Order Mage (5e Background)
Order Mage[edit]
The Order is a system of magic users that began in the age when land had just begun to sink, and dangerous creatures were beginning to make themselves known. It is a cohesive effort of involved magic users to stem the flow of rising water and to counteract the evils of magic in nature. This, over time, has evolved into beast hunting and taming, conflict negotiation/peacekeeping, law enforcement, bounty hunting, and magical training.
While The Order remains mysterious to it’s outsiders, their ranking system is well known. Black cloaks are probationary members, and may or may not have powers. Grey cloaks are confirmed members with or without powers ~ they are trained and highly dangerous. White cloaks have entered a higher level of magical study. From this point on, the mages are ranked in the colors violet, blue, green, yellow, orange, red. With each color comes more power and responsibility, and as they function as a spectrum, the specific shade of cloak and Order member wears may have great significance. Of course, it gets more challenging to continue up the color chain, so many Mages peak at green. The ranks grow sparser as the colors grow more advanced.
You are a member of The Order, either active or retired to Brown Cloak status.
Skill Proficiencies: Arcana, Perception
Tool Proficiencies: One set of Artisan's tools of your choice
Languages: One of your choice
Equipment: A set of traveling clothes, your Order cloak, a set of the Artisan's tools you chose for your Tool Proficiency, 2 attuned Light Scrolls, a Light Pen, and a belt pouch containing 10 gp.
Rank[edit]
Choose your rank within The Order. Your rank will be reflected in the color that your enchanted cloak takes, and determines the degree of power and responsibility you receive. Each rank above Grey Cloak requires mastery in a certain number of magical affinities - it is up to your DM how this requirement is implemented in the mechanics of the game, if at all.
| d10 | Cloak | Affinities Mastered | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Black | 0 | A Black Cloak provides security, collects intelligence, and accepts small missions from higher ranks. At this level, no magical skill is required. |
| 2 | Grey | 0 | A Grey Cloak is apprentice and subordinate to a master of rank Blue or higher. They study a wide range of magics in order to find the magic in which they have the most natural affinity. |
| 3 | White | 1 | A White Cloak is a higher-ranked apprentice that is sent on solo missions. They are mastering their chosen affinity and are developing a second affinity. |
| 4 | Violet | 2 | A Violet Cloak is a fully-fledged, independent mage that accept missions from the Green Council. From this level onward, mages are expected to manage their own development in magic. |
| 5 | Blue | 2 | A Blue Cloak carries out their own missions and recruits new Black Cloaks from talented members of the public. They can take a Black or Grey Cloak as an apprentice with the permission of the Green council. |
| 6 | Green | 3 | A Green Cloak takes on more dangerous missions and mentors several apprentices. If they accumulate enough experience and reputation, they can get elected to the Green Council, the ruling body of The Order. |
| 7 | Yellow | 4 | A Yellow Cloak takes on difficult missions in pursuit of The Order’s larger goal of saving the world from the ever encroaching Water. At this level, a mage has begun to define themselves as legendary within The Order (and, to a lesser extent, the general public). |
| 8 | Orange | 5 | An Orange Cloak faces missions of great danger and guides many apprentices. All Orange Cloaks have developed a false affinity or two, and have almost entirely stopped aging. |
| 9 | Brown | 1+ | A Brown Cloak is a mage in good standing that has retired from active duty. They no longer take on missions or apprentices, but are expected teach magic and recruit promising individuals whenever possible. Their cloak's color is a uniform brown, giving no indication of their previous rank. |
Feature: Allies in The Order[edit]
You have access to The Order's extensive network of mages, agents, and resources. If The Order maintains a presence in an area, you can rely on assistance from local members when traveling there. If you keep in touch with the right members, you'll receive a steady supply of intelligence on the greater turnings of the world. And if you're on a mission that aligns with The Order's goals, you may be able to call upon some of their members directly. The higher your rank, the more aid you'll be able to arrange, but the more you'll be expected to contribute in kind. Researching magic, helping those in need, mentoring apprentices, accepting missions from superiors, impeding the Ringed Circle, and investigating the rising seas are all ways to support The Order. Choose to do none of them, and you'll quickly find yourself working alone.
You may start with one of your Light Scrolls linked to a master (if at White Cloak rank or lower) or an apprentice (if at Blue Cloak rank or higher), and one Light Scroll attuned to a peer of your current rank.
Back to Main Page → 5e Homebrew → Backgrounds