Tetragrammaton

Character
The Tetragrammaton: The Order of Ascension Also known as: The Mage's Guild, the Tetra, the Dancing Path

The Oath:

We cast aside what we were Set aside our past

We step away From our Brothers and Sisters

To join a new family

We are no Longer Dwarves, Elves, Demons, Children of Light,

Forgotten or Humans We are books And tomes To be filled.

We learn at the feet of Philosophers

Read every Tome of lore Master the ways of redstone

And then teach What we have Learned to Others

So mote it be And so say We all.

These are the core principles of the Tetragrammaton, the Order of Mages and philosophers who stand outside of the Factions of Aeonis.

The Order comes in two parts: Mage and Dancer. The Dancers, the followers of the Dancing Path, must completely set aside their connections and past. They must bid their families farewell and renounce their race and profession before joining the Order, so that they may truly devout their entire being to the goal of learning and self-improvement, then teaching what they have learned to others so that they may also improve.

The Oath is a serious affair: one may only join the Tetragrammaton after they have renounced their past. Even if they change their mind and leave the Tetragrammaton, they may never return to their home and return to the way things once were.

Loremasters may still visit their respective people, but they will find old doors closed to them, while new ones open.

The Mages retain their faction, solidly a part of their people so that they may still wander their streets unimpeded. They are the advisors to Lords, Kings, and Queens. They have agendas of their own, but ultimately serve the advancement of their kingdom, so long as it does not harm the Tetragrammaton. For they enter the family of the Tetra, and must swear their allegiance to it over all else. Even life or love.

Once selected, I, Rajaat the Weaver, share my power with the mages. Should they break our few laws, that power may once again be stripped away and the individual cast from the family.

Like any family, there will be disputes, especially among advisors. However, the Tetra live by the phrase: "Me against my brother, my brother and I against our cousin, my brother, my cousin, and myself against the outsider." They are unified, a true whole that is devoted to each of its members. While they may war amongst themselves, they are ever aware that they are family. ~ Rajaat, The Weaver=====

Ranks
The Weaver: Rajaat

Lord of the Order, Dancer and Weaver.

Archmage: Vitalia Cain

Responsibilities: As Archmage, Vitalia is first in command of the Order. The final decision, in all things, belongs to her.

The Mages:

Responsibilities: The Mages of the Tetragrammaton must advise their respective Lords and Ladies and stand ready to aid in the defense of their people. They are loyal to their people, but the Tetragrammaton always comes first.

They may war amongst each other unless forbidden by the Tetragrammaton, but they are to always remain family. They must always be aware of this paradox and accept it.

These mages, the Tetra mages, are chosen by their lords to sit on the Tetra council and discuss the laws of all mages across the land. It is they who decide what magic is forbidden, what is acceptable.

The Dancers:

Responsibilities: A Dancer does not gain the power of magic, but instead follows the Dancing Path exclusively. They renounce their race so that they may act as a neutral party and enter all realms in peace. They are students and teachers, ever seeking to learn how to better themselves and others. They may ask for payment for their lessons or give it for free, whichever they believe will make the lessons remain. They become walking libraries.

A Dancer is never satisfied with their current level. They can always learn to build better, fight better, mine better. They study the work of others and learn what they can, then employ it.

They are also great sources for information. The Dancers are information gatherers who keep the kingdom of Aeonis informed in matters over great distances.

Mages and Dancers are the same family and must support one another. We all work as a unity.

What you will need to be a Dancer

You must still choose a race and faction initially, then come to Vitalia and prove you are willing to leave all behind to join the Tetragrammaton. If you are earnest you will be invited to the Order and accepted into the family.

You must always take RPing seriously. This is an extremely roleplay heavy faction. If you are not mature enough, you need not apply.

Loremaster:

A Loremaster is the next step up from Dancer, one who has taken some of the steps on the Dancing Way and shown they have devoted themselves to the pursuit of knowledge. A Loremaster further documents the ways of the people of Aeonis and document what they have found to the best of their abilities, from every day and interesting encounters to their adventures living with a race and learning their ways.

