Opportunities for Education in the Lunar Empire

There is no concept of general education in the Lunar Empire (or anywhere in Glorantha, for that matter). 90% of Glorantha is illiterate and can’t do sums other than those directly applicable to their occupation - mostly basic addition and subtraction.

Nobles are normally tutored, and can be expected to know how to read and write, do basic mathematics, and know the history of their culture. Scribes will be able to read and write at a minimum; and the better their clientele, the more likely they are to know multiple languages, illuminate their work (as in adding pretty pictures and fancy capital letters, not making mystical connections to the universe!), etc.

Various knowledge cults teach their followers more esoteric subjects, such as the celestianomers of Buserian. Some charity cults may teach rudimentary skills to orphans and the indigent, though this is rare, and usually dependant on the interest of the priest or priestess in charge of the particular workhouse or orphanage.

A hero who has a basic education may go on to higher education, usually provided by their cult or government. Every culture has some sort of advanced education, including the Buserian schools of Dara Happa, the Carmanian Hall of Viziers, and the Imperial University. These schools are specialized in what they teach - the "Liberal Arts Education" is not to be found here. Instead, these schools are more like magical Trade Schools.

Buserian Schools train Buserian cultists in the ways of their god. They specialize in Mathematics, Advanced Literacy and Star-gazing. Advancement in the cult of Buserian is dependent on one’s passing of numerous tests on these subjects. The main school is located in Yuthuppa, but ancillary schools exist in all Dara Happan cities.

The Hall of Viziers trains the scholar-magicians of Carmania. A student will learn Religious doctrine and accepted magics. Histories of the Carmanian people and their enemies are included in the standard curriculum. The Hall is located in Bindle on the Sweet Sea.

The Lunar University trains Imperial citizens in a myriad of "pathways", from Hearths (the collection of information on the Imperial peoples), to Stability (magical trouble-shooters for the Empire). A student is tested in their first year, and preference is shown to those who will be obedient rather than independent. Further advancement is always at the discretion of the teacher, who will teach the student until the student proves that he has learned the material, or that further study is futile. Classes are divided into first through fifth level, with Fifth being the year-one classes, and First being the highest level of teaching. A student who graduates as a Fifth has taken the bare minimum of classes, while a student who has graduated First has received the finest education possible. Students graduate when their teachers agree that they have reached their potential. Graduates are always well-accepted by the government and nobles, with preference and prestige given to those that graduated First- or Second-level. Most Lecturers and professors are First or Second level graduates; third or lower level graduates are rarely seen in the teaching staff. A student is required to spend as many years in government service as he spent in the University. Once his Required Service is through, he may continue in government service, be hired by a noble house, or set himself up as a Freelance Scholar.

The Lunar university is currently located in Torang. It is comprised of six Houses which are both physical Dormitories and fraternity-like associations. Houses have their rivalries and alliances, which can continue even after graduation. The six houses are:

Creating a University Graduate Character

The educational institute will naturally expect that a student will "spend his points" on getting an education. This is an 80% Time and HP requirement (his "Education Effort"). Religious obligations normally are included in the 80%, as these are institutions run by the cults or schools. Effort less than the expected will often result in expulsion (or "early graduation" for scions of the great and powerful). The notion of a "Full-time Student" does not exist - if a character is that attracted to academia, he’ll probably shift from "Student" to "Research Assistant" to "Lecturer" to "Professor" as his knowledge and Academi-political acumen increase.

Graduation requirements vary from institution to institution, but can be condensed down to:

  1. A Major area of specialization. This will receive around 2/3 of his "Education Effort" or ~55% of the hero’s Time and HP. An Area of Specialization might be a single ability (Theology of the Lunar Way), or be split amongst several related abilities. However it’s done, it receives 55% of the HP or Character Creation points.
  2. A Minor area of specialization, or a deeper study of the major area. This takes up the remaining 1/3 of his "Education Effort", or ~25% of his total time and HP.

Figure that a non-played year will net the hero approximately 20 HP*, so the breakdown of annual HP expenditure becomes:

*Spice to taste

Ability Rating Guidelines for University Graduates

(using the Character generation rules for Engiziland)