The set up of schooling, work, and careers in Karelis is a bit different than they are in our world. It is all based on the Apprenticeship system. There are several official Institutes that take in apprentices and there are different homes/schools/offices set up for each of them and their various branches. The people in the Institutes are they who carry out what needs done and who keep Karelis running.
The Apprenticeship system is as follows: Apprentice (absolute minimum age is usually five) to Journeyman/woman (absolute minimum age is usually mid-teens: 16 or 17) to Master - note that not all make it to Master status - (about the getting out of college age: earliest is 25). There is one more title in the Institutions and that is Lord Master. These are the people who run the whole school and its work. There is only one for each Institution.
About now, you're probably wondering just what kinds of Institutions there are. Well, no more waiting. Here are each of the groups and their descriptions:
L'oar and K'drai
The L'oar and K'drai are Karelis's magicians and sorcerers in every sense of the word. There is only one defining line between the two but it really is defining - there are no half-K'drai half-L'oars running about. Simply put, L'oar are good magicians and K'drai are bad. However, this does not mean that K'drai are FFire. Simply put, L'oar have never done a bad thing with their magic in their life and abhor the idea of doing so.
There are a few talismans known to the magic world: Tiacho crystals, for one. Tiacho crystals are found only on the slopes of Mt. Tiacho in southeastern Karelis. These crystals enhance the power of the holder greatly - though there are conditions. First: they only work for those who obtain the crystals themselves. Second: no one can assist the crystal seeker from the beginning of his (or her) journey to the end - or the enhancement doesn't work. Note that Mt. Tiacho is extremely dangerous, not only geographically, but the wildlife and people inhabiting it are strange and for the most part, unknown. Also, no magic discovered yet has worked in its vicinity.
Second: Rose Pearls are very rare, found in the typical manner of pearls and are very difficult to cultivate. Once a magician obtains a pearl, they can activate it and place it anywhere. The pearl acts as a video camera, relaying whatever it 'sees' back to a scrying device (a crystal - not Tiacho -, a pool, or some such) in the hands of its master.
Artists
You can probably guess what Artists do. Besides providing paintings and such though, they are the designers, the architects, and creators for Karelis.
Minstrels
Performers in every sense of the word. Not just singers and instrumentalists, but dancers, comics, playwrights, etc. as well.
Cooks
No explanation needed. The Institution of Cooks often combines with those of the Minstrels and Artists to create the wildly successful parties and galas that certain people are known for.
Scribes
Scribes are historians and judges, as well as those who are often in charge of public announcements.
Medics
Healing. Medics usually have specialized fields: Ra'almates, unicorns, etc.
Miners
Miners are both the suppliers of raw materials (to the Artists and other groups) and the manual laborers. Often there is an Artist overseeing the construction of a building or home.
Knights
Knights are Karelis's main defense as well as peacekeepers within the four Realms. The Knights are divided into 4 groups - one to each Realm. The groups are composed of creatures from the Realm they are serving. Each of them is run by a sort of sub-commander under the Lord Master that is also called a Lord Master, though each is tagged with the Realm name that they serve. (the one for Fire is called 'Lord Master Fire')
Below are the listings of the current Lord Masters/Mistresses.
L'oar (the K'drai don't have a Lord Master - they are always either L'oar turned bad or unofficial sorcerors): OPEN
Artists: OPEN
Minstrels: Lord Master Detritus / Fred (squirez@hotmail.com)
Cooks: OPEN
Scribes: OPEN
Medics: OPEN
Miners: OPEN
Knights: Lord Master Athalus / John
~ All Lord Masters of the Realms are open
Notify one of the boardies if you'd like to create one of them, but note that they are very important characters - almost on the level with the highest royalty - and as such, you'll have to be prepared to post often!
Back to the Guide
Home
