Mages of High Sorcery

The Mages of High Sorcery arose in the Age of Dreams, when magic was raw and chaotic. Seeking to create a structure and foundation from which to grow, three mages were taught the power of magic by the Gods themselves. Modern tradition holds that the original mages were taught magic by the three gods of Cineal's third moon, which famously cycles through different colors as it changes phase. This moon is of note in Tallamh at large as unlike the other moons it does not change location in the sky, circling the plane by night. As a result, it is known only to the residents of Cineal and sometimes referred to by those rare individuals who have been to both sides of the world as the secret moon. There is contention as to whether or not the gods of this moon were the original magic instructors, or if they themselves were taught magic by still older entities. Some elven scholars suggest that these gods were disguises of or followers/servants of the original elven dieties Val, Voi, and Luna, reflected by the colors that the moon still cycles through. According to the mages themselves though, it was the gods of the moon who taught three mortals magic in the age of dreams. These mages were known as The Circle of Three or simply The Three. It was The Three that began the creation of the Towers of High Sorcery across Ansalon. Though initially meeting resistance from the Dwarves who had no desire to have a Tower of High Sorcery in their realms, they eventually acquiesced and changed locations. After the Towers had been constructed, magic became more cohesive and structured, as well as more powerful and focused and was taught in increasingly wide circles.

Three Orders

Equally devoted to the study of magic and united in defending their knowledge and traditions, the three orders differ in their fundamental reasons for using magic. Order of the White Robes Dedicated to the good god Solinari, the White Robes accept the solemn responsibility of using magic only to make the world a better place. The path they walk is a narrow one, and almost daily, a mage of the White Robes faces the agonizing decision of whether to intervene in the affairs of others for the greater good. Order of the Red Robes: Inspired by the neutral god Lunitari, the Red Robes help others when it suits them and use their gifts for their own enrichment as they desire. Mages of the Red Robes are expected to wield their power responsibly, represent their order faithfully, and uphold the balance between good and evil in their own actions and the world at large. Order of the Black Robes: Often reviled and feared in equal measure, the Black Robes follow the example of the evil god Nuitari, the black moon. A mage of the Black Robes is expected to first further their own ambitions, then pursue the goals of their order, and then support the continued well-being of the Conclave.

Towers of the Magi

Thousands of years ago, the Mages of High Sorcery cooperated to build five Towers of High Sorcery, centers of learning to advance the craft of magic and the interests of the orders. Three of the towers were destroyed during the Cataclysm, and a fourth—the once unsurpassed Tower of Palanthas—lies cursed and empty. The only tower remaining in operation, the Tower of Wayreth, now serves as headquarters of the Mages of High Sorcery and repository of their greatest secrets.

The Conclave

The Mages were formed into three orders and originally overseen by The Council of Three, who then chose one of themselves to act as Highmage. This was the beginning of the Conclave of the Magi. However, this caused considerable dissent among the Black Robes, who were routinely passed over for the title of Highmage. Disgruntled, the Black Robes threatened to leave and create their own towers. In the end, a compromise was made to avoid the Conclave being weakened with the loss of the Black Robes and the Conclave was restructured to create a more fair and balanced process for the selection of Highmage. All Towers of High Sorcery would choose three representatives, one from each order, creating 5 total from each of the orders. From these five, a Master of that order would be elected, and of those three Masters, a Highmage would be selected. This was known as the Council of Fifteen. This was changed once more to allow seven representatives from each Tower, giving two extra members who were not necessarily tied to one of the Towers. After the Lost Battles when three towers were destroyed and one abandoned, the final change came that it was 7 from each Order rather than the Towers, creating the final Council of Twenty One.

The Test of High Sorcery

An apprentice mage who seeks to join one of the three orders must first pass a trial known as the Test of High Sorcery. Every mage’s test is different, tailored to both the order they wish to join and their own personal challenges and aspirations. Nonetheless, a few elements are always present. Lethal Failure. The primary purpose of the test is to weed out those who would misuse magic. Every test is designed so failure means death. There is no judge, no score, and little chance of surviving a failed test. Magical Acumen. A mage must wield magic with competence, creativity, and control. Every test requires a mage to use the most advanced magic they’ve learned—and, sometimes, to push beyond it. Test of Character. The mages of the Conclave need to know the apprentice will honor the laws of their order, no matter the circumstance. To this end, the test confronts an apprentice with bitter moral and emotional choices as well as magical challenges. Illusion and Reality. Friends, enemies, and loved ones might appear in the test, along with all manner of hazards and puzzles. The applicant has no way of knowing which challenges are illusory and which are real. In some cases, the test has lasting consequences for an applicant’s life beyond the order.

Renegades

If a spellcaster leaves or is thrown out of the Mages of High Sorcery, or they fail the Test of High Sorcery and survive, or simply refuse to take the Test of High Sorcery when summoned for practicing magic, the organization’s leaders forbid them from continuing to practice magic. Mages who practice magic in defiance of the Conclave are deemed renegades. Members of the robed orders are duty-bound to report and oppose such renegades. Some order members hunt renegades, seeking to punish or slay those who’ve defied the Mages of High Sorcery. The Conclave would some times turn a blind eye to those magic practitioners that had not taken the Test or joined an Order, as they were generally of weak or mediocre ability, and posed no threat to the Orders or magic in general. But if such a person were to begin to rise in power and ability, they would be summoned to one of the Towers to take The Test and join an Order.