Wizards of the White Tower

Wizards of the White Tower

Headquarters	The White Tower, northern Obrith
Membership	1,320
Membership Criteria	Magical knowledge or sorcerous talent
Organization	Centralized, regimented
Leader	Grand Magus Oliphar Tiber
Religion	Church of the One
Alignment	Lawful good
Tenure	1,065 years

The Wizards of the White Tower are an organization of magical practitioners and scholars. Their purpose is to consolidate the study and practice of magic in all the lands of Man; in practice, their influence is largely confined to the lands of those who follow the Church of the One.

The Tower bases their ways on a solid moral foundation: in particular, they hold that magic is a powerful force that can corrupt easily, and that any magicks that can harm or grant power over another man must be avoided entirely, or used in the most sparing fashion only by an elite few, and only for moral purposes (as defined by the Tower).

Wizards of the Tower primarily occupy their time in study, or in maintainence of the Ghostwall and other efforts to combat Monsters throughout the realms. However, their most visible presence is amongst the Magi Steward, who attend the lords of the realm--their purpose is to counsel the lords, especially in affairs magical, and to protect the realm against magical threats, but some allege their true purpose is to extend the Tower's eyes and ears throughout the realms.

History

Organization

Ranks

Upon induction into the order, all members attain the rank of Learner, and such is their only calling and purpose.

There comes a time, typically after a decade or so of learning, when a Learner is ready to undergo the Divination of Purpose. This is a battery of tests, both mundane and magical, culminating in a spiritual vision of sorts known as a Sojourn. This test will inform the council as to the learner's purpose, and thereafter, he becomes an Apprentice.

An apprentice must be assigned a Stole and a master. Thereafter, his instruction is in the hands of his master, and it is the master who decides when the apprentice is ready--if ever--to attempt to attain the rank of Wizard. In some cases, this decision is made by the High Council.

To become a Wizard, one must pass Five Trials: those of Fire, Blood, Mind, Knowledge, and Soul. This difficult battery of tests weeds out the unworthy, and is often fatal to the unprepared. The tests need not be completed all at once--indeed, some spend years or decades in their completion. Once all are complete, the High Council frocks the new Wizard, and awards a stole to signify his triumph in the tests.

There are few ranks beyond Wizard, which are largely optional and rarely attained. Most wizards gain honors by attaining Stoles and by appointment to the High Council or other positions of note. It is possible, however, to attain higher rank by passing ancient trials of surpassing peril and difficulty:

Magus: an ancient rank, granted to one who has solved the Nine Enigmas.
Blessed Magus: granted to one who has learned the Five Hundred Names of God.
Grand Magus: granted to one who has mastered the Thirteen Spheres.

Forms of Address

Rank	Reference	Title	Salutation	Address
Any	(name) of the White Tower	n/a	n/a	n/a
Learner	(name), the Learner¹	none	none	none
Apprentice	(name), Apprentice to (master)	Seeker²	none	none
Wizard	Wizard (name)	Wizard	Master (name)	none
Magus	Less common: Magus (name) More common: Wizard (name), Knower of the Nine Truths	Magus	Wise Master (name)	Your/His Excellency
Blessed Magus	Less common: Blessed Magus (name) More common: Wizard (name), Blessed by God, Keeper of the Holy Names	Blessed Magus	Blessed Master	Your/His Eminence
Grand Magus	Grand Magus (name)	Grand Magus	Grand Master	Your/His Grace

^{1: This honor is not commonly used outside the Tower.}

^{2: Seeker is an ancient title, harkening from the days before the Tower, when mages would seek enlightenment alone for a time before choosing their path. In those times, a wandering mage was most likely to be a Seeker, and they enjoyed a certain freedom unknown to the apprentices of today.}

Stoles

Stoles are, literally, cloth garments worn with a wizard's full academic regalia. They represent membership in academic orders, or specific achievements, and are an important indicator of the honors granted to a wizard.

There are Stoles of Order, Stoles of Office, and Stoles of Merit.

Stoles of Order

The term "stole", in this sense, can refer to the literal fabric, but most commonly refers to a subdivision of the organization itself, or to one's membership within it.

Order	Stole	Purpose	Relative Size
The Mages Steward	White and purple stripes	To guide the lords of the realm, and protect the lords from magical threat	10%
The Mages Warden	Steel grey on red	To guard the Ghostwall; to do battle with those who violate the Laws of Magic	15%
The Mages Scholar	Yellow and white stripes	To expand the study of magic; to tend and copy the sacred texts.	40%
The Mages Maker	Silver thread on blue	To make the crafts of magic; to maintain the magic of the Ghostwall and other magical wards	15%
The Mages Mender	Green and brown	To heal the sick, to mind the health of the lands	20%

Stoles of Merit

Title	Stole	Accomplishment
Medicus	Solid green	Mastery of the healing arts
Lorekeeper	Solid gold	Read every tome in the Tower; contributed many new arts to the library.