Golden Pyramid
Motto
Power begets wealth; wealth begets Power
Symbol
The most popular symbol symbol of the order is step-pyramid of three levels with bronze at the bottom, silver in the middle, and gold at the top.
The Manifesto
The Order of the Golden Pyramid holds the following to be true:
- Magic is a commodity like any other and its practitioners should not be subjected to any undue expectation or requirement
- The talents of the Empire's artisans are no less a valuable magical resource than spellcasting and rituals
- Magic has the power to strengthen by enriching and prospering
The Order of the Golden Pyramid therefore exists to:
- Stand up for those magicians who are pressured to use their skills for free, like a servant or slave
- Support the application of magical resources in matters of economic gain that inevitably bring prosperity to the Empire as a whole
- Stand up for the artisans and promote their interests across the Empire
Membership of the Order
This order tends to appeal to artisan-magicians and magicians versed in economic magic (from Rampant Growth and Blood and Salt through Rivers of Gold all the way to Verdant Bounty of the Twilight Bayou and Hallow of the Green World). After the Sevenfold Path this is the order that has the largest number of magician-priests, albeit usually priests dedicated to Prosperity. It's members work to enrich themselves, but they also safeguard the rights of magicians to expect fair recompense for their magic. They are often at odds with the Rod and Shield.
The Order of the Golden Pyramid began as a reaction against a perceived culture of entitlement; as the nations increasingly assumed that magicians should donate their skills to the Empire for free. Since their creation they have supported the right of artisans, as well as magicians, to have a voice in the Conclave; to date they have been unsuccessful in getting the rules changed. At it's most altruistic, the Order tries to represent the interests of artisans, and often approaches them for support and funding.
The grandmaster of the Golden Pyramid often gains their position by open bribery; this is considered entirely appropriate. They often use access to money and raw materials as inducements to encourage members to contribute crystal mana to votes. As befits an Order fascinated by wealth, they tend to have good relations with the Imperial Bourse and use their monetary influence to attempt to ensure excellent access to crystal mana.