The Tower of Manipulation
"This is it, I finally get to become a true mage. I'll finally get to prove to my caretaker that I'm not a useless piece of garbage once they throw me my party! Even The Tower will be there! I can be just like him, and maybe I'll take over his position when I'm a grown-up. Right now they're leading me into the dungeon chamber, what's weirder is that they won't talk or make eye contact to me. But I'm sure they're just waiting in anticipation for The Tower. Hanged Man rank here I come!" - 12 year-old Magi
Purpose / Function
This gothic tower serves as the residence of the Mages of Caesellius Vindex, who practice and borderline worship the incantations scribed by the Scroll of the Manipulative Arts. What makes this document so special is the different "spells" listed inside that can manipulate mass if performed correctly. Though it would be a stretch to call these incantations "magic" as that definition comes with some preconceptions that do not fit the spells use. First of all, the scroll mostly lists transmutation incantations that can only be used under certain conditions. In order for an item to be altered in this fashion, you must improvise enough mass in order to fill the volume of whatever you want to create. For instance if you wanted to transform a spoon(x) into a chair(y), you would need some fodder material like bricks(z). Bricks are commonly used by the mages due to their density in volume which fill a lot with just a few materials. Then, with your spoon and bricks paired with an incantation(w), you finally have your precious chair. w(x + ?z) = y This is a common formula that is used to describe the transmutation process to the mages-in-training.
The scroll is kept at the very top of the tower in a glass weapons case. This is sealed with altered chains and further reinforced with a normal lock. Along with the scroll, a broken dagger is secured in the tower that serves a key purpose in the initiation ritual.
Alterations
As the amount of mages increase over the years, the sacred tower is only expanded. Most of the alterations to the building's architecture are related to expansions to the living quarters. Though one of the more notable expansions was the addition of a daycare of sorts for children who have yet to undergo the initiation ritual. Most of the children that reside here are the offspring of the tower's inhabitants, but occasionally a kid is taken in with the mages if it shows promise in their goals. How they determine this is unknown as the process is kept private even to other mages. If the children have lived for 12 years, they are forced to participate in initiation. The ritual takes place in a dark chamber kept belowground with The Tower present at watch. The nervous child is seated and strapped onto a stone chair in the middle of the room; on full display. After this step, an Emperor steps up above the child and grasps the broken dagger that is kept with the Scroll of the Manipulative Arts. Then, he steadies it over the child's head. This mage will proceed to plummet the dagger directly into the child's head and probe around with the blade until he has reached brain matter. The hard part is trying to maneuver the dagger carefully into the brain while the victim is screaming and thrashing in pain. Eventually, a deep incision is made horizontally into the young mage's head. If he's still alive, then the blade chose him to wield the power of the scroll. If not, the corpse is scrapped for organs and tossed outside to let the mistake decompose. Every child in the tower is totally oblivious to how the initiation ritual is performed (so is everyone else outside of the organization). Instead of the truth, the adults spoon feed them tales of a harmless party that celebrates their coming of age. Meanwhile the mutilated survivors become husks of themselves and grow to become very quiet and conceited.
Architecture
The tower has a very gothic architectural style that pair well with the dark, mysterious, and most of all eerie mood exerted by its inhabitants.
History
The organization and even the tower itself is very mysterious, so written documents are scarce. Most Vindexians just see them as freeloading savages that butcher unlucky wanderers. The few Provectors that have heard of the mages could care less about them as most don't contribute to the war. The most historical thing about the mages are their titles/epithets. These titles show the assigned person's rank in the organization. Children are simply not given a rank, as they are yet to be mages. The rank for those who just survived initiation receive the lowest rank, The Hanged Man. The rest of the ranks are earned after certain trails are completed. Each rank also gets various levels of living conditions, for instance, The Hanged Man ranks live with rats in a mossy dungeon. Meanwhile the next rank, The Hierophant lives in a simple, yet clean room. Next up is The Emperor/The Empress, they live with a few valuables and have some fur to sleep in. Finally, the highest rank, The Tower lives and is revered like a god. While the other ranks are earned in proficiency tests, The Tower is earned after being elected by fellow mages prior to the current one's death. Any rank can be elected, so you can hypothetically skip ranks. Usually an Emperor/Empress is elected by their peers. Also, your rank at death is etched into your tombstone so you can be honored forever.
Type
Tower, Mage
Owning Organization
Comments