Ethret Requirements

Training begins at the age of four and the basic training ends at age 17. Afterwards the salkiy has become a functioning member of salkiy religion and society.

Beginning, or Primary, training is called the First Ethret. Salkiys who complete all the training required for the First Ethret are allowed to wear a small copper armband. The requirements to reach this stage are listed below. The First Ethret usually takes three years to complete.

*Note - this is the traditional training scheme, followed by the ancient salkiys before the Fall. Any modern deviation from the original plan is noted and explained.

First Ethret Requirements:
- Call Water
- Call Fire
- Learn to control the release of magic
- Work minor self-affecting spells


The Second Ethret could also be known as Intermediate training. It usually takes four years to learn. Upon completion of this stage, the salkiy is given a silver armband.

Second Ethret Requirements:
- Call Earth
- Work major self-affecting spells
- Work minor group-affecting spells
- Manipulate light
- Learn rudimentary healing


The Third Ethret is the advanced training and takes five years to complete. Completion of this earns the salkiy a gold armband and a red robe, the color signifying adulthood and the completion of the Third Ethret. Before the rank is assigned the salkiy is given a final test which must be completed to satisfaction.

*Note - In ancient times, “completed to satisfaction” meant that every salkiy had to be able to do everything on the list in order to pass, no exceptions. After the Fall, this rule grew more lax, especially in the south, and the honoring of the Third Ethret rank became at the teacher’s discretion, whether or not the salkiy could perform all the required spells.

*Note - In ancient times, reaching the Third Ethret was required for a salkiy to marry, own land, or even to be considered an adult. Right before the Fall this rule also grew lax. After the Fall there was a trend to bring the rule back. Currently, however, not gaining the Third Ethret has only symbolic consequences, and no political ones.

Third Ethret Requirements:
- Advanced knowledge of healing
- Major group-affecting spells
- Rudimentary vision spells
- Fire and Water conjuring


If the salkiy desires and shows the necessary talent, s/he may go on to further his/her learning and training and reach the Fourth Ethret, the rank of apprentice. The Fourth Ethret has no set time limit but can usually be obtained within four years. A salkiy of the Fourth Ethret rank receives a silver apprentice ring and a purple robe, the color meaning apprenticeship.

*Note - Studying the Dellorathe is a requirement for the Fourth through Sixth Ethrets. This requirement was ignored after the Fall, as all known copies of the Dellorathe were destroyed.

*Note - In ancient times, at this point the salkiy must specify whether s/he wants to pursue the warrior or scholar path, which are focus on slightly different aspects from each other. Two hundred years before the Fall warriors were outlawed and students had only one path left to them. After the Fall the practice of training both warriors and scholars became common again.

Fourth Ethret Requirements:
- Rudimentary shape-shifting
- Intermediate vision skills
- Earth conjuring
- Refined group-affecting spells
- Minor mind spells
- Delve in the Dellorathe, the book of all-truths


The Fifth Ethret can be obtained within four or five more years, and the salkiy becomes known as an assistant. A Fifth Ethret salkiy is awarded a gold assistant ring and a green robe, the color that indicates an assistant.

*Note - At this point it is no longer necessary to complete all the requirements, even in ancient times. The salkiy must be able to do everything, except shape-shifting is optional. This is because shape-shifting beyond the basic is a very specific and rare gift. Most salkiys cannot learn more advanced shape-shifting, including many salkiys of otherwise outstanding talent, so exceptions were made. It is also at this point that salkiys learn to refine spells for specific rare abilities they may possess, such as future-seeing, invisibility, or dreamwalking, which are so rare that they are not included in the standard curriculum.

Fifth Ethret Requirements:
- Advanced shape-shifting
- Advanced vision skills
- Rudimentary Air conjuring
- Intermediate mind spells
- Study the Dellorathe


The Sixth Ethret is the highest rank mortally possible for a common salkiy. A salkiy of this rank is called an arai, and obtaining the rank takes years. Am arai is presented with a golden earring and the blue robes of an arai.

*Note - the same exceptions re: shape-shifting also apply here.

Sixth Ethret Requirements:
- Master shape-shifting
- Master vision skills
- Master mind spells
- Mind conjuring
- Ability to create new spells


The High Ethret was the rank assigned the Araithus of ancient times. It required no other special skills other than completion of the Sixth Ethret and to be appointed the Araithus. The Araithus was picked by the previous Araithus. A council of every major temples’ head arain met to confirm the choice of the next Araithus. The Araithus was distinguished by a second gold earring.

The Seventh Ethret is awarded when an arai dies and is judged by the Goddess to be worthy. The Seventh Ethret is allowed to become one with the gods.

Back to the Mysteries