Jasol of the Sorcerers Guild
A Tour of Guildmasters: Jasol of the Sorcerers Guild
by Kerrin Gaile
This is one of a series of articles involving interviews with the
current guildmasters of the realm. We will be finding out what each
guildmaster thinks of his or her guild, and hopefully learning a little
about these leaders in our community. So, join me as we sit and chat
with each of these powerful and influential figures.
For this particular article in the series we chat with Jasol,
guildmaster of the Sorcerers guild.
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KERRIN: Okay, well, starting with something easy...How long have you
been the guildmaster of your guild?
JASOL: I really didn't keep track, but it's been about ten years, I
would estimate. Little more, little less.
KERRIN: And, since becoming guildmaster do you feel you spend less
time being a sorcerer and more time being a parchment-pushing
administrator?
Basically, are you buried in administrative overhead?
JASOL: Actually, no. I've never been more involved in the guild than
I am now, and it has motivated me anew in my studies.
Oh, I'm busy like all GM's are.
KERRIN: Great. It is always good to hear of active guildmasters.
Do you view your guild as a professional association, a
clubhouse, a close-knit society, a way of life, a comedy club,
or as something else entirely?
JASOL: Guilds generally are a professional association of like-minded
individuals with a common interest or goal of education.
However, the Sorcerors are unlike any other guild in their
sense of discipline, order and pride.
We are very cohesive, in all ethos, and take pride in the guild
that we have built.
Yes. We have different religious interests and such like all
guilds, but I do not allow these things to affect the guild
itself or how it runs. The goal is to provide a welcoming
atmosphere to all.
KERRIN: What do you feel is the biggest misconception about your guild?
JASOL: Biggest misconception...
That we are nothing but a smaller version of the Mage Guild.
Our people's actions show the difference in the two guilds, in
how they are run. Other guilds have asked for thoughts on how
we do things, seeing that things don't have to be chaos and
disorder.
KERRIN: Is there anything specific you are doing to either encourage
or change that perception?
JASOL: In time it will happen. People see that Sorcs are not the ones
running around casting spells in public places or causing scenes
in public. They are more disciplined than that. I'll continue
to stress those values, and in time we'll be known as what we
are, the finest guild in the lands.
KERRIN: Very lofty goals. It is good to see people trying to stretch
so far.
JASOL: I think it's attained already, eveyone else just needs to
accept it, now.
KERRIN: What do you feel are the strongest traits of your guild and
its members?
JASOL: Exactly what I stress to them. Discipline, Respect and Pride.
KERRIN: What sorts of things do your guild members do that make you the
most unhappy or cross?
JASOL: Obviously, when they temporarily lose those values and I have
to remind them of what we stand for. Letting people express
themselves is fine, but it can only go so far before they are
disrespected themselves, their guild or others. If they are
proud of their superior state of mind, their guild and
themselves, then they'll never fail at anything.
KERRIN: And as an obvious follow-up...What sorts of things do your guild
members do that make you the happiest or proudest?
JASOL: Simple things.
KERRIN: Any particular sort of simple things, or examples?
JASOL: Making the new apprentices feel welcome. Offering to give tours.
Answering questions. When we were facing heavy invasions, they
were always ready to give their lives and blood to defend not
only Thrace which is our responsibility, but to get to Sable and
kick some ass.
KERRIN: With which other guilds do you feel your guild has the closest
and best ties or relationships, and why?
JASOL: In many ways, we are close to just about every guild, honestly.
The obvious similiarities in studies between us and the mages.
The demand for order and discipline that we share with the
fighters. And my personal friendships with Guildmasters of
other guilds like Karyn, Kraxe and Evana.
KERRIN: That does pretty much cover the whole gamut.
JASOL: I have a lot of friends.
KERRIN: And the converse...With which other guilds do you feel your
guild has the most contention or worst relationships, and
why?
JASOL: I think without doubt, the mages. It's no secret we consider
ourselves the superior spellcasters, because of our values.
Along with many of them considering the original Sorcs that left
the mages, to be renegades.
Mainly, though, they're just jealous we were able to learn from
all their mistakes and do it better.
KERRIN: I am sure I would not want to get in the middle of that debate!
And that was a great lead-in to...Why is your guild better than
every other guild in the realm?
JASOL: It's just simple, we stress what other guilds really don't and
my people have really accepted it and seen how much better we
are because of it than in our short past. People are free to
study, visit, or whatever their interests are for the most part
without worrying about internal strife or what apprentices are
doing out in the city to make us look bad.
Disciple, Pride and Respect.
KERRIN: Do the issues of ethos or religion ever cause disruptions in
your guild?
JASOL: No. When the guild was opened to us from the secret past it
shared, one of the things that Lady Pythian stressed as its
tenets was the freedom of faith without harassment. Something
that many of us had felt in the mages and why we were so happy
to leave. It's one of the things since I became GM I have tried
to do, remind everyone what the founder wanted from the
beginning and work to make it reality.
KERRIN: Is it difficult to keep your personal beliefs in-check when
dealing with the usual three-headed debate that is ethos?
JASOL: Not really.
My clan believes in the defense of the Aether and respecting
all of its parts. While I was a fiend and am now in the grey,
I understand the need for all of the Aether.
So, personally, I don't have problems relating to all ethoi.
KERRIN: In what significant ways does your guild differ from the mages
guild?
JASOL: In respect to what? In general?
KERRIN: That is a good place to start, yes. I am not looking for guild
secrets.
JASOL: I would say in basic order and discipline. I have not been a
mage for decades, but I still have many friends there. There is
no real discipline or sense of punishments or order.
KERRIN: How do you feel about having to compete with the mages guild to
attract the best magic talent in the realm?
JASOL: Overall, it has worked very well. The brightest have taken the
time to look at their options and often made the trip to Thrace.
The others...either find it too hard, too far or just far easier
to be a mage as it's close. I'll lose the portion of bright
apprentices to the mages, to keep the level of others down that
we get. It's a good trade off.
KERRIN: How does it feel to be considered by many the younger sibling
of the mages guild which has a rather long history?
JASOL: They can consider what they wish, only we know the secrecy of
the origins of the Sorcerors of Thrace. Needless to say, it
did not spring to be overnight. It has a very long history
of its own.
KERRIN: Maybe someday the people of Thrace and Sable can learn more
about it. I would look forward to that.
If you could change any one thing in our society or in the
realm, what would it be and why?
JASOL: The sheer amount of people that do not understand or accept the
hierarchy of our society. Respect would be a much more common
thing in everyday life among everyone, if it was understood that
not all are equal in the lands.
KERRIN: What is your favorite color?
JASOL: White.
KERRIN: Is there anything else about your guild you would like to say to
the rest of Sable?
JASOL: That I am honored and proud of the priviledge to be the Master
of it.
KERRIN: You have an exceptionally consistent message about your guild.
I think that is a very good and admirable thing.
JASOL: Thank you.
KERRIN: Thank you for taking the time to grant an interview.
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Keep your eyes peeled for the next article in this ongoing series.
Several guildmasters have already agreed to grant interviews, and
hopefully all will eventually appear here in the pages of The Sablean
Times!