[X]Pellas
Magic, real magic was a dying art you mused bitterly, years of training and practice, and immense study to properly learn to control your powers and beyond that, actually understand it. Most everyone had some small tricks for modern convenience, but it was only those powerfully gifted, from strong magical bloodlines who invested hard work and effort who could truly claim the title of Magus.
The oathsworn of the Kingdom of light had at first been an interesting curiosity. Petty lordlings with simple battle magics, used with the casual ease that a common cook might heat a pot. And the stories of their queen? Mere rumour your forebears had scoffed.
In a perfect world you would have truly trained these unnatural magi with their oathsworn powers. Or parlayed the training of mages into positions of prestige and influence at court.
Except, as it had turned out, the oath was no petty wild magic, but a powerful Ritual. One that granted their queen all the power of an Archmage and allowed her to simply bestow power upon any petty noble with a sword who swore to serve her. Worse, true mages, those born with exceptional power and talent and who'd honed it through years of learning found their own powers dulled. Fireballs more weaker than they ought be, and spellcraft more tiring.
Mages had grown fewer in number, and weaker. And it seemed practically any levied peasant nowaday could focus magic into a dangerous spell. Hardly the equal to a mage. But in numbers common soldiers pooling their powers could match and overwhelm their foes. And the high nobles of the crowns inner circle used their increased power to challenge entire batteries of mages.
All of which meant that Pellas was a city in decline. Among the mages it was oft whispered that the Old Queen was a fat whore content to sit on her solitary conquest and preen at the admiration sent her way by stupid peasants and inbred fools playing with swords.
With the ascension of a new Queen however, the Kingdom looks set to expand once more. But before she can do anything emissaries from throughout her realm have been called to witness her coronation and pledge their loyalty to her. And so, after many arguments, the ruling council of Hellas comprised of its oldest and wisest mages, decided upon sending you.
Choose one.
[X]The new Graduate.
Having just completed your studies you're a mage in full. And, even if only by technicality a noble. That is, that by tradition Pellas induction into the kingdom gained the agreement that any mage would earn the honorary title of Lord or Lady. And that is you, a lord. You even own land, through working hard in your apprenticeship your master paid off the debts from your parents farm, and arranged things so that the ownership fell into your name. A ranch keeping a pair of goats and several small fields of wheat and grain. It's not much, but you at least finished your schooling without becoming indebted to a sponsor, and are far better than the majority of mages forced to find some sort of craft. Still, being a young mage you have certain obligations to your superiors. Thus it was chosen that you should represent the city and swear loyalty on the councils behalf. A rare honour for a mage such as yourself to be entrusted with. If things go well, you mayhaps even find work in the capital, saving you from returning to your families farm or from having to compete with the squabbling mages and craftsmen of Pellas who jealously guard the secrets of their livelihoods.
[X]The Teacher.
Once again, the politicking of the council has fucked you over. You're to swear loyalty to the new Queen, on behalf of the entire city. An experienced mage, fully paid up guildmember, former adventurer, and mentor to over a dozen apprentices now respected mages in their own right. The argument is that none of the council members can be spared from their duties or experiments. And so with this terms class being smaller than usual (they get smaller every year you swear) you are the lucky faculty member chosen to swear loyalty. You're no fool, this is an insult to the crown, but a calculated one. Though it also perhaps spells opportunity. Until and unless the council meet with her Royal Radiance and gain her approval their loyalty, slim as it is, only weakens them and strengthens her. Should she bless you... well. More power oft helps with climbing the slippery slopes of university and city politics. Apart from your teaching tenure which is significant, you are silent partner in several businesses and have students aplenty that owe you favours. Taking one or two to the capital for your own protection wouldn't go amiss, and would prove a useful learning opportunity for your most talented apprentices.
[X]The Council-member.
Powerful. Wise. Learned. None can question your credentials as a battlemage. Nor the quality of your artifice. Of late the council has fallen into something of a Rut and has attempted to cleave true to their vision of exporting weaponry, potions and magical items to the kingdom at large. The queen after all, has had little need of natural battlemages. She upset the natural order of the world, and most mages have been relegated to the role of tinkerers, or a curiosity compared to their aberrant nobles, most of whom know magic only as a weapon to be wielded. And so the council has decided that a reminder is in order, of what exactly true mages can accomplish if given the chance. As the youngest of the council, perhaps inevitably the task fell to you. Your fellows invoked seniority, and calling a vote on the matter in protest (your own experiments were delicate too!) saw them designate you as Pellas representative unanimously. Or, at least unanimously not counting your own vote. Though the official records show that you accepted the task with grace and dignity. Regardless of the murky politics, to pledge Loyalty to the Crown falls to you.
And that raises the question does it not? Every citizen swears loyalty. But just how loyal are you?
Choose one
[X]Fulfilling the terms as written.
Pellas swore loyalty in exchange for protection. They shall pay taxes and tithes that are due to the crown but for the most part have always been left to handle their own affairs. This is a simple legal formality to acknowledge that you have no plans to depose the queen. Then you can return to what is important.
++ Power
[X]Loyalty to the Throne.
People swear loyalty to the ruling Magisters and receive protection in return. A noble sentiment, it is of course a mages duty to guide, teach and protect their charges. Luminaire has been a shield for your city, and so you in turn owe her loyalty, and respect the monarchy for their defence of the realm and in ruling justly.
++++ Power
[X]Religious Adoration.
The first Queen, Founder of Luminaire, is nothing less than a blessed saint, and her descendents are noble, pure and brave. You truly believe that the crown has the interests of the people at heart, and as a mage are sworn to honour and obey your Queen, the most powerful mage in the entire country. A not uncommon view in most of the kingdom, but an opinion that is best kept quiet in Hellas, lest it be used against you. (cannot be picked with Council-member)
+++++++ Power
[X]Jealousy
You will swear the oath of loyalty only because you have to. The Monarchy has more power than you, for now. So you shall obey. But through one means or another you mean to see yourself or your descendants upon the throne. It is useful that commoners pledge power to their betters, but in truth it is mages that should rule. Real mages. Not princesses skating by on an ancient ritual and casting magic blindly without the faintest idea what they're doing.
+ Power? Maybe?
OOC: Voting is by plan for simplicities sake. Votes not in a plan will be disregarded.
Another thing to consider. Is that choosing your loyalty, is your honestly held opinion of the crown, and how much you truly intend to serve her. this can change over the course of the quest. But if you choose maximum loyalty to the Queen, you will behave as such in character and requests from her will not be optional.
On the other hand, choosing jealousy, will mean that largely, you will be bitter about the status of True mages.
I only mention the relative power boosts for the sake of completion. This has far more to do with roleplay and your character motivations. If you want to roleplay the main character thinking the idea of a warrior mage queen protecting the people as a magical girl is wonderful and self sacrificing of her and having him believe that she should be worshipped as a borderline holy figure that's when you pick Religious Adoration. Not because you're looking for an easy power boost.
