Council of Magistry
"In ancestral footsteps we tread."
The Council of Magistry regulates the use of ehlu, or magic, across Kima. For centuries, they enforced the banishment of zibholg, or blood magic, and controlled the distribution of olokuz. They established six regional conservatories to formally train young mages before Kima was even united as an empire, and now keeps track of every registered mage in the country, assigning them to courts, battalions, hospitals, and more. They also attempt to document mages who only received private training, though some slip inevitably through the cracks.
The Council is led by the Mage Primus, who is elected from the Council via vote. To join the Council in the first place, a mage must be nominated by two members and then voted in by a majority. Once elected to the Council, a Councilor serves for life or until they choose to retire. Every Conservatory must have at least one representative on the Council. The Council may have no more than thirty-five members including the Mage Primus, who serves as the tiebreaker when necessary.
Table of Contents
Aelfsa Conservatory
Oru Conservatory
Bual Conservatory
Ihpečae (Øghe) Conservatory
Faelkaen Conservatory
Novice/Ohyz
Proficient/Thehp
Advanced/Zasulbhe
Master/Ehmf
Some mages like to incorporate every classification into their markings, while others will only keep their current level. The designs can get intricate, and are as much about showing off as they are for recognition among the elites of the magic industry. Below is an example of an elaborate design worn by a mage who studied both at the Fuñta Conservatory and independently, and achieved a Master ranking in all three schools.
Place in the Senate
When the Kiman Senate was formed, the Council of Magistry rightfully demanded a seat on it. The first Grand Mage also happened to be the Mage Primus of the Council at the time, though it's not a requirement. The Grand Mage is nominated and voted into the Senate in a fashion similar to the election of the Mage Primus.The Circle
Faelkaen has its own version of the Council of Magistry called the Circle, made up of mavens and led by the Archmaven, who serves as the Circle's representation on the Council. The Circle is far older than the Council, however, and its structure is what the Council is based off of in the first place. All mavens are Faelkish, though not all Faelkish mages are mavens. Every settlement in Faelkaen is assigned at least one maven, based on population, whose responsibility is to protect the residents, guide rituals and festivals, assist the leadership, and represent that settlement in the Circle. Mavens do not need to be at the Master level as deemed by the Council, though most of them are due to the difficulty of attaining membership. There is no limit to how many mavens can be in the Circle at any given time, though the process to join is not a mere vote. Membership is based on successful completion of the Rite of Ehlthuo, a series of mental and physical trials meant to designate the mages who are truly worthy. These trials are as follows:- The Trial of Wits, in which the mage must prove their intellect is sufficient to lead and protect their people. This trial consists of strategic riddles and proposed scenarios that are most easily solved with the use of lohzi, or temporal magic.
- The Trial of Power is a test of raw magical ability, most frequently completed with the energy school of magic, ziuol. A maven must not only be a master of the physical world, as shown in the previous trial, but a skilled battlemage in order to protect their people.
- The Trial of Temptation is the most important and challenging of the trials. If a mage shows weakness during this trial, they give up any hope of ever becoming a maven. This trial tests a mage's resolve to rejecting the vice of zibholg––blood magic. It's important to note that zibholg itself is not forbidden in Faelkaen. In fact, it is used for certain ceremonies. Therefore, the trial truly tests a mage's restraint and resolve.
- The Trial of Dreams is less of a traditional trial than its precursors. In some ways, it's a reward for making it through. The mage is given a concoction of magical herbs to ingest, after which they enter into a trance. During this time, they commune with previous mavens, who determine if they are ultimately ready for the responsibility they seek. A mage must have complete control of ohxlizi, chimera magic, to speak with their predecessors and complete this trial.
The selection of a new Archmaven is a full-day affair that begins with nominations. A would-be candidate must be nominated by either themselves or someone else, and must have two more voices of support. Once nominations are made, the candidates are given three hours to prepare, give a speech, and answer questions. After that, the lengthy voting process begins. Two candidates at a time are discussed and voted on until only one remains. The two up for voting are not allowed in the room during this time, nor can they vote if they are currently being voted on. Once an Archmaven is decided by vote, the floor will be opened for any additional challenges or notable points of contention that have not already been discussed during the voting process.
