Blues are a type of student at the Collegia, and are recognizable by their light blue student uniforms. They share general academic courses with the other students: history, geography, mathematics, science, law, languages, weapons training, and so on, as appropriate for their goals. Karal says they are an "unofficial Collegium."[1]
They are "unaffiliated," not being Chosen for the Heralds' Collegium, or lacking a relevant Gift for the Bardic Collegium, Healers' Collegium or Mages' Collegium. Unaffiliated students come from various walks of life and may attend for different reasons.
Valdemar nobility and the wealthy may pay tuition to send their children to the Collegia for a good education, though some may be indifferent students. Children of faculty or palace officials are also eligible and may get free tuition.
Other unaffiliated students are extremely intelligent young people who have demonstrated capabilities and aptitudes that warrant development. They may become scholars, Artificers, inventors, builders, etc. If their family is poor they may be sponsored and housed by religious groups, or “King’s Scholars" which were supported by the Crown for at least two hundred years before the Heralds' Collegium was built.[2] Artificer classes include Alchemy,[3] which Master Levy took.[4] Herald-Mage Lissandra was an alchemist also, specializing in poisons and antidotes.[5]
The Valdemar Guard, which encompasses some police forces as well as a standing army, also sends students to the Collegia for training, likely for officers and specialists. Working with the Weaponsmaster is considered a privilege. The blue Guard uniforms are what inspired the pale "Blues" uniform.
References[]
- ↑ Storm Rising, Chapter 2
- ↑ Closer to the Chest, Chapter 12
- ↑ Chemistry. Although only Alchemy is mentioned, Artificer students would need courses that covered the level of science and engineering available in Valdemar at the time: most importantly, principles of static and dynamic forces. In the history of our world, if architects did not know the relevant math, they referred to books containing tables of pre-calculated values.
- ↑ Storm Breaking, chapter 4
- ↑ Magic's Price