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Magisters are members of the Magisterium, the upper house of the Tevinter Imperial Senate.[1] These coveted seats are split among the Circle of Magi, the Chantry, and the major families—who are currently all mages. Their edicts rule the Tevinter Imperium.[2] Young mages often aspire to become a magister's apprentice because it offers them the best chance of ascending to the rank of magister. Foreign mages may also indenture themselves to a magister in order to eventually become imperial citizens.[3]

Background[]

When Tevinter tribes were ruled by kings, before the founding of the Tevinter Imperium, a magister was a top representative of a local society of mages, the Circle of Magi, in a state council of the most powerful mages. The magisters would convene in Minrathous and held dominion over all magic in the land.[4]

The Magisterium known today was established by Archon Darinius.[5] When Darinius seized the Tevinter throne in -1195 Ancient, the Court of the Magisters became the royal court, and "magister" was the only title of nobility recognized in Tevinter.[4]

It is technically not required to be a mage to become a magister. Indeed, after the Transfiguration that saw the Old Gods abandoned and Andrastianism embraced, most magisters were non-mages. Since the schism between the Imperial Chantry and the Orlesian Chantry in the Towers Age, however, non-mages in the Magisterium have slowly been weeded out.[1] After his election in 7:34 Storm, Archon Nomaran lifted the old rules prohibiting mages from taking part in politics. Within a century, mages were openly ruling the country.[6]

The Magisterium makes the Imperium's laws and chooses a new Archon if there is no approved heir. A true magister is a figure of real power in Tevinter. All other mages serve at their pleasure, and any mage not of proper lineage has no influence outside of that which personal wealth and talent provide.[1] One can become part of the Magisterium in various ways:

The Archon used to be elected from the ranks of the Magisterium but this practice has been banned since the Black Age.[7]

After the Third Blight, the Orlesian Chantry promoted the story that a group of magisters who managed to physically enter the Fade and the Golden City of the Maker[8] were responsible for the corruption of the city and led to the creation of the first darkspawn. The Chantry refers to this as the "second sin."

Known magisters[]

