Regulation of Magic

Magic in the Eternal Empire

In the Eternal Empire, magic is both the cornerstone of society and a tightly controlled resource. Its use and study are seen as privileges granted by the state, regulated through strict laws and enforced by powerful organizations. The Empire views magic as a divine gift and an instrument of its dominance, wielded only by those loyal to its cause. Unauthorized magic use is a grave offense, met with severe punishment.

Institutions Overseeing Magic

The Order of Merlin

This elite organization oversees all magical knowledge and practices within the Empire. Its members are selected from the most gifted magic users across the Empire and serve directly under the Emperor. The Order ensures that magical innovation aligns with imperial goals and that dangerous knowledge, such as the secrets of Biomorphs or rogue AI magitech, remains tightly restricted. Spellcasters must register with the Order and receive licenses to practice magic, with specific spells and schools of magic requiring higher levels of clearance.

The Chantry

As the spiritual arm of the Empire, the Chantry reinforces the belief that magic is a divine gift, meant to be wielded responsibly by those chosen by the gods. The Inquisitors of the Chantry are tasked with rooting out unsanctioned magic and heresy, often using divine magic to enforce compliance and punish offenders.

System Lords

Each System Lord oversees magical practices within their domain, ensuring that local spellcasters follow imperial regulations. They often employ magical enforcers or advisors to maintain control.

Laws and Regulations

Licensing and Registration

All magic users must be registered with the Empire. Licenses are categorized by the type and level of magic a spellcaster can perform. Unlicensed magic use is illegal, with offenders facing heavy fines, imprisonment, or execution depending on the severity of the offense.

Prohibited Magic

Certain types of magic, such as necromancy, wild magic, soul magic and mind control, are heavily restricted or outright banned. Spells capable of large-scale destruction or manipulation (e.g., Wish, Dominate Person) are reserved exclusively for imperial use.

Magitech Regulation

The integration of magic and technology is strictly monitored. Only approved magitech engineers are permitted to create or modify devices, and all magitech is inspected for compliance with imperial standards. Unauthorized magitech, especially artifacts tied to rogue AI or Biomorphs, is considered treasonous.

Education and Training

Magic users must be trained in imperial-sanctioned academies, where their loyalty is tested alongside their abilities. Indents or other lower class members of society are typically not permitted to train at these academies. Independent or clandestine magical education is considered subversive, with secret schools and rogue mages hunted by the Inquisitors.

Enforcement

Imperial Inquisitors

The Inquisitors are the Empire’s magical enforcers, empowered to investigate and punish unauthorized magic use. They wield divine and arcane magic to root out heresy, subversion, and unsanctioned spellcasting. Inquisitors are feared throughout the Empire for their ruthless tactics, including torture and public executions.

Arcane Surveillance

The Empire uses magitech surveillance devices, such as Scrying Orbs and Arcane Beacons, to monitor suspected magic users. Shackles worn by Indents also contain tracking enchantments to prevent magical tampering or escape, however, the shackles themselves cannot detect if the person is using magic.

Punishment

Minor infractions (e.g., unlicensed casting) result in fines or imprisonment. Major offenses (e.g., using banned spells or creating illegal magitech) are met with execution or magical lobotomization, stripping the offender of their ability to use magic.

Magic as a Tool of Control

Despite the Empire’s strict regulations, magic is also a tool for rebellion. Rogue sorcerers, hidden academies, and black-market magitech engineers operate in the shadows, often aligning with factions in the Wildlands. These groups seek to undermine the Empire’s monopoly on magic, providing hope for those who dream of freedom from its tyranny. By keeping magic under strict regulation, the Eternal Empire maintains its grip on power, ensuring that the arcane arts remain a symbol of its divine and technological supremacy.