The Tower Law

The foundations of wizardry:
All true wizards of Krynn abide by the following rules:

Solinari- All wizards are brothers in their order. All orders are brothers in the power.

Lunitari- The places of High Wizardry are held in common among all orders and no sorcery is to be used there in anger against fellow wizards. Fighting among wizards within the Towers of High Sorcery is punishable by immediate death.

Nuitari- The world beyond the walls of the towers may bring brother against brother and order against order, but such is the way of the universe.

(Sections of magic allotted to each order:)
Order of the White Robes: Abjuration, Conjuration, Divination, Enchantment, and Evocation.
Order of the Red Robes: Conjuration, Divination, Evocation, Illusion, and Transmutation.
Order of the Black Robes: Conjuration, Divination, Enchantment, Evocation, Illusion, and Necromancy.

Preliminary Test

After having spent some time learning the basics of magic, runecraft and alchemy, the best students are selected to take a test of magic. This test is not dangerous, and failure only delays the student's progress.
Though it may vary, the test is usually simple and asks the student to prepare a potion, write a rune, or prepare a scroll. Once the apprentice passes, they are allowed to learn more advanced spells, usually including attack and effect spells.

The Test

An aspiring wizard who reaches a certain skill level must take The Test to move on to the higher, more powerful areas of magical study.
In some cases the Conclave sends an invitation to the apprentice, setting a date and time for the presentation.
The Test is used to determine who is worthy to wield the considerable power of High Sorcery; those who fail the test die, as it is considered a necessary price to pay to keep the power out of the hands of those who would abuse it, use it recklessly and endanger the existence of magic and the Orders. Those who pass the test are inducted into one of the three orders: White Robes (aligned with Solinari and practitioners of Abjuration [protection] and Divination magic), Red Robes (aligned with Lunitari and experts in Illusion and Transmutation magic) and the Black Robes (aligned with Nuitari and delvers in Enchantments and Necromancy).
The Test puts the life of the wizard in danger. Failure usually means death. Thus, those who do not accept the risks of the Test (by not taking The Test) remain relatively unskilled and, therefore, not a major threat to the Conclave of Wizards. Wizards who continue to accrue power without having joined the Orders are branded as Renegades and hunted by the Orders, to be given two choices: take the Test or die.
Test sessions are private and cannot be shared between apprentices.
The Test itself allows the Conclave to examine the strengths and weaknesses of the applicant. It is carried out in one of the Towers of High Sorcery, most times through very realistic illusions. It may affect the apprentice's mind and body permanently.
The apprentice wears a color of robe they think suitable. However, it is in the Test that the real allegiance of the apprentice is found. At the end of the Test, the Wizard is presented with new robes of their chosen order.

Conclave

It could be said the last goal for any wizard is to become a member of the Conclave of Wizards. Only the most respected and powerful mages of each order can achieve this, however. The Conclave itself is formed of twenty one wizards: seven White, seven Red and seven Black Robes.
The leader of each Order is called the Head of that Order, each order choosing its own Head as it sees fit :

White Robes vote, thus their leader is often a wise or charismatic person;
Red Robes play, thus their leader is often either clever or lucky - or both;
Black Robes fight, even to the death, thus their leader often is the most aggressive or domineering archmage.

The Highmage is chosen among the Conclave (most of the times among the Heads of the three orders) to lead the Conclave of Mages. They are chosen by the votes of all Wizards of High Sorcery on Ansalon through the consensus spell - the selected Highmage is then surrounded by a corona of light according to the feelings of the majority of Ansalon's Robed Mages.
Conclave wizards (even the Highmage) remain in their position until either their death or their removal by the rest of the Conclave. They may also choose to simply step down.
Between other functions, the Conclave specifies the different guidelines the wizards must follow. They may look for promising new recruits, prepare Tests for apprentices, and research for new ways of employing magic.

Renegades

Sometimes, the rules set by the Conclave are not accepted by some mages. In extreme cases, the wizards may decide to completely ignore all the rules. In these cases, the Conclave declares them renegades. Any Wizard of High Sorcery is required to inform the Conclave about the location and actions of renegades they may come across. In most cases, if the wizard hunts and slays a renegade, his actions are seen as fittable by the Conclave.
Renegades know their fate, and may actively work against the Mages of High Sorcery.
Renegade wizards are those that willingly shun the Orders of High Sorcery and choose to operate by their own methods. Renegade wizards are invariably viewed as a threat to the balance of magic, and are hunted without mercy. Each order has their own method of dealing with renegades...all of which are equally effective. If the renegade refuses to cooperate, they can expect to meet a rather untimely end at the hands of members of the Conclave.

Races: (pg 71 Dragonlance campaign setting)
Humans (most common)
Elves (second common)
Dwarves (rare)

Gnomes (insulted at even considering becoming a mage)

Kender (like oil and fire, not allowed to take the test, nor able to summon the focus to study magic)

There are records of other races having taken and passed the test, minotaurs, sea elves, and other odd creatures.

The White Robes

The members of the White Robes strive to use their power to better theworld for themselves and all its inhabitants. They never seek tosubjugate or dominate others, but this does not prohibit them from combat if they see the need.

The Red Robes

Wizards of the Red Robes seek to use their power to maintain a balance of power throughout the world. Whether trying to keep Evil or Good from obtaining an overwhelming advantage in their great struggle, or simply watching over the balance of power within their own Tower of Sorcery, foremost in their mind is that the balance between Good and Evil be maintained. They will not usually seek out combat, but if they think that the balance is being threatned, the Red Robes will enter the fray with no holds barred.

The Black Robes

The Black Robes' goals are diverse, but all have the same underlying theme. They seek to increase their own power in comparison to the other Orders, society in general, and other members of their order. They generally do what they please, except when opposed by mages of the other orders.