Mage

Mage is a catch-all term for a species of magic users in Etherworld, though visually they look the same, their ability to do magic and the way in which they use it varies between the three classes, Alchemists, Mages and Sorcerers.

They reside primarily in Stronghold Temerate on Mount Cimmerian, training the younger generation and creating new magics in the safety of strong walls forged against any army that would march against them.

Their education focuses on honing their destructive power, mastering abilities to both aid their comrades in battle and cut down opposing forces. Mages go through mandatory basic military training, their lives revolving around the anticipation of war and continuation of their kind. Within the Stronghold there are Seven House Insignia's, though one has fallen to the ether and though carvings remain, any banners and evidence of their existence has been packed away deep within the reaches of the mountain.

The Houses are each devoted to an Element, Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether, Void, and are not in fact houses of family lines or blood. The elder generation teaches new students their personal focus, though Mages are capable of wielding any element at their whim many choose to devote their power to a single element and join that House to further the knowledge of it. Mages have quite long lifespans, most not settling down and having families until at least their early hundreds, because of this their numbers have been slow to recover after The Great War and many families choose to stay within Temerate’s walls despite having the freedom to settle anywhere within Etherworld.

Mages are considered adults in their early twenties, their magic usually starting to manifest between the ages of 16 and 21, occasionally within families there will be ‘duds’ or ‘mundanes’ that do not have the ability to perform magic, they are generally considered disappointing. Though they have freedom, should another Great War arise it is expected that those trained by Stronghold Temerate would return to it and its people to protect them.

See Also: Common Lore: Daemons and Sorcerers, Stronghold Temerate, Guide: Magic

Mages are front lines fighters in any war, the first in and last out, unlike Sorcerers they require a stone to access their magic. By wearing it against the skin or touching it to cast they are able to conjure terrifying elemental strengths. They are gifted in their ability to do magic on a grander scale than witches, learning spells passed down by the different Houses, they tend to lean into the destructive nature of magic as opposed to the creative, as well as bolstering their companions in combat. Mages appear as humans do, rounded ears, a variety of skin tones, hair colours and eye colours, as varied as their non-magical counterparts.

Racial Benefits
 
 * Magically Adept - Mages are seeped in magic, they are able to learn at surprising speeds and often have access to other mages to learn from. Buy Spells as if you have  'teach'.

Racial Detriments

 * Magically Bound - Mages require a stone to cast

Costume Requirements
Mages, unless Mage-Borne Elves, don't require any prosthetics. Those that come from the school often bare the colours of their chosen house or element, favouring flowing robes, tailored coats and jackets, bandoliers or bags with ingredients and reagents, and a pouch, bracer or broach with their stone for casting. They wear what they are with pride.