Scholars
“They know everything—except how to save themselves from the people in power.”
DEFINITION
A Scholar is a formally educated individual trained in one or more disciplines such as magic theory, history, astronomy, medicine, engineering, or metaphysics. While most are commoners, their knowledge places them just above the average citizen—but only as long as they remain “useful.”
They are respected, feared, and very often controlled.
TYPES OF SCHOLARS
| Scholar Type | Area of Study | Typical Patron |
|---|---|---|
| Court Scholar | Politics, history, law, prophecy | Royal family or Dukes |
| Arcane Theorist | Magic design, rune systems, leyline mapping | Mage towers or the Academy |
| Magi-Technician | Fusion of enchantment and tech (lost knowledge) | Underground guilds or secret labs |
| Medical Scholar | Healing arts, anatomy, magical disease | Military or church |
| Archivists / Librarians | Ancient knowledge, daemon lore, sealed texts | Forbidden wings of state libraries |
| Philosophers / Ethicists | Social systems, morality, magical ethics | Mostly ignored, occasionally executed |
PATH TO SCHOLARSHIP
- Noble-born scholars: Rare but powerful—often given prestigious positions regardless of ability.
- Commoner scholars: Only accepted if they display exceptional magical or intellectual talent. Often recruited young.
- Academy-trained: The primary path for state-recognised scholars. Graduation is brutal, competitive, and politically rigged.
Note: Many are educated at the Imperial Academy, where Rein and the Saintess now attend.
STATUS, POWER, & RISKS
Perks:
- Access to restricted libraries and magical knowledge
- Invitations to court as consultants or advisors
- Allowed to teach or mentor others under a licence
- Occasionally protected by noble patrons
Dangers:
- Not considered peers by nobles—often scapegoated for magical accidents or policy failures
- Forbidden from publishing certain truths (e.g., daemon history, royal corruption)
- May be silenced, executed, or erased for uncovering the wrong secrets
- Loyalty contracts often bind them magically to their employer
NARRATIVE POTENTIAL
Scholars make great:
- Truth keepers hiding forbidden knowledge about the simulation, daemon lore, or Rein’s real history.
- Double agents—appearing loyal but feeding information to a secret rebellion.
- Tragic figures—brilliant minds crushed by politics, waiting for someone like Rein to finish what they couldn’t.
- Living keys—holding insight that unlocks sealed magic, ancient pacts, or memory code.
SAYINGS ABOUT SCHOLARS
- “A scholar can read fate—but only a noble can rewrite it.”
- “They burn books they can’t control—and the people who wrote them.”
- “Give a scholar a question, and they’ll answer. Give them power, and they’ll disappear.”
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