@part(wizards, root = "/mit/abstract/Characters/sheet.format")

@SubSection(The Wizard's Conclave)

The Conclave is an organization of brothers in the Art, in magic, who
set aside their personal differences of philosophy and morality to
learn together, and to prevent abuses of the power that is magic.  It
was started after the Holy Wars when the Godstalker discovered the
Orbs of Power that enabled magic to function outside of the control of
the self-proclaimed priests of the Elder Gods, and it has maintained
itself since then by allowing mages to cooperate as well as by
offering them a locale where they can associate with those who share
their philosophies.

There are many in the Realm who perform magic, to one degree or
another.  The knowledge of spells, and the skills required to cast
them, is available to any whose desire for it is great enough - and
for those who eschew the traditional study of spellcraft and devaic
lore there is the easier, though more costly, route of witchcraft.
You and your brothers in the Art are a special breed, however; you are
the upper echelon of mages who have apprenticed yourselves to full
mages, have passed through the Time of Trials, and have been granted
the title of Wizard and the link to the Orb of Nairaphi that goes with
it.  

That link is the single most important element in the magic that is
yours, for with it you can regenerate your natural store of mana when
you deplete it through spellcasting.  Without the link to the Orb, you
would be dependant on mana-bearing crystals of mythril to conduct all
of your magics, and would be forced to spend a fortune thereby to
learn and practice your craft.  It is for this reason that you have
risen to the top of your profession, and have remained a small but
powerful coalition of Wizards.

Your Conclave is divided into three Orders:

@begin(itemize)

@b(The Order of the Scales) holds the official position that the
purpose of magic is to enhance understanding and increase the store of
knowledge available to mankind, particularly knowledge of matters
mystical and otherworldly.  It teaches that a balance, a symmetry is
required in all things, for the forces of the Universe to be
understood.

@b(The Order of the Spear) holds that the purpose of magic is to bring
change to the World, through destruction, creation or alteration as is
necessary.  The ability and willingness to use magic and enforce one's
will upon one's surroundings is of paramount importance to the
followers of the Spear.

@b(The Order of the Shield) holds that the purpose of magic is to
protect and defend.  It is necessary, according to the doctrines of
this Order, that magic remain a defensive posture, lest it lose its
effectiveness in assuming too early an attacking pose.

@end(itemize)

The Conclave is run by the Council of Magi, a four-person organization
consisting of one Representative of each House and the Heirophant, 
In theory, at least, the members of the various orders and houses put
aside their differences to work together and resolve problems common
to their Art.  In practice, of course, certain cliques have evolved
within the Conclave...but nevertheless, there are certain functions
which the Conclave as a whole moderates, runs and takes an interest
in, some of which have become important in recent times.


@subsubsection(The Time of Trials)

The Trials are held every Stellar Equinox, an astronomical event that
occurs every three years, in a location free of all external magical
influences.  Contrary to popular assumption, the Trials do not test
magical potential, magical skill, or magical knowledge--those without
potential never become apprentices, those without skill do not remain
apprentices, and those with the first two will soon gain the third.
Rather, the Time of Trials is designed to test a host of intangibles:
adaptability, cleverness, cooperation, mental agility, and so forth.
It is also designed to test the aspirant's leanings, so that he may
determine which Order he is to join.  It is for this reason that the
Trials are held in areas free of magic, so that the aspirants are
forced to use their natural skills and so that no external
interference may be applied.

The purpose for conducting the Trials before the Stellar Equinox is
that it is only during that time that new links to the Orb of Nairaphi
may be forged.  Every Wizard, with the consent of the Heirophant, may
forge one link between the Orb and one uninitiated; thus every
apprentice who passes the Time of Trials is sponsored by his mentor
and the Heirophant into full Wizard status.  

When all apprentices have either been elevated or declared unfit, the
Heirophant steps down from the post and the new Heirophant ascends to
it.  This is both traditional and necessary, for it prevents the Orb
of Nairaphi from becoming too strongly attuned to one individual and
thus precipitating chaos within the Conclave.  As is known to many,
the Heirophancy rotates among the three Orders, and the Representative
of each Order assumes the post (assigning a new Representative to
follow him.)

Unfortunately, this has all been made extremely difficult due to
recent events.  The Wizard Segwina, Representative of the Order of the
Spear and due to ascend to the Heirophancy during this coming Equinox,
was found dead of a blow to the head several days ago.  The
perpetrators of the crime have yet to be found, and the Order of the
Spear is currently without a Representative.  

This is a major crisis.  If no new Heirophant is chosen, over the next
three years it is likely the Wizard Arriz will be overwhelmed by the
power of the Orb, and become a threat to all around him.  If no
Heirophant is chosen, and Arriz steps down, all the Wizards of the
Conclave will lose their links to the Orb.  However, choosing the
wrong person for the job could easily result in the destruction of the
Conclave.  You must choose rapidly and wisely if you are to survive.

Even worse, the failure of the teleport platforms upon Kalerege's
Castle has stranded much of the Conclave on the surface, and unless
the spells can be re-established within the next six days, you will be
forced to make your selections of the new Wizards and the new
Heirophant from those currently on the Castle.  Kalerege has not been
seen in the last two days, since the failure of the platforms -- and
it is his Castle.  Clearly, something is afoot.  

It was perhaps a mistake to agree to hold the Trials upon the Castle,
but at the time, it seemed the perfect solution to one basic problem
-- since the war began, the surface of the Realm has become literally
@i(littered) with magical energies.  Finding a place free of those
energies where you could hold the Trials would have been nearly
impossible, while the Castle filled that requirement quite readily, as
well as several others...

@subsubsection(Magic and Politics)

It is public knowledge, or at least an open secret, that the Conclave
has assisted the Guard of the Realm in their military endeavors since
the war's beginning, and is therefore interested in the political
aspects of the peace summit on the Castle.  The truth is, though, that
the Conclave's largest political concern at the moment is not martial,
but economic in nature.

Less than a week ago, the Conclave was informed through one of your
political lobbyists that a legislative bill had been proposed to the
Table of Peers to make magecraft a licensed profession.  Phrased
innocuously, but incredibly dangerous to the Conclave as an
organization, since the governing of magic would then come under the
jurisdiction of the House of Guilds.  The very thought of a mundane
being the ultimate authority in the Conclave is enough to chill the
blood of any true wizard, particularly where magic is one of the
Realm's most profitable professions.  If this bill were to be enacted
as law, it would become the Guildmaster's responsibility to run the
Time of Trials, and he would thus be empowered to grant full Wizard
status only to those loyal to him.  This may not be allowed.

Remember, you are all brothers in the Art.  Though your philosophies,
your goals, and your methods may differ, this bond is still shared
between you.  While you may perhaps not trust each other in other
things, in this one thing do not betray that trust.  The Art is all,
and above all.  

Good luck.