Sshamath: School of Magic - non-drow questions.

[NegInfinity]

Not sure if that's the "right" place... few questions:

1. Would non-drow be accepted into school of magic?
2. Would non-drow benefit from being in school of magic?
3. Is there a reason for non-drow character to avoid getting involved with school of magic?

I'm trying to figure out what this organization would look like for cowardly and/or cautious character (high int, low wis) that generally wants to be left alone, stay "not dead" as long as possible, and just do his/her own thing without being bothered by drow people that suddenly have uncontrollable urge to see another flaying.

Advice?

[DM Ioulaum]

This is from the new post in the Gloura's Wings section on joining one of the schools of magic.

The social standing of wizards should always be considered as one rank higher when compared against the rank of a sorcerer or bard. A wizard apprentice thus has as much authority within a school of magic as a graduated bard or sorcerer. Wizards can also progress further, and are the only Drow who qualify for leadership positions. Nonetheless, the schools of mages do accept non-citizen inhabitants into their fold. Non-citizens may teach and achieve the rank of Mage, but not Archmage. They never qualify for leadership positions within a School of Magic.

The benefit for non-Drow joining a school of magic is to elevate their social standing in the City. While they cannot become Citizens they can make still make themselves valuable. In terms of ranking they are treated similarly to Drow of equivalent level, but naturally Drow are at an advantage because they will be favored in an otherwise equal situation.

A downside to getting involved with the schools of magic is that they an environment apart from regular S'shamath, with their own power struggles and rivalries. If you are capable enough to surpass other students or apprentices they are likely to want to put you down before you become a threat, or failing that, before you become an even greater threat. The schools of magic also require your unconditional loyalty. They are not unlike Drow houses in that regard, and will try to own your life with duties, tasks, and studies that have to be performed. As you rise in the ranks however, you will gradually gain more freedom.

Depending on how much money you have you may negotiate that a portion of your tuition fees be paid by performing services, in particular through adventuring and gathering magical items. Or by becoming a tool to advance inter-school rivalries, a fall guy or minion. Many sorts of arrangements are possible. Of all the schools of magic non-citizens are most common in the School of Illusion and Phantasm, which also boasts a number of reputable Svifneblin teachers for its curriculum. However, in all cases Drow are the majority and never constitute less than 60% of a School's membership.

[NegInfinity]

This is from the new post in the Gloura's Wings section on joining one of the schools of magic.

The social standing of wizards should always be considered as one rank higher when compared against the rank of a sorcerer or bard. A wizard apprentice thus has as much authority within a school of magic as a graduated bard or sorcerer. Wizards can also progress further, and are the only Drow who qualify for leadership positions. Nonetheless, the schools of mages do accept non-citizen inhabitants into their fold. Non-citizens may teach and achieve the rank of Mage, but not Archmage. They never qualify for leadership positions within a School of Magic.

The benefit for non-Drow joining a school of magic is to elevate their social standing in the City. While they cannot become Citizens they can make still make themselves valuable. In terms of ranking they are treated similarly to Drow of equivalent level, but naturally Drow are at an advantage because they will be favored in an otherwise equal situation.

A downside to getting involved with the schools of magic is that they an environment apart from regular S'shamath, with their own power struggles and rivalries. If you are capable enough to surpass other students or apprentices they are likely to want to put you down before you become a threat, or failing that, before you become an even greater threat. The schools of magic also require your unconditional loyalty. They are not unlike Drow houses in that regard, and will try to own your life with duties, tasks, and studies that have to be performed. As you rise in the ranks however, you will gradually gain more freedom.

Depending on how much money you have you may negotiate that a portion of your tuition fees be paid by performing services, in particular through adventuring and gathering magical items. Or by becoming a tool to advance inter-school rivalries, a fall guy or minion. Many sorts of arrangements are possible. Of all the schools of magic non-citizens are most common in the School of Illusion and Phantasm, which also boasts a number of reputable Svifneblin teachers for its curriculum. However, in all cases Drow are the majority and never constitute less than 60% of a School's membership.

More questions.

