magister of the Opal Order in the eastern regions of Rohara.
Seen here is a very on point representation of the stylization and choice of wear that htose of the Opal Order oft choose. Unlike the others whom have a dominant single gem tone, which they translate to a dominant color representing their order, those of the Opal Order are marked for their lack of such coordinated wardrobe. They dress light, in flowy, oft very thin layered garments, valuing their agility and the feel of the air on the skin more than armor or protection from the elements. They oft choose sandals or go barefoot. Much like their brethern of Doitean, they choose to forgo shields, along with most armor entirely, finding such things too limiting to freedom of movement. Aeir responds poorly to all but the barest of non metallic armors, such as gambesons and other cloth armors, and as such, no Opal magister would ever willingly wear such things. They dress often in styles for flair and in clothing that feels comfortable, whilst being more casual than the erudite looking robes of other Orders of the Magisterium, such as those of the Amethyst Order.
Founding Date
3-7-397 SuD
Type
Education, Magic
Alternative Names
Aeromancy Collegiate
Demonym
Aeromancers
Parent Organization
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