The lex Sanctum
Sanctum Orders
Following the collapse of The Imperium of Avanor led to the rise of several Arganorhian provincence now becoming sovereign nations without a united arcane legal structure. The nations all started competing to gain the support by the mages and mage orders were created sponsored with private deals between local nobles, oligarchs and churches. This continued for 60 years before a war between The Kingdom of Redwain and The Kingdom of Ostmere were powerfull mages and high level casting was used on the battlefields and society was harshly reminded why the old imperume had restriction mages in warfare. An estimated 100.000 casualties was made after the war was finished with the territories they were fighting over having no civilians left to toil the fields. Multiple areas infused with wild magic zones and armies of elementals let loose in the lands which would take the international communities a decade to clean up. This spurred The Church of Veros and other law focused churches to take action and demanding the nations to establish more restriction on the mages under their authority. While the god aligned wanted to hunt down the mages that took part in attacking civilian targets and denounce the people that encouraged their actions. Some of the more relevant members of the larger Mage Orders in the world realized that it would be beneficial for those Orders to join together, to ensure closer communication and cooperation between mages all over the world. The largest meeting of mages took place in the Magocratic city of Caldum in Arganorh, where representatives of some of the largest and most influential Mage Orders in the world agreed to form The Lex Sanctum. This was to be the first Mage Alliance between several Orders, and the alliance led to the creation of the Sanctum Laws; which govern the rules of conduct for mages in the Sanctum's lands of influence. The meeting was to be known as the Caldum Accords. Not all represented Orders agreed to the terms, and felt that their own freedoms would be too limited if they joined the Sanctum Orders. Some didn't even show for the Caldum Accords in the first place. The Sanctum Orders more or less act independently from each other, but are beholden to submit to the same Sanctum Laws. Cooperation occurs but for the most part the Sanctum Orders are free to conduct their practices in their spheres of influence, and some competition between members of the various Orders often arises. Powerful leaders from the various Sanctum Orders oversee them under a closed, private council known as the Arch Sanctum, whose members are referred to as Archmages. Considering the clear opposing teachings, laws and views of the different Sanctum Orders, it is a wonder that the Sanctum was formed at all. Members from the various Sanctum Orders frequently disagree with each other and many openly dislike the Sanctum Laws, preferring the old ways of their own laws. Some believe that powerful magic was involved during the Caldum Accords, which effectively charmed and tricked those attending into creating the Sanctum Orders. There is little to no evidence to support this however, and the Arch Sanctum denies or refuses to comment on the accusations. The Sanctum Laws are often brought up during important election meetings and reviewed. Should any changes to the Laws be up for debate, the Arch Sanctum sits down to discuss those potential changes. However, such changes are at best incremental.Map: The Magocracy of Caldum
The organization's headquarter based in The Magocracy of CaldumSANCTUM LAWS
The Sanctum Laws, also known as the Eight Strictures, are the rules and guidelines written by the Arch Sanctum, and enforced by the Vindicators. These strictures were written to ensure safer study and practice of magic, so to avoid the possible dangers that magic can cause, as well as ensure that mages act responsibly and lawfully when using magic. The Sanctum Laws are mandatory in all the governing Sanctum Orders, and most of the nations where their influence is widespread strictly enforce these rules to all practitioners of magic in their respective realms. Every Mage Order within the Sanctum Orders have small variations of the Eight Strictures, since (despite the say of the Arch Sanctum) leaders within those Orders might disagree with either the laws themselves, or the proposed general punishments. For example, the Sumarad's punishments regarding breaking the mage laws are highly severe, whilst the Thaven Hand's are more lax. The Vindicators, where they hold jurisdiction, are required to hunt down law defying mages and bring them to justice; often at the end of a sword. Where the Vindicators have no influence of power, it falls upon the local authorities and law keepers of that nation or region to enforce the strictures, unless they have their own set rules regarding magical crimes, which typically over-rule the Sanctum Laws and punishments. Lex Stricture1st Stricture: CONTROL
Magic must not control, but be controlled.
It is necessary to have the strength and knowledge to control the powers of magic; to avoid fatal consequences to not only the wielder, but to the world and those around the wielder, as well as to ensure a minimal connection between the wielder and the corruption of outsider beings and energies.
2nd Stricture: MANIPULATION
Magic must not be used to manipulate for one's own personal gain and benefit.
Interfering with the balance of the world in the form of distorting time, space or the natural order on a large scale is to be considered dangerous not only to the wielder, but those around him or her, as well as to the entire existence of the world itself. Similarly magic is not to be used to control or otherwise immorally enthrall minds of sentient beings.
3rd Stricture: RESPONSIBILITY
Magic must not be used unwisely or unnecessarily.
One must have the wisdom and constraint to wield magic properly. Spells are not to be cast wildly or without proper thought. Doing so may cause dire consequences to both wielder and those around him or her. Just as one would not cut bread with a sword, one must know when magic is not to be used unnecessarily or irresponsibly.
4th Stricture: CORRUPTION
Magic must not be used to use energies to alter soul or being in corruptible ways.
Making use of magic that alters a being's soul and life for personal gain is immoral and strictly forbidden. Making use of such magic attracts corruptible energies to the wielder and weak minds. Even the strongest of minds will eventually falter against the corruptible sway of unnatural energies.
5th Stricture: DEFIANCE
Magic must not control powers beyond death.
The unwilling resurrection and enthralling of the long dead, as well as the general control over beings, spirits of undeath and necrotic energy is not permitted. Doing so is an affront to all living things and the greatest disrespect to the forces that maintain the afterlife.
6th Stricture: TRANSGRESSION
Magic must not be used to defy laws.
If any wielder should use his or her magical powers to commit crime or otherwise break local laws or Arcane Laws for personal gain, he or she is to face judgment at the hand of local authorities or the Vindicators, and be punished according to the severity of the crime.
7th Stricture: ASSOCIATION
Magic must not be used in connection with the lower planar or outer worldly beings.
The summoning and general dabbling with the kinds of demons, devils and similar beings is strictly forbidden. These creatures have the will to corrupt weak minds and in time will overcome the minds of even the strongest of mages; effectively possessing one's body at the cost of the wielder's soul and mind.
8th Stricture: WAR
Magic in wars is to be limited and supervised.
The use of magic in wars, unsanctioned or otherwise, is to be either entirely disallowed, or restricted to fit the war and the Arch Sanctum's declarations. Similarly, any magic in battles that might occur as a result of necessity from self-defense or last-resort must be kept at manageable levels of magical power.
Lesser Orders
Smaller, lesser known Mage Orders also exist in the world. Most are considered to operate legally, typically having purchased teaching and sanctuary licenses from the governing groups in their situated nation or city. These Lesser Orders might include small schools, sanctuaries for unaffiliated mages, or the unpopular hidden sanctuaries; the latter of which are considered illegal in most nations, as they harbour illegal mages. Lesser Orders don't typically possess large membership numbers, and will at most maybe hold a dozen members or so. Their influence in nations and cities is little to none, and they hold basically no power in the sayings of governance or mage laws. Lesser Orders are basically beholden to the rules of the greater Mage Orders in their area. In most cases these Lesser Orders were founded as a means to gather like-minded freemages who want to study and practice their magic without being affiliated with a greater Mage Order. But depending on their whereabouts and whether their intentions are legal or not, Lesser Orders must always register their Order in a registry to allow governing parties or the greater Mage Orders to keep track of them. As such there is in actuality little freedom for Lesser Orders since they must obey the mage laws regardless.
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