The Red Circle

Item:The Iron Council of Fiesive hereby pronounces that the Wizard Caste should be rightfully organised and underling to a Council of Wizards and of Priests who shall hereby know the Glory of the Creator and pass it unto their Caste."
- Excerpt from the Iron Council's Decree, 1414 ST

The Red Circle was formed as part of the Iron Council decree, and was formed as a Council to organise the teachings and employment, as well as the spiritual care, of all of the wielders of St. Malkion's might i.e. sorcerors. The Red Circle is made up of seven of the Greatest sorcerors of the Wizard Caste, each personally rivalled only in power by the Court Wizard, personal aide to the King, who is almost always the most powerful sorceror that can be found. Even the Wizards of the Church cannot be held in comparison with these individuals. The Red Circle currently only has control over members of Fiesive and those who act on Royal Land. When the Henotheistic Churches of Valantia and Fiesive joined together, it was ruled that the Red Circle would have power only over citizens of Fiesive, although this situation looks set to change.

Up until the rise of the Queen, the Red Circle was very ambivalent, hiding in the background. Few people would discuss it, everyone was a member as a matter of course, the Circle asked precious little of it's members except some time and effort to keeping the city safe. They were a key part to city survival, without the Red Circle's efforts, Fiesive may have fallen to trolls or Surkorioni raiders, or worse. The Red Circle played a key part in the destroying the Thanatari Heresy. With the Queen's Ascension, however, four magi who stood on the Circle found themselves being order on insane, suicidal missions into Guhan from which they eventually did not return, and replaced by Magi of the Queen's own choosing. Also, the disappearance of Garanwyn O'Farley, the Court Wizard, was noted at this time, and he was a powerful adherent to the ending of the Red Circle's rise to power. The Queen has sought every opportunity to make the Red Circle as powerful as possible.

They are called the Red Circle because they have access to an item used by Arkat's first Knowing Companion, who was around for numerous years before St. Aeol appeared. This item is known as the Ring, and has certain magical powers conducive to the Circle.

The Red Circle is, as such, a political and secular body, and fulfils the following important tasks:

• Ensuring that all those who enter into the Wizard Caste are of a suitable standard, this is now jointly handled by the Church.
  
• To train all Wizards of the Caste.
  
• To exact penalties on all those who transgress the Laws of Sorcery (dealing with Tappers etc...)
  
• To ensure that all Wizards spend at least some of their time in active duty for their city.

In the second instance, that of training, the Circle believe in the Holy Teachings of St. Malkion (and, sometimes, St. Arkat). New members to the Wizard Caste can get free training in apprenticeships to sorcerors, and get a grounding in scribing and religious education. Free access to the library of Fiesive is also granted to people in the Enrolled (see below).

The third law is obvious, and recently the Red Circle has been using this ancient law to claim jurisdiction over certain crimes which would otherwise be handled by normal methods (such as a hearing in court). The law was, up until recently, only used by the Circle to prosecute (and almost always execute) Wizards who abused their powers or apostates who ran from the city. Crimes such as using magic to commit a robbery was a matter for the Warrior Caste and legal officers to deal with. However, recently the Red Circle has taken an interest in any crime committed via magic, and placing it underneath their own, far harsher, far less fair, legal powers. Many people are quite happy with this state of affairs as it means that they don't have to sort out the problems, and can quite happily leave it to the Red Circle to sort it out. Red Circle justice involves the Circle meeting to listen to evidence produced from a member of the Lower Circle who has investigated the alleged crime. There is no defence, nor does the accused get a chance to speak, and the Red Circle can then apply whatever punishment they feel fitting. Trials by Combat is allowed, but very rare due to the muscle that the Red Circle can produce for such occasions. This legal system was basically based on a Seshnelan design with trial by combat tagged on. It is one of the things that the Archbishop finds most disturbing in that the Red Circle try people in such an UnOrlanthi way.

The Red Circle have also claimed the right to punish Tappers, which was at first controlled by the Church. However, since 1618 ST Surantyr lost a debate, and it was ruled that anyone found Tapping would be judged by the Red Circle. Surantyr, and the Church as a whole, resent this as it is an affront to their power.

In the last instance, the Red Circle has each Wizard enlist for military duty in times of war, defending Fiesive alongside the Liotcolm city guard, and help out in general magical defences. This is represented by any member of the Enrolled devoting either 1-3 POW a year to enchantments, or 10% of time and income to the general magical defences of the city.

Organisation

There is an organisation to the Red Circle and it's control. The Red Circle is the autocratic rulers of Fiesive Wizard Caste members, although it is well known that they are all, in some way, manipulated by the Queen of Fiesive for her own ends. Between the seven Magi they control the Ring, which is held safely in their Council Chambers (protected by various bound spirits, Orlanthi Divine Magics, spells and reputedly a Saint - details unclear).

