Sorcery
Overview
The Imperial Conclave is charged by the Constitution to "identify those arcane practitioners whose arts work against the Empire, so that they may be condemned." One of the primary tools they use to do this is the Declaration of Sorcery. Naming an Imperial magician to be a sorcerer prohibits them from performing ritual magic, and engaging with eternals.
The most common reason for this declaration is an abuse of magic by misuse of curses against citizens or allies of the Empire, or against those who insist on dealing with malign entities that may threaten the Empire (such as eternals under enmity). The magistrates maintain a list of those who are declared sorcerers, carefully monitoring them and prosecuting them severely if they are found to have broken the restrictions on their behaviour.
The Declaration of Sorcery can also be used to declare that someone is Reconciled with the Conclave - that they are no longer considered a threat to the Empire.
The Imperial Senate has twice amended the restrictions placed on a sorcerer since the death of Empress Britta. During the Spring Equinox 378YE, the Imperial Senate voted to add a prohibition against interaction with eternals and their heralds to the declaration. During the Summer Solstice 380YE, the definition was further expanded to preclude possession of certain items that allowed ritual magic to be performed. However it is not possible for a declared sorcerer to be prohibited from carrying mana, nor from full participation in the Conclave, or holding any Imperial title.
The Witness of Conclave is empowered to raise a Declaration of Sorcery once each summit.
Necessary Details
- The Declaration must explicitly name one or more inhabitants of the Empire
The Declaration must name each specific inhabitant of the Empire who will be covered. Where possible it should include any appellation that might help to identify them - for example Apulian of the Torn Rope, Mazarin of Tamar's Hold, Elayne - Butcher of Astolat - de Hubert. It must clearly state whether all the named citizens are condemned as sorcerers, or whether they are all to be reconciled with the Conclave. Where possible, it is usually helpful to include a short one or two sentence explanation of why these individuals are condemned, or reconciled, so that that may be recorded for posterity alongside the outcome of the Declaration.
If there are multiple names on the Declaration, then members of the Conclave must either vote for or against the entire list - they may not split their votes. Given the severity of the sanctions placed on sorcerers, it is considered incumbent on the Conclave to be certain everyone named on a Declaration are guilty, lest an innocent magician be persecuted for reasons of convenience.
It is not possible to name a group, such as a coven or sodality, and declare all of them to be sorcerers. Often, investigation is required to determine the names of the magicians involved specifically so a Declaration of Sorcery can be raised against them.
Resolution
Sorcery
- All the named individuals are declared to be sorcerers at the end of that Conclave session
- A sorcerer is prohibited from casting any rituals
- They cannot carry or use magical items and materials whose primary purpose is to aid the performance of rituals
- They cannot interact with eternals or heralds
If this declaration is made, the resolution comes into effect at the end of the Conclave session. The sorcerer is subject to three prohibitions:
- They are prohibited from performing or contributing to rituals.
- They are prohibited from carrying or using ritual staves, foci, coven stones, vis, potions whose primary purpose is to aid or enhance the performance of rituals, and other items that exist that substantially improve the ability to perform rituals. The regalia of an archmage are not covered by this restriction. This prohibition was added by the Imperial Senate in 378YE. The initial amendment stipulated that all such items would be given over to control of the Conclave, which was based on an earlier interpretation of sorcery. What happens to any illegal items is a matter for the magistrates.
- They are prohibited from knowingly interacting with eternals or their heralds. This prohibition was added by the Imperial Senate in Summer 380YE.
There are many things a Declaration of Sorcery does not prohibit, including all of the following:
- Casting spells
- Owning mana crystals or using them for any reason other than to perform rituals
- Being the target of a ritual
- Holding an Imperial title
- Voting and speaking in Conclave if nominated
The magistrates maintain a public list of sorcerers, and keep a careful eye on them and their behaviour. A sorcerer who violates one of the prohibitions placed on them is subject to arrest and trial, with the most likely punishment for someone found guilty of breaking one of these provisions is execution.
Reconciliation
- All the named individuals cease to be sorcerers at the end of that Conclave session
If this Declaration passes, the named individuals are no longer sorcerers. All prohibitions on their behaviour are removed - it is not possible to remove some of the prohibitions. The magistrates are informed, and adjust their records accordingly. As with the declaration that someone is a sorcerer, the reconciliation comes into effect at the end of the Conclave session.
