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[h3]Chapter 1: Novitiate[/h3][/center]

In the light of the noonday sun, Photep shone like a brilliant jewel. It straddled the dark blue oceans of the western shore and the endless expanse of white desert to the east. The crystalline pyramids reflected the sun's light like glittering diamonds, casting dazzling reflections across the entire city. None were more brilliant than the five pyramids of the Heka, in the heart of Photep. Just beyond them stood the Silver Tower, the breathtaking edifice that served as the palace of the Crimson King. In the expansive court betwixt the pyramids, a plaza called the Dijat of Heka, a huge crowd gathered. Nobility and common folk alike stood shoulder to shoulder all facing the eastern-most pyramid, with the Silver Tower rising behind it imperiously. Some shaded their eyes from the stark light of the sun, while most merely stood sweating from the lack of respite in the shadeless plaza. Regardless, the gaze of every person present was turned toward the pyramid of the Cult of the Crow, as the commencement of the Heka was about to begin.

A far smaller cluster stood apart from the crowd, much closer to the pyramid. Rather than massing together in an undulating throng, they stood in ranks, arrayed so that each had a clear view of the dais directly in front of them. Each was a child of 16, the age of commencement in Photepi law, and thus on the cusp of adulthood. While they were as diverse in form and appearance as much of Photep was, they were alike in the cloak of pure white each one wore, clasped at the shoulder with a golden brooch. These were the Sorcerer-Novitiates, graduates of Photep's academies of magical study for aspiring sorcerers. Each had been hand-selected by one a Sorcerer-Magus to be inducted into the Heka as the next generation of Photepi Sorcerers. If they possessed Tutelaries, their diminutive familiars either sat diligently on their master's shoulder or at their heel like obedient hounds.

Training to become a sorcerer was a gamble, for lack of a better word. Even after dedicating years of study and discipline to achieving basic magical competence, there was no promise that one would be chosen by a Magus to join the Heka. Those that were not chosen, as by far most were not, would have to move onto vocational education without the benefit of rudimentary training. Graduating from a magical competency program was no mean feat, and most would go on to be esteemed civil servants, and the Red Orders frequently recruited from these students, but they carried the lifelong disappointment that one would never become a true Sorcerer. These young Novitiates had avoided that bitter fate, receiving the news of their selection, along with their Novitiate's cloak, by courier the week prior. Now was their moment of commencement, when they would discover which Cult had accepted them into their halls, and which Magus would become their mentor in Sorcery.

The sun reached its absolute zenith in the sky, and the ceremony began. From the halls of the pyramid of the Cult of Crows, a procession of Sorcerers marched forward, silent and sombre, until all were standing on the dais side by side. There were not many, perhaps only twenty compared to the dozens of Novitiates, and each was a fabulously eccentric figure. Same as the Novitiates, their unifying feature was the silken cloak they wore, dyed pure black to denote their rank of Sorcerer-Magus. Their golden brooches were not plain and smooth as the Novitiates' were, but engraved and adorned with colorful gemstones to denote the Cult to which they claimed membership. Their short march from the pyramid was a heavily symbolic act, as the Magi were forbidden from teleporting or using magical means to arrive at the ceremony. They were even bereft of their Tutelaries, which likely waited for them just within the pyramid. This emphasized their humanity as part of the commencement, as this moment- when mere students would become Sorcerers- embodied the tenuous link between their ranks and the rest of Photep.

One Sorcerer stood out among them, however, denoted by the red trim on his ebon cloak. This was Sorcerer-Magus Makhai Amon, Magistrate of the Cult of Crows, Vizier to the Crimson King, and Representative of the Heka in the Rehati. An older man, with skin the color of aged velum, a dark grey beard, and tattoos covering his bald head. Aside from his black and crimson cloak, he wore robes of shimmering scarlet, which reflected the sun's light like a flowing stream of red water. Amon was ostensibly the most skilled and powerful Sorcerer in all of Photep (apart from the Crimson King), if one believed that his elevated station correlated to his magical ability. Others took a less charitable view of him, seeing the man as a politician first and a Sorcerer second. Regardless, the he was without a doubt the most influential Sorcerer currently alive, and was widely known to serve as the right hand of the Crimson King.

Amon stepped forward, causing the audience to fall silent, and began to speak, "[color=f6989d]In the beginning, there was no light. The sun by day, the moon and stars by night. The flash of lightning in a storm.[/color]" A ripple of discontent flowed through the crowd of spectators. This was the Invocation of Commencement, the traditional speech that began the commencement ceremony. In every ceremony prior, the Crimson King had been the one to deliver this speech. The fact that he was not present meant that he did not intend to attend the ceremony; it would not start without him if he was merely late. Either the master of Photep was busy with some other matter, or had decided that this event was beneath him. "[color=f6989d]Then arose man,[/color]" Amon continued, unperturbed the the crowd's reaction, "[color=f6989d]Who took up fire to warm his home and cast out the darkness. Man, unsatisfied with the world given to him, took his destiny into his own hands and changed it. The willingness to change one's reality for the betterment of himself and others is the mark of the Sorcerer. In this way, Photep is truly a kingdom of Sorcerers, as we all strive together to become better, to evolve, not merely our individual selves, but the whole of mankind.[/color]

"[color=f6989d]The Novitiates that stand before me are the fruit of this effort. They are not only the legacy of all we have achieved, but they will be the architects of our future achievements. It is they who cleave closest to the founding ideals of Photep: the triumph of discipline over chaos, of willpower over adversity, and of innovation over stagnation. Their spirit is the spirit of all of Photep, and their hope is all of our hope. It is with immense pride that I name them as Sorcerer-Novitiates, and it is my distinct honor to accept them as my cohorts and fellow Sorcerers.[/color]"

