Unfettered Mind
Motto
Explore the unknown and master it.
Symbol
The Order of the Unfettered Mind has used a range of symbols across its history, including an open and unblinking eye, and a ray of light.
The Manifesto
The Order of the Unfettered Mind holds the following to be true:
- The Empire's rich understanding of magic is one of its great strengths
- As the Empire's knowledge and use of magic increases, so does its power and influence
- The Empire must stay at apex of magical knowledge and power and not cede this ground to another force
The Order of the Unfettered Mind therefore exists to:
- Expand the body of magical lore, theory and practice throughout the Empire
- Challenge any constraints to the practice and expansion of such knowledge
- Boldly consider possibilities and opportunities that others may not consider
Membership of the Order
Researchers, theoreticians and magicians for whom magic is both a mystery and the greatest calling flock to the Unfettered Mind. Members are often frustrated that other orders do not appreciate the joy of pure research, or the way that everyone is enriched by greater understanding of the theories of magic. They are sometimes seen as frivolous but nothing could be further from the truth. They tend to be ritual magicians rather than spellcasters, because ritual magic is seen as offering the greatest opportunity to expand the power and knowledge of Imperial magicans. They are second-only to the Celestial Arch in their interest in the Eternals, and they compete regularly with the Rod and Shield for the position of Dean of the Lyceum.
It would be wrong to consider them naive or politically weak; they have a great need for crystal mana and other resources, and can be quite ruthless in their acquisition. Their membership includes a number of magicians interested in understanding magic specifically to gain more personal power, or more power for the Empire, and they often love to use magic, especially in new ways. There is no doubt that more members of the Unfettered Mind have been found to be sorcerers through the declaration of sorcery than any other order; their recklessness and their tendency to reach for their crystal mana rather than seek more mundane solutions to vexation are well known. The order was very nearly dissolved in 264 YE following the unwise application of a major curse to an entire delegation of visiting dignitaries from the Principalities of Jarm.
The magicians of this order are often at odds with both the Celestial Arch and Sevenfold Path because they oppose all efforts to needlessly restrain, constrain or censor Imperial understanding of magic. After all, they often point out, the enemies of the Empire are under no such constraints. They sometimes find unlikely allies in the Shuttered Lantern and even the Rod and Shield in this regard.
The order generally has far more ideas of things to try and do than it has gambits available to it, and its members are among those most likely to risk five crystals of mana on a personal gambit if their scheme is not selected by the Grandmaster.