Aezora (prime)
Aezora Chelonida Loenthra is a female elf hailing from Ta'Loenthra in the Elven Nations. She is a young, up-and-coming musician; her course of study was a double focus in woodwinds and stringed instruments. She can most frequently be found in Ta'Illistim, Ta'Vaalor, or Mist Harbor.
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Appearance
You see Aezora. She appears to be a Loenthra Elf. She is shorter than average and has a delicately lithe build. She appears to be in the bloom of youth. She has gold-flecked jade green eyes and fair skin. She has shoulder length, tousled honey blonde hair styled in face-framing, feathery layers. She has an angular face and long, slim fingers. She is wearing a cream velvet feystone-strung choker, a crystal amulet, a vanilla-hued pleated paeline cape with a rounded asymmetric collar, a dark amethyst flyrsilk tote with an opal clasp, some burnished full leather, an off-the-shoulder cream silk blouse, a dark leather survival kit, a silver-traced grey silk gem pouch, a deep plum silk skirt adorned with swathes of black lace, an ankle sheath, and some tailored black doeskin boots with thick cord laces.
History
Aezora is young and has yet had little time to make her mark upon the world. Her most notable accomplishment to date is to have graduated with distinction at an unusually early age from a prestigious private music academy in Ta'Loenthra; even more impressively, she managed this while pursuing a doubled course of study of both stringed instruments and woodwinds, where most students studied only one. She therefore has a reputation among patrons of the musical arts as a rising star whose fledgling career might bear following closely.
Having completed her novice studies and graduated, she is now travelling throughout the Elven Nations for her journeyman years to round out her knowledge of theory with practical performing arts.
Known Affiliations
OOC Observations
| Title | Ranks |
|---|---|
| Novice | 1 to 5 |
| Apprentice | 6 to 13 |
| Journeyman | 14 to 19 |
| Adept | 20 |
Aezora's private music education is depicted in a way which bears very close similarities to the medieval guild system.
A hopeful musician begins at the guild-recognised rank of Novice from the time they enroll in the academy. Their formal education encompasses ranks 1 through 5 of the instrument learning system. The musician learns the finer points of music history, theory, composition, and the basics of instrumental and vocal performance over the period of a number of years. The student typically trains on only a single instrument. Aezora's study of two instruments is an advanced program, equivalent to what might be called an honors program in a contemporary academic institution.
The final event of one's novice study is a practical examination and something of a formal presentation of a musician to society. A private recital is held for an audience consisting of patrons of the musical arts and benefactors of the school. The musicians are here to impress, and a successful performance will result in the novice's graduation and elevation to the guild-recognised status of Apprentice.
As an apprentice, the musician earns a rather less formal practical introduction to bardhood. They learn a patron's expectations and obligations; they gain valuable experience in live performance in small settings to round out their hard-won theoretical skills, they begin formulating the network of social contacts which will be vital to a successful musical career. Most importantly, as the patrons are vetted by the academy, they learn what a sponsor's reasonable expectations might be, and how not to be trapped in an unbalanced relationship.
The apprenticeship period, encompassing ranks 6 through 13 of the instrument learning system, is less rigidly defined than the novitiate studies, but after perhaps ten to thirty years, the patron will intend to gain considerable social status by presenting an accomplished musician to their peers. At this point the formal relationship of patronship is dissolved and the musician is now considered professionally skilled and employable.
The musician may opt for the ease of a comfortable position as a professional musician and retain this status indefinitely. The great majority of formally educated musicians do precisely that. They have attained status, some amount of comfort and income, and appreciative audiences. For the truly committed, the genuinely inspired, the driven, however... this is merely when the real work begins.
The ancient tradition of the journey comes next, bringing with it the guild-recognised title of journeyman and ranks 14 through 19 of the instrument learning system. The musician is free to go where their feet, hands, and ears lead them, wandering the world and pursuing what study they deem necessary to bring their considerable skills to a razor-honed edge. All direction and requirements for this period are at their sole discretion. This is the basis of the fabled wanderlust of the skilled bard.
After decades of refining, polishing, deconstructing, and building once more, upon her own sole recognizance the musician may finally return to the Guild of Bards and offer a masterpiece to prove her absolute and inarguable mastery of music. Having succeeded, she is granted the final rank, that of Adept.
All of the above is, of course, a depiction of Aezora's experience specifically and should not be assumed to mirror anybody else's experience... unless they should indicate that it does.