Article by: Jelena

Apprentices

Apprentices at the Hall have a busy schedule. If not in class, they are usually either studying, or doing chores. The apprentices are taught the basics of the craft, with more depth and responsibilities being added as they progress in turns and experience. Examples of basic classes are:

Reading and writing, if not yet proficient
Basic education in Hall, Weyr, Hold and its residents, Basic Vintner terminology
The harvest calendar, Weeding the vineyard
Basic beer-brewing, Basic vinification.

Chores of junior apprentices usually include simple household chores and (after they've passed the weeding test) weeding of the vineyard. On harvest time, everyone is expected to pitch in and junior apprentices are usually given the task of grape-transportation and catering.

When a junior apprentice is deemed ready for promotion, he takes a series of tests – both practical and theoretical – in which he proves his proficiency in the Craft's basics. If he passes these tests in a satisfactory manner, he is promoted to the rank of senior apprentice.

Senior apprentices are started on their first brewing experiences with low-quality ingredients. Apart from this trial-and-error learning, there are in-depth classes on beer-brewing and vinification. There are tasting classes and when the students are close to promoting to journeymen they may be started on distilling spirits.

Senior apprentices are taken out to the vineyard often and taught the basics of harvesting, pruning, rot-prevention, fertilizing and pest-control. As they improve in these areas their chores will encompass more of those tasks, rather than the weeding and household chores of junior apprentices. During harvest time, the older apprentices are usually the ones doing the grape-picking, overseen by the journeymen.

When he is ready to promote to the rank of journeyman, a senior apprentice goes through a second series of tests, in which he proves he is ready to practise his craft in an independent manner.

Below is the standard apprentice's schedule:

6 c/m Breakfast
7 c/m Dormitory clean-up & inspection
8 c/m First class session
10 c/m Second class session
12 c/m Noon meal
13 c/m Chore sections/ individualized lessons
14 c/m Third class session
16 c/m Chore sections/ individualized lessons
17 c/m Free time
18 c/m Evening meal
19 c/m Mandatory study
20 c/m Free time
21 c/m Light's out

Journeymen

Once a student makes it to journeyman level, he is granted with more responsibility. There are no more 'chores' and lessons are more private and specialised. The journeyman are the ones to carry out the day-to-day brewing and vinification processes under the Masters' supervision. During harvest they are the ones carrying out the Masters' orders and overseeing the apprentices in their work.

Further on in their career a journeyman might get to teach the apprentices, or be allowed time to experiment. The journeymen are encouraged to take up a speciality and are further taught in that field of interest by a Master. They work on a project within their speciality in order to be promoted to Senior Journeyman. When they reach Senior Journeyman rank, they are expected to take up positions across the continent, to further their independence and gain experience.

Masters
The Masters of the Hall are responsible for the education of both apprentices and journeymen. They oversee the work the journeymen carry out and attempt to further their craft with innovation and experiment. The masters deal with the administrative and political side of their crafts, upholding relations with Holds, Weyrs and other Halls.

See Also: No articles yet

Referenced By: No articles yet