The Magistrate unrolled a papyrus scroll that he had held at his side thus far, and held it out in front of him, low enough to not obscure his face or muffle his voice. "[color=f6989d]Novitiates, I will now declare the names and allegiances of the Sorcerer-Magi that have sponsored your commencement into the Cults of Heka. Upon hearing your name, step forward to stand beneath your mentor on the dais. Take your place of pride before all of Photep, and know that in some distant year, it shall be you who stands upon the dais and holds the honor of molding a new generation.[/color]"

He then began to read off the names and Cult memberships of the Sorcerers that stood to either side of him on the dais, followed by the names of the Novitiates they had sponsored. He proceeded swiftly, from the audience's left to right, reading off the next name just as soon as the Novitiates assigned to the Magi had reached the dais. Each Magus stepped forward when their name was called, ensuring no Novitiates embarrassed themselves by meeting the wrong Sorcerer.

"[color=f6989d]Sorcerer-Magus Callis Dagon of the Cult of the Crow accepts under his auspice Sorcerer-Novitiate Ishara Thumotep, Sorcerer-Novitiate Radaam Esi, and Sorcerer-Novitiate Khaemtir Maryatum.[/color]"

Magus Dagon was a tall and particularly severe looking man, whose features were drawn into a taut scowl. While Sorcerers had a tendency towards pallor, owing to long hours spent in the depths of their pyramids in study, he was particularly pale, the blue of his veins showing through his skin. His hair was long, the color of spoiled milk, and his eyes were a piercing cerulean that was visible even from where the Novitiates stood in ranks. There was none of Dagon's skin exposed below his neck, as he wore heavy robes dyed orange-red filigreed with patterns the color of bleached bone, long enough that even his shoes were obscured, and thick gloves of dark leather covered his hands.

"[color=f6989d]Sorcerer-Magus Althea Nevrakis of the Cult of the Serpent accepts under her auspice Sorcerer-Novitiate Sirvan Nouzari, Sorcerer-Novitiate, Berenice Eldri, and Sorcerer-Novitiate Sarahi Parvaneh.[/color]"

Magus Nevrakis was a slight woman with an aloof presence, almost seeming uninterested in the ceremony, as though her mind was elsewhere. Umber tattoos the same color as her eyes marked her cheeks and forehead, standing out against her honey-toned skin, and her dark hair was drawn up into a bun behind her head, though some stray locks of grey hung loose. Under her cloak was a flowing violet gown that would be inappropriately revealing were it not for the red tunic she wore beneath it, and she stood barefoot on the dais. Tasteful golden jewelry adorned her wrists and ankles, with polished gemstones of black and white hanging from each ring.

"[color=f6989d]Sorcerer-Magus Bra'et Xavier of the Cult of the Phoenix accepts under his auspice Sorcerer-Novitiate Anatu Taauth, and Sorcerer-Novitiate Khotanebre Bekenamun.[/color]"

Magus Xavier was a formidable man, perhaps the largest standing on the dais, obviously muscular in his youth, but somewhat fattened by age. His skin was dark, and his face was as rough and craggy as a mountainside. Xavier's eyes literally glowed hot orange, as though he had two burning coals in his skull instead of eyes. He had no eyebrows, his silver hair was shaved so that only a thin strip at the peak of his skull remained, and his bare chest was also hairless. While he wore no shirt under his cloak, the robe cinched about his paunchy waist was a gaudy marigold yellow, and he wore armbands of pure gold about his biceps, which had the vibrant feathers of birds of paradise tucked into them.

Magistrate Amon finished reading off the remaining names, and proceeded into the conclusion of the commencement ceremony. "[color=f6989d]I once again congratulate and welcome our newest Sorcerer-Novitiates into the distinguished ranks of their new Cults. You have worked hard and sacrificed much to come this far, but I warn you now that your trials are not over. You have proved yourselves before all of Photep, but you must now surpass the expectations set before you. To wield the power of magic and uncover its secrets is an awesome responsibility, and while you have earned the title of Sorcerer, you must yet prove that you are worthy of the burden that title carries. In the name of the Crimson King, the first and last lord of all Photep, I proclaim this commencement adjourned.[/color]"

Thunderous applause rang out from the crowd of spectators, many of whom were the family and friends of the Novitiates that now stood facing them at the foot of the dais. From the flanks of the plaza, emerging from the other pyramids, came a host of other Sorcerers of various ranks, many carrying tables, chairs, great platters and baskets of food, and casks of wine and beer. Their use of magic no longer constrained by the formalities of the ceremony, they used telekinetic power to set up a massive banquet spread across the entire Dijat, free and welcoming to all who wished to celebrate the commencement. Pyromancers lit great torches and braziers, and many Sorcerers that had unloaded their burdens took up instruments and began to stroll between the tables and play lighthearted music.

Amon stepped down from the dais and strode to its end to greet each of the new Novitiates in turn. He looked each one in the eye, doing his best to appear genial, and gave them a quick word of congratulations and an invitation to join their families and friends at the banquet. A warm handshake was offered to each one, with the boys often receiving an additional fraternal squeeze of the shoulder, and the girls having their fingers gently kissed. "[color=f6989d]Be sure to convene with your master before you leave for the evening,[/color]" he advised each Novitiate, "[color=f6989d]You have very busy days ahead of you, my young friend.[/color]"