Magocracy

The heirless King Ardashir I of the Magocratic Kingdom of Persis is falling ill, and before dying intends to name a wizardly successor based on the outcome of a sorcerous tournament to the death. The main contenders are Balthazar, the king’s seer and master of scrying; General Loge, leader of Persis’ armies, a War Mage with a focus on flame magic; the beguiling enchantress Lilith, queen of neighboring Partha; Rhiannon the conjuror, daughter of a druid and barbarian chief, strong in nature spells; Uzume, a mysterious summoner; and the protagonist, an urchin with a handful of cantrips to help survive the streets at night, visiting in hopes of learning a thing or two about magic use by observing the proceedings — but accidentally, and terrifyingly, thrown into the competition unarmed and outclassed. To survive, the hero needs to somehow win the competition.