Technomages

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The Technomages are a faction of Torch City, responsible for keeping and researching lore from The Old Days before The Blackout. Largely respected and feared by the population, Technomages hold most of the ancient relics and texts, using scrolls and artifacts to try to replicate the wonders of a bygone era.

Mission
 The Technomages have always been adamant that technology is dangerous and should only be used under full supervision of the order. At the time of Amber's coming of age,  the Technomages have 4 seats on the Council of Elders and endeavour to persuade the council to sanction exploration forays beyond the walls. There have not been such sorties for at least a hundred years and the Technomages are tireless in their claims that any relics that could be found on the outside could hold the key to vast improvements in Torch City.



Inquisitors
Technomage Inquisitors are specially ordained members of the order that are responsible with gathering any illegally-owned devices or artefacts. Citizens found with such items in their possession are drastically punished. All technology present in Torch City is under lease from the Technomage order. Access to such technology is restricted only to citizens who need it to perform their duties, and only for a limited period of time. Word has it that the rich and powerful can bribe Technomages to grant them special devices for parties and other social events, but there has never been any proof to support this theory. There are also rumours about The Black Market, a place where non-Technomages can purchase and sell old technology, usually ill-gotten or salvaged from The Sewers by scavangers. Inquisitors have yet to find this supposed market, but are tireless in pursuing anyone with any information regarding its whereabouts.

Opposition
Not everyone is content with the way the Technomages restrict access to old tech and devices. Growing unrest in the city demands free distribution of such technology and an end to the Technomage Inquisitors. Most such demands come from members of The Lit, who consider that not allowing the people free access is hindering their access to salvation.

Organisation
A loose hierarchy governs the Technomage order, with ranks and honors being awarded based on knowledge and proficiency in the lost arts more than on age or seniority. Such ranks offer their bearer access to rare tomes, forbidden lore and a deeper understanding of the ways before The Blackout.

In increasing order of importance, the ranks are:
 * Apprentice - Automatically granted to children and teenagers enrolled by their parents or brought by fate to the gates of the Library.
 * Artificier - Granted to all scholars who pass the rite of Usage - using the old relics and maintaining their parts in good order.
 * Engineer - Granted to all scholars who pass the rite of Restoration - repairing old relics that have ceased to function and making them work anew.
 * Magus - Awarded to all scholars who pass the rite of Creation - using old parts or crafting new ones in order to forge a new device that performs a different task - only the wisest and most innovative of Technomages reach this rank.
 * Grand Magus - T here can only be one Grand Magus of the order at any one time, this most-esteemed title being appointed by a rite of succession performed shortly before the passing of the old Grand Magus. Ancient tomes and manuscripts point towards a time when the Grand Magus and the king ruled the city as equals, but speaking such tales is ill-advised in the political environment surrounding Amber's coming of age.

The title of Grand Magus currently residing with council-member Grand Magus Arpegys, who also serves as Master Librarian and foster-father to Flint, the apprentice.