Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 suin_bahhar_02 Sep 16, 2009 15:40:54	What do human nations and the ruling elites think about commoners or people of low birth getting thaught in the magic art? Do they actively put a stop to clandestine training in the Art to stop it from becoming a commoners tool? Is it possible for a farmers third or second child to learn the Art or the Power (clandestinely) or do economic barriers help stop such a family to achieve an easy way out of their low station? I can imagine arcane academies having large fees just as todays top academic schooling has. Are there any unscrupulous mages who have seen this as an oppurtunity to get money and influence from the lower and less wealthy parts of Fearuns societies? Or are there hidden dangers to a teacher in the Art that I am overlooking that stop them from teaching magic to large amounts of people? An thoughts on this concering both pre and post spellplague?
#2 LordManshoon Sep 16, 2009 16:32:38	What do human nations and the ruling elites think about commoners or people of low birth getting thaught in the magic art? Do they actively put a stop to clandestine training in the Art to stop it from becoming a commoners tool? Varies. Amn is one of the best examples of a nation which wouldn't allow it to be accessed by commoners. Silverymoon probably would encourage its commoners to pursue their Art, although I think they'd prefer them to attend schools and take on respectable masters rather than obtain it in some dank hovel every third tenday in the dead of night. Some nations might be torn. For instance, I can see Cormyr being interested in commoners pursuing Art, but would keep a close eye on them, not only to observe prospective War Wizards or Swordmages, but to make sure none of them had any dealings with the wrong people (Netherese, Sembians, etc.) Is it possible for a farmers third or second child to learn the Art or the Power (clandestinely) or do economic barriers help stop such a family to achieve an easy way out of their low station? I figure those who are economically hindered vastly outnumber those who overcome financial crises. I also figure it would be easier for a poor child to be taught the Power than the art. Priests and clerics would be more willing to take on an apprentice (read: a new convert) than an arcane mage (most wizards aren't interested in teaching the Art without serious reimbursement).  I can imagine arcane academies having large fees just as todays top academic schooling has. Are there any unscrupulous mages who have seen this as an oppurtunity to get money and influence from the lower and less wealthy parts of Fearuns societies? I imagine there must be a fair number of them out there, even if I can't think of any such canonical figures off the top of my head.  Or are there hidden dangers to a teacher in the Art that I am overlooking that stop them from teaching magic to large amounts of people? Probably the most overlooked danger: one of their students might kill them. Just because such a student is a commoner does not mean that student lacks ambition. He or she may figure there's more to gain in slaying the tutor after a while rather than continue being a student. It's an "internal" threat like this which probably gives a lot of Art users pause. Why teach so many? Odds are at least one of them will stab you in the back. Even if the student is easily dispatched, this would most likely lead to something. Some of the other students might not like seeing one of their own cut down by the master. Hell, they could be inspired, be it in following suit and attempting to wrest power away, or to avenge their fallen comrade. It can get ugly pretty quickly, I imagine. Art tutors have to put serious thought into who they're going to accept. They can't just (safely) pick a large group; too random. To be safe, they'd have to weigh the potential merits and flaws of a student, and that would be seriously time-consuming. Unless the tutor's goal was to create havoc and incite rebellion, in which case grabbing a group and just unloading magical knowledge as quickly as possible would seem a better result.
#3 The_Silversword Sep 16, 2009 17:24:57	Good question! I like this topic, i dont think ive seen this covered before. Lord Manshoon covered it excellently, but ill throw in my two coppers as well I could definalty seeing some areas keeping commoners from learning the Art, Amn, and Thay immediately spring to mind. The way i see it you have to have some talent for magic, not every joe schmoe can learn it, so i could see some recriuting wizards out scouting the area for some new talent. Once The art was rediscovered after the spellplauge i could see, arcane institutions, Cormyrean war wizards, etc, training any one they could get their hands on just to improve their ranks, but in the modern Realms, i would see them being far more selective.
#4 suin_bahhar_02 Sep 17, 2009 6:59:30	An arcane revolution, rebellion or coupe should be a serious threat to the established order of a region. It may not be the most swift way of getting a seat of power but it would ensure the current order could be obliterated. Probably adventurers and meddling harpers are the first line of defense against such plans.   One way a ruling noble family whitout arcane power can stop the growing power of ambitious peasant families that seek to use the Art to jump in power is by legislation and imposing limiting rules. Like limiting the amount of members of a household in learning the art or the renouncement of their familiy names when they learn the art above a certain level. The typical caravan towns in the Heartlands like Scornubel might outlaw all trade in components just to stop charm spells from ruining the transactions. The church of Mystra and Azuth used to be a relatively sane control on the responcible spread of the Art. After Dweomerhearts destruction this control has largely fallen into the hands of the church of Selune who would likely struggle to give it the same attention as the former churches of magic did. These churches might have gotten some stiff resistance from ruling families across fearun if they couldn't be controlled to limit the more dangerous Art amongst commoners.   A logical reason for the limits of the spread of the Art under commoners would likely be that practitioners of the Art and the Power are held closely to the influence of their respective families. This nearly ensures longer obedience and might lessen the chance of the pupil turning on the master. I can see how natural sorcery could even be sought out to be actively internalised into a families bloodline by arranged marriages. Salvatores Harpell family is an example of a family where they probably teach the arcane arts internally to those with the aptitude, during parenting or from uncles and aunts to cousins and nieces.