Jade Imperium

The College of Mages, having returned from their temporal exile, has declared itself a sovereign nation, taking the name of the Jade Imperium. They claim as their territory the entirety of Shinn's Bay, as well as the peninsula to the south and some of the land north and east of it.

Territory

Located on the northern coast of Shinn's Bay is the Jade Tower, the stronghold of the College of Mages. It stood vacant for over three centuries, filled only with forgotten dreams of power and glory - and, of course, the relics of their day in the Sun. It was long considered taboo, unholy ground that no one dared approach.

Since the return of the mages and the establishment of the Imperium, a small but robust community has grown up in the shadow of the tower. Known as Everlight, this rapidly growing city is home to refugees, aristocrats, artists, poets, and madmen. It also acts as the home to Perrin Forester and his family, and is one of the locations of the Athenaeum for Spiritual Harmony.

Imperial Citizenry

The Imperium offers automatic citizenship to all mortals who have a permanent residence within the Imperial domain, or who were born there. Additionally, any mortal demonstrating measurable arcane spellcasting ability may claim citizenship, regardless of their land of origin or permanent residence.

Any arcane ability must be demonstrated using the character's skill; no scrolls, wands, or magic items are allowed. Spellcasters who prepare their spells from a spellbook or similar artifice must additionally prove that the required spells are scribed in their spellbook in their hand. However, for those claiming sanctuary against persecution, the benefit of the doubt will be granted within reason; proof can be provided later.

Legal Structure

Leadership

Aurora the Insightful is the uncontested leader of the Jade Imperium, though she claims no title other than Archmage. She is advised by a council of other Archmages and seers, including the spirit of Segilus the Blind, who merged with the Spellpool ages ago and now uses its power and scrying abilities to offer advice and guidance.

Additionally, Baelwren SummerStorm, herself an Archmage and a Warden of the Tower, is the Ambassador to the Holy Nation of Crescent, and in charge of the Diplomatic Corps of the Wardens.

Courts

In the year 4440 (or 1353 as the Holy Nation of Crescent measures it), Aurora appointed Landor Forester Head Magistrate of the Court. Though many questioned the appointment of a strange 16-year-old Human to be the leader of the legal system of an entire nation, in the intervening years he has gained a reputation as an unquestionably fair and impartial judge, and has revolutionized the administration of justice in the modern world.

Relationships with Other Nations

In the aftermath of Cometfall, when the newly emerged Imperium proved itself beyond doubt to be a superpower, the Holy Nation of Crescent recognized its claim of sovereignty and opened diplomatic and trade relations. Both internal pressures from within Crescent and from the Jade Diplomatic Corps (in other words, the husband-and-wife team of Sir Jericho Templar and Ambassador Baelwren SummerStorm) led to the legalization of arcane magic in Crescent, and amnesty for any persons currently imprisoned under those laws.

With the signing of the Treaty of St. Kerwyn, the Imperium recognized the independence of the City-State of Haven and the city of Maxaen. The Imperium maintains a small embassy in Maxaen.

As a recognition of the service that Haven provided to arcanists as the destination of the Shepard's Trail, the embassy there includes a permanent branch of the College of Mages open to all Haven citizens, and an oversized teleport circle enabling instant travel between Everlight and Haven.

Measurement of Time

Mehana's Church measures time from the creation of the Jade Tower itself, more than 4000 years ago. The Year of the Sun 1372 equates to the year 4459 E.J.T. Note that this is absolute time, discounting both the time the Master Wizards spent in the Holy Temple, and also the few years lost in the Shadow Era. (To convert, add 3087 to the current Sun-year).

Ranks within the Imperium

These ranks apply to all citizens of the Imperium who take an oath of loyalty. Foreign liaisons on long-term assignments with the Jade Tower will be awarded honorary rank on the same structure.

Arcanists

Rank	Minimum Requirements	Read Access to Grand Library	Write Access to Grand Library
Apprentice	arcane mark, detect magic, read magic as arcane spells	Limited (Spell Levels 0-2)	None
Journeyman Mage	Apprentice; comprehend languages, identify, arcane lock as arcane spells; Scribe Scroll feat	Limited (Spell Levels 0-4)	Limited (Spell Levels 0-2)
Wizard	Journeyman Mage; arcane sight, tongues, detect scrying, dispel magic, scrying, contact other plane as arcane spells; Spell Mastery feat (if applicable)	Unlimited	Limited (Spell Levels 0-7)
Master Wizard	Wizard; mnemonic enhancer, analyze dweomer, legend lore, true seeing, scrying, greater, limited wish as arcane spells	Unlimited	Unlimited
Archmage	Master Wizard; arcane sight, greater, vision, protection from spells, wish as arcane spells	Epic	Epic

Note that some spell requirements may be flexible for Sorcerers and Warlocks, due to limitations on the number of spells known.

Divinists

Rank	Minimum Requirements	Read Access to Grand Library	Write Access to Grand Library
Acolyte	cure minor wounds, detect magic, read magic as divine spells	None	None
Adept	Acolyte; cure moderate wounds, comprehend languages, consecrate as divine spells	None	None
Priest	Adept; cure critical wounds, restoration, dispel magic, divination, sending, tongues, scrying, commune as divine spells	None	None
Bishop	Priest; scrying, greater, heal, resurrection as divine spells	None	None
Archbishop	Bishop; discern location, gate, true resurrection as divine spells	None	None

Wardens

Rank	Minimum Requirements	Read Access to Grand Library	Write Access to Grand Library
Warden	Assignment to a Division of the Wardens of the Tower	None	None
Warden Defender	Warden; bound to a Journeyman Mage (or higher)	None	None
Warden Battlecaster	Adept or Journeyman Mage; Warden; one evocation of each level 0-4, including one of each of the following subtypes: air, earth, fire, water, force, light; one abjuration of each level 0-4; one martial weapon proficiency; Combat casting feat; Concentration 10 ranks	As arcanist rank	As arcanist rank
Warden Battlemedic	Adept or Journeyman Mage; Warden; All cure spells 0-4; one abjuration of each level 0-4; one martial weapon proficiency; Combat casting feat; Heal 10 ranks	As arcanist rank	As arcanist rank
Warden Wayfarer	Adept or Journeyman Mage; Warden; dimension door and teleport; Knowledge (Arcana) 10 ranks; Knowledge (Geography) 10 ranks; Quicken Spell feat	As arcanist rank	As arcanist rank
Warden Aeris	Adept or Journeyman Mage; Warden; one spell of each level 1-4 with Range: Medium or Long; Flyby Attack feat; Spot 10 ranks; either fly speed or fly and Extend Spell feat	As arcanist rank	As arcanist rank

Other

Rank	Minimum Requirements	Read Access to Grand Library	Write Access to Grand Library
Citizen	Residency within the Imperium or measurable arcane talent	None	None

All spell requirements must be cast using the character's ability; no scrolls, wands, or magic items allowed. Spellcasters who prepare their spells from a spellbook or similar artifice must additionally prove that the required spells are scribed in their spellbook in their own hand.

Title

In the event that it is required to give your character's title in a social or formal situation, custom dictates that arcane titles take precedence over any other title, though there are a few exceptions. A Warden may always choose to simply use that title, a member of a special school within the College of Mages may choose to use that school's rankings instead.

There are additionally a number of titles - Ambassador, General, Warlord, etc. - that the leadership of the Jade Tower may bestow on a person; these obviously take precedence in most cases.

Should it become necessary on a Warden's field mission to give a title, and the use of an arcane title would present a hazard to the mission, then the Warden may choose an alternate title or simply make something up. Be practical, stay alive.