The new Archmaven must then be accepted by the spirits of past Archmavens, a process similar to the Trial of Dreams. This ceremony not only calls on the spirits of previous Archmavens, but if the candidate is approved, will cement their own spirit into the process as well, so that they may be called upon once they’ve left the world of the living. Upon their return, they will be inducted as the new Archmaven for life, or until they step down. Finally, word is sent to the rest of the province and to the Mage Primus in Fuñta.
In the event that an Archmaven is rejected by the spirits, which has only happened once, the process will begin again, with that candidate removed from the potential pool.
Order of the Rose
A not-quite-legal offshoot of the Council of Magistry is the Order of the Rose. It is made up of Councilors, and other mages, who believe that zibholg should not be outlawed. The name was chosen to partially cover up the true purpose of the organization, and also for the rose's symbolic meanings of secrecy and life. Some members of the Order would rather it be regulated so that it can be taught and used safely, while others would rather it be entirely legal. There isn't much cohesion to the group, especially considering its relative youth compared to the Council and the Circle, but it has some influence nonetheless. The leader of the Order, usually elected via majority vote, is called the Archmagus.Conservatories
Each Kiman province has a conservatory––a school of magic. The curriculum is largely standardized, all students learning the same materials. Tutors from the schools make annual visits to settlements within their province, looking for suitable pupils. Alternatively, parents can reach out to the schools themselves if they realize their child is showing signs of ehlu manipulation. A child is never forced to go to the school, but it is made known that attending the conservatories is the ideal way to learn to control ehlu. If it is not taught from a young age, the ability will often fade to either minimal amounts or, in some cases, to nothing. Most students are initially accepted between the ages of six to nine, though there is no upper age limit. Younger students are rarely accepted, as the Council believes that they are not developmentally ready. For many families, especially the poor, having a child get into a conservatory is a dream come true. It's the best education they can receive without entering the military, and success means that the family won't have to worry about food or shelter any longer. Fuñta ConservatoryThe Fuñta Conservatory is the most esteemed of the six provincial schools. Students at some of the other conservatories will even attempt to transfer, though this is rarely successful. Nestled against a cliff just north of the capital city of Arpra and overlooking the dangerous upper peninsula, it stands as a reminder of the Council of Magistry's power and influence over Kima. It is also the meeting place of the Council, and has doubled as a military fortress in times of strife. Many Fuñtan graduates go on to become Councilors, battlemages, and advisors.
Standing tall in the center of the Aelfsan province is their conservatory, which doubles not only as a school of magic but as a general educational institution for other Aelfsans. The conservatory has access to three of the four central lakes, and serves as a significant outpost for the Central Lakes Trading Company. Aelfsan graduates can often be found as advisors, Councilors, and scholars.
Unlike the previous two conservatories, the Oru Conservatory is located at the far western edge of the Orun province, built into the side of a cliff with a view out to sea. It's not that the people of Oru want to keep their mages isolated, but rather that there are few spaces safe enough for construction of such stature. The Šulugi Wilds are home to the few remaining ehluim, magical creatures that wouldn't hesitate to launch an assault on the school, and the Visw Basin is hardly a fitting space either. Thus, the western location. Orun graduates commonly stay in their home province, becoming guides, helping settlements with protection and construction, or launching research expeditions into the various mysteries at their front doors.
The Bual Conservatory is located in the mountainous coastal part of the province. It's lavish, but unkempt. Famous, but isolated. The majority of students hail from wealthy families, as many of the tutors couldn't be bothered to search the poor settlements for suitable students. Those who are accepted face hardships and trials even at the conservatory, but those who make it often end up far stronger than their peers. Many Buali graduates remain in Bual, living off of their families' ill-gotten wealth. Those without that benefit often end up working for the wealthy regardless, though some manage to break free and travel elsewhere to become tutors, battlemages, and occasionally Councilors.
The Ihpečae Conservatory is unique in that it was established twice, though the ruins of its first construction have long been rendered unrecognizable. The new Ihpečae Conservatory is the most recently-founded of the conservatories, funded and advocated for almost exclusively by Faelkaen and the Circle. It is underground, so as not to mar the landscape, and formed primarily from the surrounding earth rather than built. It has the fewest number of students and tutors, and graduates often return to their clans to serve them as healers and leaders. Those who do leave the province tend to have a taste for exploration and knowledge, rather than battle or governmental work.
