the Arcanum

The Ordo Arcanum, known simply as Arcanum, is the global association founded with the Cairo Concordat and subject of the Council. Although keeping many of the traditional elements of an order, the primary function of the Arcanum is to serve as a social contract that unifies global arcane society under a single body of laws. The Council actively monitors society for gifted individuals in order to keep a tight record of living practitioners, as means to help uphold the the Veil. The Council's Office of Records keeps tabs on these identified mages regardless of their will, but the Council is obliged, as determined by the Concordat, to extend formal invitation to all emergent mages as soon as they are recorded.
Ordination is not compulsory, but the Arcanum provides several resources to its members such as access to its libraries, services and institutions, with an individual's access determined by its rank in the Major Hierarchy. Since unordained practitioners are monitored by the Council nonetheless and the resources provided by the Council are many, very few mages refuse the invitation. Mages can also choose to leave the order at any time given that they have no pending obligations to it.

the Major Hierarchy

The Major Hierarchy is the one every practitioner is subject to, without the necessity to act as Council officials. Titles of the Major Hierarchy are called Degrees. It is officialy used by the Council to deliberate on the elegibility of practitioners to office titles, as well as to control access to the plethora of resources the Arcanum provides. The degree is also broadly accepted by the magical society as a mark of distinction, competence and reliability.
The Degrees are, from lowest to highest: Initiate, Adept, Mage, Master and Trismegistus.

Initiate

Initiate, formally called Initiatus, is the lowest degree in the Arcanum and its point of entry. The Concordat determines that any Initiates be granted full tuition for the first Cycle in an Academy - chosen by the Council according to vacancy - so that they can learn to control their magical abilities and prevent accidents that might harm others, themselves or the Veil.

Adept

Adept, formally called Mystes, is the first degree that can be obtained by an active member of the Arcanum. To attain the degree of Mystes a practitioner must pass the Mystes Examination. Examinations happen every three months in every Academy. Extraordinary examinations might be requested by the Council under special circumstances. In such cases the Council sends a representative - usually a Judge - who either utilizes the Academy's existing procedures and infrastructure or, if required to take place outside an Academy, appoints other four members, no lower then Master degree, to compose an Assembly of Masters and evaluate the proponent Mystes. Initiates are expected to take the Mystes Examination no later than the end of its first Academy Cycle.

Mage

Mage, formally called Magus, is the middle degree of the Arcanum and is required for a mage to graduate from an Academy. To attain the degree of Magus, a Mystes must pass the Magus Examination. Authorization to take the Magus Examination requires the permission of a mage of Master degree or higher, who will act as a Mentor. Magus Examinations happen every six months in every Academy. Extraordinary examinations follow the same rules as extraordinary Mystes Examinations, with the addition of the required Mentor. Mystes are expected to take the Magus Examination no later than the end of its fourth Academy Cycle.

Master

Master, formally called Magister, is the highest most members of the Arcanum can hope to reach in the Major Hierarchy. Masters are allowed a seat in local deliberations, and can aspire to the most honorable Office Titles of the Council. To progress to the rank of Master, a Magus be nominated for evaluation by a Judge or Trismegistus. Evaluation takes place in the Council Headquarters in the city of Thinis, and takes into Only the most ambitious members aim for the title of Master.

Trismegistus

Trismegistus is the highest degree a mage can attain within the Arcanum, and trismegisti are the most prestigious members of arcane society. It is as much a degree in the Major Hierarchy as it is an honorary Office Title, concentrating the powers and obligations of a Senator with the respect and prestige involved in attaining such a rank. Trismegistus have to be appointed by the Inner Circle following very strict procedures. This inevitably involves extreme political disputes, as groups petition their own candidates for Trismagistrate to ascertain power over the decisions of the Council. Trismegistus are also the only ones who can be appointed to become Chancellors of the Academies.

Other Positions

Office Titles

Office Titles are given to Council officials that perform various functions. These functions might vary from full-time administrative duties to "tasks" that need to be carried out, and they always require a minimum degree in the Major Hierarchy.

Observer(Vigil)

Magus degree or higher. Charged with monitoring a designated region to identify emergent mages.

Director (Praestes)

Magus degree ou superior. Charged with managing activities of a Council Office.

Custodian (Curator)

Magister degree or higher. Charged with protecting and managing institutions valuable to the Council.

Protector (Praetor)

Magus degree or higher. Charged with protecting and upholding the Veil. Usually responsible for field duties, but might also be in charge of administrative duties, managing regional Covens. Together they form the Protectorate.

Judge (Iudex)

Magister degree or higher. Have jurisdiction over trials of practitioners in violation of the Concordat. Have the power to arbitrate in special cases intead of an Assembly of Masters.

Senator (Senator)

Magister degree or higher. A seat in the Inner Circle of the Council. Has voting rights in decisions made by the Council. Have the power to arbitrate in special cases instead of an Assembly of Masters

Chancellor (Cancellarius)

Trismegistus only. Director in charge of one of the Academies.

Mentificer(Mentifex)

Magister degree or higher and Praetor. Specialized title granted to Protectors that specialize in mind affecting magic, particulary memories. Mentificers must graduate in special disciplines in appropriate academies. Charged with erasing the memories related to breaches of the Veil from the minds of non-practitioners.

Designations

Parallel to degrees and office titles, the Council also grants a series of special Designations to practitioners. Designations might be honors as well as risk classifications. New designations are deliberately created by the Council, given due procedures are respected in the Inner Circle to evaluate its true necessity. Although the result of these votings tends to be generous, three designations are the most common: Thaumaturge, Hierophant and Heresiarch.