1354334 I would say all ponies, really. Good and bad can be found in anypony.

1354323
They take what seems fair. Those who have more can afford more. All magic users should practice with compassion.

1354349
A noble sentiment.

1354360
One enforced with the Laws. If you lay claim to our titles and resources, you will be subject to our laws. You have power, and you must be able to use it for the good of all.

1354383
Ah. Now there is a lot more iron.

In counterpoint to Vitrumes are their cousins, known as Fornaxes. Fornaxes (meaning forge-workers) study the magic of Enchantment, which involves imbuing mundane objects with magical energies. This is done through the creative application of runes and crystal components. This Discipline represents the combined work of several others, including the reagents of the Vitrumes and the rune work of some Masons. The processes used by Fornaxes are long and arduous, but the end result is almost always worth it.

It would be simple to say that Fornaxes resemble Masons, the only difference being that Fornaxes enchant objects, while Masons tend to work on larger, less complex things, but that would be an oversimplification. The fundamental processes are different, and so different results are achieved. With enough skill and ingenuity, each Discipline could mirror the other, but they would be much better off working towards their strengths.

Fornaxes do not just enchant swords or armor, though those certainly are popular. They can create brooms that clean on their own, homunculi that can dance or organize books or fix simple machines, and cloaks that can change color with a thought. They are limited only by their own imagination and their ability with runes and potions.

1354339
How nice of them. So would they be sort of like Mentalists but of a more physical sort?

1354409
Magekillers have a saying. "Mages destroy you from without. Mentalists will destroy you from within."

1354415
What I'm attempting to ask is would a Battle Mage require a strong will like a Mentalist to shape and form the impossible things they create?

1354425
A Battle Mage requires three things. A strong reservoir of magic that they can drink deep from to manifest the impossible, a strong will to control what they have manifested, and a powerful imagination.

1354402
So would things like binding elementals or creating scrying instruments fall to these individuals?

1354441
Battlemages sound like really elite soldiers.

1354449
Binding Elementals is actually a completely different facet of Magecraft, leaning towards the Paladin side of things. But scrying insruments definitely fall under their purview, as well as most other divination tools.

So was magic really all this dangerous, even way back when?

1354453
The Lady Everstar employs one hundred and one of them to guard her castle.

1354492
Why a hundred and one Battle Mages?

1354492

That sounds like a pretty elite, and likely hard-to-beat force. I hope nopony has the idea to try to attack.

1354482
Part of it has to do with the influence of Chaos on the land. It was a difficult time after the formation of the Evening Kingdom. Traditional Equestrian innovations like weather control became difficult, as did the taming of animals. New predators emerged from old lairs, and for a while there was terrible struggle. Harsh times called for harsh magic.

Part of it had to do with the Unbinding of Magic after the dissolution of the Elements. Breaking Magic stepped into the light once more, and it became much easier to move more Power since it was no longer suppressed by Celestia's restrictions.

1354521
Hm? You mean the Elements of Harmony?

1354499
Her standing claim is that one hundred of them could defeat a force of Celestia's best paladins that outnumbered them by four to one. Celestia responded by staging a contest and inviting her to bring one hundred and one. The last "one" was the Lady herself. She didn't lift a hoof, and her mages still beat them all soundly. Since then, she has maintained her hundred mages, and the Arcane Lucantur occurs once every four years in either Canterlot, Starfall, Astropolis, or Eros.

1354530
Yes. The Unbinding of the Elements had unfavorable consequences on Celestia's magic. She is no longer able to directly influence the minds of her subjects unless the individual in question permits it in good conscience at a certain age. This event places a mark, referred to as a Talent Mark, on their flank permanently. In the Zenith Era, I believe they were called "Cutie Marks". In the meantime, she can only send out a general aura of goodwill, peace, and harmony across her lands.

1354542
Wow...

1354566
Which is why I hate mages.

1354564

Wait, ponies don't get Cutie Marks anymore?

1354542
Arcane Lucantur? Like the Olympics, but with magic?

1354573
Not in the Evening Kingdom, or Luna's holdings. In fact, showing a Mark there can have some very nasty results. Likewise for going bare in the Celestial Empire.

1354575
Yes. Though they tend to be more...gladiatorial.

1354588

Huh... Guess there's not a lot of inter-kingdom travel, then.

1354571
Hate them? You mean more like a friendly competition rival hate, right?

1354599
It depends. Border towns don't care much one way or the other, but the further in you get, the worse the reactions are.

1354601
In a way, yes. My Order had a couple of nasty confrontations with Mages in the past.

1354571
I hate to say it but that kinda makes them a bit cooler in my eyes and probably had Celestia raise the training of her paladins to prevent something like that from happening again.

1354615
The Sunguard were a direct result of that bet.

So, we talk a lot about Battlemages, but do we get a detailed description of their abilities, history, training, and fields of study? or do we just leave it at "They're total badass awesomeguys."?

1354630
So everyone benefitted in a way: Lady Everstar got bragging rights and Paladins got better training to better protect those they swore to protect.

1354564
I knew it. Those blasted Cutie Marks. You know I read a Mare Do Well fic in which Celestia enforced a law that bound careers to Cutie Marks. Of course, it was circumvented by legal loopholes but still.

Bellatorae are the typical ideal of a master of arcane magics. They specialize in the mainfestation of that which would normally be considered "impossible" and the application of this in combat situations. Their powers include but are not limited to summoning creatures from other planes of existence, the animation of offensive golems, and transmogrification. Transformation is not in their purview, that belonging to other classes of Mages. By and large, Bellatorae are afforded great amounts of respect, and for good reason.

Bellatorae are possibly the most magically powerful spellcasters in existence in terms of raw strength and potential. A skilled master of Battle Magic can become a one-man regiment, able to fend off thirty or more regular soldiers with ease, and a true contest between Bellatorae is both wondrous and terrifying to behold.

1354666
And she also got one favor, no questions asked, from the Radiant Noon herself.

1354684
I did imply that they were important in my stories.

1354777
Has she ever called on this favor?

1354804
To my knowledge, no.

1354786
I figured as much when Sweetie had to get something removed.

Right! Midterm is Friday. I will create the thread on it exactly at midnight on Friday, and you will have a day and a night to complete the questions and send them to me. Be warned, some of them may be a bit personal, but I promise we will try to keep them from being too invasive. Answers are required to each question, even if the answer is a reason as to why you are uncomfortable.

Homework is the same as it has been. Please select a Discipline that we have covered which resonates with you, and PM me you reason as to why.

Any further questions?

1354855
How many questions are gonna be on the midterm?

1354878
At least ten.

Well this has been a fun class.

Thank you for the class.

1354899
Time to study then.
*leaves the classroom*