Sorcerer's of Hohkmat Culture Focus: Master, Apprentice & Succession

[Minuvas 2948]

The City-States of Hohkmat

Culture & Society Highlight 

 Master, Apprentice & Succession

 

                      

'..and so I give to you Ezekiel, the Gale-staff, as it was given to me by my Master, and welcome you to House Erabor' A Master rises his apprentice to Adept, formally welcoming them into their family. 

 

Master: Father, Mother, Husband, Wife... cultural terms of importance in many places, but to Hakad the one that surpasses them all is 'Master'. A Master is a teacher and a familial figure. Once they have their first apprentice, they wear the title with pride in whatever social circle they belong. Choosing an apprentice is not a simple affair and apprentice-Master ceremonies are often large, public, and elaborate events much like the birth of a new noble child or the marriage of a couple. A Master is more than a teacher, for their apprentices shall become their successors and carry on the 'true lineage' of the master before them.

Seeking talented apprentices is the way that powerful Mage-Houses ensure their house remains in power. It is common for the heads of powerful Mage Houses to apprentice their blood children when they are of age, but in rare cases this does not happen. Masters are judged by their apprentices, and one's social status can be determined by the quality of one's apprentices.

A Master may never have more than three apprentices at one time. If they are a Lord/Lady-Magister their apprentices must be approved by the Chamber of Lord-Magisters to ensure their great house will be succeeded by a mage of sufficient talent. Although the Chamber of Lord-Magisters does not choose which of the apprentices will succeed their Master, seniority amongst apprentices is dictated by the Great Houses internal mechanisms. During the sudden death or disappearance of the Head of a House, great or otherwise, there is always the chance for a struggle of power of apprentices to succeed as the new head of the household. This struggle is encouraged so long as it does not spill into the general public ensuring the most talented mage succeeds. A house that cannot keep its family in order is ripe to be put in its place by the Grand Magister.

 

Apprentice: The apprentice is not to be confused as a simple student of the Sorcerous path, for the academy hosts many teachers that take on students with no further obligations. An apprentice is a deep commitment to their Master, a student but also in a very real way a son or daughter to their Master. An apprenticed mage to a master is first in that family's line of succession over blood born children. Upon completion of their apprenticeship, their studies are complete and may become Masters themselves of their magical lineage. An apprentice may take on many teachers, but they may only ever have one Master in their lifetime.


Social Taboos: It is possible to break a Master-Apprentice bond, with the approval of a Lord-Magister or the Vizier of the Chamber of Earth. This comes with a certain social stigma. 

 

Nobles will make every effort to apprentice their blood children, even if they have limited magical talent, but if those children eschew or are incapable of learning magic when they turn 18 years of age, significant shame is placed on the parents. These adult-children who are not apprenticed are considered disinherited from the family and must take on a new surname.

Masters try to ‘enhance’ their true-lineage by gaining apprentices who have a lot of raw talent or who have been students of rare or unique sorcerous arts they wish to bring into their lineage.

"Alright elf, it is agreed. My daughter shall serve as your apprentice and unite our houses under the true Lineage of your line. In return...." An Elf and Human mage arrange the joining of houses through apprenticeship.

 

True Lineage: Hakad consider themselves members of their Father and Mother's house, taking on the surname that they prefer. But 'True Lineage' is the magical line of Masters down to the current apprentice, and especially important to nobility. Having a line of successful masters is a sign of prestige.

(OOC: Interested in our little Mageocracy, we are building the group and are looking to join the server in force in 9.0 - come on down! )

https://discord.gg/rteb7Nt6eA