I wrote several articles for whenever a wiki were implemented. Abilities would be discussed only via public information (for example, information posted in recruitment books available for wannabe members). Defunct guilds would have as much information as available (including recipes for spells if someone knew about them and felt ok to reveal that). However, I stopped after thirty or so articles because, while I was told a wiki could be implemented in the new server, nobody could assure me that the information wouldn't be censored. Was not going to interview people and rebuild the history of Genesis just to have it shrinked to "Rangers are specialists in surprise attacks." or the like.
Here is the one I wrote about the Wizards of High Sorcery, with most of the information given by Zingil, minus hyperlinks and missing some formatting (and lacking proofreading).
Wizards of High Sorcery
The Wizards of High Sorcery is one of the defunct guilds of Genesis. Members were forbidden to join a layman guild while member of this occupational guild. It was opened during the first months of 1997, and closed around Christmas of the same year.
Background history
In the Age of Dreams the Gods of Magic Solinari, Lunitari and Nuitari took on human forms and walked the lands of Krynn seeking to find Disciples to teach the Art of Magic. These Disciples were taken to the Lost Citadel and taught how to channel power from the three moons and how to shape it to their will. From these Disciples sprung the three Orders of High Sorcery. The Order of the White Robes, patroned by Solinari, focused on using magic to better the world for its inhabitants. The Order of the Red Robes, patroned by Lunitari, dedicated to preserving the balance between good and evil. The Order of the Black Robes, patroned by Nuitari, which members use magic to further their own needs and goals. All orders share their dedication of studying, creating and preserving magic throughout the Realms.
Structure
The Wizards of High Sorcery are ruled by the Conclave which consists of seven members of each Order and is led by the Master of the Conclave. Each Order of High Sorcery is headed by an Archmage, who is appointed in different fashions depending on the Order. All Wizards of High Sorcery abide by the rules set down by the Gods of Magic:
- Solinari's Rule: All Wizards are brothers in their Order and all Orders are brothers in power.
- Lunitari's Rule: The Towers of High Sorcery are held in common amongst the Orders and no sorcery shall be used there in anger against other wizards.
- Nuitari's Rule: The World may bring brother against brother and Order against Order, but such is the way of the Universe.
Towers of High Sorcery
Several Towers of High Sorcery were built as centers of the Orders of High Sorcery but only two have survived to this day. The Tower in Palanthas, guarded by the Shoikan Grove, and the Tower in Wayreth, seat of the Conclave and where apprentices may undergo the Test to become full Wizards of High Sorcery. The Tower in Wayreth, and the surrounding Guardian Forest, are surrounded by a potent magical field preventing anyone but members of the Orders from ever reaching the Tower itself. Within Genesis, the Palanthas tower was never opened.
The guild itself was located in the middle of the Darken Woods, west of Haven.
Application process
To become a Wizard of High Sorcery an aspiring student must first find a Wizard willing to teach the Art. After years of practice and study of spells and lore the student of the Art may be judged advanced enough to take the Test. The Test is used to weed out those not fully dedicated to magic and the Art as failure during the Test invariably results in death. The Test is mainly based on illusions, to test the readiness of the student as well as the innermost secrets of the students heart, but many of the illusions are deadly. It is not unheard of that a student has come out from the Test wearing a Robe with a different colour from that which he wore entering the Test. Those that refuse to take the Test are removed from the Tower while those that take and pass the Test become full Wizards and may continue to study the Art and become more powerful sorcerers.
Abilities
The magic used by the Wizards of the different orders vary. In general the White Robed wizards use magic that augment and strengthen its targets while the Wizards of the Black Order use the Art to weaken their enemies. Members of the Red Order can cast both types of spells but slightly less effectively. The power of the Wizards change with the waxing and waning of the moon of their patron God or Goddess. The more full the moon the more powerful the Wizard.
Wizards were only allowed to wield daggers and staves, and were not allowed to wear any heavy armour.
Members
Members of the White Robes included archmage Arethian, Mhyrmarius, Aaron, Cizada, Spirit and Zingil. Chataigne and Melchar were archmages of the Black Robes, while Rocque was the archmage of the Red Robes. Probable members include Silvaran and Thalis of the White and Red respectively.
Closure
Members were informed the guild closed due lack of maintenance, as the guild was not finished and lacked several abilities and spells even though members were paying full tax.
See also