The Helpful Handout of How to Become a Sorcerer/Sorceress

Criteria established by Mercedes Lackey

Based on the Vows and Honor duology
and the Winds and Mage Storms trilogies

Distributed by:

Queen's Own
The Official Mercedes Lackey Fan Club

Basic Requirements

I. Develop a Character

Develop a character (your persona--Who would you be if you could daydream yourself into Valdemar? Be the "real" you or as different as you please.) and write about him/her. Prepare a minimum of 3 pages.

This is a biography. Describe your persona's physical and emotional characteristics, likes and dislikes, whatever makes you uniquely you. You may use first or third person.

Remember, write about your persona before s/he became a sorcerer/sorceress. A sorcerer/sorceress must learn to cope with his/her magic, not have his/her life built around it. Mage Gift usually manifests during puberty; it is not evident at birth. (10 points.)

II. Develop One or More Friend or Relative Characters

You needn't be quite so detailed in your descriptions of these other characters. But remember, you are writing about people you know well. Describe what your family and/or friends look like, their own character traits, etc. Again, a minimum of 3 pages. (5 points)

III. Extra Point Requirements (5 points each)

Choose and complete the requirements for two (minimum) of the following:

Write a story of more than 3 pages.
Design a costume.
Create a costume.
Draw a picture of your character.
Draw a picture of your "familiar".
Illustrate your story.
Write a chant.
Compose a song, music and/or write lyrics.
Enroll in a Yoga class.
Draw a map.
Learn CPR and basic first-aid.
Become a regular blood donor.
Become a volunteer.
Learn the uses of herbs in home remedies.
Start a local chapter of Queen's Own.
Learn to ride a horse.
Learn the care and feeding of horses.
Send a story, poem, or art to one of our zines.

After you have acquired 25 points, you may begin your Hedge-Wizard period.

Special Notes for Sorcerors/Sorceresses

For General Rules, click here.
For Submission Instructions, click here.
For Helpful Hints, click here.

If you have additional questions, check out The Magic of Velgarth FAQ.

Advanced Rank

There are several ways you can advance in rank as a mage.

Specialties

To earn one of these specialties, first create an approved Sorcerer/Sorceress persona. Then complete the requirements next to the specialty that you want:

Earth-Witch: Write a 20-page paper on Earth Magic on Velgarth.
Weatherwitch: Write a 20-page paper on the uses of Weather Magic on Velgarth.

Formal Training

If you want your character to receive formal training in the magical arts, there are three schools that I know about. Choose which school you want to join. Complete the requirements in that column for each rank. Do not switch columns. If you start in the White Winds column, you need to stay there.

Rank	Blue Mountain	Twin Suns	White Winds
Apprentice	Write a story (minimum of 10 pages) about how your persona decided to train at a Blue Mountain school, and send it to one of the QO zines.	Write a story (minimum of 10 pages) about how your persona decided to train at a Twin Suns school, and send it to one of the QO zines.	Write a story (minimum of 10 pages) about how your persona decided to train at a White Winds school, and send it to one of the QO zines.
Journeyman	Write a 20-page paper the environmental issue of your choice.	Write a 20-page paper comparing and contrasting priestly and secular magic.	Write a 20-page paper about how stage-magic can be used to simulate the most common "mediumistic powers" (manifesting spirits, moving tables, voices and objects from nowhere, appearance of ectoplasm, etc.).
Master	Write a 20-page paper on the ethical use of magic as taught by the Blue Mountain school.	Write a 20-page paper on the ethical use of magic as taught by the Twin Suns school.	Write a 20-page paper on the ethical use of magic as taught by the White Winds school.
Adept	Write a 20-page paper explaining how "unexplained phenomena" (Floating Lights, Phantom Headlights, etc.) can be explained by purely mundane means. AND Start a local chapter of Queen's Own.	Write a 20-page paper on televangelism, and how the miracles shown on a particular show can be explained by mundane means. AND Start a local chapter of Queen's Own.	Write a 20-page paper about urban legends (the Hitchhiking Ghost, Ghost Lights, Kentucky Fried Rat, the Haunted Dormitory, the Lover's Lane Stalker, etc.). AND Start a local chapter of Queen's Own.

These papers will be published in The Compass Rose.

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