Jana Swanelow, Mage of the Arcanum

The Arcanum is a guild of magicians who monopolize arcane magic for the purposes of worldwide political stability and profit, though usually the latter than the former. The following article is an overview of the average experience of an established working Mage. In this instance, we will use the example of a human woman named Jana Swanelow from the city of Istvan's Reach in the Kingdom of Eos working in the Tower of Brigden Ford in the same realm.

Career

Career Progression

Wizard Level

1. Neophytes are Zero to First level Wizards. They are brought to one of three locations for general training: the Grand Spire of the Arcanum near Farhaven, the Dawn Tower at Seat of the Saviour in the remnant of the Dwarven Empire, or the Ebony Tower in Bluffside in the Commonwealth. They are trained from Zero Level Neophytes to Initiation into a School/College of Magic.
2. Initiates are second-level Wizards that have chosen an area of focus. They complete their training at their assigned academy and they are put forward for apprenticeship. This could take some time, and in the meantime, they often do menial work for various Tower-bound Wizards near their academy. Once they are selected, they work alongside their mentor for roughly eighteen months, though some of the more ambitious apprentices complete their assignments in as little as one year, while others may take upwards of two years on average.
3. Apprentices are anywhere from second, third or fourth level characters . Depending on their experiences under their mentors, they acquire knowledge and capabilities over a space of time. While they are completing their tasks and training their minds, they are also introduced to the bureaucracy, economics and politics of the organization. At some point, usually corresponding with the Apprentice's demonstrated ability to cast second level spells, the Apprentice is released from service and they "earn their robes."
4. Guild Mages are usually at least third level characters, though some are as high as seventh level, generally. They are the vast majority of wizards working within the Arcanum. They are generally based in Towers, though some specialists work in dedicated manufactories or militarized fortresses.
5. Tower Chiefs, Manufactory Supervisors and Battlemage Commanders are the next level of Guild Mage, and they tend to be from fifth to tenth level. Mages making the jump generally have to have several commendations from the mages they have worked under and must also show that they have exceled at bringing in new opportunities, significant profits or have made other achievements on behalf of the wider organization. 
6. Regional Masters and Mistresses tend to be the final rung of the Arcanum Mage's career and they are usually at least tenth level characters. Many Mages never actually achieve this level of service, many often taking  important but subordinate positions in larger Towers or take on instructing positions or special projects in one of the larger academies (the Grand Spire, the Dawn Tower and the Ebony Tower). 
7. Prominent Regional Masters may end up being elected onto the ruling High Table, they tend to be at least thirteenth level. There are an indeterminate number of Mages who hold seats, but the number of those active tends to hover around twelve. The reason for this arrangement is that Mages tend to take leave for long spaces of time and they can be far enough away to not be in communication as well. 

In the example of Jana Swanelow, she is in the fourth stage of her career.

Perception

Social Status

Mages of the Arcanum are accorded social status that put them on the same ground as non-royal nobility, depending on their own rank within the organization. Guild Mages tend to be viewed as equals to minor nobles like Knights and their families, and minor lords such as Baronets and Barons. Tower Chiefs and Battlemage Commanders tend to be viewed as roughly equivalent to Counts and Dukes, while Regional Masters and Mistresses are expected to be able to stride the same halls as Monarchs and other Rulers. 
Jana Swanelow is a fairly common practicing Guild Mage. Just by doing her day-to-day, she earns enough money and credit to be quite comfortable. When she takes on special contract work with a client or a subcontract with another Mage, she can make enough money to seriously expand her capacities and further open her opportunities for advancement and/or comfort. Personally, Jana is quite skilled in terms of investigation and negotiation, and this is in addition to her duties as a specialized member of the College of Scribes. Her social and business acumen is further improved by her knowledge of quite a few languages (Common, Elvish, Orcish, Dwarven, Halfling and Draconic) which contribute to her ability to decipher ancient forms of these and offshoot languages, and to encode and decipher secret codes and languages.

Operations

Tools

Members of the Arcanum have a specialized set of tools available to them upon attaining status as a practicing Guild Mage.
All Mages are given each (1) a wand of magic detection, and (2) a wand of magic missiles, plus (3) an enduring spellbook or a hat of wizardry.   
They are also given (1) a ring of protection, and (2) a cloak of protection, and (3) they can choose between a ring of fire resistance, a wand of the war mage (+2), or a handy haversack. 
Most often, Mages tend to round out their possessions with the items they did not choose before they branch out on other fantastic and arcane items.

Materials

Wizards tend to use magical components, and thus are always on the lookout for such materials. They can also use a spell focus, and different cultures and towers have favoured items to use a focus.

Workplace

As a practicing Guild Mage, Jana Swanelow works in the Tower of Brigden Ford. As an apprentice, she entered into the Order of Scribes, and thus tends to spend most of her time working at her desk in the Tower scribing scrolls, writing spell formulae, encoding and deciphering texts of lore and arcana.

Provided Services

Mages of the Arcanum provide all manner of arcane magical services: spellcasting, protection, research, investigation, advice, and negotiation. They can also provide magical items like scrolls, weapons, armour and other items. 
Jana is a member of the College of Scribes, so she mainly provides copies of spells to her fellow Mages. This is done as a part of her daily duties, but she does take on other contracts with clients and subcontracts with other Mages. For the most part, her skills are oriented around deciphering, research, investigation, negotiations and advice.

Dangers & Hazards

Mages of the Arcanum are not guaranteed personal safety. They are not compelled to do anything beyond provide services within reason. Most tasks are subject to contracts, and anything outside the founding contract that sets out their day-to-day obligations to the Guild is subject to an agreement that Mages negotiate themselves. These contracts do cover off threats to personal health and wellness as well as personal property, but once approved by both parties, the risks become all too apparent. Most Mages, save perhaps the very-specialized, must put themselves in harm's way in order to advance within the guild. Those ambitious ones who are so motivated can see their experiences push them into positions of high pay and status on a track much quicker than those who might take a minor contract here and there, but stick solely to their core duties.

Alternative Names

Mage

Type

Arcane

Legality

In the Kingdom of Eos, Mages of the Arcanum are all entrusted with sole license to use and enforce the use of arcane magic within the realm. They are allowed rights and privileges mostly equal to nobles, such as movement and personal possessions, though they cannot abrogate or derogate such rights and privileges enjoyed by actual nobles within the realm. For example, Jana is allowed to go anywhere a Baron may be allowed to go, but she cannot enter the private space of a Baron or higher status noble. 
One power generally enjoyed by all Mages of the Arcanum is the ability to create legally binding and enforceable oaths and contracts. The power still technically flows from the realm they reside within, but they do have that power.