So, I guess I'm a little bit feeling like this discussion is ignoring something important. It sort of feels like we aren't considering what impact this decision could have on wat kind of leader he becomes, rather than just his magical capabilities in adulthood. Shouldn't we consider how his personality will turn out, how he will approach problems, and what kin of college/wind he will enjoy the most?
After all, he will literally be transforming his soul to be more receptive to his wind and that will have affects on his personality and-
WAIT, DON'T GO! I SWEAR I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT ARCANE MARKS!
Anyways, to get into this topic more seriously, I want to make clear that I am not considering arcane marks. I'm just not experienced enough with warhammer to know all the arcane marks, or understand how they might impact this quest mechanically (although thanks to AsuraAtlas to linking that list of traits). No, instead of such hardcoded limitations, I want to talk about more general influences he might receive.
Think about it this way. All these magisters have not only learned about their wind and how to use it, but also how to practically use it in their lives. They know magic spells and how to use them. They know this one tool, and how to use it. But because of that, they also overcorrect for using that one tool. They know they can reliably (ignoring miscasts) use their wind and have it on hand, so their problem solving process inherently biases itself towards that. This isn't to say they are ignorant of their fellow magisters from other colleges, but that it is always easier to use their wind. Perhaps they could call someone from the jade school to help with the crop yield, or someone from the grey college to do negotiations. But sometimes, you don't have time, or even access to those outside resources. So you learn to rely on your own wind. This means, if he goes into into the bright school, sure he will learn how to obliterate his enemies... but he'll also learn to default to those solutions because those are the tools available to him.
Except that isn't true. He won't just be a magister, but also an elector count. He will have military forces, diplomats, and even just plain large amounts of money. He has other ways to achieve his goals. but the mindset his teachers will instill into him is that he is a destructive weapon, and that the main question is how to use this weapon most effectively.
I know this sounds like a straightforward argument for the grey college, but it isn't that either. Both the gold and jade schools have some outlet for more diplomatic methods. The jade school literally heals and grows crops, so they are well in tune with offering large amounts of people a common good. And the gold college must be experienced with negotiating for large amounts of valuable materials. Both schools have a need for diplomacy or outreach that mean that inherent to their function, they learn some skills towards negotiation and diplomacy and understanding others' needs. But the bright school has fireball.... a particularly potent fireball, but fireball all the same. I'm not saying that bright school magisters can't be diplomatic, but that I want him to learn more about diplomacy as part of his wind. I don't want his education about diplomacy to be some sequestered lesson only applying to his elector count half, that he must ignore to embrace his wind.
and lets be more specific about the kid himself, and who he is now. Other questers have already mentioned that he might be a better fit for gold and its more rational mindset approach. but let's go further, and look at what other information we get this chapter. We know he is martially minded... but also that when presented with trickster heroes, he was far more accepting of them. I know its a bit speculative to try and speculate from only this tiny bit, but it feels like this kid just loves heroes in general. He's a kid, and he's heard about all these martial heroes, and tries to emulate them in the sparring field. That is where he is starting from. But, as is shown in this chapter, it is possible to influence him to like different traits. He is still malleable, but most importantly you don't need to force it.
So, what kind of heroes do we want to teach him about? and perhaps most importantly, what sort of heroes should an elector count have?
I know some people's answer to this is still the knight in shining armor, the martial hero who saves the day. But as a leader of men, of armies and a province, I feel like this isn't the greatest fit. In the jade school, he could learn about the charitable, who heard the cries of the people and helped feed them during a drought (thus teaching him to listen to his common folk an their plights, and use that to determine his heroism). In the grey school, we've already seen how he enjoys the trickster hero Ranald (thus teaching him about deception and how to use it for the greater good). And in the gold school, he could learn about rational heroes who....
Ok, Mathilde will maybe need to help with this one. You could absolutely teach him about clever (rational) strategists, and how they outthought their opponents. You could even frame it such that it makes their mathematical skills seem like the difference maker (perhaps the strategist has a much better insight into how much food each army needs, and correctly deduces a besieging army will starve before the city does). Whatever stories actually exist in Warhammer, I'm sure there is someone actually exciting that will make Mandred understand the value of outthinking your opponents.
