Every time Zosma dons her sorcerer's robes and holds her scepter, she feels a sense of pride. It had taken her many years to get to where she is currently, enduring packed semesters at the academy full of ritzy tryhards and doubters. In the end, she proved everyone wrong and isn't afraid to show it.

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Mage robes, at minimum, are designed with the user's comfort in mind. They're made of lightweight and breathable materials, and occasionally have creature comforts like sensors and lights. While there do exist mass-produced robes, ideally they would be tailored - either way, this isn't like a run to your nearest Walton's. Even a basic set can set a bank account back five digits, or "a few hundred bucks" if you're old-fashioned. Sorcerer's robes, on the other hand, are a whole other league above that. Because of the high bar set to be a real sorcerer - in Terra's case, at least Level 5 psionic potential - very few exist, and their demands for comfortable and effective clothing reflect that.

First off, the price. If you have to ask, you can't afford it. But, if you do happen to be one of thirty to eighty sorcerers graduating per year throughout the Empire, you'll get your first set substantially subsidized by the sector and the federal government, more if you sign a five-year service contract to the Terran Space Navy. It's not unusual for robes fit for a sorcerer to be seven, eight, even nine figures. Why so expensive? For one, sorcerer's robes are hand-crafted even down to the tech they use. Cooling systems, environmental sensors, and jastis belts for storing their tools are standard issue, but there is no limit to how exotic they can be so long as they complement the user. They are as much a one-off as the wearer, so it would make sense it would be something particularly bespoke.

For Zosma, she was fortunate enough to have known one such mage robe tailor, back when she was a savant for learning anything and everything after breaking free from slavery, who helped her discover her potential as a sorcerer. On graduation from Quintessence Academy, the most renowned mage school in the Empire, the robes she received were actually given to her from said tailor, making them especially special and sentimental. In addition to the standard suite of features, her robes also have experimental hard-light armor elements, and the conjuration of a hermetically-sealed helmet allows her to walk around in toxic atmospheres and the vacuum of the cosmos. Complementing it is another hand-crafted item: her sorcerer's scepter. At the 'business end' of it is a vadarite catalyst that allows her to sense and control fluid currents more easily, but is equally as effective as a melee weapon behaving much like an axe or short-handle glaive.

So if you want to impress people, don't stroll in with a business suit; put on a set of sorcerer's robes. ;)

I managed to catch  lbt9000's donation request stream while at work, so I wasn't able to watch it being done up. I love how it turned out! It never ceases to amaze me just how good Zosma can look in just about anything - her sorcerer's robes, especially :D

Art by  lbt9000 <-- Go watch her, she does great drawings! :D

Zosma Irydell, space-age sorceress, belongs to me! :D