Fredhawk - Theories of Magick at Collegia Infinitum    Home

Borne from the traditions of the Elves, humans have developed some mastery and knowledge of tapping the hidden energies of the multiverse.

Wizardry and Sorcery were more widespread in the pagan days before Tarim's Ascension 4700 years ago; terrible, chaotic days. The Church proscribes the proper study and practice of Magick these days. Each Archdiocese is empowered to charter and oversee a Spelling Guild, as well as call for the Papal Inquisition to investigate any inappropriate magickal activity.

The COLLEGIA INFINITUM was established formally in the coastal city of Marienburg some time after Tarim's Ascension; the city controlled the trade routes with the Driscoll Dwarves who have provided rare gems and minerals since the dawn of humanity. Great wealth enabled intellectual curiosity to flourish; ancient poems and crafts were codified; the ends of Estarcia were explored; and grand artifacts forged, celebrating the power and glory of Tarim, of course.

WATER and CRYSTAL PRISMS diffracting light is one metaphor the Collegia uses to describe the ARTS OF MAGICK:

OCTO ARTIS

		Symbol	First Spelling
	Divinata (Divination) - the Art of Observation	TRUTH, the sun	Detect Magic
	Abjurata (Abjuration) - the Art of Defense	CLOSED, a barred door	Alarm
	Conjurata (Conjuration) - the Art of Calling Forth	LIGHT, an open door	Grease
	Transmutata (Transmutation) - the Art of Change (self: Mutata; another: Variata)	BODY, a bull's head CHANGE, a ram and bull	Mage Hand
	Evocare (Evocation) - the Art of Projection	OPENED, a starburst	Arcane Arrow
	Encantare (Enchantment) - the Art of Manipulation	MIND, an open eye	Beguile
	Ludare (Illusion) - the Art of Deception	LIES, the moon	Light
	Antitheare (Antithemancy) - the Art of Entropy	DARK, a gravestone	Chill Touch

Each Art has a method of Casting:

• Personas (Personal) - Antitheare, Encantare, Mutata
• Externas (Universal) - Evocare, Ludare, Variata
• Stellaras (Dimensional)- Abjurata, Conjurata, Divinata

TRANSMUTATA is considered a single Art at the Collegia, even though the Casting Methods for Mutata and Variata are different. This dual nature of some Magicks occurs throughout the Wizard's craft, for example the reversible Spelling Light/Dark.

LUDUM, SCHOLA, MAESTERUM

Ludum Prima - The Primary School, ages 11-15

Trimester System, 12 weeks in Fall, Winter (+ Yule Break), Spring; Summers off. Tuition: 70 days x 5GP/day = 350 GP x 2 semesters x 7 years = 4900 GP ~100k silver; LAB FEES: 2^Level * 100 GP / SPELL (2^L * 10 milliquintessence)

A talented Prospectus would arrive (a month) early and attempt to schedule a Placement Examination, per-Subject; the Exam takes all day (9-12 & 1-4), so scheduling is a trick on its own.

Twelve Subjects available. Mandatory "Quadra Practica": Telesma ✡, Miscēre ♋, Scribēre ♈, Theorie ♣: 3 hours lecture/week
Artis: 2 hours of lectures/week + 2 hours of labs
Typical courseload: 4x Artis = 16 hours + 4x Practica = 12 hours == 28 hours in classes
Heavy courseload: 6x Artis == 36 hours in classes
Perfecta: 8x Artis == 44 hours in classes; just under 9 hours/day, 5 days/week!

"P-Levels" Examinata - Each of the Twelve Subjects has a 5th-Year Final, which is largely the point of going to the Ludum Prima in the first place. Student's Transcriptum lists each completed Subject with the Grade-Word. Must get 'A' or 'B' to enter the Ludum Secundus in that Subject.

A "Prestidigitator" has gotten 'C' or better in all Four Practica and at least one Art; this is the 1st Level of Wizardry. Most Prestidigitators drop out at this point, with only one spell (per Art; higher grades would indicate bonus spells learned) and a few cantrips. The student receives a separate Certificate, reading "Prestidigitator (Magister/Exceptum/none)" based on LOWEST score.

Although coursework is heavy, there are many Student Organisations, Societies, Teams, Groups, and Clubs sponsored by the upper Schola.