And for my own personal opinion, it matters where he is starting from. He already idolizes martial heroes. He doesn't need to double down. And his fellow (potential) electors will also probably keep those values, so its not like Mandred will completely lose that. But if he learns from any other school, he will start seeing the value of other traits that could be immensely valuable as an elector count. And personally, I believe that the Gold college is the best fit, although I feel that either Jade or Grey would also bring significant benefits. I'm just not that interested in warmage Mandred, especially as an elector count. Perhaps that is blasphemous for a warhammer quest, but its not as interesting, especially as an elector count. I'd like to see him use other qualities rather than just pure personal martial skill to resolve his problems.
but hey lets go thru some of the other arguments others have made:
I'm probably gong to be busy/sleeping for most of the discussion period, but I'm going to list why I think he should go to the Jades while I have the chance.
1. The arguments stated in the update - Reiklands shunt, magical infrastructure and prospective breadbasket status offer extremely unique opportunities as a ruler he frankly wouldn't have anywhere else. Uniquely and straightforwardly virtuous, as well.
2. He would swing the Jades away from the hardcore druidic traditionalists - hard to argue men shouldn't be doing green magic with the face of wizardkind in your lecture halls, and every wizard in the Empire looking
real hard at your lecture halls.
3. Popularity with the common people - the Jades, being the wizards who do food and medical miracles, are some of the most widely accepted wizards in existence, especially in the northern provinces where they work extremely closely with the cults of Taal and Rhya. A good magical and diplomatic reputation is essential for someone who will be the face of, essentially, a human rights movement.
4. This is debatable, but personally - in terms of mindset we're encouraging - I would much prefer compassion and growth to be foremost in a rulers mind, rather than intense passion or overwhelming logic.
5. Popularity with the troops - being known as the leader who directly saves his men's lives, on their deathbeds and off, would be invaluable.
6. As
@Critian Caceorte points out, and I can't believe I missed this - the Jade wind would also improve his chances of, well, living. Spending time on the battlefield or otherwise, anyone would be much, much safer when they can regenerate from otherwise fatal blows.
Huh, this really makes a goo case for Jade. I definitely see the value of compassion and growth, and while I believe that logic has somewhat equal value, I also understand that 'logic' can also have its immense downsides
(looks at techbros). and honestly, the infrastructure possibilities that only could appear with an elector count especially bump up the Jade college in my opinion.
I do think getting him involved in politics is the exact opposite of what we should do. In fact, if we do support the jade school, I think one of the things we must ask for is a deliberate effort to make sure he doesn't get involved in the political situation of the school. This just feels like its asking for the emperor to get involved in the internal affairs of the colleges, and I don't like that precedent at all! I can just see a generation or two down the line, one becoming so fed up, he closes a particular college down whose politics he doesn't agree with (even tho they are loyal).
Boney's comment about the Bright's symbology being locks and keys, and their lack of focus on affinity is a good sign for Mandred's longevity.
An affinity for Aqshy probably translates to someone exceedingly passionate, and the implication of locks and keys is that the Bright order is focused on self control. Keeping a tight leash on that passion, and unleashing it only when necessary.
They are not concerned with making the most destructive wizards possible (i.e. with the highest affinity), because Aqshy applied correctly is still the most destructive of the winds.
They're not focused on making "average" wizards: they're focused on making wizards with good self control.
Notably: the Aqshy wizards we've worked with have all been rather temperate, now that I think about it.
And this makes me more leery of him being a bright wizard. Sure, he will have the capability of being an extremely effective military leader, but honestly, having to practice self control just sounds like a mess waiting to happen. Sure, all the colleges will need self control to dull their worst traits (that they could impart onto him) but having the bright's need to focus on self control makes it sound like it's especially difficult.
We already know the kid has a hard time with diplomacy, but he'll have to do it as a leader, and I'm not sure I like the idea of him trying to handle delicate negotiations with very subtle implications while also expending willpower to keep himself under control. That just screams of the idea that while he may be functional, that quite often he will miss certain subtleties and nuances during negotiations.
Like, I know we can demand he get lessons in negotiation, but its sounds like being a bright mage will actively encourage him developing a mindset/arcane marks that interfere with his ability to lead.
Now, what else?
Wait, did the thread seriously already grow 4 more pages of discussion?!?! You know what, nevermind, there is no way I can keep up with this. I'll just post what I have an hope it adds something to the conversation.
