class

[marycatelli]

Looks like they've got the professions vs. trade in their world.

At least, Cedric got sneered at, about his studies, because he's a merchant's son.

By a merchant, mind you, but this one sells wands. A craftsman, at least. Cedric's father deals with magical things, but the ingredients, not the final product.

All the others are from the professions. Or scholars. Or independently -- well, not wealthy, but not needing to work.

A world where scholars have access to powerful magic is going to be one where that leads to social divisions.

Comments

[whitefangedwolf.livejournal.com]

Wouldn't dealing with magical ingredients be an important profession? I would think that lousy magical ingredients would make for lousy magic.

[marycatelli]

The ingredients themselves are not magic. They are components. An amethyst is not intrinsically magical, but its virtues allow you to use it in an anti-drunkenness spell. And so on, with more commonplace stuff.

[whitefangedwolf.livejournal.com]

Even though the components aren't magical, doesn't the quality of the ingredients affect how well the magic works?

[marycatelli]

Oh, yes, but you do have to draw a line somewhere. Otherwise the riff-raff get in

[whitefangedwolf.livejournal.com]

Ah, that makes sense.

[marycatelli]

hope I can make it as clear in story

[headnoises.livejournal.com]

Everybody needs plumbers, nobody wants their son to be one?

[marycatelli]

Of course.

I wonder if they have the same problem as the Victorians did, that the upper class did not reproduce at replacement, so they needed to keep drawing up people.