Becoming an Aldin Noble

Becoming an acknowledged noble of Aldin society, a citizen of Aldis must pass the Tests and the Trail.

The Tests

The tests are academic in nature, although they are not solely written. Tests in both written and spoken form are required to successfully accomplish this part of the process.

Literacy

The First Test is the test of Literacy. Candidates must demonstrate their ability to read at an advanced level, and to understand what they have read sufficiently to explain it to others. A candidate must demonstrate the ability to write in in a clear, legible hand, with sufficiently advanced grammar and composition to be entrusted with legal and historical documentation.

• The Written Introduction (TN 7 Intelligence [Writing]): An extremely simple formal test, the Written Examination is simply the means by which the would-be candidate introduces themselves to the Noble Assembly.
  • This is kept by the Assembly in the candidate's file, for anyone with access to refer to. It is considered an essential work, as it is supposed to reflect the candidate's history and personality, as well as acting as a simple means of judging penmanship.
  • These Introductions may be written by anyone interested in testing, and turned over to a noble. It is part of a noble's responsibility to read over and help the would-be candidate form their introduction to the Assembly's expectations, and to send the Introduction along once it is complete.
• The Candidate's Thesis (TN 9 Intelligence [Any Lore]): There is an accepted library of written works referred to as the Noble Canon. These works are expected reading for Aldin nobility, and every few years, a small handful of books are added to it, while others may be removed.
  • A candidate is expected to read three of these works within a given field and not only describe their importance but their relevance to one another and to the candidate's own world view and experiences, using them to frame and inform the candidate's written desire to become a noble.
  • This check is made with one of the Lore Focuses (Arcane, Cultural, Historical, Military, Musical, Natural, Nautical, Religious), and the candidate must have had the opportunity to read three of the Noble Canon that fall within that Lore (a task that can sometimes require traveling and meeting other nobles, most of whom keep at least a modest library with up to a dozen of their favorite such works).
  • The Thesis is expected to be written while the candidate goes about their normal, daily lives. The tradition is for a candidate who has already handed over their Introduction to then begin work on their Thesis.
  • When finished, this Thesis is also handed over to a noble, who is expected to send it to the Noble Assembly immediately.
  • The Noble Assembly then reads through the Thesis, often asking for expansions or addenda of a candidate; these works are also Lore focus Intelligence tests, continued until the candidate has accomplished three extra TN 9 tests, or accomplished a single TN 13 test.
  • Once final acceptance is noted to the candidate (through the noble who submitted the Thesis), they are given permission to begin working on the Test of History.

History

The Second Test is the test of History. Candidates must demonstrate a working knowledge of Aldean history up through the founding of the Kingdom of the Blue Rose, and must demonstrate an extremely thorough and exhaustive knowledge of the kingdom's history.

• The Historical Examination (TN 11 Intelligence [Historical Lore]): The Historical Examination is a standardized test, created by academics from the Royal College, and revised yearly.
  • When a candidate has received word that their Thesis is accepted, the noble that sent the Thesis in is sent a copy of the Historical Examination. That noble is responsible for administering it or finding another noble who is willing to do so.
  • The resultant finished Examination is returned to the Noble Assembly.
  • If not accepted, the candidate has one year to submit another.
  • If accepted, the candidate receives word of acceptance.
• The Historical Lecture (TN TN 11 Communication [Historical Lore]): Once a candidate has received a writ of acceptance for their Historical Examination, they may present that writ to nobles along with a request that the noble sit as part of their Historical Lecture panel.
  • A panel requires at least three nobles.
  • The candidate must prepare a lecture on some historical element. This requires an Intelligence [Historical Lore] test and at least three days of time.
  • Once the research is done, the candidate may present their lecture to the panel, with a Communication test. The maximum total TN of this check is equal to whatever the check for the lecture preparation was.
  • The higher the Outcome of this check, the more enthusiastically the panel responds in their evaluations. The candidate never sees the evaluations; these are always sent by the nobles to the Noble Assembly.
  • If the requirements of the Historical Lecture are met, the candidate receives a Writ of History.

