The Mages Institute

"What I'm saying is you summoning an eldritch god using the Necronomicon isn't the issue, the problem is using that expired ink which violates Chapter 36, Title 1031, Section 42A, Subsection B - 1." - Institute Inspectors to the cultists of Karlazuul, evil eldritch god who had millions sacrificed in his name a millenia ago, located at Ecumenopolis 1031 Serig-Narring Drive, 27 SE, Testimony of anonymous cultist   The Mages Institute, founded in 2134 PE in wake of the falling Empire, headquartered in the Adeptus system, regulates and funds magic research throughout most of the highly developed systems of the galaxy. They primarily interest themselves on research, archiving knowledge, and setting and enforcing magical research guidelines.   Although more of a decentralized organization where magic colleges and academies pool together research and collaborate, they do posses significant staying power as a virtue of safeguarding the majority of the magic worlds knowledge.  

Council of Magi

"It was something to do with magic? Why didn't you say so!" - Unknown author, 783 PE, recovered diaries   The centralized governing body of the Institute, they concern themselves with the general upkeep and operations of the organization. With general executive power over the organization, they have the last word on anything, especially when it comes to magic.

Board of Regulations and Laws

"If I had a copper piece for every time the Institute said no, I could buy the whole galaxy 20 times over, and they would still say that I can't mix mercury and holy water!" - Vercindrow the Salty, 1343 PE, "Postulates on the Existence of the Fabled Draconic Lich"

The Board

"Those stuffy blokes up in that conference room, making increasingly stricter rules while nodding their heads and stroking their beards as though they were saving the world again like it was a Tuesday, those the people you talking about? Good luck then, If your lucky they might posthumously grant your appeal" - Unknown author, 400 PE, "The Process of Making a Magic Regulation"   Although technically made up of 72 different rule making groups throughout the galaxy, anyone who has tried to go through the bureaucracy knows they might as well be a monolithic ooze for all intents and purposes. They make all the rules and regulations in regard to magic research, and although a rather stuffy collection of museum exhibits, they have created the gold standard of magic safety rules.   Currently, of the 72 boards the top regulatory boards are the boards of Vernas, Upper Ecumenopolis, and Skarner Central.

Regulations of the Institute

"Can't mix chicken blood and highland gemstones because its "volatile". Can't use No. 33 Wimbridge magic pens for abjuration magic due to safety concerns. Can't cast light in a dark alleyway while being ambushed without declaring it beforehand, and you definitely can't use a 2 year old mule as a testing subject for potions. Darn blast, at this point just say what I can do!" - Vercidrow the Salty, 1338 PE, Personal Diaries   A vast collection of regulations and rules spanning back thousands of years, it is rare that a magic researcher doesn't violate at least one in their lifetimes. The required books to archive all this information is so much, that it is a inside joke of those who maintain and store such texts that when faced with the galaxy's greatest threats, the Institute could simply seal them under mountains of just the hardback bound books for thousands of years.   The official regulatory texts are kept in the organization's associated school libraries and its archival systems.  

Corps of the Judiciary

"The Institute doesn't care if you've sacrificed a hundred screaming goats and a blues singing toad, they're more concerned about the unsafe magic fixtures on your fireplace mantle." - alleged comments by King Obershell to his advisers when debating the usage of dark magic, 441 PE, unknown source  

Department of Inspection

"Wednesday, March 23, 900 PE, Woke up early in the morning to knocking on the door. Turns out it was the Mage Institute inspectors. Apparently, my license for magical experiments had expired, and there were complaints about my work disturbing others. They were rather helpful chaps, I paid the fine and promised not to annoy the neighbors without fuss, and they didn't even pay much mind to the pile of thousands of corpses in the corner." - Arnell Veill, Necromancer of Chernel Isle and terror of the Cane Constellation, Personal account   In charge of ensuring that the Institutes regulations are followed in magical research and prevention of unsafe magic working conditions, they are easily the face of the organization. They are considered one of the most strict and efficient inspecting and auditory bodies in the Galactic Core, famed to sniff out even the most mild or hidden violations.   They're major claim to fame, however, is the amount of evil magic persons they track down and fine. They have an impressive track record of fining necromancers, with the most common violation being unsafe blood spillage in the workplace.  

Department of Enforcement

"Arresting people? Heck, the last 10 missions have been cleaning up the aftermath of a wizards experiment and their remains." - Anomymous   Although called the department of enforcement, their job tends to be more cleanup than anything else. However, when they are required to catch magic criminals they are certainly up to the task.  

Institute Archives

"If there's a book that even has a little bit on magic, the Institute has it. If you don't find it in the Institute, you will soon." - Unknown proverb   The main branch that stores and safeguards magic and knowledge, they partner up with magic schools throughout the galaxy to collect and disseminate knowledge, along with holding onto the regulations of the Board.

Partner Libraries

"Afraid of your books catching fire and loosing hundreds of years of knowledge? Well partner up with the Mages Institute today and we'll backup up to 50% of your entire catalog" - Institute Advertisement, SE 104   Libraries and colleges that partner up with the Institute get access to its vast catalog and get to have portions of their own unique texts copied into the archives. In exchange, the collaborating organization is asked to share its magic research within the Institutes network.   A notable college partnering with the Insitute is the Sunaire College of Illusions, which contributed greatly to the Institutes own research and knowledge. However, after a significant fire broke out that burned the college to the ground, the Mages were called upon to provide their own textual copies of the Colleges magical texts. Despite this insurance, it is almost certain that some magic knowledge has been lost.  

The Archives

"In PE 154, Moonick the Persistent read all 675,343 chapters of the magic regulations from the Institutes archives, a feat not accomplished for thousands of years, earning him his aforementioned title. It was said that when he read the final chapter, for 100 days and night he recited back the entire codex of the Institute to a team of 80 mages working 2-hour shifts in order to verify that he had indeed done so. When he finished, he lied down and died from old age, bringing an end to 130 years of continues reading" -Opening prologue of "The Tale of Moonick: An Epic Reading", PE 120   The main textual libraries of the Insitute, they contain the vast majority of the Institutes own laws and research, along with backups of partner school's libraries. Although not quite expansive as other famous book collections, it is certainly the first pick when looking for knowledge about magic. It's also the second pick for scholars of the law, as it has a vast selection of laws for a case study.  

The Core Library

"The first rule of being a librarian at the Core Library is that there is no Core Library" - Unknown   Shrouded in secrecy, the Institute has adamantly denied the existence of such a place. Many have theorized that it lies in a pocket dimension, requiring a special key and recognition from something. If this place does exist, it is thought that the library contains lost and ancient texts from the days of the Empire.  

Membership

Members of the Institute get access to the main archives of the organization. Any colleges and libraries that are partnered with the Institute will recognize your membership and grant access to their main selections.