Illusionists

The Illusionists are a group of warriors who are trained not only in physical combat, but also in how to create and withstand illusions. Most Illusionists specialize in creating illusions specific to one of the five senses, though some generalize. According to Illuionist lore, several centuries ago, some Illusionists could create not only Illusions, but actual objects. Though there is no evidence of the truth of these stories, I think Illusionist magic may be derived from the magic of imagination, as the stories of the ancient gods speak of similar phenomena.

Training

Illusionists actively recruit people, primarily in areas where they are openly known, but they also have a small team of recruiters who find outsiders who they think would be particularly well suited for their work. Those who want to be trained as Illusionists must send in a formal application and conduct an interview. They also must be at least seventeen years old. From the pool of applicants, a small number are selected each year to endure Illusionist training. If someone is not accepted, they can apply again in a future year.
Illusionist training occurs in two phases. In the first phase, every new recruit is paired with a partner, and they are asked to choose a name for themselves. For the rest of this phase, the team is considered a single unit, and the partners must complete all tasks together. If one partner is missing from a training session, both partners are considered absent. If one partner gets in trouble, both are punished. If one partner fails a test, both are eliminated from training. Partners are assigned based on their opposing strengths and weaknesses, and thus they are incentivized to help each other improve. Together, partners attend training sessions in both physical combat and illusion work, as well as complete tests of physical and mental endurance. The teams are ranked each day, and the rankings are posted publicly.
In the second phase of Illusionist training, recruits live independently in a secluded area for several weeks. During this time, they are tasked with creating illusions to frighten each other and withstand the illusions created by others. Each recruit's primary target is their former partner. Thus, the person who knows you better than anyone becomes your greatest enemy. The trainers monitor the area so they can remove anyone who becomes over stressed either physically or mentally. They also continue to rank the remaining recruits. Several recruits have been known to break under the weight of differentiating between illusion and reality. All recruits who survive the full period become Illusionists, and the recruit with the top ranking at the end of phase two is awarded a yellow arm band. Though this award is given so early in an Illusionist's career, it is considered a very prestigious award.

Structure

The Illusionists maintain a hierarchy in which members are promoted and awarded from the top down. These ranks and awards are represented by different colored armbands, with a blue armband designating the lowest ranking and red armbands designating the highest ranking. Those with red armbands develop rules regarding the structure of training and which military organizations the Illusionists will participate with.

Location

Illusionists are primarily located in Anthantir and its neighbors, where they live relatively openly. Most citizens in these countries are aware of the illusionists, and they work in conjunction with the militaries, though outside of these countries, they are known as special forces, and by other names. All Illusionists actively serve for a given period, though when their service is completed, many return, or continue to live in areas with large Illuionist populations. Some choose instead to travel, often going into professional areas such as security and performance art. Yet others are stationed in distant places or complete recruitment in these areas. Outside of their primary countries, Illusionists are usually very secretive about their magic, though there are not official rules preventing them from sharing their identities or even their training! Many Illusionists also wear their armbands, even when not in full uniform, so that they can be recognized by other Illusionists or people who are aware of their presence.