───────
  • Adralla – born in Vyrantium; after fleing from Tevinter, she was commissioned by Divine Clemence I in 4:46 Black to write the Litany of Adralla—a tool used against blood mages and demonic possession[9][10][11]
  • Aesthia – lived in 7:71 Storm; she criticized blood magic in a letter to her apprentice[12][13]
  • Vibius Agorian – who authored the text Questioning the Chant, which was later banned by the Chantry[14]
  • AhrimanFenris' sister, Varania, serves at his court[15]
  • Sethius Amladaris – High Priest of Dumat and one of the ancient magisters who entered the Golden City and became one of the first darkspawn[16]
  • Elio Andante[17]
  • Anodatus – a descendant of Archon Ishal; his family is traditionally responsible for the upkeep of the Juggernaut Golems which guard Minrathous[18]
  • Gereon Alexius – a member of the Venatori and the mentor of Dorian Pavus
  • Allineas – a famous researcher during the Towers Age who first coined the term "arcanist derangement" in relation with apostates[19]
  • Irian Amladaris – current representative of House Amladaris in the Magisterium as of 9:40 Dragon[20]
  • Rezaren Ammosine – a magister from the city of Nessum
  • Zaldereon Antonidas – an acquaintance of Professor Frederic[21]
  • Aurarius – campaigned for increased funding to the Circles in 9:39[22]
  • Bicklius – a centurion[23]
  • Calanthus – he believed he would become the "Ascended Man" and for that purpose he sacrificed thirty three slaves in a rite which turned him into an abomination (7:71 Storm; deceased)[12][13]
  • Callistus – of Teraevyn; his research on the Fade earned him the epithet "the Fade-Touched"[24][25]
  • Cavellus – creator of the Amulet of the War Mage[26]
  • Cruxis – he led an expedition into the Arbor Wilds[27]
  • DanariusFenris's former master
  • Tractus DanariusDanarius' bastard son
  • Delphine – lived in Minrathous (8:65 Blessed)[28]
  • Dulcia – rumored to be a Venatori[29]
  • Erasthenes – a famed scholar of the Old gods
  • Gallus – a magister in league with the Venatori who studied the gangue in the Hissing Wastes (9:41 Dragon)[30]
  • Livius Erimond – a magister and a member of the Venatori (9:41 Dragon)
  • Hadriana – an apprentice of Danarius
  • Harach – the famous creator of the Juggernaut armor set[31]
  • Alerio Invidus – father of Francesca Invidus and Florian Invidus[32]
  • Emerius Krayvan – founder of Kirkwall[33][34]
  • Nanterius – Praetor of Vyrantium in 9:40 Dragon with an interest in mining activities beyond Tevinter borders[35]
  • Nastasia – a magister who had her son torn to pieces by a darkspawn Shriek[36]
  • Nenealeus – trains slaves into mage-killers[37]
  • Urian Nihalias – a magister who became the Black Divine in 9:27 Dragon after staging a coup against his predecessor
  • Oratius – a poet who authored the Chant for Dreamers[38]
  • Amelia Pavus – the creator of the Circulum Infinitus[39]
  • Dorian Pavus – becomes head of House Pavus after his father is assassinated; he assumes his father's seat in the Magisterium (c. 9:43 Dragon)[40]
  • Gideon Pavus – an ancestor of House Pavus who was tried for treason during the Exalted Age[41]
  • Halward Pavus – the former representative of House Pavus in the Magisterium; father of Dorian Pavus
  • Parthalan – his legion was supposed to quell a slave uprising in Kirkwall, but none of them ever arrived; owner of the Staff of Parthalan
  • Pelidanus – head of the Corial Order in the early Exalted Age[42]
  • Pellinar – who wrote about the cultural habits of the Orlesians to his countrymen[43]
  • Pendictus – a researcher of the secrets of elven Veilfire[44]
  • Leviculix Porenni – a Tevinter supremacist[45]
  • Prycis – a magister in league with the Venatori who commanded to examine the elven ruins near Crestwood (9:41 Dragon)[46]
  • Quillan – served under Claudian and enforced the cruel practices within the Bone Pit in -35 Ancient[47]
  • Zara Renata – a member of the Venatori[48]
  • Sephus – a magister in league with the Venatori who were active in the Hissing Wastes[30]
  • Talerio – a magister involved in the Imperium's first expedition against the Avvars; and later against the rest of the Alamarri including the Chasind in -712 Ancient (483 TE); sanctioned the culling of many residents of the Frostbacks and sacked their encampments for trophies[49]
  • Tebrin – his apprentices have worked with Arcanist Dagna in South Post[50]
  • Athanir Tilani – father of Maevaris who was most known for his gentle nature and inoffensiveness in the Imperial Senate; executed in 9:32 Dragon by the Imperial Templars[51]
  • Maevaris Tilani – widow of Varric Tethras's cousin, Thorold
  • Tirena of the Rock – used blood magic to repel Qunari invaders during the Steel Age by boiling the very blood in their veins[13]
  • Aurelian Titus – a magister with no known lands or family but with a reputation for power and knowing things no others do
  • Tlaxius – one of the last generals who tried to invade Ferelden; owner of the Staff Of The Magister Lords
  • Urathus – a magister in league with the Venatori who were active in the Hissing Wastes[30][52]
  • Mareno Vadis – disowned his daughter for taking an elven lover[53]
  • Varas – a magister whose apprentice researched the capabilities of vitaars in 9:32 Dragon[54]
  • Verixsus – a magister in contact with the Inquisition, with a particular view concerning the proper use of spirit-bindings[55]
  • Viren – a magister who lectured on the threat of the "oxmen in the north"[56]
  • Claudian Vyrantus – was the last known "Overseer" of the Bone Pit; he was feared for his sadistic cruelty from the various experiments he conducted on those who disobeyed him; after his slaves revolted they stripped him of his enchanted robes and threw him into the Bone Pit to be feasted upon by his dragonlings; last known owner of the Armor of the Overseer[57]

Codex entries[]

Codex entry: Armor of the Overseer Codex entry: Armor of the Overseer
Codex entry: History of Kirkwall: Chapter 1 Codex entry: History of Kirkwall: Chapter 1
Codex entry: History of Kirkwall: Chapter 2 Codex entry: History of Kirkwall: Chapter 2
Codex entry: The Imperial Chantry Codex entry: The Imperial Chantry
Codex entry: The Litany of Adralla Codex entry: The Litany of Adralla
Codex entry: The Lost Art of Veilfire Codex entry: The Lost Art of Veilfire
Codex entry: Lyrium Codex entry: Lyrium
Codex entry: Magister Erimond Codex entry: Magister Erimond
Codex entry: Magister Gereon Alexius Codex entry: Magister Gereon Alexius
Codex entry: The Magisterium Codex entry: The Magisterium
Codex entry: A Magister's Needs Codex entry: A Magister's Needs
Codex entry: The Magister's Shield Codex entry: The Magister's Shield
Codex entry: A Missing Slave Codex entry: A Missing Slave
Codex entry: Shriek Codex entry: Shriek
Codex entry: Tevinter: The Magisters Codex entry: Tevinter: The Magisters

