Politics (sage study)
Politics is a sage study in the field of the Church, in which practice and theory are used to influence others. This allows organized communities to allocate the resources according to the character's dictates and desires, once power is obtained. The character is given the power to employ a number of tactics in order to ensure this — the promotion of one's self, negotiation with others, skill at making laws, influence peddling and more.
The character must assign their knowledge points to a single political entity of the character's choice — an independent state or the province/elector within an empire — such as the Holy Roman, the Ottoman, the Safavid or the Moghul empires. The size of the entity is not relevant. Knowledge points may not thereafter be assigned to other entities — however, in dealing with outside entities, the character may count their ability at half.
- For example, if a character should choose France: as their principle entity and accumulate a total of 22 points, their ability level as a politician would be rated at 11 points for all other entities.
Sage Abilities
The sage abilities below are those acquired by a character through the study, according to status.
Amateur Status
- Functionary: choose a position of responsibility within the known political entity.
- Schmooze: make friends and allies, gain knowledge and provide for the exchange of agreed-upon favors.
Authority Status
- Leverage: enables the character to request favours without entering into an ally's debt.
- Machinate: enables the character to induce others to participate in schemes and conspiracies.
Expert Status
- Influence: cause a person of authority, as high as the level of baron, to directly follow the advice of the character; the ability offers no protection against the consequences.
