Praepostors

Since the very first days of its creation, the Empire has both abhorred and coveted magic. Its earliest victories against numerically superior foes were only made possible thanks to arcane creation such as the Iron Knights and the Imperial Praefects. However, magic also represents that which the Empire fears above all else; chaos and a challenge to their power. Therefore, they have taken steps to ensure that anywhere that flies the Midaevian flag is purged of all independent magical factions. But at the same time, there is no ignoring the fact that society simply cannot function without magic-users. When the Empire was young and small, all its arcane needs could be met by the Praefects. But as its territory grew, the small cabal of sorcerers, although powerful, were no longer sufficient to see to all the Empire's growing needs. Hospitals needed healers, armourers needed ward scribes, the Ministry of Enlightenment needed to divine the location of enemies of the states, and occult researchers required both access to other planes of existence and protection from the denizens that dwelled within. The Order of the Brothers and Sisters of Holy Praepostisity, or simply the Order of Praepostors, was the answer to that conundrum; an organization of priests under the purview of the Church who would receive training in the schools of magic, providing the Empire with day-to-day magic-users.
Recruitment and Training
Given the Empire's disposition towards magic-users, it is no surprise that the recruitment of potential Praepostor candidates is an exceedingly rigorous process. Only those who demonstrate the greatest devotion to the tenements of the Four Gates are even considered for induction, and then only after they prove that devotion through days of prayer and contemplation in isolation. After the Church is sufficiently convinced of a candidate's piety, senior Praepostors will put them through a series of tests, designed to determine which school of magic they would be best suited to learning.

Once a candidate has been assigned a discipline, they are packed up and sent to the Monastic College specializing in the instruction of that school, where they will remain for five years
Although the educations they receive is extensive, it is by no means conclusive. The Empire has no interest in giving its Praepostors anything more than a basic level of magical ability; enough for them to fulfil their purposes. In addition, there are no Praepostors trained in the School of Evocation. While this does mean that the spells cast by Praepostors are nowhere near as potent as those woven by the Conclave wizards or Altharadi enchanters, it is sufficient for the Empire's needs. Anything more than that, and they can always contract one of the Freelancers Guild slave-mages, or, if the need is great enough, petition the Ministry of Enlightenment for a Praefect.
Organisation
After their training is completed, each Praepostor is assigned a posting somewhere in the Empire, needs dependent. Healers, as the most common discipline, can be found in almost every major town in the Empire, with dozens based in the hospitals of larger cities. The Ministry of Enlightment's roaming witch hunter bands will often travel in the company of a Diviner or two. And the armouries which supply the Banner Legions include cadres of Abjurors to ward the armour and blades of its generals. Wherever the Praepostor is posted, they will be under the supervision of the local bishopric, subject to regular inspection, meant to ensure they do not have the opportunity to practice their magic unless it is in service to the Empire.

Type

Religious, Other