Sanctioning and Training
There are five ranks within each tradition: Novice, Journeyman, Sanctioned, Master, and Premier respectfully. At each step, the student learns how to control stronger and stronger Elan, until at the Premier level; there is practically no limit to the power a person can muster except those of the individual’s body itself. Professional Theurgists and Adepts can feel the amount of Elan used in a spell when it is cast by someone. If the caster is caught attempting spells at a higher power than their certification and training permits, they will get punished accordingly depending on the circumstance. A small infraction may only lead to a verbal warning, but a flagrant disregard for safety may lead to a permanent revoked certification or even execution.
Basic Guidelines
Since religion and the magical arts go hand in hand, there is one strict guideline that students must adhere to. It is uncustomary to frivolously use magic. Most scholars believe that since the Elan is the life-force of the world, one should not abuse the privilege of being able to manipulate it. As of yet, there are no hard and fast rules on what constitutes as frivolous, but casters generally will not use their magic to solve a problem that could be easily solved without it.Schooling
Students entering a school begin at the Novice level. At this point they learn the basic fundamentals and simple spells. This level of schooling takes anywhere from six months to two years, depending on the natural skill of the individual. When this period is complete, the newly initiated Novice Theurgist or Adept is given a conditional license to practice magic and his or her first spell book. At this point, the Novice caster is free to learn and cast spells, but they are not permitted to create their own spells. After spending a variable amount of time practicing their newfound abilities, a Novice may test to be admitted into Journeyman School. These tests are different from school to school and teacher to teacher, but they always involve simple spell tasks to test the student’s knowledge at the Novice level. A student may attempt this test only once every six months, but they can try as many times as they like. Once admitted, another year or so of schooling takes place. Once completed their Novice papers are upgraded to Journeyman. At this point they can begin to cast more powerful spells and they can dabble with spell creation, but only under direct supervision of a superior within their tradition. Similar to the Novice level, at any point they can attempt a test to be admitted into Sanctioning School. This test tends to be slightly more difficult than the Novice test. This also requires an individual sponsor them that belongs to the Sanctioned level. During Sanctioning School, not only does the caster learn more powerful magic, but they also taught how to bind and use lesser and moderate foci. Foci can be any object or thing that has latent Elan stored within it. At any time, upon the command of the caster, the energy within can be used tohelp fuel a spell. Once completed in a year or two, the caster is granted a Sanctioned License. With this license the caster is a full member of the tradition and has access to stronger spells and is free to create spells without supervision. This level is where most casters spend the rest of their days. To become a master Theurgist or Adept, a Sanctioned caster must first have written at least one acknowledged treatise on a subject related to their tradition. In addition, they must pass a rigorous set of tests, which include a test of magical knowledge, and endurance as well as a written exam meant to stump and trick examinees. If these are all passed, which most of the time they are not, the caster is taught even stronger uses of Elan over the course of the next few months. If the caster’s superiors approve of his or her progress at this point, he or she is granted Master status. With Master Status comes great prestige as well as the ability to teach at one of the schools. Masters may also take apprentices on their own and teach Novices and Journeymen if sanctioned by their sponsored school. Few attain the Premier level of casting. In fact, less than 10 or so individuals exist on Serrus at any given time that are of the Premier level. To attain premier level, a Master Theurgist or Adept must journey alone into the High Peak Mountains to a place known as The Emberfade. No one truly knows what tests wait there as almost all of the Masters that journey there never return. The few that do emerge days and sometimes weeks later as Premiers who refuse to speak or write of their experiences there save to say it “was challenging and enlightening”. A Premier Theurgist or Adept commands untold amounts of respect and even leaders of nations and kingdoms defer to their wisdom. There is no power ceiling of Elan that a Premier can channel, and the only limitation on the spells that can be cast by a Premier is what limits of endurance and fortitude their bodies can take.Our ability to manipulate the Elan does not come without a price. It is extremely taxing on our bodies and souls, for we manipulate the very fabric of Orrus which our Great creator shaped when the world was primordial and young. Do not, in a show of pride, assume you have mastered its secrets. This would surely be a cataclysmic folly leading to your death or the deaths of others.
