> I'd like to hear how young are people apprenticed to learn sorcery /
> wizardry? How long does it take for a student to reach Adept level on
> the average? Is the training in the best "all-day, every-day" style, or
> will the young characters have a chance to learn other things?
"All day, every day," for an apprentice. You maybe have a slim hope of keeping a hobby (or a girlfriend) on the side, but no real chance of taking a day (or week, or season) off to "do your own thing".
If you're a generous narrator, you might allow your apprentices to study for traditional "terms" or "semesters", with "vacations" (for adventuring, etc.) in between -- although this is more than a little corny, it could fit with the "University" model for teaching Sorcery which is found elsewhere in the West, cf. Sog City (as well as Unseen University / Hogwartsing things up a little). Have a look at the Ars Magica RPG for lots of ideas about what goes on in a very lengthy wizard's apprenticeship.
> Also, is it possible to learn simple spells before actually mastering
> the paradigms and principles of the school of sorcery? Is the first x
> years just learning the principles before the student can cast his/her
> first spell?
I hope not! Glorantha would be very boring without Sorcerers' Apprentices cocking things up magically (like Mickey Mouse, or Sparrowhawk from Earthsea).
FWIW, I've just finished a lengthy article on Arrolia (including several bits on Arrolian Sorcery) for the last issue of Tales, which is going into layout as I write. The two major Arrolian schools are the Minderkind Philosophers of Riverjoin (cf. past Glorantha Digest posts by Peter Metcalfe for their beliefs), and the College of Many Arts at Eastpoint (more cruelly known as Eastpoint Polytechnic). I haven't done grimoires or spell lists for either of them. The Eastpoint guys are more "evil atheist Lunar sorcerers", while the Riverjoin bunch are weird.
Cheers, Nick
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