Andrinor's Trust
Andrinor's Trust was the framework within which the god Andrinor sought to organise and regulate the use of mortal magic on Avlis. The Trust consisted of the reformed orders of the old Fold Of Nine, the Academy of Mortal Magic, and the High Mage Council.
Orders of the Trust
History
When Andrinor assumed control over the Vortex of Mortal Magic, he rekindled the interest in the arcane on Avlis through the creation of a magical maelstrom called the Vortex of Chaos. The appearance of the Vortex of Chaos led to the founding of the Ivory, Ashen, and Ebony Orders, which became the first Orders of Andrinor's Trust. The Trust is a place where mages can grow and learn from each other by interacting with other mages from all walks of life.
A mage that joined an order of the Trust receives a mark upon his or her right shoulder, a magical tattoo granted by Andrinor Himself. This mark symbolized the mage's affiliation with the Trust.
For a time, only mages with the mark of the Trust could cast 8th and 9th level spells. This restriction has since been lifted by Andrinor at the request of the High Mage Council.
List of former Orders of Andrinor's Trust
- Ashen Order of the Stars
- Blue Order of the Sky
- Ebony Order of the Moon
- Gold Order of the Sand
- Green Order of the Forest
- Ivory Order of the Sun
- Red Order of the Flame
- Violet Order of the Skull
- White Order of the Light
Current Status
In the Year of the Red Star, 2271 A.O.D., Andrinor vanished. His eldest daughter, Andria, took custody over Mortal Magic and directed the Orders of Andrinor's Trust to reform under the Academy of Mortal Magic.
Academy of Mortal Magic
To join an Order of the Trust, it was required that a prospective member attend two lectures detailing the history of the arcane on Avlis. These classes are taught at the Academy of Mortal Magic, which has branches throughout Avlis. The Academy of Mortal Magic also instructs young magi in the arcane, alchemy, and various other subjects.
The High Mage Council
History
The High Mage Council of Avlis was established early in the existence of Andrinor’s Trust, and is the ultimate ruling body of magedom upon Avlis, granted authority of all mortal magic by Andrinor himself. Formed to create and enforce the laws of magic, the High Mage Council formed everything from the policy that drives the Nine Orders of Magic, ranging from relatively mundane tasks such as moderating conflict between the orders, to setting the laws of the proliferation of magic, and greater tasks such as forming the general curriculum for the mage academies of the Trust all the way to regulating the creation and use of portals throughout Avlis.
The Council consisted of three representatives from each order making up twenty-seven votes in addition to one Moderator of the High Council chosen amongst the representatives through a consensus spell, and rotated every ten years. Representatives were appointed by individual Archmages, though how these were selected differed between orders and often by archmage; methods ranged from everything from voting, to simple selection, to holding contests. Whatever the methods, the chosen representative usually held their seat until death, though replacement after abdication or recall was not unknown. Membership in the Council was regarded as one of the highest honors bestowed upon mages of the Trust, and the representatives were generally accepted as being among the most powerful and distinguished mages of Avlis.
The Moderator held no direct vote but maintained a great deal of influence simply due to the respect they'd command amongst the mages of the Council. It is generally accepted that the holder of this office is the de facto leader of the Trust, and the office is one of the most strongly contested positions amongst the orders. Originally held by Melonius Mennallin, succeeded by the refounder of the Gold Order - Damar Ogdem, the latest Moderator of the Council is Miette Hartley of the Blue Order.
An archival list of the High Mage Council members is available here
Current Status
The functions of the High Mage Council have been taken over by The Magisterium.