Philosophy

The Third Test is the test of Philosophy. Candidates must demonstrate an understanding of the various philosophical modes that have informed Aldean culture, as well as demonstrate skill with associated abilities such as rhetoric and debate.

• The Philosophical Thesis (TN 13 Intelligence [Arcane, Cultural or Religious Lore]): A candidate must present their Writ of History to a noble to move onto this examination.
  • This noble must be trained in the Lore the candidate wishes to focus on as the basis for their philosophy in this Test.
  • The candidate then proposes a thesis they wish to focus on as part of this philosophical work, and if the noble agrees to it, they may begin writing their thesis on that topic (this may require a Communication test to get approval from a recalcitrant or skeptical noble).
  • The candidate composes the Thesis, taking a week, and an Intelligence test using their favored Lore.
  • The resultant thesis is sent to the Noble Assembly, along with an evaluation from the administering noble.
• The Philosophical Debate (Opposed Communication [Persuasion]): Once the Noble Assembly receives the Philosophical Thesis, they evaluate it and put together a five-noble panel.
  • This panel then invites the candidate to Aldis to defend their thesis to the panel. Once the candidate arrives, the panel schedules the debate.
  • The candidate is paired off with a philosophy student from the Royal College who has examined the thesis and prepared a counter-argument to it. (This student has a +1d6 total for the opposed test.)
  • The debate takes one hour, and is attended by the panel, the opposition, and any nobles or Royal College students or professors who are interested in attending.
  • If the candidate fails to successfully defend their thesis, they must begin again with an entirely new Philosophical Thesis.
  • If the candidate successfully defends their thesis, they are given their Writ of Philosophy.

Ethics

The Fourth Test is the test of Ethics. Candidates must utilize their demonstrated skill in both history and philosophy, citing precedents and theories, to demonstrate a mastery of ethical conceptualization. This is the basis of Aldin culture's trust in its nobility to rule wisely and well.

• The Ethical Thesis (TN 13 Intelligence [Cultural, Historical, or Religious Lore]): A candidate must present their Writ of Philosophy to a noble to move onto this examination.
  • This noble must be trained in the Lore the candidate wishes to focus on as the basis for their philosophy in this Test.
  • The candidate then proposes a thesis they wish to focus on as part of this philosophical work, and if the noble agrees to it, they may begin writing their thesis on that topic (this may require a Communication test to get approval from a recalcitrant or skeptical noble).
  • The candidate composes the Thesis, taking a week, and an Intelligence test using their favored Lore.
  • The resultant thesis is sent to the Noble Assembly, along with an evaluation from the administering noble.
• The Ethical Debate (Opposed Communication [Persuasion]): Once the Noble Assembly receives the Ethical Thesis, they evaluate it and put together a five-noble panel.
  • This panel then invites the candidate to Aldis to defend their thesis to the panel. Once the candidate arrives, the panel schedules the debate.
  • The candidate is paired off with a noble who has examined the thesis and prepared a counter-argument to it. (This noble has a +1d3+3 total for the opposed test.)
  • The debate takes one hour, and is attended by the panel, the opposition, and any nobles or Royal College students or professors who are interested in attending.
  • If the candidate fails to successfully defend their thesis, they must begin again with an entirely new Ethical Thesis.
  • If the candidate successfully defends their thesis, they are given their Writ of Ethics.

Law

The Fifth Test is the test of Law. Candidates must demonstrate an understanding of Aldin law that is supported by the "tripod of law": historical precedent, philosophical rigor, and ethical foundation. Only those who are capable of demonstrating an understanding of Aldin laws will ever be permitted near enough to governmental power to establish new ones or strike down old ones, so this testing is of the sort that makes or breaks Aldin nobles.

• The Legal Thesis (TN x): x
• The Legal Lecture (TN x): x

The Trial

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