Magical school
Magical schools, also frequently known as magical orders, refer to the organized ecclesiastical structure of practitioners of magic. As magic is built on worship, users of each divine entity usually come together to strengthen their bond through schools. Due to magic's divine nature, schools often blur the line between academic, religious and military orders as they play major roles in the politics of the world.
Terminology
The terms "magical school" and "magical order" are largely synonymous and generally used in free variation. Furthermore, as magic comes from the worship of outer entities, many religions are coterminous with magical orders.
History
Structure
List of schools
Consensus and Seraphic Order
The Consensus is by far the largest magical order, centered around the worship of angels. Spells cast through angelic magic are known as Miracles and most often relate to nature and healing. The Consensus is the largest magical school on Árdan, having followers in every corner of the world. Its symbol is 10 interlocking rings, representing the ten remaining Angels.
There is also a specific offshoot of the Consensus that specialises in magic coming from Seraphs known as the Seraphic Order. Seraphic magic is in many ways similar to angelic magic, tough it is usually oriented towards combat and creating illusions. Much like the Angels and Seraphs in their time, the two schools experienced a schism many centuries ago and to this day operate largely separately.
Adjudicators and Chosen of Laksha
Though originally angels themselves, the moons Ezad and Laksha bestow different abilities to those who commune with them. Ezad is most often associated with justice and balance, thus it only opens its Id to those who are absolutely clear of mind. Its followers, known as Adjudicators, are known for their secluded lifestyles and meditation. They are some of the most learned mages in the world, and their catalysts all contain a colorless gemstone called a prism, which is said to channel the light of Ezad. Spells associated with Ezad relate to focus, knowledge and the betterment of the self.
Laksha is most often associated with passion and life, therefore its spells relate to strength and healing and are unlocked through intense emotions. Its followers, known as the Chosen of Laksha, are known to have one of the strongest bonds with their deity of any mages. They undergo intensive training in Channelling, a martial art specific to the followers of Laksha that mixes physical attacks and spellcasting.
Astrology
While not a singular outer entity, some commune with the stars in the Cosmos. The power of the stars is one of the most powerful magics in the world, but requires training that is incredibly taxing on the body and mind. Those who manage to commune with a star are known as Astrologists and dedicate their lives to studying the movements and behaviors of cosmological bodies. They believe that all outer entities take the form of stars, but choose to focus on specific ones. However, the cost of communing with the cosmos is that many Astrologists report receiving visions of dying stars, the end of the universe as well as messages from the Cosmos. Whether those are true or not is debated.
Draconic Acolytes
The Ancient Dragons were a race of intelligent hexapodal reptiles, similar but unrelated to modern Draconiformes, which were wiped out during the Age of Fire. Tzohrag was the god-king of the Ancient Dragons, and by worshipping him Ancient Dragons could manipulate the weather and wield natural phenomena such as lightning and wind. In the modern day, some humans have been able to commune with Tzohrag, though the power that they are able to wield is much less significant. Its human followers, known as the Draconic Acolytes, are able to control wind and lightning on much smaller scales. They are known for their order of Draconic Knights, who wield bronze weaponry which they imbue with lightning. Casting lightning directly from one’s hand comes at the cost of permanent scars on the user’s body.
Order of Blood
Meár is an outer entity believed to have formed from the same ichor as Ár, having then left the world many eons ago. Individuals may commune with Meár by performing blood rituals. Due to their dangerous and blasphemous nature, these rituals are forbidden in most societies. Therefore, Meár's followers, known as the Order of Blood, are considered a dangerous cult and are often hidden. The spells they perform are quite powerful but dangerous at the same time. The cost of communing with the Blood God is one's blood turning darker over time, until it becomes black as coal. Once the blood is fully black, it begins coagulating into thorns that pierce the skin, resulting in death.
Church of the Drowned Men
The Deep One is an outer entity that is thought to nest deep beneath the sea. Most of its followers are centered on the island of Astach, where it is worshipped as Cuànaidh, a syncretism of the angel Quénod, by the Order of Astach. However, the Church of the Drowned Men believe it to be an entirely separate entity, and the one responsible for "saving" those who wash up on the shores of the Isle of the Drowned Men. Much like the entity itself, the spells of the Deep One tap into eldritch and incomprehensible psionic energy that most prefer to stay away from. The cost of communing with the Id of the Deep One is that followers are plagued with horrifying nightmares which are thought to be messages from the Deep One itself, though incomprehensible to any human.
Masked Ones
The Faceless God, also referred by its followers as the Old One, is an outer entity supposedly able to take on any form it desires. It is regarded by non-followers as a cold, calculating and manipulative force that preys on the weak and downtrodden. Its followers, the Masked Ones, believe it is the oldest of all outer entities, older still perhaps than Ár. This blasphemous belief has led to their order being outlawed in most parts of the world, except the island of Is, where they remain as one of two major religions. The Masked Ones wield powers of shapeshifting, manipulation and illusions and keep their true faces covered from the moment they are inducted into the order.
Other
Despite being an outer entity, no human has ever been known to be able to commune with Shúl since the Lightbearer during the Kindling thousands of years ago. Nevertheless, there exist many religions worshipping Ár and the Sun in various forms, despite not being able to commune with it.
The White Flame, also known as [TBA], is another prominent outer entity and a subject of communion. Contrary to the other outer entities, the White Flame manifests itself to its followers instead of the other way around. Its followers do not congregate in any organized order and are widely regarded by other schools as fanatics. The White Flame grants its followers the ability to wield a part of itself through very powerful spells, which range from extremely potent fire to precognition and manipulation. The cost of such a communion is that repeated casting slowly eats away at the user's sanity, leading all those who wield the power of the White Flame to madness. Afflicted users will progressively become more detached and suffer memory loss before inevitably immolating themselves in white fire, leaving behind only a charred, faceless body.
[TBD Thaumaturgy]