Sorcery

Sorcerers abuse magic, misuse curses, and engage in all manner of suspect behaviour.

Overview

The Imperial Conclave may declare someone to be a sorcerer. 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 engaged in suspect trade of magical resources (often in conjunction with a legal penalty assessed by an Imperial magistrate).

The Imperial Senate has twice amended the restrictions placed on a sorcerer since the death of Empress Britta. During the Spring Summit 378YE, the Imperial Senate voted to add a prohibition against interaction with eternals and their heralds to the declaration. During the Summer summit 380YE, the definition was further expanded to preclude possession of certain non-mana items that allowed ritual magic to be performed.

Declaration

The declaration must name each specific individual who will be covered. A declaration may only name more than one individual if they are members of the same oathsworn band - either a banner, sect, or coven - at the time the declaration is made. 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.

Resolution

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 the illegal items remains in the hands of the magistrates.
• they are prohibited from knowingly interacting with eternals or their heralds. This prohibition was added by the Imperial Senate in Summer 380YE.

A sorcerer who violates these prohibitions will be subject to arrest and trial before a magistrate.

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.

Name	Nation	Raised By	Notes
Renee du Loire	Dawn	Eudaemon of Halcyon Spire	Declared in the winter of 380YE
Gui Fletcher of House Vexille	Dawn	Kyra, of the Unfettered Mind	Declared in the winter of 380YE
Arlen Weaver of House Vexille	Dawn	Kyra, of the Unfettered Mind	Declared in the winter of 380YE
Ancel Steward of House Vexille	Dawn	Kyra, of the Unfettered Mind	Declared in the winter of 380YE
Guisart of House Vexille	Dawn	Kyra, of the Unfettered Mind	Declared in the winter of 380YE

Other Sorcerers

While they have been declared sorcerers, these citizens are not believed to be active in Anvil at this time.

Name	Nation	Raised By	Notes
Deidre of Overton	The Marches	Nicholas Reaper	Declared in the summer of 380YE
Domel Whispering Dray	Unknown	Isca	Declared in the spring of 380YE
Elvin Whispering Dray	Unknown	Isca	Declared in the spring of 380YE
Aervan Whispering Dray	Unknown	Isca	Declared in the spring of 380YE
Gareth Whispering Dray	Unknown	Isca	Declared in the spring of 380YE
Laxaina Whispering Dray	Unknown	Isca	Declared in the spring of 380YE
Leedy Whispering Dray	Unknown	Isca	Declared in the spring of 380YE
Tinuvie Whispering Dray	Unknown	Isca	Declared in the spring of 380YE
Arla Whispering Dray	Unknown	Isca	Declared in the spring of 380YE
Farran Duskbourne	Navarr	Ieuan Linkforge	Declared in the autumn of 379YE
Myfanway Whispering Dray	Unknown	Mari Linkforge	Declared in the spring of 379YE; believed deceased
Alex Lansdale of Bregasland	The Marches	Bron Holdfast	Declared in the summer of 378YE
Saul of Vashti's Penitents	Highguard	Unknown	Declared in the spring of 378YE; believed deceased
Jael of Vashti's Penitents	Highguard	Unknown	Declared in the spring of 378YE; believed deceased

Declaration of Reconciliation

Overview

The declaration of reconciliation allows the conclave to remove the status of sorcerer, as well as to remove or change a declaration of interdiction.

Declaration

The same rules for making a declaration of sorcery or interdiction apply. The magician making the declaration must specify exactly which person or magic is to be reconciled with the Conclave and the Empire.

Resolution

The Conclave may reconcile a sorcerer with the Empire. If this declaration is made, all rights that were taken from them are returned.

This declaration can also be used to remove or modify a ban placed by the declaration of interdiction.

Constitution

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 place items on the agenda, 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

• Conclave Overview
• Arcane Colloquium
• Conclave order
• Conclave session
• Declarations
  • Alignment
  • Candidacy
  • Concord
  • Dissemination
  • Endorsement
  • Endowment
  • Imperial lore
  • Interdiction
  • Sorcery

Additional Information

• Conclave vault
• Key Appointments to the Imperial Conclave
  • Archmage
  • Grandmaster
  • Prefect of the Conclave