Imperial Riftmancer

To even be considered for candidacy, one must graduate from the Scholae Arcanii with mastery in Celestial Harmonics, Aetheric Physics, and the most perilous of disciplines—Forbidden Calculus. This alone filters out the majority of applicants. Beyond this, prospective Riftmancers are subjected to psychometric screening, aetheric resonance testing, and, most critically, the Rite of Witnessing—an orchestrated exposure to an active Rift. Only those who return unchanged in body and soul, or altered in ways deemed “survivable,” are permitted to continue.

Surviving this stage does not mean one is ready. Years more are spent in close proximity to stable anomalies, learning to read the tremors of reality, until one is finally granted the Seal of the Basilica and the title of Imperial Riftmancer.

The journey to becoming a Riftmancer is as layered as the riftfields they study. A student begins as an Aether Initiate, learning foundational magical theory. Upon proving aptitude, they are promoted to Riftwatch Observer, stationed in passive zones to record tremors and field anomalies. Those who survive long enough, and exhibit both clarity of mind and creativity of thought, become Licensed Riftmancers, permitted to interact with low-tier rifts under supervision.

Only after proving resilience, insight, and loyalty to the Empire are they named Imperial Riftmancer, gaining full access to the Vaults of Echo and the deepest libraries of the Basilica. A rare few may ascend further, assuming the mantle of Arch-Riftmancer, entrusted to lead teams and consult with the Senate directly.

Riftmancers are generously compensated by the state. Beyond a substantial gold salary, they are provided monthly stipends in raw arcane materials, exclusive lodging within Riftwatch Quarter, and access to sealed knowledge vaults. In the event of death—a common occurrence—their families receive full imperial honors, land annuities, and burial rights in sanctified ground.

Few professions carry the weight and privilege of the Riftmancer. They may move through imperial halls without being questioned, consult with senatorial panels on magical policy, and request almost any material or arcane substance from the Codex Vault. Their names are etched into Codex Crystals, and their findings are immortalized in the Basilica’s central chamber. Though many die in obscurity, those who endure are elevated to near-mythic status.

Imperial Riftmancers serve as the Empire’s interpreters of the Rift. Their primary duties include studying the cyclical behavior of Rift openings, analyzing aetheric dissonance, advising the Arcanii on magical stability, and—in rare cases—sealing or reshaping rift tears themselves.

Their work forms the foundation of the Empire’s understanding of the celestial cycle, and much of modern magical theory owes its structure to Riftmancer breakthroughs.

Publicly, they are honored. Within elite circles, they are revered. But among the common folk and less arcane nobility, they are viewed with a mix of fascination and unease. The common saying goes: “Shake not the hand of a Riftmancer, lest it shake you back.”

In truth, they stand alone—elevated and isolated, cloaked in both prestige and dread.

Only five new Imperial Riftmancers are licensed per decade. Of these, nearly half perish or are declared “in flux” within ten years. Most are human, born from noble or Arcanii-trained bloodlines. One Riftborn, Eilara Drast, has held the title since 471 AR—her survival a matter of both celebration and controversy.

The profession arose during the Third Rift Cycle, when uncontrolled riftbreaks devastated three imperial provinces. After the Breach of Pale Song, a lone survivor, believed to be the first Riftmancer, returned bearing insights that prevented a second catastrophe. Since then, the Basilica Arcanii has institutionalized Riftmancy, developing it from reactive desperation into a structured—but still lethal—discipline.

The most famous event in Riftmancer history remains the Cascading Sundering of 312 AR, which would have fractured Nova Petra into raw void had not Riftmancer calculations aligned to stabilize its heartline.

The Rift Lens, Veinwand, Codex Crystal, and Nullcloak form the basic kit. Most Riftmancers also carry personalized foci and medical stabilizers.

Their craft consumes Riftstone, lunar water, aetheric powder, and starforged ink. All require imperial clearance to obtain.

A Riftmancer’s sanctum is a chamber of silence and starlight. Their work is conducted within shielded vaults, or aboard high-altitude observatories fitted with Riftglass domes. Their primary tools include the Veinwand, which vibrates in response to tear-frequency; the Nullcloak, a protective mantle woven from Riftsteel; and the Rift Lens, an artifact monocle through which spatial instability becomes visible as light fractures.

Their Codex Crystals are sacred—each a repository of thought, memory, and formulae, sealed by soulprint and accessible only to the bonded Riftmancer.

Riftmancers monitor anomalies, stabilize zones, seal tears, seal Codex Crystals, and advise the Arcanii and the Inquisition of the Fifth Coil.

No Riftmancer retires unscathed.

The profession carries the risk of complete magical breakdown, temporal overlap, permanent resonance-induced hallucination, and transformation into a null-form. Even success leaves its mark: many Riftmancers suffer from insomnia, memory loss, or harmonic speech dissonance—speaking as if their words echo forward and back through time.