Conductor

A conductor is in charge of ensuring only those permitted by the High Guild of Magic are the ones to use the gates of the Gateway that instantly transports people anywhere around the world. Each conductor is an adept magi talented in the reading of auras. By reading an aura, they can read the truth in whomever they are inspecting before the person is allowed to enter the gate. Those they discover as false are pulled aside to explain themselves to the ranking conductor called a Gatemaster. The Gatemaster will decide if the person may continue on through the gate, have their hand chopped off, or be killed right there. Bribes can occur but never on the spot. Such things are always carried out in secrecy and well before the attempted use of a gate.

GRAFTING IS THE WAY

Taking bribes is highly frowned upon by the High Guild of Magic unless it pertains to nobles and royalty. In such cases, its almost required to do so as long as the High Guild gets a cut. Those conductors who are not Gatemasters see the wealth and privileges showered on their superiors and find ways to get a bit of that for themselves with the lesser classes of gate users. These conductors are not as rich but still get a healthy extra bit of income and, sometimes more important, favors.

THE PRICE OF GREED

After The End Of Instant, when the Gateway was destroyed, people were stranded all around the world. With the world so reliant on the Gateway, other means of world travel were not developed. Panic turned into rage that turned against the Conductors and many realms blamed them for the loss of the gates. These angry travelers, panicked and desperate, demanded the return of bribes as the promised gate travel could no longer happen. The anger rose so high that those conductors who were not quick enough to flee or go into hiding, were killed. Writs and bounties were placed for the heads of conductors known to have escaped.
Now, three years after the End of Instant, the conductors who are still alive no longer call themselves that. They live under new names and never associate with other High Guild magi who might recognize them. This leaves them with only the ways of a rogue magi to survive.

Are you a master at reading auras? Can you delve deep into an aura and find the truth? If so, come! Be a Conductor!

— a letter on the postings board in the lobby of the Grand Archives

Cadet: a conductor in training (pay for the privilege)
Senior Cadet: a cadet in his final studies (room and board provided)
Conductor: no longer a cadet and able to carry out duties at the gates (250 gold crowns a month and an electrum thumb ring)
Second Gatemaster: in charge of the conductors at a gate (500 gold crowns a month and a ruby set in an electrum thumb ring)
First Gatemaster: in charge of all the gates in a courtyard (1000 gold crowns a month and a diamond set in electrum thumb ring)