The Faelkaen Conservatory was the first educational magic institution to be established in Kima, though it wasn't connected to the Council of Magistry at its founding. It's built into the jagged mountain ridges of the Zičilx Sierra, is difficult to reach by nonmagical means, and harsh to those unaccustomed to its inhospitable climate. Faelkaen's healthy land and abundance of ehlu consistently makes their mages the most powerful in the empire, though only Faelkish mages are allowed to attend the Faelkaen Conservatory. Most graduates stay and go through the trials to become mavens, though it's not uncommon to see them elsewhere in Kima as well in all kinds of positions.
Classification Structure
To aid in the education of mages, the Council put in place a ranking system based on education level and ability. Many mages choose to show their progress with marks on their skin called cihpaeśi, though it is by no means required. The markings are done magically with the use of liquid sayume (sacerkuar), thus easily removable by the same means. These markings are identified by color and position on the face. The specific designs of the tattoos can vary between students, and many add personal touches. Each of the six conservatories has adopted a different color marking for their students. Of course, this is just common practice, not strictly enforced, and all shades of the colors are normal to see. They are as follows:- Fuñta: red
- Aelfsa: blue
- Oru: green
- Bual: orange
- Ihpečae: yellow
- Faelkaen: purple
- Independent: gray
Also called Ohn, Initiate is the rank given to any new student at a conservatory or in private tutelage. The average age is between six and nine. Initiates are only on the basics of magic, and are constantly supervised to ensure they don't accidentally hurt themselves or others. It is common practice to start training with chimera magic, as it mostly involves illusory visions that can't physically harm anyone, though they will learn the basics of all three schools.
The markings for this rank are typically centered around the eyes, especially the corners, as seen in the example image below.
Initiate by Hannah (me)
Novices, also called Ohyz, no longer need continuous supervision. They can finally be trusted not to accidentally hurt anyone, and they can begin light independent work. Students achieve this level by passing a simple evaluation. The average age for this stage is between ten and fourteen. At this point, students are allowed to select a school of focus, meaning they will be most skilled in one of the three schools. While all students are expected to be proficient in all three, the selection of a focus allows for a guided path toward desired goals, and a more in-depth education.
The markings for this rank are still concentrated on the eyes, but extend farther across the face and begin to get more elaborate. Some students choose to keep their Ohn markings and build each rank that way, while others prefer full replacement. For the sake of clarity, the reference images will only show the markings for each rank.
Novice by Hannah (me)
The rank of Proficient, also called Thehp, is the final stage before graduation from the conservatory. This level is awarded after passing an assessment of skills, ensuring that the student has solid control over their ehlu. Most Thehp students average between ages fifteen and twenty. By this stage, students are nearly self-sufficient when it comes to most magical tasks. Their studies become even more individualized, and they undergo placement evaluations. Placements can include positions as healers, battlemages, advisors, scholars, tutors, and more. While a mage's trajectory post-conservatory is ultimately up to them, these evaluations can help them decide what may be optimal for them, and build necessary connections to make that happen.
Thehp markings are primarily in the chin and lip area.
Proficient by Hannah (me)
Advanced students are largely independent from their masters. In fact, most officially graduate at this point and continue with their own independent study. To reach this leve, students must demonstrate a solid understanding of the inner workings of their magic and be able to control it, and react to unexpected circumstances. The average age at graduation is twenty years. It's incredibly rare for anyone younger to do so, though there have been cases of students being granted the rank of Zašulbhe but graduating later. For many, this is where their official training ends, though it's common to keep the markings as a status symbol and to recognize other mages. From here, most students will either begin working on the other schools of magic that they didn't focus on before, or try to attain the Master designation. In times of war or stress, independent study is less common as graduates are sent to placements.
Zašulbhe markings are found on the cheekbones.
Advanced by Hannah (me)
The most coveted rank is that of Master. They are the only ones allowed to take on students, to hold office in the Council, and are respected across the continent for their skill and dedication. It can take years, even decades, to become Ehmf in even one school, not to mention all three. Masters can study at Conservatories, especially if they prefer a tutor who happens to teach there, but their assigned work is usually much different than that of the younger students. Master is the only level which requires official recognition by the Council. At least five other Masters must be present for the evaluation of the mage in question, where they are tested on every aspect of their chosen school and their magic as a whole. A Master must be in absolute control of their ehlu at all times. Their resolve, ability, and concentration can never waver. Upon passing this evaluation, the mage's name will be recorded by the Council so that their authenticity can never be questioned.
Ehmf is marked by designs on the forehead.
Master by Hannah (me)
Rolan marks