All of those who join the Wizard Caste are presented, upon completing initiation, with a parchment to be sealed or signed by the new candidate. It basically means that the new member agrees to abide by the Red Circle's decisions and generally work to their ends (involving the dedication of time and income to the Circle). It is possible for you not to sign, it is no longer forced upon you, but such individuals are rare and discussed below. Those who submit to the Red Circle are known as the Enrolled. Even Archbishop Surantyr, who grew up in Fiesive, is an Enrolled, but the Circle would be mad to use this against him - they didn't even make a commotion when Surantyr legalised Immortality spells. All members of the Enrolled are distinguished by a ring on their right hand made of red silver that declares their membership.

The Red Circle also have some measure of power over the Daemonologists who are Priests in the Wizard Caste who deal with summoning etc...

Those who Don't...

Those who don't join are renegades and treated as such. Few people in the Wizard Caste deal with renegades, although it is far from illegal not to be a member of the Circle. Obviously, Wizards travelling from lands where the Circle have no power i.e. anywhere but Fiesive and environs, are not treated with such disdain. However, many sorcerors have found it advantageous to join the Red Circle even if they don't fall under it's jurisdiction for two reasons (a) support and access to the Library are very helpful and (b) they can see which way the wind is blowing and realise that soon the Circle will control all of Otkorion, and perhaps further, and wish to show their loyalty now.

Those who aren't in the Enrolled must pay to get into the Library of Fiesive and are refused access to the portions of the library controlling magical tomes. The rarity of magical tomes means that this can cripple a budding sorceror. No sorceror will teach the renegade, and it is illegal to teach a non-member of the Red Circle magical methods. The purchasing of magical devices (matrices, enchantments etc...) is difficult enough, but the Red Circle controls the sales of all such items and do not sell to renegades. No sorceror will be taught the Create Familiar spell if they are not members of the Red Circle. The sorceror is also generally abused at any and all opportunities. If such a renegade should break magical laws and are brought before the Red Circle they are normally executed, or mutilated so that they can never cast magic again. In some cases, the Red Circle has seen an accused renegade appear before them, stopped the proceedings half way through the introductory sentence and passed judgement of death.

However, some individuals believe that the freedom of being a renegade is worth it, or see the Red Circle as a force detrimental to Otkorion (or themselves). Whether they are right or not remains to be seen, but certainly these individuals are given quiet respect for standing alone. The last such individual was the Court Wizard who vanished under mysterious circumstances.

Powerful renegades are kept under observation.

Those who Are...

The seven Archmagi of the Red Circle are not be laughed at. They are seven of the most powerful individuals, save the Temporal Incarnations of St. Humakt, and together can achieve a lot. What is given here is some general information that a member of the Enrolled would know. The seven members are listed below:

Noron Halifar of Family Halifar: The eldest, and most respected magi in most of civilised Ralios. He is almost certainly using magics to extend his life. He has been around since the Dulkenwaeld wars (1528-33 ST), and has stood on the Circle for fifty years. However, his will is weak, it seems, and he is rarely seen, and even rarer seen acting off of his own volition.

Master Teelane Halifar of Family Teelane: Effectively the ruler of the Red Circle. The man has an overpowering ego and skill to match. He openly proclaims that he wishes the Red Circle to dominate the Wizard Caste of the entire Henotheistic Church, and has suggested trying to raid Col and claim power there! He cites the Hero Wars (which most people have little understanding of) as the main reason for this. As few people believe in the Hero Wars, he is often debunked, even if it is done quietly. He is one of the Archbishops chess-mates.

Mistress Atheoan of the Family Halifar: A Galini woman adopted into the Halifar family after marrying Teelane. She joined the Henothestic Church many years ago and married Teelane a few seasons after meeting him. Together, it seems their power grows. She is his devoted, loving and, worse, like-minded wife.

Agnoman MacRose of the Family Mathlan: Competitive, innovative, creative. His family is virtually dead, a mere twelve individuals, and so as a youth he had little money or support. However he rose from this state to a position of power in the Red Circle. He seems very amoral, willing to do anything that allows him to exercise his extreme intellect. He is also a very deeply religious man, and believes that he is guided by St. Malkion himself, and so spends much time in the temples.

Sian Penmara of no family: A Farmer who disowned his own family because their cries of dissidence against the Crown and the Red Circle hindered his advancements to the Wizard Caste. He seemingly was aided by the Queen in the last years of his advancement. He is noted for the enormous magical fist that follows him, and he sometimes teaches adepts the secrets of making them.

Kabeelian the Stranger: The most outrageous of the members of the Red Circle. The Church have many times complained of his position and power. He is a foreigner from the East who befriended the Queen many years ago, he has mastered many strange arts and magics, and jealously guards them. He was rescued from a Dorastan Slave Caravan by the Queen's Guards. Rarely seen, and he is said to have mastered Life and Death for he has been slain three times in public (and Orlanth knows how many times in private) and yet returned the day after unhurt (and, also, slightly amused). His dedication to the Queen is almost contagious.

Nuatha Firestaff: A Sword-magi. His appearance was unprecedented, no Sword Magi has ever stood on the Circle, nor attempted to, for their Humakti responsibilities make it difficult enough. He was also equally unknown by most Humakti, having spent more time researching and training in the sorcerous Arts than attending to his duties as a Sword (seemingly he has friends in high places to avoid excommunication for not attending to his duties). Nuatha is noted for standing nine foot tall, a benefit of his Boost SIZ spell.