[hider=The Ascendancy]
[b]Name:[/b] The Ascendancy of Tor Kalderum
[b]Name of leader:[/b] 
[b]Brief Introduction of leader:[/b]

[b]Other characters[/b]

[b]Culture:[/b] Those born within the Ascendancy are indivertibly divided into two groups. The first, most numerous group is the slave caste. This caste is a mixture of various races heralding from various lands. Some of them are first generation slaves. Caught during sieges, raids or arrested by the Ascendancy themselves. Others were captured by slavers or pirates and sold on the infamous flesh markets of the Ascendancy’s ports and merchant quarters. Others are born a slave and are fated for a collared life. Slaves of the Ascendancy are burned on the cheek. Later in life they are forced to wear a magical collar. Which is an ingenious piece of magic in its own right. It contains a series of rules that can be altered, negated or added to by the Overseers. Fleeing slaves will often be hexed when they stray too far from a focal point. Or disobedient slaves suffer a cursed pain without any cause. Though the collar can also be used for reverse purposes, like relieving physical pain. These slaves are forced to work the farms and in the dangerous foundries. Generally they are employed to do the work automatons or golems cannot perform (generally due to a lack of knowledge or capability to understand more complex patterns). Slave population is so high that slave revolts are now a common thing. Though the Free People rarely suffer under such riots. As the magic collars removal is generally lethal if not the right procedures are taken. In fact, slave revolts became so common yet so ineffective that Battle-Mages are often times released upon the rioting crowd to dispatch them. As a form of training.

Life of a slave is harsh but it could be worse. Under the Decree of Slaves, slave masters must provide a bed, a roof and at least two meals a day for their slaves. The Decree details many more laws and rules, though it generally wants all slave masters not to kill their slaves without reason and make sure the slave population is maintained if not grown.

The second group of population are the Free People. Born from two original Ascendancy free People is a must to be a Free Person. Bastards born from a foreigner become slaves. Bastards born from a slave become slaves. Purity of the Free People’s Caste is of very high importance. When one year old, blood is taken from the babe and with it, his name is written in the Index. Which contains the only name of every child of the Free People of the Ascendancy. When they are five, every child is taken from their home to be raised at the Ascendancy Institutions. Which teach the basics of magic and the written language to every child in the Ascendancy. Each child is pushed towards forgetting his heritage and focus on himself. Often times teachers take the role of not just mentor but also of father figure. Once the children are 16, they are allowed to work on their own. At 24 they must leave the Institution. Free People have no family or bloodline and only carry one name. As a true meritocracy, each child is given the same basic education. Should they chose to, show enough promise and have the drive for it, they can remain at the Institutions to learn advanced magic. Often at the expense of the Institution. Free People are allowed to buy slaves from the flesh markets as early as 18 and by 26, many own at least a handful of household slaves. Marriage is quite the same as everywhere else. With the exception that there are no parents or siblings around. Most Free People enter into the service of a great mage or guild. After many years of tutelage and work, they venture forth to make their own little shop and join the guilds as master. At a Free Person’s death, all his possessions are taken by the state. The wealth is redistributed constantly. As no Free Person has any family that may remember him or her, they often times strive to make great magical breakthroughs or become figures of legends so they may be remembered in the books of history, forever.

[b]Religion:[/b] The Ascendancy believes in many gods. In fact, one can find that they have studied every religion in the known world. Every mage knowns at least four gods, each of a different pantheon. But do they pray to them? No. They see gods as either higher beings or average mortals that somehow ascended. Instead they believe in their own arrogant power and magic itself.

[b]Attitude to magic:[/b] Magic is everything. It is the water flowing through the sewers. It is the fresh mountain air. Magic is the key and the lock. The chisel and the marble. Magic is all. All free people have a basic knowledge of magic thanks to the universal education. Many aspire to rise above this basis and continue to train and develop their magical skills. Which is often lavishly rewarded. Those that refuse to learn magic (or are somehow incapable of performing it) will soon find themselves outcast, exiled or enslaved.

The Ascendancy has a very liberal view on magic. With little to no restraints. The best example of this is the recent allowance to research Dark Magic and Necromancy. But it seeps into lesser things as well. An arena is a place where everything is allowed as long as both opponents' wards are up. No matter the savagery of the spell, it maybe be cast. The result is impressive progressiveness, though at the cost of blood and cruelty.

[b]Brief History:[/b] Several generations ago the Ascendancy was much like any other kingdom. The nobility ruled and wizards acted as rare advisors, requiring special education only reserved to the highly talented or the wealthy. The old kingdom was rather free, letting dwarves, elves and humans live next to eachother. It did not last. The cooking pot of cultures, races and castes boiled over into a civil war.

The mages, heavily outnumbered but greater in strength than any other faction, was forced into the war by their king. With their magic they scarred the land and killed more than any sane person could bear. Though they were not alone. Amongst the peasantry, witches and hedge wizards had grown through oral tradition. It opened up a world to the official wizards. Eventually, the mages brokered a deal. Letting so many people grow up without magic was a sin in of its own. Thus they began to travel the country side. Establishing small schools teaching the basics of magic. At the same time though, non-humans were being exiled. Their presence was far too dangerous. Since then only the merchant areas are open to non-humans.

[b]Military[/b]
The military is comprised of a fewer number than most other nations and countries. After the civil war, it was clear that magic was the next great step in warfare. Levies of untrained soldiers could hardly stand against the forces of nature. Thus the Ascendancy began to favor quality over quantity. But the Ascendancy did far more than that. They teamed up with the Institutes to promote a life within the army. Which offered prestige, money and all your needs would be taken care of. Batle-Mages were trained to peak physical condition and during times of great peace, they were required to commit themselves to the improvement of their magical prowess. To advance the combative application of magic, other mages were granted access to the Warfare Treasuries if they could deliver research upon certain combat applicable research. Recently with the green lighting of the use of Necromancy, a great number of Necromancy-applications have risen and are sponsored by the military.

This means that each and every Battle-Mage is a force to be reckoned with. They are highly educated and well equipped with enchanted gear. As they are such a great investment for the state, they often are equipped with emergency teleport items or other emergency objects. It also means that they have to be deployed quite often to showcase their continued usefulness. All in all, the Ascendancy’s military is a very well-oiled machine that must continue to run. For if it stops, it will soon break.

[b]Goverment[/b]
The Ascendancy is ruled by the Ascendant Council. Thirtheen of the strongest mages (named Ascendants) of the Ascendancy vote upon all major issues. Every three years all position of the Ascendants is up for grabs if you're strong enough. Though you will have to win 3 challenges and only one is combative in nature. Individual cities are ruled by the Magisters, chosen through popular vote of the citizens of each city.

[b]Goals[/b]
Power drives the Ascenandcy. While they have certain ambitions to rule the known world and beyond, their first goal is to ascend to the power Gods and other greater beings would wield.
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It's not yet done! Still need to throw in some good characters.