A Loremaster can be a trusted diplomat, having lived with many cultures and diverse groups and thus growing somewhat attached to them all.

What you will need to be a Loremaster

To become a Loremaster, you must show that you follow the precepts of the Dancing Way and that you are committed to the study of all within Aeonis. You will have to write a sufficient amount of Lore on this Lore thread, support your Tetra family regularly, and show you are willing and eager to learn. Casting aside a chance to learn will set one back.

At this point, the Loremaster begins to follow a strict code:

Never turn down an opportunity to learn

Never destroy a source of knowledge unless it is first documented or copied in full and only if it is absolutely necessary to the continuation of the Order and Oath to do so

A Loremaster is knowledge. His or her death would mean the end of his knowledge unless recorded. Therefor, a Loremaster must see to his health.

Be fair in all things, and consider all actions and consequences when you act. As a Loremaster, you act as an individual and make your own decisions, but reflect on future generations of the Dancing Way.

Always try to find at least two sources on the same topic to confirm or find differing views.

Be morally flexible. Knowledge is more important than personal tastes or morals: one may dine with the Dark Elves the one day to learn their ways, and speak with the Children of Light the next.

When called upon to mediate a dispute, seek the solution that would benefit as many sides and people as possible.

Live the Dancing Way: seek self-improvement and pass what you have learned to any who are willing to listen. Frequent places where people gather, and speak with those people. Recruit others into the Dancing Way.

Libra:

A Libra is the master of his craft, the focused follower of the Way that dances on the razor edge of his field. The Libra has devoted himself to the pursuit of Ascension and understands the necessity for improvement to teach others. The Libra lead the Loremasters, with Loremasters reporting to them and telling them of their adventures.

The Libra seeks to master his art to the fullest, to better understand himself and the world about him.

Libra often make impartial judges in legal disputes between two races, called upon when the need is great. They also aid the Tetragrammaton to the greatest extent of their abilities, by acting as council to the Mages, Dancers, and Loremasters as well as actively spreading the word of the Way.

What you will need to be a Libra

A Libra is chosen from the ranks of the Loremasters when a Loremaster has shown he is ready and able to take the next step, when the Loremaster has shown wisdom in adversity, and has followed the oath and code. They will have to write more Lore and pass a test chosen by Vitalia, which will be offered: never given by request.

The Tetra:

Lliwe Vos'eldru Abel Nightroad

The pinnacle, the prize: few may be chosen for the title of Tetra, a rank granted by Archmage Vitalia to the most promising of the Libra. The Tetra is the master of the Way, advancing the goals of the Tetra and seeking to bring about the Grand Ascension of all races. He or she is highly skilled in all fields, has shown wisdom, and has reached a level of enlightenment high enough to claim the much sought prize of true Magic through a deep understanding of the world and via Vitalia.

The Libra report to the Tetra, giving their findings to this master of the Way who in turn teaches them and advances their personal goals. The Tetra speaks with the authority of the Tetra, and may ask for the aid of mages or other followers of the way. They are the walking library.

Two among the Tetra will be chosen for the position of Councillor, to lead with the Archmage.

What you will need to be the Tetra

The Tetra is hand picked from the Libra after the Libra has mastered his art and shown they are ready to take the final step, to devote themselves to the Grand Ascension which promises the rise of all races into an era of knowledge and prosperity, and then into divinity and beyond.

The Libra is eligible for Tetra when: - They have mastered their chosen craft - They are highly skilled in all other areas - They have shown absolute dedication to the Dancing Way and to their Tetra Family - They at least have one other Libra to compete with for the title (recruitment and teaching is important)

The Tetra to be will compete for the title against his fellow brothers and sisters in a series of tests. Then, one final test will be made by Vitalia which the Tetra must face alone.

After they have passed, they must do their utmost to master themselves, spread the word of the Way, and begin the study of Magic. There may be more than one Tetra, but it is a difficult rank to achieve.

