Sage of Myrisia
"I'm not saying we should trust her. I'm saying if we have any issues with Sage Malina, we should remember she is not the only one we could be dealing with. Throw a rock, walk a day in that direction, and we could find another Tower to seek help from. No guarantees it'll be a better arrangement but..."As time passed and Myrisian culture grew into its own, the study of arcane magic entwined with a curiosity about the world to generate a group of individuals who sought to understand everything. Their exact origins are shrouded in myth, with most tales being told by citizens of Myrisia who could not possibly have been present. According to the council of Grand Sages, the first of the Myrisian Sages were those who sought knowledge over power and sought to preserve knowledge by means other than the oral tradition used at that time. The Great Library was begun in a hidden location, and all knowledge was sealed within to be protected by these new Sages.
To be a Sage is to be a researcher, a ruler, and a politician in one person. Every Tower settlement in Myrisia is ruled by a Sage, which affords them potent magical defenses against enemies. Sages will deal with each other directly over matters which concern trade, truces, grievances, and many other matters required of many others in western Erisdaire. While handling this, they also conduct research and seek out knowledge as a means of broadening the Myrisian understanding of the world. It is a position which is not for everyone who has the will for it, but those who do manage to become a Sage are expected to understand they are given a great responsibility amidst their privileges.
Appointment
On the road to become a Sage, the first step is to become a candidate through assisting in the creation of a Grimoire. This means knowing someone who is already a Sage, and trusting them to give due credit as an assistant with their work. After an individual has been identified as a viable candidate through their work, they are set three tasks by the Great Sages. These tasks are chosen specifically for the candidate as a means of evaluating their capability when it comes to spreading and seeking knowledge. Often these tasks involve creating Grimoires on a particular topic, or reviewing an existing Grimoire to prove whether or not the original texts remain sound after later innovations.
While Sages are commonly associated with arcane studies, it should be noted the tasks often do not strictly require the use of magic to complete. There have been records of Sages with little talent for arcane magic, who simply found other ways to achieve the goals set by the council of Great Sages. As the general goal of the tests are a broad evaluation, the candidate must prove their overall value rather than simply perform the tasks as set. This evaluation is done by only a handful of the Great Sages, and these are not revealed until the time of review. The hidden aspect of this is to prevent anyone from cheating through attempting to curry favor with any singular Great Sage.
Once the three tasks are completed, a candidate is put through a final examination to demonstrate they have indeed done the work submitted. This examination is often the downfall of candidates who experience nervousness, or lack sufficient social grace to handle the process. Considering the duties a Sage may be responsible for, the council has grudgingly agreed it is better to turn away promising candidates who lack the skills to be administrator of a Tower than to risk any citizens under the rule of someone unfit for the task. Only after this examination can be passed will the candidate join the ranks of other Myrisian Sages.
While Sages are commonly associated with arcane studies, it should be noted the tasks often do not strictly require the use of magic to complete. There have been records of Sages with little talent for arcane magic, who simply found other ways to achieve the goals set by the council of Great Sages. As the general goal of the tests are a broad evaluation, the candidate must prove their overall value rather than simply perform the tasks as set. This evaluation is done by only a handful of the Great Sages, and these are not revealed until the time of review. The hidden aspect of this is to prevent anyone from cheating through attempting to curry favor with any singular Great Sage.
Once the three tasks are completed, a candidate is put through a final examination to demonstrate they have indeed done the work submitted. This examination is often the downfall of candidates who experience nervousness, or lack sufficient social grace to handle the process. Considering the duties a Sage may be responsible for, the council has grudgingly agreed it is better to turn away promising candidates who lack the skills to be administrator of a Tower than to risk any citizens under the rule of someone unfit for the task. Only after this examination can be passed will the candidate join the ranks of other Myrisian Sages.
Duties
Earning the rank of Sage comes with many benefits, but there are also the duties to consider. A Sage who exercises their right to found a Tower is responsible for the citizens who choose to live there. This means providing safety and resources to ensure they may thrive, but also means the Sage is ultimately responsible for acts carried out by citizens living there. Because of this, many Sages are exceedingly careful about who they admit into Tower settlements. The safety of a Tower is usually done through arcane wards more than physical structures, or at least this is how it is done initially. Animated guardians are a favorite method, though the ruling Sage must take care when setting parameters for these guardians to prevent accidents.
