Covenant for the Preservation of Arcane Resources
Signed: Year 1200 of the Era of Conflict (concurrent with the Covenant of Divine Order)
Signatories: The Assembly of Mortal Realms, representing all kingdoms and peoples of Eldara
Enforced by: The Tribunal of Balance (joint divine-mortal court)
Sacred Witness: The Ythraewyn, anchor of The Aetheric Weave (Magic)
Preamble
Whereas the Aetheric Weave is a finite resource, created at the moment of cosmic formation and diminished by excessive use, and whereas the magical devastation of the First and Second Eras has depleted this precious reserve to dangerous levels, and whereas magic is essential to civilization but must be preserved for future generations, we, the peoples of Eldara, do establish this Pact in the shadow of the Ythraewyn, which gave birth to our consciousness and serves as living reminder of our responsibility to the cosmos that sustains us.
Article I: The Doctrine of Necessary Use
Section 1 - Fundamental Prohibition
The use of arcane magic for frivolous, wanton, or purely recreational purposes is hereby forbidden across all territories under the jurisdiction of this Pact. Magic is a sacred trust, not a toy.
Prohibited Uses Include:
- Magical entertainment or spectacle without educational or ceremonial purpose
- Use of destructive magic for sport or demonstration
- Wasteful display of power to impress or intimidate
- Creation of permanent magical effects for purely aesthetic purposes
- Casual use of magic for tasks easily accomplished through mundane means
Section 2 - The Principle of Proportionality
When magic is used for permitted purposes, the practitioner must employ the minimum force necessary to achieve the legitimate goal. Excessive magical expenditure, even for lawful purposes, violates the spirit of conservation this Pact establishes.
Article II: Permitted Practitioners and Their Limitations
Section 1 - Wizards (Arcane Scholars)
Permitted Uses:
- Study and research of magical theory and aetheric weave mechanics
- Teaching approved magical curricula to certified students
- Investigation and enforcement of this Pact’s provisions
- Creation of protective wards for communities and critical infrastructure
- Magical assistance in matters of public safety and disaster response
Limitations:
- Must be certified by recognized magical institutions
- Subject to annual audits of magical expenditure
- Forbidden from engaging in magical dueling except in authorized enforcement actions
- May not sell magical services for purely commercial entertainment
Section 2 - Clerics (Divine Channelers)
Permitted Uses:
- Healing of disease, injury, and affliction
- Blessing of crops, livestock, and communal endeavors
- Warding against undead and unnatural corruption
- Performance of religious ceremonies and sacred rites
- Any magic granted directly by their divine patron within the scope of that deity’s approved domain
Limitations:
- Power flows through divine channels, not personal arcane reserves (less regulated as it doesn’t deplete the Weave directly)
- Must serve recognized religious orders in good standing
- Destructive divine magic requires justification as defensive or sanctioned by divine authority
Section 3 - Paladins (Holy Warriors)
Permitted Uses:
- Smiting of evil and protection of the innocent
- Healing and blessing of allies in service of their oath
- Detection of corruption and malevolent intent
- Magical enhancement of combat abilities when defending lawful causes
- Any power granted by their sacred oath within its defined scope
Limitations:
- Must be bound by formal oaths overseen by religious or civic authority
- Divine power subject to same considerations as clerics
- May not use power for personal gain or vendetta outside their oath
Section 4 - Druids (Primal Guardians)
Permitted Uses:
- Protection and restoration of natural environments
- Communication with and summoning of natural allies
- Weather magic for agricultural and environmental balance
- Healing through natural forces
- Shapeshifting and primal magic in service of natural order
Limitations:
- Must be initiated into recognized druidic circles
- Power draws from primal forces rather than pure Weave (moderate regulation)
- Destructive natural magic requires demonstration of ecological necessity
- May not use magic to favor civilization over natural balance without justification
Section 5 - Monk (Internal Adepts)
Special Status: Monks represent a unique case, as their abilities channel their own life force (ki) rather than drawing directly from the Aetheric Weave. They are therefore largely exempt from this Pact’s restrictions, though egregious abuse that damages the practitioner or others may still warrant investigation.
Permitted Uses:
- All traditional monastic abilities that channel internal energy
- Enhancement of physical and mental capabilities through ki manipulation
- Healing and restoration through life force redirection
Minimal Regulation:
- No certification required
- No usage audits
- Encouraged as sustainable alternative to arcane magic
Section 6 - Sorcerers (Innate Casters)
High-Threat Classification: Sorcerers, who possess innate magical ability without formal training, represent the highest risk for wasteful or dangerous magic use.
