Mage
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A Mage, pl. Magi, is a priest of the ancient Persian religion, Zoroastrianism, that still survives to this day. The followers of this religion form a very small ethnic group known as the Parsis, who fled the advent of Islam in Persia, or Iran, by emigrating to India, settling in western principalities which form the modern states of Gujarat and Maharastra. As one can only be Zoroastrian by birth, the number of Parsis in the world is shrinking, and the remaining population risks passing down genetic defects as with any small community. Suffice to say parsis are very rare, and Magi are even rarer.
Mage is an archaic term for magician. The term is popularly used in fantasy settings that involve magic: mages are people who have the ability to control or wield the forces of magic. Mages are found everywhere in the world of fiction, from pen and paper role-playing games like Mage: The Ascension and Dungeons & Dragons, to appearing in computer role-playing games such as Warcraft 3, Diablo 2 and World of Warcraft. Mages aren't always people who perform magic for entertainment. A mage may also be known as a wizard, sorceress, or witch.
Mage is also the title of a comic book series created and owned by Matt Wagner. The series' central character, Kevin Matchstick, is drawn into a world of magic and Arthurian legends whilst wielding a mystic baseball bat.
MAGE is also an acronym for the Massachusetts Association for Gifted Education.