• How is practiced spellcaster treated? Multiclassed wizard may have 4 wizard levels, but CL 8, for example.
• How are non-pure classes treated? Eldritch Knight, Arcane Trickster, Thaumaturge and the like.
  2.
• To join specific school, does wizard have to specialize? For example, does "Conjuration and summoning" require Conjuration to be chosen school?
• Is "School of Mages" supposed to cater to non-specialist wizards?
• Do students/apprentices/mages get their own quarters and live in the school or elsewhere?
• Are tuition fees decided on per-character basiss or are they universal? Could've sworn I saw prices somewhere, but can't find them now.

Still not sure if (for cautions types) it would look like a promising way to make other races leave char be, or something incredibly troublesome and/or potentially deadly.

[mireigi]

Do wizards in Sshamath undergo the mandatory six month melee combat training at Melee Magthere (or Sshamath equivelant) like they do in other Drow cities, or is such considered beneath any wizard living and training in Sshamath? Or is this practise different from school to school?

[DM Ioulaum]

How is practiced spellcaster treated? Multiclassed wizard may have 4 wizard levels, but CL 8, for example.

For determining your approximate rank in a School of Magic do not count practiced caster. Other feats and classes which raise your casterlevel for all spells should be counted. This includes feats which raise casterlevel only for a particular school, if that is the school your School of Magic specializes in. You do not need to be a specialist wizard, though it is certainly encouraged in specialist schools.

The School of Mages caters to mages who specialize in forms of magic and spells which do not really fit with the other School of Magic. It encourages generalists but also has many specialists.

Members of a school of Magic can acquire board and bed, but this is in return requires money or service. There are lodgings for staff and teachers, though not all make use of the privilege. Tuition fees are purposely left open, though player guilds may require a particular stipend. The prices are not universal and are often negotiated based on the magical competence and potential usefulness of a candidate.

Still not sure if (for cautions types) it would look like a promising way to make other races leave char be, or something incredibly troublesome and/or potentially deadly.

Precisely. Few of us are gifted with the ability to foresee the future clearly, but joining a School of Magic is one of the easier ways to elevate yourself in S'shamath. Assuming that you have the ability to become a wizard and don't killed in the process.

Do wizards in Sshamath undergo the mandatory six month melee combat training at Melee Magthere (or Sshamath equivelant) like they do in other Drow cities, or is such considered beneath any wizard living and training in Sshamath? Or is this practise different from school to school?

The Schools of Magic are exempted from the training regime of the City Militia. In effect the Schools contribute their own battle mages, mages, apprentices, and even students when there is need.

The training offered by the Schools varies and usually focuses on magical rather than melee or warrior like competence. That said, both the Schools of Abjuration, Transmutation, and the School of Mages offer a curriculum for those wishing to specialize as battle mages with warrior skills. Particularly the school of Transmutation is renowned for its competent mage warriors. The school of Abjuration on the other hand specializes in training mage-killers, while the School of Mages teaches a (narrower) selection of these skills for the purpose of adventuring expeditions to recover magical lore and artifacts. As well as to facilitate the crafting and reproduction of magical weapons and armor.

[NegInfinity]

Still not sure if (for cautions types) it would look like a promising way to make other races leave char be, or something incredibly troublesome and/or potentially deadly.

Precisely. Few of us are gifted with the ability to foresee the future clearly, but joining a School of Magic is one of the easier ways to elevate yourself in S'shamath. Assuming that you have the ability to become a wizard and don't killed in the process.

Hmm. I suppose I'll let RP (external RP events) decide if character I had in mind would seek this option. Not to mention that it will probably be reasonable for said character to become a bit stronger first.

One more question, though. Is payment schedule still decided on individual basis? Or is it something weekly/monthly/yearly? (daily?)

[DM Ioulaum]

The payment schedule is negotiated when the character enrolls into a school of magic. The payment of installments can thus occur per turning or every so many cycles, or once per progression. A total sum is not accepted in advance for the entire curriculum until graduation. (the player is expected to roleplay these payments without recourse to a Dungeon Master)

If a portion of the payments are paid in services then the service must be rendered when the School orders it. If the student refuses he is subject to the laws of the School in question, and cannot appeal to the Conclave or its magistrature. Requested services can extend to the guarding of caravans or expeditions, as well as competition in tournaments or duels. They can take any form imaginable so long as the school deems it worthwhile. Corruption in that regard is not unheard of, students are sometimes pawned to local business via mages who request their secondment for a non-existent task.

