Inker

Inkers are among the most highly respected people in the Kurasi Empire. Based in Nozariin and members of old families, they keep the secrets of magical inks and their use.   With great respect often comes great pressure, and while respected, Inkers are also among the most regulated professionals in the Empire. They must not have tattoos themselves - an inker with a tattoo will ceremoniously be brought to death for the whole empire to see. These events are incredibly rare, and when it happens, it will take months of preparation before the execution can begin.   Inkers can also not be married to a mage (or, more generally speaking, to a person with tattoos). If found out, their spouse will be put to death, unceremoniously this time. In general this does not happen, since Inkers have to be of the old blood, and the old families are very particular about keeping their bloodline pure. That being said, they are aware of the risks of marrying too closely into the family as well, and most old families have several side-branches and strict rules who is eligible to marry whom. Many Kurasi theatrical classics are concerned with the forbidden loves of Inkers, and usually these plays involve incredibly convoluted plots including adoption, the stealing of offspring, lost children and of course cabals en masse.   To start learning to be an inker, you first need to be born to the right dynasty. Each Inker starts his trade in the warehouses of his clan. From a young age, they learn the different trade goods their family procures and how to gage the respective quality - not just the ones related to inking, but also the mundane ones. In their teens, they start taking over trade negotiations with the merchants.   Depending on talent, inclination and assertiveness they may just stay in the trade section and become one of the shrewd negotiators all old families are known for. If they aspire to be an inker or are simply not good at negotiations, they have two other options: they can either choose to learn the sacred motifs of their trade or go down the alchemical route, with the goal of learning about making magical inks.   Prospective inkers typically choose the motif route first, since the longer their hands have practiced, the easier it will come to them once they finally hold the needle. It is not uncommon, though, for people to start the alchemical route to change their minds.   Few stay with jsut the motifs, but those who do are usually highly creative and often figure out new patterns to fit a mage's aspirations best when it comes to elemental balance. They are usually highly attuned to the elements and can tell roughly how powerful a motive will be just by looking at the linework. All mages that ask for an inking ceremony will have to talk to both, inker and Line Sage, before their requests gets accepted.   After the line work, what is left for an inker is to learn alchemy and how to prepare tinctures and potions. Alchemist is not a controlled profession, but due to the excellent training the old families invest into most Kurasi alchemist come from one of the big names.   If they are deemed a worthy alchemist, they will finally be introduced to making magical ink. Many will move on to learning the actual inking afterwards, since by now this is the smallest step left. Few of them become extraordinary inkers, but then again - few of their customers pay well enough to deserve one. Even those inkers whose real passion lies in alchemy often take over smaller, unimportant customers to ink - always under the close supervision of a Line Sage, though.