Just curious but was the study of magic in the empire of Thassilon more important (ie. wizard),the power of innate magic (ie. sorcerer),or both? I'm especially interested to know what path the runelords themselves saw as more important and powerful.
The background on Thassilon in PF #1 Burnt Offerings (pg. 72-79) has some information on this. Specifically, each Runelord was/is a specialist wizard (see the sidebar Sin Magic on pg. 73).
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Being wizards themselves, I would imagine they subscribed to the "Finely Tuned Watch/Rubber Mallet" view of Wizardry/Sorcercy.
The thing is, Wizard Magic Is intellectualy hard, but far more people are theoreticaly capable of it. Sorcerous magic, on the other hand, is a talent that very few possess. Thus, there are never that many sorcerors running around. Sheer numbers is the reason that wizards tend to rule huge magocracies, while sorcerors can at best aspire to darklordhood.
plus, wizards are academics, and many thrive in a structured institution, so they're experienced at running things and doing paperwork, jockeying for position, undercutting their competitors, and clawing their way to the top, while still maintaining the institution itself. they need a nice, stable, calm atmosphere to study and scribe their spells, and preferably someone to do the cooking. Thay, Thassilon, Unseen University, any mageocracy isnt so much a government as an eletist, oxford-style university, with the citizens occupying the status of servants and porters.
Sorcerors, on the other hand, would be eternaly tempted to just blow the whole thing up, then bunk off for a drink. There just arent enough to fill up the ranks of a beurocracy, and they dont need other sorcerors around to learn new spells, the way wizards do. They become cheif lackeys or powerfull kings. Nations are ruled by sorcerors, but are never made up of sorcerors.
Sorcerors are powerfull, despite their victimization by wizards, but the truth is that most sorcerors are too independent and mobile to ever be an organized force.
A Sorceror in thassilon would likely be regarded as a "talking ape." (get your paws off me, you damn dirty ape!). Some might rise to a position of grudging respect, as a trusted and valued enforcer or ruler, but they would never become a runelord, and might not even be invited to the faculty luncheon.
Creative Director
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All of the runelords were specialist wizards. Their entire system of magic is built around seven schools of magic (they lumped divination magic into the universal school). In this society, a generalist wizard was looked on as a "hobbyist" or a "lazy wizard." Sorcerers were not looked upon kindly at all, and when the DID appear, they were often the focus of witch trial type antics.
Thanks to all for that (especially you James) and that is what I figured things were like back during those times.
Varisian tattoos are described as being strings of Thassilonian characters... do they actually mean anything to those who can read Thassilonian? Do they incorporate the appropriate Sin runes?
...and that brings up the image of Valeros or Kyra trying to "read" Seoni and asking her to expose more of the text... o.O