Mandatory Requirements:
- Must register with local magical authorities upon manifestation of powers
- Required to undergo training in conservation and control
- Subject to enhanced monitoring and frequent audits
- Prohibited from using magic publicly without supervision until certified as responsible
- May be required to wear identifying markers in some jurisdictions
Permitted Uses (once certified):
- Personal defense and protection of others
- Controlled use of innate abilities for public benefit
- Participation in sanctioned magical research
- Emergency use when other practitioners unavailable
Severe Restrictions:
- Casual or emotional magic use strictly forbidden
- Wild magic surges must be reported and may result in mandatory additional training
- Repeat offenders may face magical binding or exile to monitored sanctuaries
Article III: Enforcement Mechanisms
Section 1 - The Tribunal of Balance
The Tribunal established by the Covenant of Divine Order shall also enforce this Pact, with authority to:
- Investigate suspected violations
- Issue binding rulings on ambiguous cases
- Impose sanctions on violators
- Certify magical institutions and practitioners
- Conduct mandatory audits of magical expenditure
Section 2 - Regional Enforcement
Each kingdom shall establish Magical Regulation Bureaus responsible for:
- Registering all magical practitioners
- Conducting routine inspections and audits
- Investigating reported violations
- Educating the public about conservation
- Coordinating with the Tribunal on serious cases
Section 3 - Weave Monitoring
Certified wizards shall maintain Weave Observation Posts at strategic locations to:
- Measure local Weave stability and strength
- Detect excessive magical draws
- Identify unauthorized large-scale magic use
- Provide early warning of dangerous Weave degradation
- Report findings to regional authorities and the Tribunal
Article IV: Violations and Penalties
Section 1 - Classification of Offenses
Minor Violations:
- First-time frivolous use
- Excessive force for legitimate purpose
- Failure to register or report as required
- Accidental violation without negligence
Penalties: Warning, mandatory education, temporary suspension of privileges, fines
Moderate Violations:
- Repeated minor violations
- Reckless magic use endangering Weave stability
- Practicing without certification
- Selling illegal magical services
Penalties: Magical binding (partial), substantial fines, exile from magical practice for term of years, community service
Severe Violations:
- Deliberate large-scale Weave depletion
- Magical combat or dueling outside sanctioned circumstances
- Teaching forbidden magic
- Creating dangerous magical items for profit
Penalties: Permanent magical binding, permanent exile, imprisonment, death in extreme cases
Section 2 - Magical Binding
The Tribunal may authorize the placement of magical restrictions on violators:
- Partial Binding: Limits types or power of magic available
- Complete Binding: Severs access to arcane casting entirely (does not affect divine or ki-based powers)
- Binding may be temporary or permanent depending on offense severity
- Only the Tribunal can authorize binding procedures
Section 3 - Appeals and Rehabilitation
All accused have the right to:
- Present defense before the Tribunal or regional authority
- Appeal convictions to the Tribunal
- Apply for certification restoration after serving penalties
- Undergo rehabilitation training to demonstrate responsible practice
Article V: Sacred Exceptions
Section 1 - Emergency Override
This Pact may be temporarily suspended in specific locations during:
- Existential threats to civilization requiring magical defense
- Natural disasters beyond mundane response capabilities
- Invasion by extra-planar forces
- Weave corruption requiring massive countermeasures
Authorization required from: Unanimous Tribunal vote OR formal request from three-quarters of affected population
Section 2 - Research and Development
Approved institutions may conduct controlled high-energy magical experiments for:
- Development of more efficient magical techniques
- Research into Weave restoration methods
- Creation of artifacts serving critical civilizational needs
- Advancement of magical theory benefiting conservation
Strict oversight required: Detailed proposals, Tribunal approval, monitored execution, published results
Section 3 - Cultural and Religious Observance
Traditional ceremonies of genuine spiritual or cultural significance receive special consideration:
- Religious festivals may include approved magical elements
- Cultural rites of passage may incorporate traditional magic
- Seasonal celebrations tied to agricultural or cosmic cycles
- Funerary and life-transition rituals
Requirements: Documented tradition, community benefit, proportional use, periodic renewal of approval
Article VI: Education and Cultural Shift
Section 1 - Mandatory Education
All citizens shall receive basic education regarding:
- The finite nature of magical resources
- The consequences of the First and Second Era magical wars
- Their role in conservation efforts
- How to identify and report violations
Section 2 - Incentives for Conservation
Kingdoms are encouraged to:
- Honor and reward practitioners who demonstrate exceptional conservation
- Develop non-magical solutions to common problems
- Create cultural narratives celebrating restraint and wisdom over magical display
- Fund research into Weave restoration and regeneration
Section 3 - The Ythraewyn Pilgrimage
All certified magical practitioners are encouraged to make at least one pilgrimage to the Ythraewyn to:
- Meditate on their responsibility to the Weave
- Connect with the sacred origins of their power
- Renew their commitment to conservation
- Learn from the tree’s living connection to magic itself
Closing Invocation
In the shadow of the Ythraewyn, which birthed our consciousness and anchors the magic that sustains our civilization, we pledge to use this sacred gift with wisdom, restraint, and profound respect for future generations. May our descendants inherit a world where the Weave flows strong and pure, where magic serves life rather than destroying it, and where the balance between power and responsibility reflects the balance that defines our very nature.
We swear this by the tree that gave us birth, by the Weave that gives us power, and by the future we hold in trust. So it is written. So it shall be.