Battlemage

Battlemages are functionally similar to wizards, but instead of attending a prestigious academy among high-minded eccentrics, battlemages receive their training at a formal military school, where a specialized curriculum combines instruction in practical magics with an education in military science.

They serve a variety of important roles: protecting infantry formations from magical attacks, sowing confusion and devastation among enemy ranks, interrogating prisoners of war, and ferreting out spies or saboteurs are all common responsibilities. As their duties often put them in direct contact with the enemy, battlemages are also trained to be proficient with martial weapons and heavy armor, further distinguishing them from their wizard counterparts.

Each battlemage represents a significant investment by a powerful military institution, and so they are often the children of well-connected families, who view service to the state as a way to achieve greater eminence. Despite their connections to the aristocracy, battlemages are generally well-respected by the rank-and-file, in no small part because of the number of soldiers that can claim to owe their lives to a timely Counterspell cast in the heat of battle.