https://youtu.be/rgObwPfvT4w

Magic on Krynn is granted by the gods and governed by the Orders of High Sorcery. In order for a student of magic to learn more powerful magic without becoming a renegade they must take the Test of High Sorcery. Let’s learn more about this deadly test!

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Transcript

The test is meant to weed out those magic-users with no self control. Let’s take a closer look at the test itself!

Intro

Welcome to another DragonLance Saga episode. My name is Adam and today we are going to talk about the Test of High Sorcery. I would like to take a moment and thank my collaborator patrons, the Heroes of the Lance, and invite you to consider becoming a patron or member of this channel by visiting the links in the description below. You can even pick up Dragonlance gaming materials using my affiliate link. I am referencing every edition’s campaign sourcebook and the Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition Towers of High Sorcery sourcebook specifically for this information.

Discussion

Magic on Krynn is incredibly powerful, and thus carefully guarded. When the three gods of magic granted their power to the citizens of Krynn, they needed to ensure that it wouldn’t run wild or be accessed by anyone that would upset the balance the universe was built upon. Their greatest fears were realized during the Second Dragon war when wild magic was used by the Three, Corenthas, Eriane, and Shaud, to destroy the marauding dragons who threatened Silvanesti. The Three summoned great magic and it raged uncontrollably, killing thousands before it was able to be brought back under control. They fled to the Citadel of Mysteries, hiding from the wild magic, and the gods of magic removed The Three into Beyond. The wizards came to be known as the Lost Mages, and the gods demanded that they establish laws and rules with which to govern users of magic in the world.

This is when the three orders were established, the White Robes of Solinari, the Red Robes of Lunitari or the Black Robes of Nuitari. The gods are not worshipped in the manner of the Holy orders of the Stars, but rather devout themselves to the precepts and beliefs of their orders. When the Lost Mages were returned to Krynn, they shared the gods' will and presented the shared benefits of the new Orders of High Sorcery. Most wizards agreed that the benefits of its formation outweighed any drawbacks. So many saw magic as a tool to be used in petty or underhanded pursuits rather than study and celebration of the art itself, so the new Orders needed to devise some form of screening process for it’s potential initiates. Because of this, the first conclave instituted this Test of High Sorcery. 

The order is less concerned with whether magic is used for good or evil, but rather whether it will be used responsibly or not! One can imagine this can be a fuzzy line that is truly subjective to those in a position of authority. This is why renegade wizards, magic users of greater power, are either offered an opportunity to take the test and join the Orders of High Sorcery, or are killed on sight. When a magic-user consents to take the test, they are devoting their lives to the magic, as failure in the test means death. The orders believe that it is better that an undisciplined or untrustworthy student die than to use magic to harm innocents. Because of this,