Index | Time Under Chaos | Concerning Chaos | Chaosian Education
- "I was taught the usual things a gentleman should know-magic, weapons, poisons, riding, dancing."
- Merlin, the Courts of Chaos
The education of young nobles is important to the Courts. The sense of competition amongst Houses, Major and Minor, and competition within these Houses demands that the progeny of lines be given education.
In some cases, this education is done outside of the Courts themselves, with a scion of a House installed in a Black Zone shadow for safety. It is more rare for a Chaosian to be raised even further, or in ignorance, but that can occur as well.
A well-educated Chaosian, fully aware of who and what she is, however, has an extensive education to learn. This education is, always, tailored to the individual and their potentials, with their strengths emphasized if at all possible. And of course proclivities of a House or a bloodline with a House are also taken into account. Hendrake scions, for instance, learn much more of bladework than a similarly skilled scion of another House.
The basic complete educational curriculum is as follows.
- Secrecy
- Keeping secrets is almost as instinctive and necessary as breathing.
- Tradition and History
- Here are learned the House protocols, disciplined elegance, ascendancy, history, hunting, events, statecraft, the courtly graces, and honor.Individual House traditions are somewhat de-emphasized in the school in Amber, since the population of students is from mixed Houses.
- Bladework
- All the fine arts of duels, weapons and field combat. Command and control of combat beasts, land, water and air is part of this.
- MindCraft
- The realm of the mind, will and defense of discipline are studied. This is the starting path for those who might undertake training for the Logrus.
- Shaping
- Not all Chaosians are good shapers; some do not shape beyond certain basic defenses. Potentials are studied and honed.
- Sorcery
- The graceful mastery of arcane forces is considered a basic skill in most Houses. Not every Chaosian of a House becomes a full sorcerer, save in houses like Helgram, however, it is uncommon for a Chaosian to be completely ignorant of sorcery, either.
- Toxins
- Poisons delivered by fire, earth, air or water are considered the highest compliment in conflict. The grace and elegance of damage or death by toxin is a high art. Poisons are not used on lessers. Recognition of poisons and immunization against the most common poisons is also included in this program.
TimeUnderChaos Chaos
