Diplomancers

Diplomancers within The Council of Landezon, hold a delicate and essential role as intermediaries who bridge the intellectual and metaphysical divide between magical Traditions. While each Tradition in Taharjin’s Flame maintains an exclusive relationship with its Object of Focus, Diplomancers are carefully trained to interact with other Traditions with minimal succumbing to Thought Contagion—a risk where exposure to foreign ideas might dilute or destabilize a mage’s grasp on their own Tradition. Unlike ordinary mages, who cultivate mastery within one Tradition, Diplomancers possess an unusual Sympathy, an innate flexibility that allows them to comprehend two or, in rare cases, multiple Traditions’ ideologies. This gift, however, limits them from achieving the highest ranks within any one Tradition, as their Sympathy and exposure render them unable to deepen their connection fully to a single Object of Focus.
Diplomancers operate not by casting powerful spells but by translating complex concepts and principles across Traditions. Their training includes only the foundational elements—analogous to an “Apprenticeship”—of each Tradition they study, and their magical capabilities remain limited to basic skills. However, these skills allow them to serve as indispensable liaisons, translating ideas, not words, to foster understanding and collaboration among Traditions whose perspectives are inherently incompatible. Within the Council, Diplomancers are valued for their ability to engage with Traditions while retaining core loyalty, although they also face skepticism from traditionalists who fear their cross-Tradition empathy as a potential vulnerability.
While Speakers are superior linguistically and support Diplomancers by translating raw texts, they cannot cast magic themselves, further cementing the Diplomancers’ status. Speakers often rely on Diplomancers to convey their insights to other members of the Council, creating a dual layer of interpretation that can breed resentment, as The Speakers feel that their knowledge is filtered through a less expert medium. Yet the Diplomancers’ blend of limited magical talent and diplomatic acumen enables them to act as mediators in Council conflicts, strategic advisors in matters of inter-Tradition policy, and, at times, the voice for vulnerable groups. In this way, Diplomancers occupy a unique, if often precarious, place within the Council, trusted to navigate a role defined by connection, restraint, and the artful balance of opposing magical ideologies.

Hertivida Vingenzi, noted Diplomancer