The Arcanum

Welcome to The Arcanum.

The Arcanum is an organization of Mages, Arch-Mages, Alchemists, and other magic-using classes (excluding those that are strictly getting their spell casting powers from an outside source, such as Mystics, Warlocks, Bio-Mancers and similar, these can visit any Sanctuary, but they cannot live there, or expect to be treated as "true" Mages). The Arcanum is treated in most respects like a guild, but there are differences.

• In order to become a member of The Arcanum, there are a few things you have to be aware of. First of these is that The Arcanum is not a standard Guild, it is much more than that, it is closer to being a Government of Guilds.
  
  
• If you are a member of one "chapter" of The Arcanum, then you are a member of them all. This means that you can pay your dues at any Sanctuary and expect it to be noted at all of them (all Arcanum Guild Houses are referred to as Sanctuaries).
  
  
• All Sanctuaries are specially designed Stone Pyramids built by Stone Masters and Arch-Mages expressly for The Arcanum (Note: A general description of these pyramids will be detailed in another document). Also, all Sanctuaries are interconnected through an interdimensional communications and transport network consisting of controlled ley line nexus points. If you see a Sanctuary in your area, then you can be assured that it's sitting right on top of a nexus. The Main Complex of The Arcanum is a complex of over 50 huge stone pyramids located on a series of incredibly powerful nexus points, this will be detailed in another (probably more than one) document.
  
  
• The fees are at a set level (depending on the world, and level of technology) for Rifts or Phase World, I suggest 1000-2000 credits per year (really depends on how much cash the characters have access to).
  
  
• The donation expectations per member are not as stringent as in a standard guild, i.e. they don't expect you to donate a percentage of whatever you find, earn, steal, etc. All they want is your yearly fees and if you're willing they will gladly accept donations of any reasonable kind (magic items are the most sought after).
  
  
• All you have to do to maintain your "good standing" status is not to harm other Arcanum members, The Arcanum, and similar, and to also maintain your dues on a regular basis (members do get dropped from good standing if they miss any payments, but do not suffer the Wrath of The Arcanum as a result of their forgetfulness, meaning that those who do not pay their dues are simply and plainly dropped from membership rolls).
  
  
• Those who dishonor The Arcanum or it's members will suffer the Wrath of The Arcanum by expulsion and Power Stripping, and will be dealt with in a manner similar to the one described in The Palladium^® Fantasy RPG pg. 103.
  
  
• Those who willfully kill another member or council member, not in self-defense, will be executed! The only exception is in the case of a Mage-Duel (where two mages face-off in a battle (not necessarily to the death) over some unresolvable issue, only a few rules... no spells of mass destruction and neither mage can leave a circle that is 200 feet across until there is a decided victory. If either mage attacks anyone outside the circle, both mages will lose their lives, instantly (the circle itself is capable of magically summoning 50 demons that are confined to within the circle until they kill those inside the circle who are not one of the summoned demons). Punishment for lesser crimes will be determined by the victim (not to exceed the extent of the crime committed). The Arcanum basically uses the "eye-for-an-eye" crime-and-punishment method, though somewhat brutal, it usually ensures that the crime rate in Arcanum controlled areas is low, since Mages are not generally afraid to use their influence to seek revenge upon those who wronged them.