¶ Novice
Difficulty: Medium
Duties: Learn the magical arts.
Restrictions: The role's faction falls into the category of Combatant factions.
A Novice is a newcomer to the world of mages who has arrived at the College to study and practice alchemy and spells.
¶ Not Quite a Mage
After reading a couple of books about famous mages, a traveler arrived at the College and became a Novice. At the College, the newcomer begins studying with wise mages who demonstrate everything through examples and personal experience. This includes learning new spells, both combat spells and those that help everyone by healing or providing light.
¶ Theory
All spells and recipes are learned through books or oral accounts. Mages or the Archmage will give the Novice all instructional books as study material.
¶ Practice
To practice what they have learned, a Novice can train at the College's training ground or join the Mages on an expedition. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages. The training ground develops only proficiency in using abilities, while an expedition develops combat skills.
¶ Scrolls
Maintaining the stability of the Barrier is the College's main task. To do so, the mages set out on expeditions to find magic scrolls that increase the Barrier's stability. A Novice whom the Archmage assigns to assist the scroll-seeking Mages will gain extensive experience at the places where such scrolls are found, acquire combat skills, and learn spells. With great luck, they may also find something new and valuable for the College.
¶ Conclusion
After completing their education and going through multiple stages of training and expeditions, a Novice can be promoted to Mage. Promotion grants the opportunity to learn enhanced versions of spells, receive new assignments, and use new equipment.