[hider=TIAMAT][center][h3]T H E  I N T E R N A T I O N A L  A S S O C I A T I O N  F O R  M A G I C A L            A D V A N C E M E N T  A N D  T R A I N I N G[hr]T I A M A T[hr][/h3][/center]
[sub][h3][i]Purpose & True Nature[/i][/h3][/sub]
[indent]The Mission Statement of TIAMAT is to advance, spread, and police magic across the globe in the interest of bettering the lives of all humanity. However, their true nature is something else entirely, instead tying into two ancient organizations that an outsider looking in might even call cults. These two organizations, known as the Order of Athriohm and Diffugium each exist for one reason: To contain, in the case of the Order, and to spread, in the case of Diffugium, the most intrinsic principles of magic to humanity. While TIAMAT does serve a vital function in today's society, facilitating the education of new generations of mages as well as tackling greater magical threats and advancing magical research the organization, at its core, is nothing more than a front for the aforementioned. Hopefully it doesn't collapse under the weight of its founders' history.[/indent]
[sub][h3][i]Background[/i][/h3][/sub]
[indent]While none know it, TIAMAT has its origins slated in a much older and more ancient organization, one that is not only hidden from the public eye, but is not even a myth, having erased itself even from the history books. This secret society, known as the [i][u]Order of Athriohm[/u][/i], dates back to a time prior to even Sumer, the first human civilization with documented written language. This Order has always possessed one purpose, and that is to safeguard humanity's ultimate strength, something they call the Art and the leading mage scholars of our age know as Unified Magic Theory, something which they have yet to verify the existence of. Yet, to the Order this is very much a reality, and its origin is simple. As the lore goes, a man known only as Athriohm, discovered not just magic, but a magic executed through the utilization of the patterns which govern existence, patterns even more intrinsic than those found in quantum physics. However, this knowledge was not passed down, though it was written...and hidden, presumably, by Athriohm himself. Only later in the time of King Arthur did Merlin and the dread witch, Morgana le Fay discover the texts. It was then that a fracture occurred and so the Order was formed from Merlin's disciples, whereas Morgana founded an organization known as Diffugium. Since their founding these two organizations have been locked in an unseen war, one that, should either win, will shape the future of mankind for Diffugium has always wished to share the Art with man, while the Order has deemed humanity too young a species to wield such a powerful magic.

Today this [i]war[/i] is waged in the form of TIAMAT, which was founded in 1850, as it predated the Magical Registry Act by 12 years. This organization started small, but as magic spread within the ensuing years and the world adopted laws to deal with its rise to prominence, TIAMAT too was given purpose, rising to the occasion and becoming first the leading organization in Europe for the advancement of magical theory and practice, before spreading to Asia, Australia, and finally in 1868, to the Americas. Since then TIAMAT has grown into the most influential international organization associated with the betterment and spread of magic, and yet that ancient war is still wielded within its ranks as members of the Art and of Diffugium either reveal the Art, or cover it up, continuing the deadlock that has been ongoing for centuries. Perhaps one day one side will triumph. Perhaps.[/indent]
[sub][h3][i]Power Structure[/i][/h3][/sub]
[indent]Lead by a joint council, TIAMAT possesses two empty positions at the top of its heirarchy, which exist only for states of emergency and are decided upon by the councils each electing one of the other council's members. Each council is made up of one-hundred members that cycle in and out of service depending on the occasion. These councilors hail from all around the world, with a focus on skill and knowledge in magic, administration, global, and local politics they are chosen from any number of countries, developing and otherwise. Often is it that these councilors are trained from a young age, though it is just as often that they are already elderly, as there is no true age requirement.

Below the joint council are the various districts, with a single district per government, which are further split into Local Offices, one per state, major city, greater area, or province. All District Chiefs take orders from the Joint Council, but also act to keep the standards for magical learning up to par in their given domain. Additionally, they watch over the legislative process to ensure that their region is policing magic as fairly as possible. These District Chiefs have a measure of political clout in their given area and are capable of vetoing or vetting laws or policies to an extent making them capable of being involved in the political processes of their given region.

Yet still below the District Chiefs are the lowest tier in the hierarchy of TIAMAT, known as Magistrates, these positions are typically held by knowledgeable mages. These Magistrates in turn lead a small army of magi and anti-mage forces that they can deploy to handle more dangerous magical disputes or to assist local law enforcement in dealing with threats arcane. Beyond this they act as the eyes, ears, and hands of their betters.[/indent][/hider]