Arcanist

A maker of magical supplies.

Career

Qualifications

Arcanists require an agile mind and deft hands. Their craft needs a wide range of knowledge, along with a variety of practical skills. Quite a few gain their initial knowledge when apprenticing as a wizard. When this didn't work out they are oft times recruited by an arcanist looking for an apprentice (at times a wizard will even take their failing apprentice to the arcanist themselves). Others enter the profession through alchemy while others may have worked as herbalists. Whatever their path they all start the journey to being an arcanist as a new apprentice.

Like with any craft, years will be spent on improving knowledge and skills. What sets arcanists apart is the sheer breadth of knowledge they require. An arcanist's work makes use of minerals, gems, animal parts, plants, alchemical process and magical theory. Lacking knowledge in any of these can prove deadly so apprentices are tested regularly on their knowledge before they are considered ready to perform more than the basic steps of material preparation.
When an arcanist apprentice is deemed capable by their master they can take a test to evaluate their knowledge and how safe they are when crafting items. Failing results in at least another year of study and is considered a great embaressment for the master. Passing the exam means the apprentice is classed as an Arcanist crafter. They are permitted to create a limited number of goods themselves, but still have more to learn.

One of the tests is to safely create a batch of ink suitable for scribing scrolls. In addition to following all the processes correctly the apprentice is obliged to perfom a test by using their ink to draw a test sigil. The sigil explodes if there are any problems with the ink

Those who study

Perception

Purpose

Arcanists are specialised crafters who create supplies for spellcasters. They create inks that won't explode or disintegrate the paper when preparing scrolls or spellbooks. They prepare parchment and paper for magical writing, mix obscure materials for ritual candles and incense, and prepare the numerous components required for spellcasting.

Social Status

Most arcansits occupy an uncomfortable middle ground in society. They aren't wizards (with quite a few having failed to complete their apprenticeship as a wizard) but their knowledge and regular interaction with wizards sets them apart from other trades. The amount they charge for their goods leads many to beleive that arcanists must be wealthy, though this doesn't take into account the time, effort, and materials that an arcanist requires.
Like with some other professions, the most talented and well known arcanists can command large fees for their services. Consulted by the wise, advisors to the powerful, they can at times hold more influence than many spellcasters.

History

Originally spellcasters relied on acolytes or apprentices to prepare materials for them. It was one of the benefits of having an apprentice. Knowledge of how to concoct the assorted materials needed for spellcraft was passed from master to student with the knowledge being kept a closely guarded secret. However, apprentices and novices are, by their very definition, still learning the craft and accidents caused by a poorly measured mixture were not uncommon.
When more spellcasters began congregating in large towns it became more practical for them to pool their resources for creating the materials necessary for their craft. Some of the less magically skilled apprentices then found themselves spending far more time making supplies than learning about magic themselves. This led to several of them ending their apprenticeships in order to make creating supplies their full time job. Though arcanists were few in number the importance of spellcasters having suitable materials was such that some lands allowed the creation of arcanist guilds to maintain standards and protect the arcanists.
When the Colleges of Magic were established the arcanist guilds were invited to create formal links with the colleges and new unified set of standards for arcanists was established across all the lands were the colleges had influence.
After the first years of darkness the role re-emerged in The Empire with the help of the elves who had managed to preserve many of the techniques developed during the Second Age.
In the fourth age a few started to take on the role of arcanist in the largest towns using knowledge taught by The Twelve and passed down by spellcasters. This was directly supported and encouraged in the Kingdom of Caresnas and Empire of Dalthion, with both lands providing coin for new arcanists to set up a business if they showed they had suitable skills. In Caresnas there is now a new guild of arcanists, though their numbers remain few.

Type

Arcane

Used By

• Colleges of Magic

Many Arcanists form close ties with hunters and mercenaries group as they need someone to go out and acquire the more dangerous and obscure materials needed for crafting ritual and spell components. Such relationships usually rely on bartering goods instead of direct payment as neither side is likely to have all the coin they need to purchase items from the other.

Few in Number

The market for the goods produced by arcanists is fairly small. In larger towns there might enougharcane casters for an arcanist to make a living but for the most part arcanists in such towns will need to establish contracts to supply other towns with their goods to make a steady income. Some smaller towns can also support an arcanist depending on the size of any temples and whether the town has an alchemist or not. Supplying temples with ritual material might not be the msot profitable but it can keep an arcanist's business going between other work.

Dream Job

For arcanists their ultimate goal is to be recognised by one of the royal mages and be employed directly by the crown. Such a role grants access to the best materials and means they will be involved in research on magical creations.