Magister relics[]

Artifacts formerly owned by magisters:

Amulet of the War Mage Amulet of the War Mage
Armor of the Overseer Armor of the Overseer
Belt of the Magister Lords Belt of the Magister Lords
Magister's Shield Magister's Shield
Magister's Cinch Magister's Cinch
The Magister's Scythe The Magister's Scythe
Ring of the Magister Ring of the Magister
Robes of the Magister Lords Robes of the Magister Lords
Staff of the Magister Lord Staff of the Magister Lord
Staff of Parthalan Staff of Parthalan

Trivia[]

  • It is common for non-Tevinters to attach the label "magister" to any and all Tevinter mages. This inaccurate practice is considered a mark of ignorance in the Imperium.
  • Ancient magisters suffered physical mutations as a result of massive lyrium consumption.[58]
  • The Well-Read Pig-Farmer was also part of the Magisterium.
  • In the French translation of the first two games of the series, the Magisters were called "Inquisiteurs" (Inquisitors). This translation was dropped for Dragon Age: Inquisition.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Codex entry: The Magisterium
  2. Per conversation with Dorian.
  3. As seen during In Hushed Whispers with Gereon Alexius and the Rebel Mages.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Codex entry: Tevinter: The Magisters
  5. Dragon Age logo - new Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, p. 122
  6. Codex entry: The Imperial Chantry
  7. 7.0 7.1 Dragon Age logo - new Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, p. 76
  8. Dragon Age logo - new Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, p. 125
  9. Dragon Age logo - new Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, p. 94
  10. Codex entry: The Litany of Adralla
  11. Dragon Age: Asunder, p. 393
  12. 12.0 12.1 Dragon Age logo - new Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, p. 109
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 Codex entry: Responsible Blood Magic
  14. Dragon Age logo - new Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, p. 141
  15. According to Hadriana.
  16. According to Dorian's research via the war table operations The Name of Our Enemy and House Amladaris, confirmed in Dragon Age logo - new Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, pp. 55-57.
  17. Dragon Age: Vows & Vengeance
  18. Short Story: Paying the Ferryman
  19. Dragon Age: Asunder, p. 285
  20. War table operation House Amladaris if completed with Josephine or Leliana.
  21. Codex entry: Professor Frederic of Serault
  22. Codex entry: Magister Gereon Alexius
  23. Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights, An Old Crow's Old Tricks
  24. Dragon Age logo - new Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, p. 136
  25. Codex entry: Walking the Fade: Frozen Moments
  26. This amulet was forged during the height of the ancient Tevinter Imperium's power, a time when entire armies would flee upon seeing a Tevinter magister stride into battle. While the name Cavellus remains engraved on its back, any memory of the magister who created it has been lost to the mists of time.
  27. Codex entry: Arbor Wilds
  28. Dragon Age logo - new Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 1, pp. 78-79
  29. Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights, Luck in the Gardens
  30. 30.0 30.1 30.2 Codex entry: Demons of the Stone
  31. Codex entry: Legend of the Juggernaut
  32. Tumblr icon Nunzio DeFilippis. "Francesca and Alerio Invidus" . Tumblr.
  33. Codex entry: History of Kirkwall: Chapter 1
  34. Codex entry: History of Kirkwall: Chapter 2
  35. Note: Elegantly Written Letter
  36. Codex entry: Shriek (Inquisition)
  37. Dragon Age: Magekiller
  38. Codex entry: Spirits and Demons
  39. Mentioned by the Spirit of Memory in Dragon Age: Absolution, episode 2.
  40. Codex entry: Dorian Pavus
  41. Codex entry: Dorian Pavus
  42. Codex entry: Astrariums
  43. Codex entry: A Compendium of Orlesian Theater
  44. Codex entry: The Lost Art of Veilfire
  45. Note: Ancient Tevinter
  46. Note: Sealed Orders
  47. Codex entry: The Bone Pit
  48. Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights, The Wigmaker Job
  49. Codex entry: The Mountain-Father's Haft
  50. Dragon Age logo - new Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, p. 260
  51. Dragon Age logo - new Dragon Age: The World of Thedas, vol. 2, p. 43
  52. Codex entry: Folded Letter
  53. Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights, Half Up Front
  54. Codex entry: Vitaar
  55. War table operation A Cultured Exchange if completed with Josephine.
  56. Codex entry: Magister Gereon Alexius
  57. Codex entry: Armor of the Overseer
  58. Codex entry: Lyrium (Origins)
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