Editing Pan Planar Magistrum

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'''The Pan-Planar Magistrum''' (or The Magistrum) are a group of powerful mages from across the Material Plane whose primary goal is to act as a system of checks and balances against magic in the multiverse. Their original goal was to "keep the gods in check" and regulate divine spellcasting throughout the multiverse, but over the centuries have broadened their balancing to all forms of magic. They also deal with finding and protecting ancient magic artifacts and documents relating to powerful spellcasting.

Ironically, this belief in regulating magic has led the Magistrum to seek out the end of what they call the Strangulation, or the moment when the gods denied powerful magic to spellcasters in the Material Plane. They believe that in denying mortals access to unfettered access to the Weave, the gods are giving themselves ultimate control over everyone, thus shifting the balance of power in their favor. The Magistrum believes that the Weave was created to allow mortals to "become gods"; in essence, to allow mortals to rise to the level of gods.

== Origins ==
The Magistrum arose out of several individual mage guilds and groups throughout the Material Plane, such as the Circle of Eight in Oerth, the Prismatic Assembly in Avo, and certain Red Wizards of Faerun. Through spellcasting these groups found each other and spent centuries off and on in contact, sharing spells and arcane philosophies.

Later, the gods enacted barriers on access to the Weave, which carried over throughout the planes but were felt in different ways. This was known as the Catastrophe in Avo and the Spellplague in Faerun, for example. Many mage guilds throughout the Material Plane were decimated by the sudden lack of access to magic; in fact, many powerful sorcerers and wizards were killed when the Weave was nearly literally ripped from their bodies.

In response, those powerful mages who remained banded together to create the Magistrum, to protect what arcane secrets remained and to prevent divine magic from running amok after arcane magic was gutted.

Since then, the Magistrum has grown exponentially and operates largely from its spelljammer fleet, the Cosmic Vanguard, which orbits the world of Dyktus.

== Philosophy & Religious Parallels ==
The primarily philosophy of the Pan-Planar Magistrum is to seek out a balance between all sources and forms of magic while also not directly interfering with the everyday life of mortals on most worlds. Thus, the vast majority of people in the multiverse have not seen nor heard of the Magistrum at all, with knowledge left only to the most dedicated and high ranking of spellcasters.

When a significant shift of arcane energy is observed, the Magistrum will often investigate by sending arcane inspectors to the site of magical disturbance. If the situation is especially important, the Cosmic Vanguard itself may appear to deal directly with the mortals of that world.

The Magistrum is staunchly anti-religion, and is borderline adversarial against divine and deified forces. Ironically, despite this, the Magistrum's hierarchy itself is almost identical to a religious hierarchy, with the Arcanist Supreme holding a seat similar to a high bishop or Pope in other worlds. Similarly, wizards throughout worlds in the Material Plane operate satellite mage towers which act as focal points for Magistrum investigations as well as places to store and analyze ancient arcane artifacts and documents. This knowledge is passed down to new scholars and sages, creating an academy of sorts.
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