Seniority, and What it Means

How do I get to be a Senior Apprentice?

Senior apprentices are those who have progressed to the point where they are working on their Journeyman Projects, or they have been assigned to directly assist a Journeyman at a Hold or on a route. Most apprentices, regardless of their time at the hall, are classified as Apprentice or Junior Apprentice. ICly, this translates into the time spent studying and applying oneself to learning the craft.

There is normally very little time between promotion to Senior Apprentice and promotion to Journeyman, because a Senior Apprentice has already demonstrated a level of competence which signifies that he or she is ready for the final push toward the next rank.

How do I get to be a Senior Journeyman?

Senior Journeymen are usually those who have demonstrated a level of ability and skill that is close to that of a Master, yet who have either decided not to take the Mastery Exams or who have not yet passed them. Often, a journeyman will take his or her exams two or three times before being passed.

Promotion to Senior Journeyman rank can occur unexpectedly in a journeyman's career. If a journeyman has not declared his or her intention to study for Mastery, yet has been recognized as a leader in his or her field of expertise, the Harper Masters may decide to confer the rank as an honor to the Journeyman. It can also happen that a journeyman who takes his or her Mastery Exams will be promoted only to Senior Journeyman and advised to try again the following turn. In any case, the rank is one which signifies a solid grasp of Harpering and is accorded respect by all.

So, what's the difference?

There is little difference between the badge or knot of an apprentice vs. that of a senior apprentice; likewise journeyman vs. senior journeyman.

Seniority comes with increases in both responsibility and priviledge. For an apprentice, this means that s/he is expected to work on one or more projects, and may travel more freely around Ista. For a journeyman, it usually means that he or she may command a higher salary or better perquisites from his or her Lord Holder, and also that the journeyman may hold a more respected position both at his or her Hold and in the craft.

Harper Life and Craft Policy