Editing Maesters (section)

==Organization==
===Novices and Acolytes===
Students who start their education at the [[Citadel]] are known as novices. Once they have earned a link for their chain, they become acolytes.{{Ref|AFfC|0}} Most acolytes treat novices as if they are slow-witted.{{Ref|AFfC|0}} Acolytes train at letters at the [[Scribe's Hearth]],{{Ref|TWOIAF|1}} and can be hired by [[Oldtown]]ers to read their letters or write their wills.{{Ref|AFFC|45}} When an acolyte is prepared to take his vows and become a maester, he is placed in a completely dark room with one of the Citadel's [[glass candles]], made of razor-sharp [[obsidian]]. He must stay in that room for the entire night in darkness, unless he is able to light the candle. The tradition serves as a lesson about truth and learning.{{Ref|AFfC|0}}

Students who violate the rules of the Citadel can be ordered confined to their rooms by the maesters.{{Ref|AFfC|0}} They can also receive more physical punishments. For example, for stealing from the kitchens, [[rector]]s might place them in stocks at the [[Seneschal's Court]], where acolytes may throw rotten vegetables at them.{{Ref|AFFC|45}}

===Maesters===
[[File:Chris Rallis FFG card maester.JPG|thumb||350px|A maester reads a message brought by a [[raven]], by Chris Rallis © Fantasy Flight Games]]
Maesters are scholars and healers who have completed their training at the Citadel. They can be sent by the Citadel to serve at the holdings of [[lord]]s and [[landed knight]]s throughout the [[Seven Kingdoms]] of [[Westeros]], from the [[Arbor]] to the [[Wall]],{{Ref|ACOK|10}} but not in the lands [[beyond the Wall]]. If a lord does not have a maester in his service, he is seen as unimportant.{{Ref|ADWD|37}} Maesters normally serve only at castles,{{Ref|ACOK|19}}{{Ref|AFfC|0}} but they can accompany their lord when he travels{{Ref|AGOT|33}}{{Ref|ADWD|37}} or be sent on missions by the lord.{{Ref|ADWD|6}}

[[Aegon I Targaryen]] and his sister wives each had a maester during [[Aegon's Conquest|the Conquest]], and as king Aegon had as many as six serving him, separate from the [[Grand Maester]].{{Ref|FAB|3}} A lord has to pay the Citadel for a maester's service,{{Ref|SSM|1284}} and some [[smallfolk]] believe that maesters would be unwilling to help them.{{Ref|ACOK|19}}

Maesters wear a collar, which is supposed to remind him of the realm he serves.{{Ref|AGOT|41}} When he completes his education and takes his vows, a maester puts aside his House name.{{Ref|AGOT|60}} Although he is supposed to be loyal to the seat to which he is assigned, regardless of the changes in control of that holding,{{Ref|ACOK|66}} old allegiances or loyalties might continue linger.{{Ref|ADWD|37}}

While the [[ironborn]] have rejected the [[Faith of the Seven]], most recognize the usefulness of having maesters in the [[Iron Islands]].{{Ref|AFFC|29}}{{Ref|ADWD|56}} Ironborn lords who venture more frequently to the [[green lands]] are more likely to keep maesters in their retinues.{{Ref|AFFC|19}} Ironmen who support the [[Old Way]], such as [[Aeron Greyjoy]], a [[priest of the Drowned God]], are more likely to disapprove of maesters, however.{{Ref|AFFC|1}} Some Westerosi nobles, such as [[Maekar I Targaryen|Maekar Targaryen]] and [[Randyll Tarly]], have also opposed their own sons choosing a life of service by becoming maesters.{{Ref|AFFC|5}}

===Archmaesters===
[[Archmaesters]] are maesters who have demonstrated mastery of a particular subject. They receive a mask, ring, and rod in the metal corresponding to the link of the maester's chain which signifies their expertise on the topic.{{Ref|AFfC|0}} Archmaesters teach the students at the Citadel in their subject of expertise, and they judge whether a novice or an acolyte has shown enough knowledge on their subject to receive a link for their chain.{{Ref|AFfC|0}} While maesters are directly involved in a [[lord]]'s household—teaching children, healing wounds, tending to [[raven]]s—archmaesters can dedicate themselves to research and study.{{Ref|FAB|11}}

Archmaesters have the right to sit on the [[Conclave]], a council which elects the [[Grand Maester]]{{Ref|ASOS|12}} and determines when the seasons change.{{Ref|ACOK|0}}{{Ref|ACOK|7}} The meetings of the Conclave are conducted behind closed doors at the Citadel.{{Ref|ASOS|12}} 

Each archmaester is said to carry a heavy, black iron key that will open most of the doors in the Citadel. They keep them close on their person, or hide them well.{{Ref|AFfC|0}}

===Grand Maesters===
[[File:Joshua Cairos - GrandMaester Pycelle.jpg|thumb|300px|Grand Maester [[Pycelle]], by Joshua Cairós © Fantasy Flight Games]]
The office of [[Grand Maester]] was created in {{Date|5}} by [[Aegon I Targaryen]], who asked for an archmaester to advise him on governing the [[Seven Kingdoms]].{{Ref|FAB|3}} Sworn to serve the whole realm,{{Ref|AFFC|39}} the Grand Maester sits on the king's [[small council]] and acts as one of the royal advisers.{{Ref|AGOT|20}} As the Citadel's representative at the royal court of the [[King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and the First Men|king]] on the [[Iron Throne]]{{Ref|AWOIAF|Maesters}} the Grand Maester is elected by the Conclave, and only the Conclave can unmake him again, although several Grand Maesters have died violently. King [[Maegor I Targaryen]] executed three Grand Maesters during his reign{{Ref|ASOS|12}}—[[Gawen]], [[Myros]], and [[Desmond (Grand Maester)|Desmond]]{{Ref|TWOIAF|4|3}}—while [[Aegon II Targaryen]] had Grand Maester [[Gerardys]] fed to his dragon [[Sunfyre]].{{Ref|ASOS|12}} Grand Maester [[Hareth (Maester)|Hareth]] was executed as well, on grounds of treason.{{Ref|ASOS|36}}{{Ref|ASOS|12}} 

Although the Conclave puts effort into demonstrating their consideration of ability before birth, this is generally a pretense, as family status often affects their final choice for Grand Maester.{{Ref|ASOS|12}}

More than forty men have served the Iron Throne as Grand Maester.{{Ref|FAB|10}} Grand Maesters are generally older men. [[Kaeth]] was chosen as Grand Maester at the age of eighty, [[Ellendor]] at almost ninety, and [[Merion]] at the age of sixty-six. After all three died within a short time span, King [[Aegon V Targaryen]] suggested to the Conclave that a younger man might be better. As such, [[Pycelle]], aged forty-two, was raised to the office.{{Ref|AFFC|36}}

The Grand Maester wears many interwoven maester chains to indicate his high office. Gems are woven into the chains.{{Ref|AGoT|20}}

===Seneschal===
The governance of the [[Citadel]] is held by the [[Seneschal]], who is chosen from among the [[archmaesters]]. A new Seneschal is appointed annually. Because the archmaesters tend to see the office as a thankless task, as it takes them away from their true work, the Seneschal is selected by lot, with the one who draws the black stone taking on the office.{{Ref|AFFC|45}} When the archmaester who draws the black stone is not capable of fulfilling his duties as Seneschal, another archmaester might volunteer to serve his term instead.{{Ref|AFFC|45}}