On top of this matter, a Sage is required every year to present proof they have continued research on some aspect of arcane magic or the natural world. The date such studies must be submitted to the council of Great Sages is set based upon the date when the individual became a Sage in the first place. This must be done every year, and the research will be tested and studied before it is accepted; once accepted it will be both archived in its original state, and edited to make a new Grimoire to be stored in the Great Library. Research which is not accepted in this manner is still archived, but if a Sage fails to find their work being accepted three times in succession they risk being stripped of their title and authority.
On top of this matter, a Sage is required every year to present proof they have continued research on some aspect of arcane magic or the natural world. The date such studies must be submitted to the council of Great Sages is set based upon the date when the individual became a Sage in the first place. This must be done every year, and the research will be tested and studied before it is accepted; once accepted it will be both archived in its original state, and edited to make a new Grimoire to be stored in the Great Library. Research which is not accepted in this manner is still archived, but if a Sage fails to find their work being accepted three times in succession they risk being stripped of their title and authority.
Benefits
As someone who has proven themselves valuable to Myrisia, Sages are permitted a greater latitude than citizens in many areas. Only Sages are permitted to build permanent settlements, known as Towers colloquially to Myrisians, while citizens may build locations which will ultimately be temporary. At most times, the word of a Sage is given greater weight than those of a citizen in the absence of evidence one way or the other. The council of Great Sages place such trust in those who pass the examinations, and to date that trust has rarely been abused. Those cases have shaped Myrisian society, though ordinary citizens are often kept unaware of the particulars.
The greatest benefit is access to the Great Library of Myrisia, where the master copies of Grimoires are kept. Every Grimoire ever written and accepted by the council is stored within the archives, as are the raw research notes which produced the Grimoire. Other works imported from outside Myrisia also are kept here for review, though the original donations of these are placed in the deep archives. Despite a Sage being granted access to the Great Library and Grimoires, they are rarely allowed access to the archives without permission from at least two Great Sages.
Lastly, and perhaps least importantly, a Sage is permitted to formally adopt apprentices to work at their Tower and contribute to the creation of Grimoires. There is no defined limit to the number of apprentices, however most Sages content themselves with a single person due to the risk of personality conflicts. These apprentices may eventually become candidates for elevation to Sage, or may leave and pursue other goals. While apprenticed in the Tower, the apprentices are bound to their Sage by magical oaths so they cannot actively harm anyone (or anything) within the Tower. This oath must be dismissed by the Sage personally, which means an apprentice may find themselves bound to a Sage who met an untimely death. Most Sages who fear this eventuality find a way of providing an "escape clause" for such an occasion when crafting these binding oaths.
The greatest benefit is access to the Great Library of Myrisia, where the master copies of Grimoires are kept. Every Grimoire ever written and accepted by the council is stored within the archives, as are the raw research notes which produced the Grimoire. Other works imported from outside Myrisia also are kept here for review, though the original donations of these are placed in the deep archives. Despite a Sage being granted access to the Great Library and Grimoires, they are rarely allowed access to the archives without permission from at least two Great Sages.
Lastly, and perhaps least importantly, a Sage is permitted to formally adopt apprentices to work at their Tower and contribute to the creation of Grimoires. There is no defined limit to the number of apprentices, however most Sages content themselves with a single person due to the risk of personality conflicts. These apprentices may eventually become candidates for elevation to Sage, or may leave and pursue other goals. While apprenticed in the Tower, the apprentices are bound to their Sage by magical oaths so they cannot actively harm anyone (or anything) within the Tower. This oath must be dismissed by the Sage personally, which means an apprentice may find themselves bound to a Sage who met an untimely death. Most Sages who fear this eventuality find a way of providing an "escape clause" for such an occasion when crafting these binding oaths.
Type
Magical, Professional
Form of Address
Sage (as prefix)
Master (by apprentices or citizens of their Tower)
Brother (by other Sages)
Master (by apprentices or citizens of their Tower)
Brother (by other Sages)
Alternative Naming
Myrisian Sages
Related Organizations
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