Wizard's Association of Etoile

Alistair had a nonplussed expression. "And why did the Association up its dues again this year?"
A shrug from the registrar. "Wrong person to ask. Aren't you in with the Council? Ask them."
"I am definitely not 'in' with the Council, at least not for the moment. A few too many incidents that needed to be explained." The wizard sighed and fished some notes from his robe. "Right, here's your 125F."
"Don't forget that as an archmagus you have a mandatory evening meeting next week on 43rd day. Venue was moved to the Great Lecture Hall on the other side of the Academy grounds." The registrar flicked through the florin notes before putting them away. "Let me see your insignia."
"That's where this money is going. More endless meetings." Alistair pulled his guildmark chain over his neck and handed it over with a frown. "What's next? 'Now here's your mandatory wizard hat that you need to wear at all times, and make sure to keep the pointy tip as sharp as possible?'"
"We'll be comparing hat sharpness at the next meeting, so make sure you're on point." The registrar continued in a droll voice as he held the mark up to the light. "You need to get your insignia paint redone before it gets to this state. Not exactly professional to have your mark scuffed up like this."
"Somehow I doubt the Scrivener's Guild cares as much about their member's guild insignia."
"Somehow I doubt you'd make a good Scrivener, Alistair."

Structure

The Wizard's Association of Etoile is a state-chartered professional guild for all wizards and persons of magical talent in Etoile. Loosely organized into regional chapters, the Association is headed by a Council of Magi, a five-wizard committee that steers policy and coordinates guild activity with the Principality of Etoile. The guild structure is otherwise flat; with the exception of the honorary Archmagus title (bestowed upon wizards of particular skill or accomplishment), all wizards are of the same nominal rank and bear the same guild insignia, a lightning bolt grasped by a hand, encircled.
The Association is a professional guild that provides a way for wizards to easily work with each other; it ordinarily requires no specific duties of its members (other than attending mandatory meetings) and imposes only a basic code of ethics regarding magical use. The restriction is instead on the public; no magic may be used without the sanction of the Association. Members are obligated to serve the Principality when called upon, but this is true for all professional guilds of Etoile.

Public Agenda

The Wizard's Association's stated policy goal is to advance the state of Magic and Magecraft. To that effect, it coordinates many programs of magical research with the Principality of Etoile and The Academy of Etoile, as well as providing magical services to the public. All practicing magic-users are required to be Association members, so the ranks of the Association are easily tapped when the services of a wizard are required by either the state or private parties. The Association also handles internal investigation and discipline of its members for magical misuse. In effect, the Association serves as a backstop for the general public, as a reassurance that Magic is under the control of the Principality.
The Association continues to maintain responsibility for identifying members of the public gifted with magecraft, referring them for a rigorous course of magical study at the Academy, with the wizard's curricula overseen by an Association rector. In addition, the Association publishes a seasonal scholarly journal detailing innovations in magecraft, including new spells and research.

Assets

The Association maintains a Guildhall in the Etoile Capital City for administrative purposes and small chapter houses across Etoile. In conjunction with the The Academy of Etoile, it also maintains and builds on all of the extant research of Magic, with a central library on Academy grounds in the Capital.

History

The appearance of Magic in 715 spurred the Principality to action, as it was clear from the outset that this new phenomenon was potentially a destabilizing influence on the State. The establishment of the Association, the first new trade Guild in over two hundred seasons, was the talk of the nation, but this news was drowned out by reports of magic-related incidents and disasters. Popular unrest culminated in The Anti-Magic Riot of 721, an event that represented the first real threat to Principality rule in generations. Subsequently, the Principality took firmer control - all magic users were compelled to become members of the Association, all magic use outside Association sanction was prohibited, and anti-magic sentiment was quelled harshly.
Since then, the Association has been bound tightly with the Principality of Etoile in a way that is unlike the other trade guilds, and to much of the public, the Association is seen as simply another arm of the State, and its wizards, officers of the Principality.

Progress Through Magic

Founding Date

715

Type

Guild, Mages

Alternative Names

Wizard's Guild

Parent Organization

Principality of Etoile

Location

Etoile Capital City

Notable Members

• Hugo Travers

_{Header image by Roman Kraft sourced on Unsplash}