[NegInfinity]

Can non-drow wizard own slaves?

[DM Ioulaum]

Inhabitants can own slaves. Like with all slaves in S'shamath these cannot be of a race capable of using the Art / arcane magic. See the slavery guidelines in the Gloura's Wing message board:

http://www.bgtscc.net/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=8708

[mireigi]

Will a Drow be acceptable as a slave to another Drow, if their spellcasting ability have been removed, either through potent magic that block their access to the Weave, or a physical injury / alteration of their brain and mind that make them incapable of understanding the Arcane?

[DM Ioulaum]

No. The races you are referring to which are considered capable of wizardly magic may never be enslaved. However, they can be indentured servants.

[mireigi]

So Sshamath doesn't allow for drow battlecaptives at all, which is a common practice when one faction (House, coallition, guild, etc) defeats another in battle?

[DM Narshe]

So Sshamath doesn't allow for drow battlecaptives at all, which is a common practice when one faction (House, coallition, guild, etc) defeats another in battle?

Sshamath breaks a lot of typical drow traditions. It's a rather unique setting for the Underdark.

[mireigi]

So Sshamath doesn't allow for drow battlecaptives at all, which is a common practice when one faction (House, coallition, guild, etc) defeats another in battle?

Sshamath breaks a lot of typical drow traditions. It's a rather unique setting for the Underdark.

Agreed, it just strikes me as odd that the Conclave would crack down on someone holding weak Drow as slaves, in particular if the Drow in question is either incapable of casting Arcane magic, or have been defeated so thouroughly that the mere association of them with the Arcane is a disgrace to all other practitioners. The Conclave are Drow after all, and to most Drow weakness is a thing to be exploited or killed off.

[DM Ioulaum]

So Sshamath doesn't allow for drow battlecaptives at all, which is a common practice when one faction (House, coallition, guild, etc) defeats another in battle?

Battle captives do not become slaves in S'shamath. They are instead considered to be indentured servants.

If Drow battle captives were previously inhabitants of the City they can appeal to a magistrate to review their case. The outcome of that appeal depends on their social standing, the social standing of their friends and and allies, and what caused them to become captive. Some causes weigh more heavily than others, such as to avenge serious insults. Depending on the case the magistrate may also accept a bribe.

Drow who are not from City cannot appeal to a magistrate until they have stayed long enough to qualify as an inhabitant of the city. The terms of the servitude agreement would automatically extend to one hundred years of service under at least marginally livable conditions. Such captives would own anything they brought with them into the City, which at that point can no longer legally be looted. Longer terms of service are not possible, but after the initial hundred years the terms may be renewed. Usually battle captives are then offered a choice between death and continued servitude. Only rarely do they successfully appeal their fates with a magistrate because they usually lack the social standing and money to do so. They are commonly taken out of the City before their contract expires and given the mentioned choice. This avoids complications caused by the City's wards.

An exception occurs when S'shamath is at war with another City. In that case Drow war captives do not become indentured servants. Not unless terms are made with the enemy which settle this, or if the matter is left unsettled. Until that happens the prisoners are treated as captives, which is similar to slaves, but depends on their social station and value. Once peace is made any remaining captives are auctioned as indentured servants. Often to their own families as a form of ransom.

It is somewhat risky for non-Drow to own contracts which put Drow in servitude to them. If mistreated the magistrates are fairly quick to release the bond of servitude or auction it to another party. There are also a scarce number of cases in which a Drow servant usurps their masters' business and properties because of alleged mistreatment and crimes. Usually along with bribes to the magistrates, siphoned from that same property.

Most Drow who are in indentured service are therefore rented out to non-drow via Drow who own their servitude contract. Entire Drow merchant houses specialize in the acquisition and rent of such indentured Drow, who are often fairly skilled and valued workers from diverse professions. Some artisans and mages are allegedly kidnapped from other places and introduced to S'shamath in this fashion. After several decades many of those valued servants are able to purchase or appeal for their own freedom, though such requests are rarely successful before at least half a century has passed. The schools of magic themselves own servitude contracts of a number of their teachers and other staff.