Academie Praeparatoria - Advanced Levels, ages 16-17

Most only take 1-2 Arts plus the Four Practica; 8 + 12 = 20 hours in classes

Practicum Initium - Each Practicum has a final Project, equivalent to an Architecture Presentation, intended to demonstrate mastery of the Practicum.

Thesis Initium - Each Art has its own final demonstration, earning the successful student the title of "Apprentice" + ("Abjurer", "Conjuror", "Diviner", "Enchanter", "Evoker", "Illusionist", "Transmuter", ("Antithemancer" is discouraged)), plus a Star for A or B work. 2nd Level of Wizardry.

Diploma - 'C's or better in Quadra Practica plus one or more Apprentisa.

Schola - Undergraduate Studies, ages 18+

Each Art administers its own studies programs. Classes are taught in the Schola Antitheare, but due to political and religious considerations, only a Minor is offered.

Semester System: Fall (Sept, Oct, Nov + Dec Exams) and Spring (Feb, March, April + May Exams); 14 weeks each semester = 70 days x 20GP/day = 1400 GP = 28000s Tuition/Semester.

126 hours for the Degree Program: Artis Majora (A), (upper Majora) (U), Quadra Practica (Q), Practica (P), Ex Artis (x), (upper ex artis) (u), Artis Minora (a)

The 3rd Level of Wizardry, "Diurnus"="Journeyman", ie, "earns a day's pay"

Maesterum - Graduate Studies, ages 23+

Students compete to receive a Fellow-Apprenticeship: attach to a Professor in their Artis, campus job, close ties, etc.

Masters: 32 hours; 1-4 Ex Artis courses, 6-9 Majora courses + 2 labs. "4th Level Wizardry" age 23. "Maester"; position Professor, "Professes Knowledge"

Doctorate: 32 hrs, plus 2-4 semesters of Recherche Majora for Dissertation and 2+ Published Papers. "5th Level Wizardry" age 26 "Doctoro"; position Docent, "Teaching"

MAGE SOCIETY

TOURING FAIRS draw those with means to hire a Journeyman Wizard for their Court.

COURT GRANT - the Collegia arranges and awards Court Wizard positions; the Collegia receives a Grant and the Wizard receives a Stipend. These positions, commensurate with rank and reputation, have a strict hierarchy at each level of the Collegia. Only the wealthiest, most ambitious Guarantor-Lords take on both a Senior and Junior Wizard; the Senior tends to their research more than performs Spelling duty.

The Church forbids Unsanctioned Magicks, ostensibly requiring penance from both the caster and the Nobility commissioning the Spell.

JOURNEYMAN WIZARDS without a position, an apprenticeship, tutorage, or court appointment, are called WANDERS, ie, "a Marien-Wander", "a Zari-Wander".

APPRENTICE WIZARDS without position are deigned as Tricksters or Hedges.

MASTER WIZARDS keep to themselves, as to not attract the Inquisition.

Consequently, the Spelling Guild Halls tend to disrepair, attended by Hedges & Wanders looking for work. Wizards can find work as tutors at a much lower salary than Court Stipends, if their temperment is suitable.

CATHEDRALS have at least two schools, for primary (Nuns & Friars) and secondary (Priests) education. Primary education is provided at Abbeys as well. Priests determine whether a student has sufficient talent for the Collegia Infinitum. Tuition is fairly modest for the upper-middle class, 10s/month, 30s/semester, 60s/yr primary, double secondary.

ARCHBISHOPS of a territory provide the Spelling Guild Charters which permit Mages to operate in society. The PAPAL INQUISITION is a group of trained Deacon-Prelates who have also gone through the Collegia; in theory they defer to the local Spelling Guild for initial consultation.

WANDS are Charms-for-Others: a relic of a time when Talismans were not codified as now. Rarely made, even rarer to find.

RODS are primarily made for Qin mages with the wealthiest patrons, due to the expense and time required. Jeweled sword scabbards are all the rage.

STAVES are grown from seed and tended daily by the mage. Twenty years growth before harvesting, drying, enspelling. Elves can wait for the longest staves.

TELESMA, FIZZIX, SCRIBERE, THEORIE

TALISMANS (Charms) are built from mystically resonant materials. The finer the materials, the more magickal stress the Charm can handle. Diamonds, especially clear "white", are particularly powerful conductants. Some of the basic materials for each Artis Schola, used in Fizzix and Talisman construction:

See also Talisman Construction