(Initial concept for the Loremaster and Libra ranks credited to Knight_Mendrel, aka Francisco De Lato)

~ Rajaat, The Weaver

History
Lore

As a unique hybrid of Forgotten and Demon, my power to Weave the strands of creation and alter reality, a birth right of the Forgotten, has forever been tainted by the dark beast known as the Nether. It influenced my every attempt to Weave, directly interfered with my will, and twisted my perception of the world. It leaves me empty and cold, separate and always emulating the emotions of my peers. I am alien, touched by both the light of the Creator and the Dark of the Nether.

Yet it is this unique nature that allowed what came to pass. In my travels to study the architecture of the lands of Aeonis, I happened across a derelict tower with the rotten remains of an ancient port. Once glorious, it fell into decay. I wandered its halls and delighted in its strength: even now it did not threaten to fully fall apart, and it was clearly an old place forgotten by the world.

Here I met Allwan, known to some as the mayor Cormyr, the busy trade capital of Aeonis. He was lost in thought, peering through many a curious volume of lore in the dark of twilight. He looked upon me with tired eyes that had seen the passing of the ages, as no human should. It was here that I met the last of the natural born Sorcerers.

We discussed his past, he and I, after he closed his book and leaned his fragile form against a wobbling desk. He was old, as I had surmised, and he had a long and difficult history. He had survived a secret war that played out in the shadows of the land, behind the veil. The consequences of past actions were finally being felt by the natural born magisters and their plots were culminating in a fatal conclusion. Their personal battles had given rise to a plethora of curses, each of which weighed heavily upon the survivors.

The Sorcerers had killed themselves. They had not been aware at first, but the master stroke of one was countered by another in such a way that the magic wielders began to all die and fail. Their power faded, their blood rotted from within. The gift granted by the Creator had been abused for too long by these last individuals, who had long since cast aside any notion of humanity. They now waited for death, each alone and each without the power that defined them.

All save for one: Allwan, who remained true to the old oaths of the Sorcerers. He was young when compared to the others, but had already lived several human lifespans in that time. The others looked upon his human desires and needs with some disdain, but he held it with pride. He alone escaped the Withering, the final curse of the Sorcerers. One by one, the old guard began to die and passed their power on to their hated enemies, unable to choose another.

Then one passed his power to Allwan, who retained it and grew stronger. Soon, they all saw hope for their legacy in Allwan. They hoped to preserve the wonder of magic in the world. Allwan accepted the responsibility and became the last. Through training he quickly became so powerful as to stand beside the Creator and the Forerunner, equal to their might.

It was only later that he discovered a terrible truth: he had not escaped the Withering. He escaped its most dire consequences, but it had left him infertile. Even with his power, he could not undo this last curse of the Sorcerers. He could not create another mage. Nor could he have a family.

He passed his years in solitude until he came to terms with the world and his place in it. Then he worked his way back into mortal society, changing his identity when an age passes and donning another face. Every so often, he would visit the towers of old and remember.

When we had finished speaking, I told him of my own travels and adventures and of my unique condition. It did not take long for both of us to realize a potential solution: As a Forgotten, I was more closely associated to true creation than Allwan could ever be. As essentially a Deity, Allwan could twist and shift the rules of reality. Between the two of us and many a night of hard study, we instilled his power in me. I Wove it into my being, channeling his old mortal might and a spark of his divinity.

This Weave will allow me to pass his power on and grant his wish: to finally have a family. To preserve true magic, an unforeseen gift that only the Humans had been bestowed until now. I could pass this power on to one of each race and another of my choosing. No more, as the Weave was limited. But it was far greater than the alternative.

Now magic has returned. Allwan chose to revitalize himself, still appearing aged but far younger than the near-corpse I had been speaking to, and restored the tower of the mages with a thought. This place has been named Altanis, a hope for a brighter tomorrow.

My own Order, the Tetragrammaton, will serve as a framework. We will avoid the mistakes of the past. We will unify all in knowledge and learning, and bring about a Grand Ascension: the Forgotten dream to surpass the Gods, then bring them with us to new realms of enlightenment as we cast aside our limitations.

We have taken the first playful step in a long and difficult dance.

Rajaat, The Weaver