The Ygwer Code was a universal code of conduct among the magic academies that forbade certain acts. The idea was put forth and heavily pushed by the Cleric's Guild, who had been using the code since the inception of the Ygwer School of Clerics. The Guild also had a more vested interest in maintaining a moral standard with regards to magic. They had a tremendous amount of power, being involved in some of the most influential organizations. So they wished to impose some of their own ethical standards, which were codified into the Ygwer School rules, into the other schools. This code would see several updates as, naturally, some unscrupulous people would find ways to circumvent the code. One such example would be the rise of vormongers. After the code became widely accepted as the ethical standard among all the magic schools, it was actually the Eari who would push the code the most, using it to advance the "good" image they wanted to portray.
Forbidden Actions
The code outlawed a number of acts, which came to be known as the Illitions. One of the preeminent was the killing of living creatures (or poaching certain parts) for the purpose of harvesting magical energy, with the exception of certain plants. The Draol and some other minor orders got around this in use of battlefield mages who harvested energy from slain soldiers killed by non-magical combatants.
- killing living creatures or people for the purpose of harvesting vorsys or fex
- killing living creatures to poach certain magical parts (such as a horn)
- poaching non-regenerative magical parts from creatures (such as a horn); using any part from a living creature was only allowed in cases like milk, eggs, shed skin, etc.
- summoning an individual without their consent
- using vorsys or fex that was contained within a living creature (only applicable to soulpiercers)
- reanimating the dead
- resurrecting the dead
- using magic for the purpose of enthralling a subject against its will