Mages' Guild

business
magic
organization
ranks

Mages are the magicians of Shadow Star, valuable in battle. They are by no means invincible, as each spell drains their energy, bit by bit, the more powerful spells draining more energy than the less powerful ones, logically. Mages are different from druids- they don't need a god or goddess' help to use magic, rather drawing it from their own energy and sometimes the energy around them, although that is frowned upon.

Business, Legalities, and Politics

As can be expected for a Mage Guild, this is the focal point for all training and testing of mages. There are smaller schools in each of the main towns, adequate in their teachings, but none are as well equipped and varied as the main Guildhall in Cascadia. The primary funding of the guild comes from the royalty and taxes, but extra comes from individual commissions, and payments. It isn't uncommon for a higher ranked mage to be willing to hire themselves out on contracts to do tasks, sometimes long term, like a protection job for a caravan, while others do for shorter, such as to imbue some craft with power. Normally the guild itself is where people go, when wishing for mage aid, to file a request. The guild then selects the best possible mages for the job, and sees if they are willing. If so, the mage does the job, and the guild is paid for the contract. The guild then pays the mage a fair share of that money, while the rest recycles into the guild to pay for goods and supplies.

When it comes to politics, mages become wary. The guild itself prefers to work for pay and stay independent of SS affairs, but an order from the Council Unity, Council of Knights, or Council of Guilds can usually force the Mages' Guild into helping in war or something else. The Mages' Guild holds a deep disdain and even hatred for the Knights' Guild (and vice versa), and the two Guilds are often in strict political conflict.

Organization: Factions and Specialties

There are many branches (or factions) to the Mages' guild, from creating magical objects, to herbal chemistry, to alchemy, to research and development. The buildings housing the different factions and specializations were arranged carefully, in case of any hazards that might occur, and the minimal danger possibly resulting. For example, the more fire-based magic specializations are kept a good distance from the plant based branch, for obvious reasons, but the water branch is close to both, for both safety and assisting needs.

Alchemists
Alchemy is a commonly chosen branch for those whose magical Talent is not incredibly strong, or they may just have a penchant for mixing and combining chemicals. Of course, there is a lot of hazard within this path, but many are willing to risk it to figure out the newest creation. Some potions require infusions of magic, or magic workings, but most don't require more than magical items and some minor Talent from the alchemist. Specializations are as follows:

• Potion Making: The most populated subfaction of alchemy, since it contains those who create potions of all sorts - love potions for the frustrated lover, energy potions for the spell-happy mage, strength potions, and the like.
• Research: Those brave (or insane) souls who research new reactions, new chemicals, new combinations of chemicals for new effects. They tend to get a lot of burns from unexpected reactions.
• Transmutation: The art (or science, depending on who's talking) of transforming one element into another, such as raw ore into the equivalent amount of pure metal.
• War Chemistry: War Chemists are those who create alchemical items useful for war, such as the proverbial greek fire (called liquid fire in Shadow Star).

Enchanters
Enchanters are those mages who focus on bespelling items and structures. They're often skilled in some sort of craft, as well. An enchanter skilled in smithing, for instance, might forge enchanted weapons or tools. An enchanter skilled in carpentry or masonry might enchant walls to be fireproof or enchant a roof so that it will never leak. Specializations are as follows:

• Smith-Mages: Enchanters skilled in smithing. This can be divided even further into those skilled in silversmithing, those skilled in ironsmithing, etc. They make enchanted weapons, jewelry, armor, and other metal objects.
• Carpenter-Mages: Enchanters skilled in carpentry. They enchant walls, buildings, roofs, etc. Most can also enchant smaller wood objects like staffs, bowls, carts, and so on.
• Mason-Mages: Enchanters skilled in masonry. They enchant the great palace walls, city walls, gates, temples, chimneys, and such.
• Tailor-Mages: Enchanters skilled in sewing, clothmaking, and tailoring. They enchant cloth and clothing to various ends.
• Others: If there's a craft, there's probably an enchanter specializing in it.

