Once upon a time the verdant lands of this country were imbued magic and powerful sorcerors were commonplace. The ruins of the Great magical Countries dotted the land. Poor immitation crowns scrambled among those ruins. Giants and dragons still lived in the caves and mountains of the earth and goblins still stole children away from farmers on occasion. Pacts with demons, miraculous spells, startling transformations, and prophetic visions- these were the bread and butter of the sorcerous trade.
However this is not that time.
For ten centuries after the fall of The Empire and its strong laws (and sanitation systems), plagues choaked the very essence out of the land and people. The Order of St Martin turned to what we would call science to cure plagues. Many of the plagues and other suffering they encountered were sorcerously created. They used their influence to turn people and the Holy Church against the Black Arts. They pushed the Holy Church to create The Order of St Lionel, an interrogative body with certain governing abilities in all the nations of the land. Books were confiscated or burned, as were many wizards.
In time, though, all things are possible.
This is what is called on the streets the "Age of Rebirth". As population increased so did social organization and the rule of law over might. The sciences of medicine and industry are governed and practiced by guilds. Laws giving rights to even those without wealth and requiring trials are in affect in most situations, and even the common man can enjoy the same theatre as nobles (though in lower sections of the theatre). The Crowns of every nation begin to contend with the changes occuring from a wealthy skilled class. The Lionels uses their wealth, hoarded during the dark ages, as patronage for scientists, artists, and even the renamed Mystic Sciences.
Under the Holy Church's auspices, the Order of St Lionel enforces international holy laws governing magics. All Practioners must be licensced, with the conjures and knowledge they can practice limited by the level of their license. Certain feats of magic including invocation and curses are strictly illegal, but their place in the Arts has not diminished at all. Certainly the Crown of each nation has use for mages, even those considered Outlaw Sorcerers by the Holy Church. And in this age of Rennasaince who is to say what the limits are of what a man can accomplish?
