Apprentice

An Apprentice is a Lati training under another Lati. Technically, every Lati in a powerbase is an apprentice to someone, save the person at the top. A Lati is generally inducted into a power base or Dynasty of Power as the apprentice of a Varma or Erati or even another Apprentice, and rise through the ranks with or a bit slower than their master. An Apprentice is always learning form their master, and once they've learned all there is to learn, kill them and take their place, title and resources.

Qualifications

For a Lati to become an Apprentice, they need to not possess any other Lati title, and be within another Lati's powerbase.

Requirements

The Lati  must have survived the Otanli Academy before they can be selected to be an apprentice.

Appointment

The only thing required to make a Lati an Apprentice to another Lati is for the master in question to file the paperwork saying "This is my apprentice, they report to me, their blunders are my blunders." 

Responsibilities

An Apprentice has whatever duties are given to them by their master.

Benefits

The main benefits of being an Apprentice versus being an Acolyte is that apprentices entertain a certain amount of protection. Of course they're still vulnerable to being assassinated, or their superiors randomly deciding that their death is nigh, but if a Lati wants them dead, it requires a much larger hassle and much more paperwork. An apprentice is part of a powerbase, which means that if some Varma kills them, then that Varma has to answer to the Lati the dead apprentice served. Most people don't like having their things broken, and the same applies to Lati. It's the same reason that Lati don't go around murderering random civilians, despite their capability and possible desire. They'd have to answer up the food chain. Kill the cubs, deal with the mother.

Aside from that, an Apprentice usually enjoys access to the resources their master chooses to provide, including research material, artifacts, a base of operations, and their wonderful teachings.

Grounds for Removal/Dismissal

An Apprentice can be dismissed (killed) for whatever reason their master feels. Maybe they suddenly decided that they don't like their face, or maybe they decided that the Apprentice cant be allowed to continue breaking things. Whatever reason, the Apprentice usually doesn't last long, even if they're let go amicably.

History

The title of Apprentice was always used to describe a Lati training under another Lati. Despite the inherent danger of breaking someone who will want to kill you in to your fold, most Lati still do train apprentices, as it means that their legacy is passed on, even if their name is forgotten. Apprentices were useful for getting tasks done and having an extra set of hands around never hurt, it was what those hands would do while you were sleeping that was the problem.

Apprentice Succession

When a Lati dies, there is a scramble by the people within their powerbase or who kept tabs on the Lati in question, to grab up as much of the fracturing resources as possible. Rivals will invade their territory, superiors will seize resources they always wanted but couldn't get them to hand over, and apprentices will scramble to seize the things their master left behind.

This is alleviated and even prevented, by a succession hierarchy, most often in the form of an apprentice hierarchy. A master will make periodic updates with their power base, and leave behind a will which informs all those paying attention that so in so apprentice is to succeed me, take my title, and manage my resources. This is most common found within a Dynasty of Power, where trusted Lerin will maintain the family hierarchy stay stable, and keep instructions of the master away from those who would seek to modify it for their own ends.

Knowing what their master's will is will often lead to a warning of a large powerplay, by all the Lati ahead of a certain power-hungry individual in the line of succession, facing or succumbing to assassination attempts. Most masters consider this a risk worth taking, as keeping their will a secret will make it so that their powerbase will likely fracture upon their death.

Type

Nobility, Non-hereditary

Status

In Effect

Source of Authority

Their Superiors & Inkallu

Reports directly to

Varma

Related Organizations

• Laran
• Lati