Prominent Sorcerers
Active Sorcerers
These individuals are believed to be active at Anvil. Any evidence that they have broken the prohibitions placed on sorcerers should be brought before the magistrates as soon as possible.
| Name | Nation | Declaration By | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bella Flowerfields | The Marches | Linley Weaver on behalf of the Celestial Arch | 385YE Winter |
| Robyn of Bassingham | The Marches | Linley Weaver on behalf of the Celestial Arch | 385YE Winter |
| Saura Penny | The Marches | Linley Weaver on behalf of the Celestial Arch | 385YE Winter |
| Eli Scrump | The Marches | Linley Weaver on behalf of the Celestial Arch | 385YE Winter |
| Anthemius Netherwatch | Urizen | Bryn Netherwatch | 385YE Autumn |
| Ephrael of Zephaniah's Lament | Highguard | Solomon | 383YE Autumn |
| Kerioth of Zephaniah's Lament | Highguard | Solomon | 383YE Autumn |
| Jaylus of Zephaniah's Lament | Highguard | Solomon | 383YE Summer |
Other Sorcerers
A number of citizens who are not believed to attend Anvil regularly have also been declared Sorcerers in recent years. Many of them are believed deceased, but listed for completeness and in case rumours of their demise prove to be incorrect.
| Name | Nation | Raised By | Date | Status |
| Brother Harvest | The Marches | Linley Weaver, Celestial Arch | 385YE Winter | known deceased |
| Arthur Payne | The Marches | Linley Weaver, Celestial Arch | 385YE Winter | known deceased |
| Renee du Loire | Dawn | Eudaemon of Halcyon Spire | 380YE Winter | known deceased |
| Levi of Zephaniah's Lament | Highguard | Solomon | 383YE Summer | known deceased |
| Benedict Pacelli von Holberg | The League | Benedict Pacelli von Holberg | 382YE Winter | -- |
| Medea Ruth | Urizen | Medea Ruth | 382YE Winter | known deceased |
| Armand i Erigo | Brass Coast | Bakar i Riqueza | 382YE Winter | known deceased |
| Eudaemon of Halcyon Spire | Urizen | Kyra of Halcyon Spire | 381YE WInter | -- |
| Aurelia of Halcyon Spire | Urizen | Kyra of Halcyon Spire | 381YE Winter | believed deceased |
| Deidre of Overton | The Marches | Nicholas Reaper | 380YE Summer | -- |
| Guillermo, formerly di Tassato | Unknown | Zephaniah | 380YE Summer | -- |
| Gui de Lusignan | Dawn | Unknown | 380YE Spring | known deceased |
| Ursul de Lusignan | Dawn | Unknown | 380YE Spring | known deceased |
| Tremaine de Lusignan | Dawn | Unknown | 380YE Spring | known deceased |
| Iluna de Lusignan | Dawn | Unknown | 380YE Spring | known deceased |
| Claude de Lusignan | Dawn | Unknown | 380YE Spring | known deceased |
| Domel Whispering Dray | Unknown | Isca | 380YE Spring | -- |
| Elvin Whispering Dray | Unknown | Isca | 380YE Spring | -- |
| Aervan Whispering Dray | Unknown | Isca | 380YE Spring | -- |
| Gareth Whispering Dray | Unknown | Isca | 380YE Spring | -- |
| Laxaina Whispering Dray | Unknown | Isca | 380YE Spring | -- |
| Leedy Whispering Dray | Unknown | Isca | 380YE Spring | -- |
| Tinuvie Whispering Dray | Unknown | Isca | 380YE Spring | -- |
| Arla Whispering Dray | Unknown | Isca | 380YE Spring | -- |
| Aedan of Olwen's Stand | Navarr | Wyll of Olwen's Stand | 379YE Winter | known deceased |
| Farran Duskbourne | Navarr | Ieuan Linkforge | 379YE Autumn | -- |
| Myfanway Whispering Dray | Unknown | Mari Linkforge | 379YE Spring | believed deceased |
| Alex Lansdale of Bregasland | The Marches | Bron Holdfast | 378YE Summer | -- |
| Saul of Vashti's Penitents | Highguard | Unknown | 378YE Spring | believed deceased |
| Jael of Vashti's Penitents | Highguard | Unknown | 378YE Spring | believed deceased |
| Cnaeus | Urizen | Sejanus Shatterspire | 377YE Spring | known deceased |
This list is not exhaustive, but contains the names of everyone declared a sorcerer since the death of Empress Britta.
Constitutional Note
The power of the Conclave to declare a citizen to be a sorcerer and thereby strip them of the rights to perform ritual magic is considered deeply significant by the Constitutional Court - comparable to the power of the Imperial Synod to excommunicate a citizen. At the start of 381YE, the Constitutional Court issued a clarification on the matter of sorcery, stating that it was unconstitutional to prohibit a citizen from carrying mana - since this would undermine their constitutionally protected rights to prosperity and dignity. The Constitution grants the Conclave the ability to put limits on the ability of citizens to perform significant magic - not what wealth they may carry on their person. All Imperial magicians are able to take part in the Conclave; sorcerers may raise declarations (if they are able to), pay mana to speak (if recognised by a grandmaster), or even hold an Imperial title if they can persuade their peers to support them. The previous rulings were errors associated with the reign of Emperor Nicovar and have been corrected.
Further Reading
Core Brief
Additional Information
- Conclave vault
- Key Appointments to the Imperial Conclave