Healers
One of the newest additions to the guild itself is the Healer's Guild, for many use magic or alchemical compounds to help heal people in need, as well as for ease in funding and maintenance. It was also decided, that even though they were now part of the Mage's Guild, the Healers would maintain their own hall, for it seemed more sensible and safer to bring ailing people somewhere that could prove more hazardous than the reason the person was hurt to begin with. Healers don't always use magic; some of them don't have the least bit of Talent, and use herbs and salves and potions instead. All healers can do general first-aid, but most specialize in some species-type or another, as follows:

• Draconic Healers: Healers who specialize in healing draconic creatures, whether they be ryuuki, kyushi, fire dragons, or the tiny wyverns. They're also good with dragoon wings and anything reptilian.
• Equine Healers: Healers who specialize in healing equine-type creatures: centaurs, pegasi, horses, equines, maricorns, that sort of thing. Some also have a basis in healing the human body as well.
• Flight Healers: Those healers who specialize in healing those who are winged. They generally have a good understanding of the human body, but their specialization is wings - angel wings, gryphon wings, ryuuki wings, phoenix wings, whichever. Many can also treat gryphons, phoenixi, ryuuki, etc apart from their wings.
• Fur Healers: Those healers who specialize in healing mammals, furred creatures. Wynds, kraenon, flamecats, and most of your typical pets. These are the "pet veterinarians" of Shadow Star.
• Hominid Healers: Most healers have at least a basic knowledge of how to treat the human part of humanoids, but hominid healers specialize in it. They know the human (or elven) body inside out. If there's a major or difficult internal injury, a hominid healer is usually called to help.
• Mind Healers: Shadow Star's psychologists, in a sense. These are almost always psions - telepaths and empaths especially. There are magics that can rip a mind to insanity, and mind healers help repair that using magic (counseling and Terran psychiatric practices aren't too well developed in Shadow Star). They'll work with people who've lost a bond, or sometimes those whose minds are damaged without magic.
• Water Healers: Those healers who specialize in healing those of the water realm. Fins, tails, dolphins, whichever.

War Mages
A common faction of choice for the more headstrong is the war mages. They specialize in combat magic of all sorts, with many elements at their control, to aid in as many possible situations as possible. Many war mages specialize in more than one field. Specializations are as follows:

• Air Mages: Those who specialize in combat with the elements of air. Whirlwinds, manipulation of oxygen levels, storms, etc.
• Barrier Mages: Mages specializing in defense - shields, containment barriers, traps, etc. Barrier mages often work closely with Enchanters.
• Fire Mages: A lot of war mages specialize in fire magic, or at least dabble in it; it's a destructive force. Fire mages make it their main specialty.
• Illusionists: Mages specializing in illusion and sneak attacks. They'll use illusion to sneak around behind enemy lines, or even within enemy lines, then cause havoc, destruction, and (figurative) chaos before masking themselves once more and retreating. They'll also use illusion to mask barriers, mask their own forces, or play all sorts of head-games with the enemy. In peace time, illusionists are often entertainers.
• Land Mages: Mages specializing in magic of the land realm. Earthquakes, avalanches, etc.
• Water Mages: Mages specializing in magic that affects the water realm. Tsunamis, water spouts, storms, etc.

Ranks

Among the mages, the ranks are simple enough. They go as follows.

Novices: Called apprentices in other guilds. Novices are those students who have just applied to the guild and have found teachers to educate them. Normally, a novice will be educated in many general branches of magic, of the differing elements, as well as herbology and alchemy, and others as they so desire. If the novice knows what they wish to become or specialize in, then they may begin learning from a higher ranked mage, but will still need to be educated in at least a few other branches. As a Novice gains experience, they can direct their learnings to specific styles, or branches. When they feel they are ready, they can take their test to graduate to Journeymen.

Journeymen/women: Called wanderers in other guilds. At this rank, the mage can focus entirely upon the branches they desire, either taking teachers and becoming an apprentice within the guild, or traveling, as the name describes, to seek their own ways to train and improve. At this rank, it is also possible for them to take on contracts, although usually as a group with other journeymen, or easier tasks.

Masters: Once again, once the Journeyman feels ready, and most likely, their master deems they are as well, the Journeyman will take another test of merit to become a Master. Once they pass, they can keep improving as they wish, and are also encouraged to experiment within safe ranges. A Master can also instruct lower ranked mages, and can take on apprentices, if they so desire. Master mages are also the most commonly chosen for contracts, as well as other needs, such as defense and aid during times of war.

Guildmaster: The only higher rank would be the Mage Guildmaster, and that place is held by Jonathan Na-mee at this moment. The Healers also have their own Guildmaster, since Jon felt that he wouldn't be the best at decision making for those sorts of situations, not to mention his already full hands as the standard Guildmaster.