Trials and Trades
This is the historical account of the establishment of the Trials and Trades in Valcanne. This record is written by King Baronton's Master of Knowledge Iremsi, it provides information on how and why the Trials and Trades were established.
This historical record has been edited by King Raughn's Master of knowledge Rickharton only adjusting the notes to show the passage of time and any alterations to how the Trials and Trades are conducted.
Trades
The following is a list of all the Trades currently included within the Trials:
Hunt
Knowledge
Blacksmithing
Horse Master
Masons
Builders
Tanners
Miners
Fishers
Farmers
Lumber
Wood Workers
Shipwrights
Baking
Seamstresses
Cooking
Runners
Texts
Faith
Trials
The Following is a list of the current Masters of those trades:
Gorum Master of Hunt
Eligeah Master of Knowledge
Scott Master Blacksmith
Kyle Horse Master
Carl Master Mason
Bruce Master Builder
Timoth Master Tanner
Philip Master Miner
Richard Fish Master
Henry Master of Farms
Barry Lumber Master
Lontil Master Woodworker
Stephen Master Shipwright
Nathanule Master Baker
Pamala Master Seamstress
Rebecca Master Cook
Mikel Masster Runner
Silvia Master of Texts
Philip Master of Faith
Patty Master of Trials
Lists pertaining to the previous Kings Masters and Trades can be found through Silvia, the current Master of Texts.
Trials
The system known as the Trials was established under the rule of King Baronton.
The Trials were established in the years following the Great War, King Baranton was quoted at the First Year of Trials.
"We owe our lives to the bravery of soldiers who fought so gallantly during the Great War, however we also owe so much more to three Farmers who bravely fought and protected our lands with nothing but their tools and wits."
"It is upon the realisation that having assumed one's potential through right of birth alone, has left us ignoring talented and brave men and women and what they can do for our Kingdom - So I give you the Trials!"
The Trials have been a part of Valcanne's history ever since, no parent is forced to send their child but the children included are offered the best chances at changing from their families trade.
The following is a list of all of the stages of the Trials:
Pre Trials
After a child has finished feeding from it mother and gained proper footing and speech, children are sent daily to the Trial Hall for basic training in reading, writing, counting, math.
Children are also given a basic knowledge of the world of Keltorin it's animals, peoples and Kingdoms.
The children are also given a preliminary explanation of the Gods and their purpose and influences.
This continues until the year the child turns seven years old and then they proceed to the Training Trials.
There are multiple benefits to this structure, firstly mothers are able to return to their jobs or Trades without having the worry of caring for their child at the same time, secondly the elderly members of our community have a way to participate and support our younger generations and ensure our knowledge is passed down through time.
Training Trials
The Training Trials commence the year a child turns seven, they cease attending the Pre Trials.
Every child is then put in a Training rotation where they work for one week at a time in each Trade.
The following week they move onto the next Trade and so on until they complete their Training Trials when they are fourteen years old and move onto their Trial Selection.
The goal of having every child learn all of the trades gradually over time this method has two main purposes, the first to ensure when grown into adulthood every person has a basic understanding of all Trades and how to perform multiple duties with different skills, secondly this way Masters get to know the children and get an understanding for where their skills lie and if they would be suited to the Trade for life.
Trial Selections
The day of Trial Selections a festival is held to celebrate the children beginning their journey into adulthood - a goal they will have reached at the end of the year after the Year of Trials, but first they had to make Trial Selections.
There are three Trades given priority to all others they are permitted to "request" a child join their Trial Selection and the child has to follow the request.
The three Trades given these special privileges are War, Hunt and Knowledge - they are given these extra powers during Trial Selections to ensure those with the best skills go into the most demanding positions that they thrive in.
It is rare for more than a few children, to be chosen and most are usually chosen for War or Hunt over Knowledge.
It is even less likely a child would be selected for two of the prioritised trades, all three of them was unheard of to date.
The Children are permitted four choices total, so if they have been requested they lose their right to a Selection of their choosing.
The reasoning for this is the Year of Trials is broken into four sections where the child attempting their Trials spends four equal blocks of time in each of the four Trades selected.
During their time at each of the Trades during the Trials, children live onsite with their Masters and undergo intensive training and testing.
This again give the Masters an even better understanding of the child's skill and suitability to the Trade to aid in the decision they will have to make at the Masters Selection.
Once finished with one Trade they move on the next and continue until all four Trades have been Trialed.
Masters Selection
The day of the Masters Selection is another joyus event and a large celebration takes place as the children are now emerging as adults.
With the King presiding over the event the Masters all gather and starting with the Master of War, the Master makes his Selection one at a time - if another Master also wishes to take on the apprentice they come forward and also state their request so the apprentice knows all of their options and then they are able to make their choice and they go with that Master and start their Trade fulltime as an adult.
This continues until all Masters have made their Selections, often apprentices are left with no offers when this occurs the apprentice had the option to request a placement with a Trade but the Master has the last say in accepting any apprentice and this can end with an apprentice with no offers and no acceptances.
If an apprentice is Selected and rejects a Trade offer there is a chance their request to join another Trade will be rejected.
If this happens and no other Masters accept the apprentices request - the apprentice without any Trade options becomes free to do as they will often leaving the Kingdom of Valcanne and making their way in other lands, although several girls over the years have opted to stay and work the night rather than take a risk outside Valcanne alone.
At this point Masters allow their apprentices one day to celebrate and then they begin their Trade and this will be the position they hold for the rest of their life, unless circumstances mean they are required elsewhere.
